Quick Career Coaching Corner By Flora Quick
Career Coach • Resume Writer
Quick Resume Career Services
floracoaches516@gmail.com
646-748-0462
@quickresumecareerservices
Resume Do's & Don'ts
A Résumé is a summary of your professional story. A well written résumé gets you interviews!! See quick resume tips below:
Resume Do's
- Font-size 12-14, style-Arial, Book Antigua, Calibri
- Make sure your contact information is accurate
- Create a professional email address
- 1-2 pages are ok (depending on your experience and education)
- Use short paragraph or bullets to introduce your skills “Summary of Skills” “ Career Summary” or “Professional Summary”
- Write it for the job you want!
- Use Action Verbs
- Research the company’s mission
- Use key words/industry specific language/transferrable skills,
- Include headings, volunteer activities, professional memberships, awards
- Should include last 10-15 years of employment
Resume Don'ts
- Use the word “Objective” instead lead with a summary your Accomplishments
- Use the words “I” or “me” or “my” – they can be used in the cover letter
- Include age, marital status, SS#, someone else’s contact info, health, hobbies, religion or political affiliations
- Make it more than 3 pages
- Get too creative with font styles/size/colors
- Include “References available upon request”
- Include everything you have done, some jobs might not be relevant
- Don’t have your cousins and them create your resume!!!
*Use a professional résumé writer!
Interview Do's & Don'ts
Interviews are opportunities for career seekers to show the value they bring to an employer! See interview tips below:
Interview Do's
- Research the company, it clients-get as much info as possible
- Organize your thoughts, prepare your answers
- Create 3-5 stories that show evidence of your most marketable and relevant skills
- Social media interviews-learn about them
- Prepare 3-5 questions
- Dress for success
- Always be professional, smile, and be polite, eye contact is important
- Know the difference between illegal, unethical, and inappropriate questions
- Follow-up with interviewers
- Send a thank you note
- Keep track of interviews and be honest about your performance
Interview Don'ts
- Act desperate for the job
- Make the interview guess what type of work you are interested in
- Be unprepared for typical interview questions (tell me about yourself or not being ready to provide examples)
- Fidget, slouch, or cross your arms, panic or loose your cool, rush while answering
- Schedule interviews when you/your environment are not prepared
- Speak ill of former employers or colleagues
- Be afraid to ask questions about the employer
- Ask about salary during the 1st interview
- Make promises you know you won’t keep
PRACTICE ! PRACTICE ! PRACTICE !
Professional References Do's & Don'ts
Did you know that 100% of employers ask for references? over 26% check them? And 100% will not extend an employment offer if the reference gives negative feedback. A reference check is a tool used in the hiring process to verify references for job applicants. Use our list below to help you create a list of positive references.
Professional References Do's
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Create positive & appropriate relationships with your current supervisors, colleagues and clients -
Refrain from speaking ill about your current/former supervisors, managers, colleagues and clients -
Ask people’s permission to list them as your reference & ask them what they would say
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Coach your references on what to say about you
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Inquire with your company’s HR department policy on providing references -
Create a list of 10-15 people you can use
Professional References Don'ts
- Expect people to “volunteer” to be your reference
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Ask people who you don’t get along with to be your reference - Assume everyone will give you a glowing reference
- Forget about continuing to check with your references even after you get the job!
- Pressure your references to embellish about your accomplishments/work performance
- Disregard your references feedback
