Sample Resumes
It’s important to present yourself professionally, but your resume also needs to reflect your professionalism. Here are some examples of resumes you can use as a guide.
It’s important to present yourself professionally, but your resume also needs to reflect your professionalism. Here are some examples of resumes you can use as a guide.
Maintaining a close, honest relationship with your recruiter is important in order to be successful. Here are some tips to maintain and build upon an ideal partnership:
Before you meet with a recruiter, it is wise to have some idea of what you are looking for in the next step of your career. The list of questions below are ones the recruiter is likely to ask you, and it would be of great benefit to the both of you if you already had some answers in mind.
Career Progression
• What are current and future positions that you’re interested in pursuing?
Think about what you like(d) best about your most recent position, what you didn’t like so much, and which areas you’d like to advance in. Remember, staying stagnant may be comfortable, but reaching for more is appealing to future employers.
Geographical Preferences
• Are you interested in relocating nationally or globally?
• Are you focusing on a single location?
• Is there an area that doesn’t work for you?
Really consider if you and/or your family are available for relocation. Often times recruiters may find great opportunities for you in various locations. Being open-minded to moving allows yourself more options for career growth, but if you do need to stay in your area that is definitely OK, just make sure that you firmly state that in your talk with your recruiter. Making this decision before the search starts takes pressure off of you to make hard decisions on the fly, and makes the recruiter’s job easier.
Compensation Structure
• By understanding your current compensation, recruiters are able to present opportunities that are commensurate with your skills and experiences.
Here is a great example of how to write a follow up note after an interview. It shows you were listening during the conversation and taking notes. It allows you to reiterate what the interviewer is looking for in a way that you can highlight your strengths. Most importantly, this note shows how to close… Always ask for the job!
I really enjoyed our discussion today and I am excited about what you are building. As you could probably tell I’m extremely passionate about this area. I enjoy what I do and I know we could do great things together. I absolutely encompass all 8 traits you identified you want in a candidate:
I’ve consistently over delivered on my goals and I would do the same for you.
Thank you for your time today. I look forward to hearing next steps and potentially meeting in person soon.
When you dress appropriately, you are really putting your best foot forward. If you look and feel good, you will likely have more confidence going into the interview. It will also show the interviewer you are serious about working for their company.
Below are some tips you should follow when picking out your interview outfit.
1. DRESS APPROPRIATELY
Always be up to par with the attire of the business or a step above. You can gauge what to wear by researching a company’s culture. If you are working with a recruiter you can always ask them what to wear if you are unsure. Most US companies have gone to business casual. However, European base corporations tend to dress up more… think full suit. ALWAYS have clothing well ironed.
Men: Collared dress shirt (not golf shirts), nice pants (no jeans) and a blazer. If interviewing at a more conservative company, a two-piece suit.
Women: Pant or skirt suit, conservative dress. No low cut tops or miniskirts.
2. CLEAN NAILS AND SHOES
It might seem silly, but having clean nails and shoes shows a level of professionalism. Women should wear closed toed shoes, and if nails are painted make sure they are not chipped.
3. DON’T WEAR BOLD CLOTHING AND ACCESSORIES
This includes loud colors, prints, accessories, sunglasses, bags, etc. All of these things will distract from the interview. You want your work history and story to stand out!
4. BRING A NOTEBOOK, PEN, AND EXTRA RESUME(S)
It’s important to take notes during an interview, so be prepared. Remember, you are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Another upside to taking notes, you can refer back to them when you are writing your Thank You notes to make them more personal. It’s also never a bad idea to bring extra copies of your resume (unwrinkled).