Your resume writing and interview preparation

Have you ever considered that your resume writing and interview preparation are effectively just different aspects of the same thing? That thing of course is your communication to the employer that you are the right candidate for the job. Your interview success walks hand in hand with your resume success. You cant have one without the other. If they don’t like the look of you on paper you won’t get the opportunity to put it right in person. Both the resume and the interview rely on an initial impression to set the tone. For your resume it may be those first fifteen seconds when the employer decides whether your resume should be considered further, or confined to the trash. In the interview its all about that first minute and your ability to create a positive impression that establishes you as the real deal, and gets the interviewer in a state of mind not just to listen to you, but to HEARyou.

The best and most successful interview candidates see the big picture. They appreciate the connection.

Here are tips to help you with resume writing and interview preparation:

Begin with the end in mind

Your resume leads to the interview so bear this in mind! If you leave gaps in your resume you will likely face questions about this area at interview. In the same way, a strong resume can set you up in the employers mind as the candidate who can. Write your resume with the attitude that you expect to get an interview, and when you do, you will impress them even more.

Be focused on interview success

Don’t send your resume to positions you don’t want. Your efforts will be half hearted and generally, employers can tell. As I said, you need to begin with the end in mind. You need to be focused on what you want, and matching yourself up with that. The less time you waste on these types of applications, the more you can focus on what matters, producing a targeted application that will get you noticed for the position you really want.

Commit to the core

It is your ability to convey the qualities required for the position that will get you to interview, and your ability to build on that in the interview that will ultimately win you the job. Don’t get lost in the trap of saying a lot, while saying nothing that matters. As you write, think about what the employer, and your eventual interviewer really wants to know, and how you can give it to them.

For more on the core questions - click here

Focus on what works

It’s a rule in life we tend to achieve success where we have achieved it before. When you are invited to interview you are on a a roll, so don’t stop now. Use your resume to help you prepare for interview. Be ready to continue linking the skills and experience required with the competencies and achievements in your resume. Do this and you are well on your way to interview success.

Build on your success

You can build your success in the interview on the foundation of your resume; give them more of what they like and then build to on it. Be ready to show them that you have the aptitude and personality for the role too. And remember, they want you to be the one! Which leads neatly to my next point…………..

Be confident

When you make it to interview its because you have demonstrated you understand and match what they want. You would not be in the interview if they did not believe you were capable of doing the job. The field has been narrowed. They believe in you. You should to. Have the confidence to be your best.

Be ready to plug the gaps

Your resume is the platform on which the interview is built. Use the star technique going through your resume to draft up answers to the common questions. They will be wanting to know about what is in your resume, and of course, what isn’t. consider the "gaps" in your resume and anticipate the tough interview questions they may ask.

Presentation, presentation, presentation

In both your resume and the interview itself, presentation is massively important. The first thing they see will affect the outcome, even though that is merely the tip of the iceberg. So that means you must......

Look the part

in writing your resume that of course describing your skills and experience in a way that quickly catches the eye. In the interview this will mean creating and maintaining the right personal impact, from the moment you walk in until you end the interview.

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