Writing Your Resume
Writing a resume can be difficult. We don’t always know what employers are looking for and sometimes it’s difficult to put into words our skills and achievements. By following these simple tips you’ll be able to complete a presentable resume that will get noticed by employers and increase your chances of getting an interview.

• First impressions count on paper too. Employers are handed many resumes throughout the year and you want yours to stand out in t
  
  e pile. Make important information, skills and achievements visible so the reader wants to learn more but keep it professional. Avoid using coloured paper or hard to read fonts.
• Be clear and concise. Mention all of your achievements but there is no need to go into detail. You will be given the opportunity to give more information during an interview. Keep your resume short but include all pertinent information.
• Include relevant information that is appropriate for the position that you are applying for. There is no need to include a lot of detail about jobs that are not relevant to the current position applied for.
• Use bulleted sentences so the information can be scanned through quickly by the reader.
• Use action words to describe what you’ve done in previous positions to make your resume stand out.
• Do your research and match the need they have to the skills you can offer. Read carefully through the posting and include key phrases to match your skills to the ad they’ve posted.
• Always check spelling, grammar and formatting before submitting your resume. Have other read your resume over to ensure all corrections are made. Ensure your resume is no longer than two pages and keep the font size to 10-12 points.

Ace the Interview
Now that your customized resume has got the attention of the hiring staff, prepare yourself for the interview so you show up confident, relaxed and ready to highlight what you can offer their company.

• Show your interest in the job and the company but researching and gathering background information on the company, the project or the position. Even if you’re not asked mention one or two key points about the company.
• Your appearance does matter and so do first impressions. Arrive on time in clean, presentable attire. Keep your appearance tidy and dress accordingly. If it’s not a corporate positions you won’t have to wear a suit but jeans and a t-shirt are out of the question.
• Do not criticize your previous employer during the interview. This behaviour is unprofessional and shows a lack of maturity.
• Highlight your strengths, skills and achievements that are relevant to the position. This is your opportunity to go into further details than your resume would allow. Do not lie or embellish the truth. Hiring teams will perform background checks and will find out your true qualifications.
• Prepare for the interview by practicing with a friend or family member. Go over different ways to best answer questions and practice making your answers more concise. The more you practice the less nervous you’ll be during the interview process.
• Be prepared for all questions including salary expectations. Research salaries for similar positions online or by speaking with others in the field. Go in with a realistic figure. The interview is not the time to negotiate salary.
• Answer all questions in a positive way included ones about your weaknesses or why you left your previous employer. Turn the question around so that you can stress what you’re working on or how you are moving forward.

With both your resume and your interview preparation the more you know that better the chance you’ll have a succeeding. Take your time when writing your resume and find out as much as you can before heading to the interview. Also, have reasonable expectations. It may seem like the dream job that you have to have, but there are other jobs out there. If you go into the interview hoping to learn from the experience and find out more about the job, you’ll be less nervous and will appear more confident. If you go in thinking this is the only opportunity you’ll have than you’re more likely to feel the stress of the situation and make a mistake.