Don't Blow the Interview

Part 1
Six Steps to Interview Success
Now that a rationale for a solid understanding of the interview process has been laid out, it is time to give you step-by-step information that will help prepare you for the interview.


There are six steps to interviewing success that will provide a concise and significant competitive edge.
1. Preparing a résumé
2. Obtaining an interview
3. What to do after scheduling the interview
4. Preparing for the interview
5. The interview
6. Post-interview follow-up

Step 1
Preparing a Résumé
What to Include
Your résumé will be the initial impression you make. It should be a complete description of your experiences and accomplishments, whereby providing an employer with a picture of who you are and what you have done. When preparing one, there are three formats from which to choose:
--Chronological is the style and format that is most often used by students who are graduating and seeking their first jobs or internships, or those in the work force with limited experience.
--Functional is intended to focus on more extensive and broader experiences and/or to mask gaps in employment; it is also appropriate for individuals changing careers.
--Chronological/Functional is a combination of the two. This is a good choice to emphasize qualifications.
Multiple examples of all these formats can be found in Part 2 of this book (here).
Where possible customize the objective to include a benefit to the employer. For example: "To secure a head teaching position in elementary education for the purpose of providing students with a stimulating and enjoyable learning experience." As opposed to the stereotypical "To secure a teaching position at the elementary level."
This is an actual example that allowed the employer to appreciate the candidate's enthusiasm and interest for seeking this position for the right reasons, and allowed the individual to separate themselves fromthe bulk of prospects with generically stated objectives. Clearly both the employer and the candidate benefitted.
Home (and/or college) addresses and phone numbers should be listed at the top of the résumé along with your name and be labeled "permanent" and "temporary" where appropriate: and of course your cell phone number (if you have a cellular phone) and e-mail address should also be included. Make it easy for potential employers to contact you. (For example, see here.)
Be sure that your e-mail address projects the right image and is suitable for business. Do not use one that is adolescent or silly, such as hot-dog, mrcool, tampababe, etc. Also check your outgoing cell phone message: It should be concise and professional.
If you were involved in activities during or after college, list them; it shows that you have expanded your interests, and perhaps developed a better appreciation for teamwork--an important subject that will be discussed at greater length later on in the book.
Volunteer work establishes an individual as caring, sensitive, and sharing, and who is interested in helping others, and giving something back. It shows what kind of person you are, and is an indication of how you may function with others in the workplace. This is important to employers and contributes toward that competitive advantage. Every little bit helps.
If you are a college graduate, it is not necessary to list your high school. However, if it is a well-known school district, a specialty school for the industry being pursued, if you had strong achievements, or if you are pursuing a job in education, that prestige may be worth including. It cannot hurt!
Try to list references from internships or externships or other business experiences--they will be more believable than family or friends who may be viewed as obviously biased.
When using someone as a reference, be sure to secure that individual's permission beforehand, and advise them that a call from an employer may be forthcoming. It is the polite thing to do, and it avoids the embarrassment of an obviously unexpected call to a reference that makes you look less than thorough.
If your reference has been "tipped off," he or she may be inclined to put in a plug on your behalf-something along the line of: "I have been expecting your call, so-and-so told me about the interview with your company and is very excited about this possible opportunity. You're considering a very special person, in my opinion." Wow, before the conversation even begins a positive impression has already been made. All because of one simple heads-up phone call.
Do your best to keep your résumé to one page. People are busy, brevity is appreciated. However, if your particular situation necessitates a second page, use it. Be sure the second page is marked "page 2" and that your name and phone number appear at the top. Do not staple or paperclip. Leave it loose as you would the second page of a letter.
What to include (items marked with an asterisk should he listed in reverse chronological order, with the most recent one first):
--Name
--Phone numbers, e-mail and mailing addresses
--Objective (customized)
--Graduating college/high school* (optional)
--School achievements/awards*
--Previous employment/internship positions*
--Athletics/clubs/associations
--Skills
--Interests/volunteer work*
--"References upon request" (notify person[s] first)

This is the basic order for a "Chronological" résumé. It will vary for a "functional" or "functional/chronological," and for priority purposes at different points in one's career. See the samples of the different types in Part 2.
--Chronological résumés: here
--Functional résumés; here
--Functional/chronological resumes: here

Appeal
Just as you may be more attracted to one ad versus others in a magazine because of an uncluttered, appealing layout, so too are employers attracted to resumes. Again, remember that great demands are placed on the individuals reading resumes. They are often pressed for time and can easily be turned off by a résumé that is too wordy or perceived as difficult to get through.
It has been stated that the decision to "pitch" or "consider" a résumé is usually made in ten to thirty seconds, so be very selective about what you submit.
In today's job market, the resumes of the two 2004 presidential candidates, George Bush and John Kerry, would probably fail the ten second rule-as in, employers know within ten seconds of seeing a résumé whether they will seek an interview.
Nobody thought that the two candidates were deadbeats. But they weren't bowled over either. Neither had a single internship-virtually required these days.
-USA Today, May 18, 2004
Do everything possible to gain the employer's full attention; be sure your résumé and cover letter are well organized, clear, and concisely written.
The following five points will help accomplish this goal:
--Customize the objective(s) to the specific interview
--Use clear, simple language
--Keep descriptions brief (bullet points are suggested)
--Check spelling/punctuation accuracy (have someone else read it)
--Include the person's title in letter address
Many things can be forgiven, but rarely an untruth. Stretching the truth or using a complete fabrication is a reflection of your character, personality, and credibility. If someone will lie once, they will do it again. Whyhire that person? The truth somehow always surfaces. It is not worth the risk.
The reality is that a person looking at a résumé spends about thirty seconds on each one in the first cut. If you don't have at the top of the first page why you are the best, you don't stand a chance. I routinely deal with companies who receive more than three thousand resumes a day.
-Cheryl Dahle, The New York Times, April 17, 2005

Design
The initial reaction that an employer will experience toward your résumé will be visual. A clean, well-organized design will be well received. Contributing to this impression is the use of a typeface without serifs (a good one is Arial). Boldface/non-bold treatment is a very effective "highlighting" technique; examples are on here.
To repeat, people in business are often short on time; a quick glance and scan of your résumé may be your only window of opportunity for attracting their interest and further drawing them into the details of your background. Résumé format should be pleasing to the eye.
Always use good quality paper for your résumé and cover letter--it will contribute to that initial impression. Use 24 lb. white or ivory stock, not color stationery. Here's what you want:
--Clean simple, orderly format
--Clear typeface
--Bold/non-bold for impact (heading, schools, companies, etc.)
--Good quality paper stock (not copier paper)
The one-picture-to-a-thousand words ratio unjustly downplays the importance of type-styles. Academics and marketers have long known that the choice of font in logos and advertising copy greatly influences legibility, memorability, and public perception of the brand.
--Harvard Business Review, April 2005

Action
Now that you have an attractively designed résumé, you should write a well-composed cover letter as well. Yes, a cover letter should always accompany your résumé. It is the bow on the package, so to speak, that creates the appropriate impression. Without it your effort is incomplete. Additionally, a cover letter allows you to briefly express yourself and gives the person reviewing your résumé a sample of your communication skills.
First, be sure your phone number(s) and e-mail address(es) are included in your cover letter; it may become separated from your résumé and you want to make it easy for people to contact you. Surprisingly this is often overlooked.
The use of e-mail, scanning, or fax to submit your résumé and cover letter is totally acceptable, and these are quick and efficient ways to communicate. In the fast-paced and competitive world that we live in, immediacy can be a significant advantage. Following up via first-class mail for that personal touch is always a good idea, where appropriate. The bonus is that your name passes before the employer an additional time. Also, the individual may have the opportunity to review your résumé in further detail and note something that was previously overlooked. Two impressions are better than one.
See here for cover letter samples.
Forwarding a Résumé
Until fairly recently, and before the miracle of technology, resumes were processed by first-class mail. Period. Today the options are far greater--and virtually instantaneous. However, the postal service is still the best method for quality impact. In the end, timing and availability will dictate the method used.
First-Class Mail
The primary advantage is the opportunity to showcase quality paper and the attractiveness of your résumé's layout and design without compromising them as you would when processing electronically. Another plus is your original signature on the accompanying cover letter.
The drawback to first-class is that your résumé will take several days to arrive at its destination. It can be further delayed in the mailroom or the person's inbox.
Scanning
A scanned résumé can be sent quickly and can be entered into the company's database. Frequently companies will program key words into the system that, when crossed with similar words on a given résumé, will create a match.
Since the scanner has the capability of identifying candidates with interests similar to the company's needs, it is important for multiple words and phrases that are synonymous to be built into the résumé text (i.e., stockbroker, investment executive, account executive, registered representative, etc.), so that whichever search phrase is used, your résumé will pop up. Give yourself every chance to be "discovered." (See a sample scanned résumé on here.)


Scanning Do's:
--Use standard clean-looking typefaces (fonts), such as Arial, Courier, or Times New Roman. Scanning software only recognizes certain fonts.
--Use 12-point type; it is easy to read.
--If your résumé goes to a second page (do try to avoid this) be sure your name and phone number and "page 2" appear at the top. Pages can become separated--make it easy for an employer or recruiter to locate you.
--The left margin should be "block" format or "flush left." The right margin should be "ragged" or "widowed," not "justified."
--Only use asterisks, not bullets, and spell out full symbols ("and," not "&")--neither bullets nor symbols will be "read" or transmitted.
--Use all capital letters for headings and names (not bold).
--Use white paper.
--For clarity use spacing before and after a slash or dash.
Scanning Don'ts:
--Do not underline, or use bold, italics, horizontal or vertical lines, boxes, borders, bullets, graphics, or symbols.
--Do not abbreviate.
--Do not use any typeface other than the standards: i.e. Arial, Courier, Times New Roman.

Electronic Résumé
E-mailing a résumé is a good option, if it is available to you. It is immediate and clean.
Since most businesses use Microsoft Word, there is a good chance that you will be able to forward your résumé in this format. If so, your exact résumé design and format should be received intact, as long as the sender's and receiver's versions of the software are compatible. Software is constantly being upgraded; if one version is less current than the other it may transmit differently or not at all.
Additionally do not use portable document format (PDF) or spreadsheets, and be sure to leave ¾" to 1" margins on top, bottom, and both sides.
The elements of designing a résumé for e-processing are discussed further in the scanning résumé section on here.
Web Résumé
This method offers the greatest flexibility by combining the benefits of first-class mail with the speed of the electronic résumé. Also, additional "spins" in the form of added pages, visuals, and sound can be included to make a résumé stand out from the crowd and create a further competitive edge. This method is particularly useful for creative positions where a portfolio and/or CD is important.
Fax
The résumé is quickly transmitted and received. However, it can be delayed in a central or individual's inbox. Also, it is printed on low-quality paper, with questionable reproduction quality.
If other options are available to you, faxing is probably the last choice.

DON'T BLOW THE INTERVIEW. Copyright © 2006 by Ralph Ferrone. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews. For information, address St. Martin's Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010.