Rules for the "Senior" resume | How to Use Classified Ads | How to Sell Yourself to an Employer
| Job Interview Checklist | Negative Factors-(Some Reasons for Unsuccessful Interviews) | 20 Reasons People Don't Get Hired | Occupational Survival Skills | Negative Evaluations from Employers | Back to Job Search Information

Rules for the "Senior" resume:

1. ONE (1) Page only (Preferred); TWO page maximum;
2. Functional format (tells what you know and what you can do, but NOT WHEN you learned it or when did it);
3. DO NOT include OBJECTIVE (S). This item is reserved for your cover letter;
4. DO NOT include your picture, your age of date of birth or ANY dates that would tip off your age;
5. DO NOT include personal information such as height, weight, sex, race or religion;
6. DO include achievements such as special recognitions, awards, commendations, etc regardless of whether or not these were employment-related;
7. DO include current and former civic and business association memberships and offices held;
8. DO include any and all volunteer activities;
9. DO include hobbies and avocations;
10. DO NOT include references (these are to be made available separately).

NOTE: The above "DO NOT" items are only to be excluded from the resume. The applicant MUST answer any and all such questions asked on an application form.

Rules for the "Senior" resume | How to Use Classified Ads | How to Sell Yourself to an Employer
| Job Interview Checklist | Negative Factors-(Some Reasons for Unsuccessful Interviews) | 20 Reasons People Don't Get Hired | Occupational Survival Skills | Negative Evaluations from Employers | Back to Job Search Information

1. Always include a cover letter with the resumes you send.
2. A good cover letter can customize your response by accenting any skills or experience you have that's particularly well-suited for the position advertised. Briefly indicate as well, your reasons for making a career or industry transition and factors that attract you to the company or position in question.
3. Close each letter by expressing your interest in scheduling an interview at the employer's earliest opportunity.
4. Respond to the ad even if you don't meet all the criteria it lists.
5. Don't get discouraged if you don't get immediate responses to your resume submissions.
6. You may get calls up to six months after sending your resume to a company.
7. If salary history is requested in the ad, include a range of what you're seeking in salary. You needn't provide details or past salaries. Indicating a range-$25,000-$30,000 or "the mid 40's," etc. is usually sufficient. Whatever information you do include, the cover letter, not the resume, is the appropriate place for the data.
8. Try to use your contact networks to get referred into companies that are advertising.
9. Recognize the important of persistence and high quality written materials when responding to ads.
10. You're familiar with the adage "You never get a second chance to make a first impression?" Be sure your resume and cover letters are error-free, printed on good quality rag content stationery and produced with business quality typewriter or letter-quality computer printer. Follow up all written inquires with one or more phone calls.

1. Know what your skills and personal qualities are.
2. Learn as much as you can beforehand about the organization you are going to apply to (or interview with).
3. Be on time for your interview. (15 minutes early at the latest)
4. Make a good appearance. Be neat, wear clean, appropriate clothes. Do NOT overdress or wear showy or tasteless attire.
5. The employer wants to talk to YOU. DO NOT take anyone with you into the interview.
6. Watch your posture and "body language"! Do not slouch, yawn or show that you are nervous, disinterested or bored.
7. Answer all questions accurately, honestly, frankly and succinctly. Don't brag or overstate a point.
8. Listen! Show that you are interested in the job and the organization.
9. To paraphrase JFK, "ask not what the company can do for you, but what you can do for the company." This must be applied especially early in the interview.
10. When asked, point out the value of your past training and experience that will carry over to the job you are seeking.
11. If asked, be able to give the names of three references.
12. Speak with a feeling of confidence and enthusiasm. Do not bluff or exaggerate. Use good English, speak clearly, but be careful you don't talk too much. Remember that subject- matter that is dear to us is NOT necessarily dear to the listener. But DO talk about any awards, special recognition or achievements you may have.
13. Do NOT get into an argument with a prospective employer ( or interviewer).
14. Do NOT criticize others.
15. Do NOT talk about your private life, your family or financial problems.
16. Show respect for the person interviewing you.
17. Do not become discouraged if during your first interview you become nervous and do not present yourself in the best light. Take heart and learn from the experience. You will improve next time.
18. Be sure you like and can do the work for which you are applying.
19. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration, then send a short one page thank you note which will afford you an opportunity to briefly cover items that you may have overlooked and to clarify others.
20. DON'T pin all your hopes on one interview. Remember that to get the job you must be their number ONE choice over any others (excep for those that may have declined an offer). You MUST maintain a POSITIVE image during the interview. And don't be the one to end the interview; let the interviewer conclude everything.

• Will you handle yourself properly during the job interview?
• Use this to prepare and evaluate your interview.

• Resume ready to take with you?
• Gathered information about the company?
• Rehearsed the interview?

• Clothing clean and well-pressed?
• Clothing appropriate for applying for job?
• Well groomed and hair clean, trimmed, and combed?
• Shoes clean and polished?

• Greet interviewer by name and with a smile.
• State your name proudly?
• Shake interviewer's hand firmly?
• Sit only when asked to do so?
• Help the interviewer feel comfortable?
• Look the interviewer in the eye?
• Listen carefully to what the interviewer has to say?
• Take time to think questions through before answering?
• Place purse on the floor beside your chair?
• Emphasize what you could do for the firm?
• Speak well of previous employers and co-workers?
• Do not argue with the interviewer?
• Show desire to work?
• Be open to new ideas?
• Be courteous and tactful?
• Be enthusiastic about work and life in general?
• Ask questions about the job and the company?
• Be prepared to tell employer how you would benefit his/her company?
• Do not smoke, chew gum, or eat candy?
• Stick to the point and answer the questions briefly and completely?
• Be on time for the interview?

• Thank the interviewer?
• Use the "call-back" closing?
• Thank the receptionist for being helpful?
• Send Thank You note
• Follow-up?
• Evaluate?
  

1. Poor personal appearance; sloppy, untidy grooming
2. Inability to ask good questions about the job
3. No sense of purpose or goals, lack of sound career planning
4. Poor attitudes: overbearing, conceited, "know-it-all overly aggressive, passive, indifferent, lazy, no interest or enthusiasm.
5. Inability to express oneself clearly
6. Lack of confidence in self or abilities; nervousness
7. Lateness for appointment/interview without valid reason
8. Exaggeration of abilities or experience; unwillingness to start at the bottom; expecting too much too soon
9. Too much concern over money and fringe benefits
10. Name dropper; emphasizes importance of who one knows
11. Inadequate experience or knowledge of the field
12. Bad mannerism; discourteous
13. Defensive, evasive about unfavorable aspects of career
14. Condemnation of previous employers
15. Poor handshake; weak, limp hand, dead-fish hands, or sweaty palms
16. Inability to look interviewer in eye; lack of directness
17. Messy application blank, incomplete application without reason
18. Lacking in sense of humor
19. Little interest evidenced in industry or organization
20. Lack of initiative and/or judgement
21. Strong prejudices or radical ideas
22. No interest in community activities
23. Inability to take criticism

• Poor personal appearance
• Overaggressive
  Inability to express information clearly
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm
• Lack of planning for career; no purpose and no goals
• Nervous, lack of confidence and poise
• Overemphasis on money
• Unwilling to start at the bottom
• Makes excuses
• Lack of tact and courtesy
• Lack of maturity
• Condemns past employers
• No genuine interest in company or job
• Fails to look interviewer in the eye
• Sloppy application form
• Little sense of humor
• Arrives late at interview
• Fails to express appreciation for interviewer's time
• Fails to ask questions about the job
• Vague responses to questions

1. Being dependable
2. Giving an honest day's work
3. Knowing what is expected of you
4. Maintaining good health
5. Managing time and materials efficiently
6. Getting along with people with a variety of personalities
7. Working as a team member
8. Understanding written information
9. Having basic writing skills
10. Knowing your own abilities, strengths and weaknesses
11. Being loyal to the organizations for which you work
12. Making independent decisions
13. Using initiative and imagination
14. Locating information, materials or equipment
15. Working without close supervision
16. Working under tension or pressure
17. Adjusting to various work situations
18. Being neat and clean in appearance
19. Having basic speaking skills
20. Following safety regulations
21. Knowing how to use job materials, machines or tools
22. Being punctual
23. Having some type of specialized training
24. Organizing work activities of others
25. Following instructions
26. Having basic arithmetic skills
27. Having basic knowledge of your organization's operating procedures

1. Poor personal appearance
2. Overbearing - overaggressive - conceited "superiority complex" and "know it all"
3. Inability to express self clearly - poor voice, diction, grammar
4. Lack of planning for career - no purpose and goal
5. Lack of interest and enthusiasm - passive, indifferent
6. Lack of confidence and poise - nervousness, ill at ease
7. Failure to participate in activities
8. Overemphasis on money - interest only in best dollar offer
9. Poor scholastic record - just got by
10. Unwilling to start at the bottom - expects too much too soon
11. Makes excuses - evasiveness - hedges on unfavorable factors in record
12. Lack of tact
13. Lack of maturity
14. Lack of courtesy - ill mannered
15. Condemnation of past employers
16. Lack of social understanding
17. Marked dislike for school work
18. Lack of vitality
19. Fails to look interviewer in the eye
20. Limp, fishy hand-shake
21. Indecision
22. Loafs during vacation - lakeside pleasures
23. Friction with parents
24. Sloppy application blank
25. Unhappy married life
26. Merely shopping around
27. Want job only short time
28. Little sense or humor
29. Lack of knowledge of field of specialization
30. Parents make decisions
31. No interest in company or industry
32. Emphasis on whom he/she knows
33. Unwillingness to relocate
34. Cynical
35. Low moral standards
36. Lazy
37. Intolerant - strong prejudices
38. Narrow interests
39. Spends much time in movies
40. Poor handling of personal finances
41. No interest in community activities
42. Inability to take criticism
43. Lack of appreciation of value of experience
44. Radical ideas
45. Late to interview without good reason
46. Never heard of company
47. Failure to express appreciation for interviewer's time
48. Ask no questions about job
49. High pressure type
50. Indefinite response to questions