24 Tips to Get on an Employer’s Shortlist Rather Than Find Your Resume in the Trash!
Written by Michael Barnes
Employment Coach INDEX
Preparing Your Resume
Remember the purpose of your resume is to “sell” the employer the idea that you could be a valuable employee for his/her business, and that he/she needs to offer you an interview to find out more.
Tip 1:
Keep the layout clean and simple. Don’t clutter it up with “pretty” fonts or graphics. Use a simple font like Arial or Times New Roman. Do headings in bold so they stand out, but don’t underline them as well. Use bullet points for lists such as employment history etc. Use simple black print on white paper, easier to read and it looks clean and professional.
Tip 2:
Create two resumes, one that summarises your information in no more than three pages, but has contact points for more information. Eg phone numbers of past employers, phone numbers of referees, and of course as many contact points for you as possible. Home, mobile, fax, email etc. Employers are very busy, particularly when looking for staff, and giving them brief but important information saves them time. The second resume can be an expanded version, held in readiness in case it is asked for. If a prospective employer asks for more information you need to be able to supply it almost instantly.
Tip 3:
Always use good quality paper and covers for your resume. After all this is your introduction to this employer, and we all know what they say about first impressions. There are many impressive papers and covers available today that don’t cost an arm and a leg to buy!
Tip 4:
Particularly if the position you are applying for demands some computer skills, create a simple website with your full resume on it. Most ISP’s include a small website in with their dial-up or broadband packages for no extra charge, and almost everyone has a friend or relative who has the simple skills needed to create a simple website. Resource: JCPNet.com.au actually offers a FREE simple website service for its customers. Then of course add the website link to your resume.
Tip 5:
Start your resume off with a statement titled Career Objective, or Employment Objective if you are more comfortable with that. In this section, state what you wish to achieve in the position you are applying for. That is state what you will be offering your prospective employer NOT what YOU want. Eg “I would like a position where I can work as part of a team and use my customer service skills.” Instead of: “I want a job that’s close to home and I can get to on public transport.” – don’t laugh - I have seen this! This means of course that this section MUST be individualized to each application. The very fact that you have taken time to do this will impress your prospective employer, as it shows you have taken time to think about what you can contribute to his/her business, rather than just sending a standard application in for any old job. Keep this to one or two sentences.
Tip 6:
Next, write one paragraph of no more than 4-5 sentences on what you have done. Highlight the skills and experience you have that would be applicable to the position for which you are applying. Eg If applying for a receptionist/clerical position use something like: “The previous positions I have held have allowed me to use my customer service skills, as well as develop my clerical and filing experience. I enjoy being of service to people and have good communication skills. I am also very organized and I cope well with a busy environment.”
Tip 7:
In your employment history, give the name of the businesses you have worked for, the dates you worked there, and a brief explanation of your duties.
Tip 8:
Birth date and marital status: an employer cannot legally request this and sometimes it is better to leave this sort of detail until you are at the interview and can “sell” yourself. However if these details could be a plus eg if you are a junior and applying for a junior position, then it would be advisable to include your date of birth.
Tip 9:
Ensure you ring all referees and ask their permission to use their names on your resume before you hand your resume out. Also ask them which phone number they would like used on your resume for contact purposes.
Tip 10:
Always make sure you know exactly where the interview is to take place. Double check the address and the location eg a city building has many floors and many more rooms and if you don’t know exactly where to go you can end up running late. Work out how you will get there and how long it will take.
Tip 11:
Ensure you plan to arrive a few minutes early. This enables you to compose yourself and enter the interview in a relaxed frame of mind.
Tip 12:
Find out what ever you can about the company. A lot of businesses have websites today, and these will often tell you quite a bit about what the business does and sometimes who is involved. Often interviewers will ask what you know about their business and it is much more impressive to be able to be able to tell them at least the basics rather than to simply say “not a lot”.
Tip 13:
Have a fresh, clean copy of both your concise and your full resume ready to take with you. If asked you can then supply it on the spot.
Tip 14:
Make sure you have a good supply of clean clothes, your shoes are kept clean, etc. Last minute dramas as you try to get out the door are not a good start, and if you end up without a button on a shirt, or spilling a drink down a blouse, it is far less of a problem if you have something to change into at a moments notice.
Tip 15:
Always ensure you arrive a few minutes before any appointment time. If by any chance you are going to be late, ensure you have the employer’s name and phone number with you and that you ring at least 5 minutes before your appointment time to warn him/her that you will be late.
If you don’t show respect for the employer’s time at this stage, he/she is not going to show your application any respect either. Not a good start!
Tip 16:
Ensure you are dressed “one notch” above the standard of the job you are applying for. If you think a dress shirt and slacks would be acceptable where for the job you are applying for, then wear a tie and jacket. A female applicant should always dress conservatively. No lowcut or sleeveless blouses. No exceptionally short skirts.
Everyone should have clean shoes. Everyone should have clean hands, and particularly if applying for anything other than manual labour positions, clean fingernails.
Tip 17:
Don’t go to the interview hauling a suitcase full of whatever, a huge carrier or sports bag, or an armful of folders etc. Ensure you have a copy of both your brief and full resume with you and a minimum of unnecessary other items.
Tip 18:
Do ensure you have a pen and notepaper with you in case you need to write down details of further appointments etc.
Tip 19: Make absolutely sure your mobile phone is turned off before going in to the premises for an interview.
Tip 20: Take note of how the employer introduces himself or herself. As a general guide, if the interviewer is substantially older than you are, then it is likely you will earn points if you show them the respect of addressing them as Mr or Mrs. Yes, today often ladies use Ms but they will still give you points for showing respect by addressing them formally. In almost every case the interviewer will say “Please call me Mike/Mary or whatever their Christian name is. But showing the respect of a formal approach will earn you valuable points up front.
However, it you are applying for a management position, or are on an age par with the interviewer, then show your confidence by addressing them by their Christian name. If the interviewer does not introduce himself/herself, and you are simply led in to the room by another staff member, your best bet is to use the Mr or Mrs title until you are given permission to address the person by their Christian name. Remember you can never lose points for being a little overboard in the good manners/respect department.
Tip 21: Please ensure you practice a firm but not hard handshake. Do not shake your hand violently up and down, but two firm movements is fine. If you are very much junior to the interviewer, it is preferable that you wait for the interviewer to offer his/her hand first.
Tip 22: RELAX – the worst that can happen is that you walk out of the interview without the job. As you didn’t have the job when you walked in, the reality is you have nothing to lose. By relaxing into the interview, not only will you make a better impression, but you are more likely to enjoy and learn something from the experience.
Tip 23: After the interview, make sure that you follow up with anything you were asked to do, very quickly. Eg if they asked a question you didn’t have the answer for, and asked you to get back to them about it, do it promptly. The reason is, they wouldn’t have asked if not interested in employing you, and secondly prompt delivery on their request show them you are keen to work there.
Tip 24: A quick “thank you for giving me the opportunity of an interview. Having met you and learned more about the position, I am now even more keen to join your company/business” email (if you have the person’s email address from their business card) or even a quick thank you note (saying the same thing) posted directly to the interviewer can only win you points. This as only happened to me once in my 30 years of hiring staff, and I can still tell you the name of the guy who did it! This is a simple technique that gets you remembered, which is the first step to being on that shortlist! And in closing, try and treat your job-hunting as a learning experience. It is imperative that you keep a cheerful, enthusiastic attitude if you are going to be able to “sell” yourself in the job market.
The reality is, that in Australia, no-one is going to starve if they don’t have a job. It may be a challenge and also most uninspiring to live on a benefit, but it is not the end of the world if you don’t get a job today.
The sooner you can take the attitude that your job today is “to find a job” and that that is both an interesting and challenging learning experience which is taking you one step further towards employment everyday, the sooner you will find an employer who is impressed enough with that attitude to offer you a position.
Good Luck in Your Search for Employment!
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