Members of the Lakes Area Human Resources Association provided insight into what they like to hear in an interview and pitfalls to avoid.
DO
¥ Tailor the resume to the job you are seeking.
¥ Match the job title on your resume to the job listed by the company.
¥ Make sure the resume objective matches the job you are seeking. It's OK not to list an objective.
¥ Keep resumes concise with dates of employment and key responsibilities.
¥ Use bullets instead of paragraphs on the resume for easier reading. An interviewer said screening resumes is time consuming and it's important to make it easier for the screener to pick out the relevant qualifications.
¥ List accomplishments and community involvement in the resume.
¥ Include portfolios and examples of your work. And if it's relevant to the job you are seeking, bring the portfolio to your interview.
¥ Write a thank you note after an interview.
¥ Think about your answers. One applicant said they were previously fired for mooning a co-worker. They didn't get the job.
¥ Take care with your appearance. This is the big first impression. One applicant of note went through the entire interview with a shirttail sticking out their pant zipper.
¥ Consider including experience gained outside of a traditional work role, such as volunteering, that highlight leadership, project management, marketing, strategic planning or other important skills.
¥ Listen to interview questions and answer them clearly and completely.
DON'T
¥ Insult the interviewer. One applicant when asked if he had any questions for the interviewer said "none for you little darling." That didn't go over as well as he may have thought.
¥ Pick up a job application or go to the interview in beach wear, fluffy slippers or pajamas.
¥ Don't call constantly about a decision following a job interview.
¥ Wing it. Go to the interview prepared. Practice questions and answers before hand. And answer the question the interviewer is asking.
¥ Disclose too much personal information.
¥ Be late.
¥ Take too much time, be sensitive to the interviewer's schedule and perhaps have just a few questions for them at the initial interview.
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