Tips for a Successful Resume & Technical Job Interview
What Employers Want
The ideal employee offers more than useful skills and relevant experience. Beyond basic qualifications for a position and expertise to do your job well, employers greatly value certain personal qualities and behaviors. To help you stand out during interviews—and make a great impression once you begin a new job—keep in mind these top traits of a valuable employee:
Reliable: Failure to follow instructions or meet expectations usually means employees are not paying attention, or they do not care enough to follow through. Be sure to avoid both tendencies.
Diligent: A diligent person applies consistent effort and is persistent in the face of challenges. Do your best to see tasks through to completion.
Multi-skilled: First, identify and improve the skills you already have. Strive to gain more than one skill set—learn all you can, and avoid complacency.
Character-driven: Character is the virtue of knowing right from wrong, turning from the wrong, and doing what is right, even in the face of pressure.
Self-disciplined: Resist the temptation to let personal issues interfere with your work, or let things like the Internet or your cell phone take your mind and attention away from work.
Positive Attitude: Employees with positive attitudes are well-liked by their co-workers, which makes collaboration more effective and encourages productivity. Pessimism and negativity breed more of the same, and can bog down an entire team.
Proactive: Take initiative and go above and beyond. Managers tend to notice self-motivated employees —and career advancement follows.
The Do's and Don’ts of Resume Building
For even more tips on what to include or avoid, download our complete list of Resume Do's and Don'ts.
Do
Use bullets to communicate more quickly and make reading easier
Include multiple ways to contact you (email, phone, mail)
List jobs from newest to oldest, so your most recent experience appears first
Use numbers, statistics, and other results when possible (to make your experience, expertise, and impact more tangible)
Open statements with verbs to convey action and infuse your resume with some energy
Don't
Include lies or misleading statements, no matter how tempting it is to make yourself seem stronger on paper
Let typos, grammar errors, or formatting issues appear on your resume
Include hobbies, interests, or other personal information that isn’t relevant to the position
List references on your resume; employers know they can request this information, so including it creates the impression that you need to fill space
Impress Your Interviewer
Congratulations! If you’ve been invited to meet with a potential employer, you’ve already overcome one major hurdle by moving beyond the resume review stage. Making the most of this valuable opportunity isn’t merely a matter of how well you fit the company’s needs. All things being equal, candidates who handle the interview process well are more likely to receive an offer than those who are qualified, but fail to stand out. To improve your odds of success, consider these tips:
- Research the interview—Find out whom you’ll be meeting, what the dress code is, and how to reach the interview location.
- Research the company—Do some basic web work to inform yourself about the organization. Visit its website, look at employee profiles on LinkedIn, and check for feedback on sites like Glassdoor.com.
- Review the job requirements—Take a closer look at the job description, and determine how your skills, experience, and other factors align to what the company is looking for.
- Come prepared—Bring copies of your resume, a pen and paper to take notes, and sample work (if appropriate).
- Notice what’s unsaid—Non-verbal communication is important, so project confidence, maintain good posture, be attentive, and avoid dramatic facial expressions.
- Be ready with questions—Interviews often include an opportunity for you to ask questions as well. Be prepared with some thoughtful, relevant questions that demonstrate your interest and intelligence.
- Show your interest—If you feel the position could be a good fit, tell the interviewer that you are interested, so there’s no room for misinterpretation. Also, follow up with a thank you note (email or mail) within 24 hours, reiterating your interest.
For more guidance on how to nail your next interview, download our guide to Interviewing Successfully.
