Job Search Best Practice Guide Cisco Partner Talent Portal

Transcription

1 Job Search Best Practice Guide Cisco Partner Talent Portal

2 Table of Contents Take Advantage of the Three Step Process of Getting a Job 3 Resume Guide 3 Example of Resume 9 Cover Letter Guide 10 Example of Cover Letter 10 Frequently Asked Interview Questions 11 Networking is Key 13 Extend Your Resume 14 Use a Search Firm or Head Hunter 15 Business Etiquette 15 Take Advantage of New Technologies 15 References 16

3 Take Advantage of the Three Step Process of Getting a Job There are three essential steps in successfully obtaining a job. Step 1: Have a strong resume and cover letter to get an interview. Hire a resume writing service to help review your resume and provide constructive criticism. ResumeWriters.com, ResumeEdge.com, or CareerPerfect.com are great resources where you can submit your resume online and be assigned a personal assigned writer who will contact you with a first draft within 72 hours. You can continue to work with the writer until you are happy with a final copy. Resume Guide What is a resume? Stated simply, a resume is a piece of e-paper that represents you when you are not there. The main intent of the resume is to get you into an interview with an employer. People are usually not hired by a resume alone; it is the interview that makes hiring possible. The resume simply leads the way into the interview. Make sure that you send your resume to multiple employers at once. Are there different kinds of resumes? Are there different ways to use a resume? There are different kinds of resumes and there are different ways in which resumes may be used. Following are five different kinds of resumes and the ways to properly use them: 1. The Personal Resume is, as it suggests, a resume for your own use. This resume is a comprehensive autobiographical listing of all of your education, employment, honors, activities, interests, affiliations, travel, languages, skills, licenses, publications, etc. that you have ever done. This resume may be several pages in length and is not intended to be seen by other people. This document becomes your source for writing other, specialized resumes. 2. A General Use Resume is used to circulate your name and qualifications to unfamiliar employers who have not made a specific employment need known to you. You use a general resume because you do not know enough about this company to write a focused or targeted resume for them. This use of a resume is generally the least efficient way to find a job. This style of resume has often been nicknamed the shotgun approach because of the similarity to the distribution of shots from a shotgun used for bird hunting. Shotgunning dozens or hundreds or even thousands of resumes may get your name spread around to many different employers, but you are not likely to get much positive response from such a campaign. 3. A Targeted or Focused Resume is used to respond in a specific way to a specific job listing. Targeting means that you will customize your resume to conform to the stated needs of the employer. This resume is made only after you have secured a job listing and you know what the employer is looking for. Then, with the employer s needs in mind, you write your resume to correspond to the employer s needs. This is the best method if you are truly qualified for the job and if the resume is well written. 3

4 If you are applying for a technical position it is important to arrange your resume to best highlight your technical skills. Typically, technical resumes tend not to include too much focus and extraneous information. The format to minimize this is as such: A. Summary of qualifications (SOQ) One to three sentences of certifications, experience, degrees, and area of expertise. B. Technical Skills section Prioritize your technical skills Use this section to show your proficiency in each category C. List of experiences Details of where you have worked. Employers are worried about what you have accomplished not where you have been. Some other helpful tips are: D. Use numbers to quantify experiences Be specific Demonstrate that you saved or managed money for an organization E. If you have less than five years of work experience, put your education first; five or more years of work, put work experiences first. F. Consider key words when creating your resume For example: Technical support, call center G. Use an easy-to-read font 4. Two variations of the General Use Resume and the Targeted Resume are the Chronological Style and the Functional Style. A. Chronological Style is the most popular style. This means that as you detail your employment, you list your former jobs in descending chronological order. You start with your latest job and work back to your earliest. B. Functional Style is usually used by people who have been in the workforce for a number of years and have a varied background. Instead of listing jobs in chronological order, the jobs are listed by function (i.e., management, sales.) 5. The Professional Vitae is used only by professional people. This resume is several pages, and includes all of the educational, professional, research, and publishing background of the person. This is most used by university faculty and administrators. What is contained in a resume? A resume contains any information about you that will help you sell yourself to an employer. Some things are always included, some things are sometimes included, and some things should not be included. Knowing these differences will help you build a better resume. 4

5 Is more better? Not necessarily. If you are just starting your career search and you do not have a continuing record of long-term employment, you should confine your resume to one page. If you have been in the work force for several years there may be a reason for a functional style resume, which is a longer resume, but consider the following generalizations: 1. No one wants to read a resume (they would much rather be playing golf). 2. The average reading time of a resume is 18 seconds. Lengthy resumes are not appreciated by busy people. 3. Bulky or wordy resumes that don t make every word count are seen by readers as representations of people who haven t learned the value of brevity and efficiency. Content and Organization of a Resume Items that should always be included in a resume: Identifying Data Your name, address(es), phone number(s) and address should be at the top of the page. Typically it is a bad practice to use your current corporate address. Instead, you should use a free service such as, yahoo, Gmail, or hotmail etc. The name is usually centered and capitalized. A single address is usually centered under the name. If you use a present and permanent address, the present address is usually placed on the left and the permanent address is usually on the right. Education Your graduating school (or school of your latest degree) is listed first with previous schools following. If your degree is in progress, you can state when you are expected to receive a degree. For example, Degree Expected May Also, never claim a degree if you do not possess it. A company will find out when they are doing the background check. State major fields of study or areas of special emphasis. Special assignments or projects are valuable if they relate to the employer s needs. Stating your GPA is optional; it is probably not advised if your GPA is under 3.2. Sometimes stating your GPA in major will provide a better picture of your academic skills. Graduation dates are typically included in the education section. However, if your graduation was many years ago it is acceptable to not include your graduation date to avoid any potential age discrimination. If you are a college graduate looking for a career position, eliminate your high school history. Employment or Work Experience or Experience This section may include full-time jobs, summer employment, part-time work, internships, volunteer work, research or study projects, college work study, graduate assistantships, or field placement. For a chronological resume these descriptions are usually placed in reverse chronological order starting with the latest job first; dates of employment should be included. Within each job description you will need to list the tasks you performed. Be concise and factual, and be sure to highlight your accomplishments. It is important to include measurable accomplishments whenever possible. Optional items: Objective Statement An objective statement is often used. If you choose to send the same resume to many employers (general resume), your objective will be general in nature. This is not the most efficient use of your resume. If you focus on a specific job listing, you will be able to make your objective direct and will probably have a better chance of having your resume read and being considered for an interview. Remember, an objective statement is for the benefit of the reader. Plainly state what you are wanting. Do not use this statement to tell the reader how good you are. 5

6 Activities Include appointments that will demonstrate your leadership skills and experiences. Interests You may not be deeply involved in some things but may still have an interest in them. Such things might include art, woodworking, sports, travel, etc. Adding these things to your resume may help the interviewer see that you are well rounded. Often Interests and Activities are listed together. Affiliations Perhaps you belong to the Student Teachers Association or the Entrepreneurs Club. Sometimes included in this section are political or ethnic affiliations. Be cautious in the use of these two categories. Their inclusion in a resume can be very good or very bad, depending on the reader s view. Travel If you have extensive travel outside the U.S., it is good to include this in your resume. Travel in the U.S., and just across the Canadian or Mexican border is not usually included on a resume. Languages Sometimes Travel and Languages are listed together. In describing language ability, use the word fluent if you can speak, read and write in the language. Use the term conversant if you can understand the language and can speak enough to survive in that country. Computer Skills If you are comfortable with computers and know data entry and retrieval, programming or are a master of software, you should include this in your resume. List the various hardware, software, languages and applications with which you are familiar. Skills Sometimes Computer Skills are included under Skills. Other skills that might be listed are art, music, computer maintenance, public speaking, writing, counseling, decorating, etc. While such skills may not be directly related to your desired job, they may make you a more appealing candidate. Licenses and Certifications Any licenses or certifications that set you apart from the common crowd should be listed. Your possession of a pilot s license or a teaching certificate may make you a more desirable candidate. Do not include a driver s license unless you have a permit that lets you drive a specialty vehicle and that license is a requirement for the position. Publications If you have been published in a known journal or periodical, or if you have a noteworthy book published, you should include this in your resume. Pamphlets, booklets, or advertising materials are not usually listed. References References are not included on the resume, but as a separate page. The phrase References furnished upon request is usually used as the last statement on the bottom of the resume. What you should not put in a resume Current U.S. legislation restricts employers from asking questions that do not directly relate to your employability. Following is a list of items that you do not need to put on your resume: 1. You are not required to list your place of birth. 2. You are not required to state your age or birth date. 3. You are not required to reveal your marital status. 4. You are not required to offer any ethnic or racial information. 6

7 5. You are not required to give your religious affiliation (except where it relates directly to a job with a church or religious movement). 6. You are not required to state you political affiliation or interest. 7. You are not required to state your gender (although first names tend to reveal that information). 8. You are not required to enclose a picture with your resume or cover letter. Even though you may not be asked for this information, you have the right to offer it if you choose. But, be careful: sometimes too much information can be deadly. Creating the Targeted Resume A properly written targeted resume should nearly always evoke an invitation to an interview. First of all, a targeted resume is aimed directly and intensely at one pre-defined job. Because the employer has put on paper what he or she wants, it is really not too difficult to write a good targeted resume. The procedures for writing such a resume are as follows: 1. Search current job listings for which you are fully qualified and have experience, training and background. If you are not fully trained and experienced in all tasks required, you will likely not have an invitation to interview. There will be others who have that background and they will be selected over you. Be aware that in a week s search you might find only two or three job listings for which you are fully qualified that suit your needs. Your pursuit is not for quantity, but for an accurate match of your skills and abilities to the employer s needs. 2. With a highlighter, mark everything on the job listing that the employer requires you to be (qualifications) and everything he/she expects you to do (tasks). 3. Place your personal resume on the left hand side of your desk. Place your fully marked job listing on the right hand side of your desk. Now, place a blank piece of paper in the middle of your desk (any arrangement is fine make it work for you). 4. On your blank piece of paper list the first requirement that the employer makes on the job listing. Now, using your personal resume, find how your experience or education qualifies you to meet the first requirement. List that first requirement and your qualifications on the blank piece of paper. Now do the same with the other requirements of the job. When you have reached the bottom of the job listing page you should have written all the things that qualify you for that job. 5. Now, from your (formerly) blank piece of paper you will begin to build your targeted resume. Carefully choose the right wording, adding to and taking from just the right amount of information. Your new resume will be nearly a mirror image of the job listing, and you will have responded to all of the employer s needs and expectations. Honesty versus skillful selection of pertinent data Never lie or stretch the truth on your resume! First, it is morally wrong to misrepresent yourself to another person. Second, employers do check up on their hires and if you do misrepresent yourself you will be found out. Misrepresentation on a resume is considered grounds for dismissal by most employers. On the other hand, you should present yourself in the best possible light. This may mean accentuating one portion of your resume while downplaying another portion. It may also mean that you will leave out some work or school experience that will not represent you in the best way. Since you cannot get your entire life s story on a single page, leave out those 7

8 things that will benefit you least or that will work against you. Remember, never lie, but likewise, never make yourself look just average or commonplace. You are neither! How do I write a career objective? The career objective should be one concise sentence telling the reader what you want. This may be the hardest sentence that you will have to write, because how you write it will determine the limits you do or don t place on yourself. Your career objective should not contain any of your qualifications. Following are samples of effective career objectives. Do not copy these word-for-word. Use them as samples and devise wording that is you. To utilize my computer science and art background to develop advanced-user software for commercial graphic workstations. A career in sales that allows for professional development in the areas of management and marketing. An entry level sales/marketing position. A position in marketing where I can use my public relations, finance and marketing skills. A position in a management training program emphasizing communication, motivation and public relations. To apply management experience and French language skills in an international corporation. A management training position which will utilize my computer/math skills. A position in a multinational firm utilizing my economics and language background. To secure a dynamic sales/management position with a real estate firm. A position in public relations with a nationally known insurance corporation. An entry level staff position for a nationwide accounting firm. How to use references References are usually selected from your professors, employers, personal friends (who hold some status in the community), or church or community leaders. You should always ask permission to use a person s name as a reference. Usually three to five references are expected. You should supply the names, addresses, phone and fax numbers, and address for each reference. Remember: References are not sent with resumes unless the employer specifically asks for them. Instead, references are sent after the employer has reviewed your resume and asks for them. General tips Use 10 to 12 point font Bold for emphasis, but use sparingly One page is the norm, unless a Ph.D. or have extensive relevant experience Graduate students should include publications and presentations If work experience is limited, emphasize educational experience and skills 8

9 Have resume reviewed before circulating Use action verbs Match the needs of the hiring company Technical Resume Example 9

10 Cover Letter Guide Your cover letter is meant to augment and not restate your resume. It includes three parts: opening, sales pitch, and closing 1. Opening A. Address, salutation, and opening paragraph Try to address the letter to a trusted person. You should find the contact online, through a friend, or from a contact that you have already made. State why you are writing and refer to the specific position for which you are applying, and where you found out about the job. Link your skills to the mission of the company. Use their vocabulary. 2. Sales Pitch A. This is the meat of the cover letter. B. State why you are interested in the position, use the same language as the company. You can brag a little bit and explain why you should be a good fit for the job. Use your background work: specific achievements, unique talents, and experiences. 3. Closing A. Restate your interest and ask for a time to meet. Cover Letter Example 10

11 Step 2: Convert the interview into an offer, or get a referral or contact of someone else to get in touch with. Once you have impressed a company with your resume and have made it to the interview process. It is very important to be prepared for the interview. This includes doing research on the company you are interviewing with and practicing different types of interview questions. Remember to be confident and shake everyones hands during the interview. Once you have finished ask for the business cards of the people interviewing you and remember to send them a thank you note. Frequently Asked Interview Questions Toughest questions Tell me about yourself. What three words would you use to describe yourself? What three words would your friends use to describe you? What is your greatest weakness? Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Where else are you interviewing? Tell me about a conflict you ve had with a boss or co-worker. Behavioral interview questions Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way. Describe a time when you were faced with a stressful situation that demonstrated your coping skills. Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem. Give me an example of a time when you set a goal and were able to meet or achieve it. Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone s opinion. Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree. Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete. Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done. Other common questions What experience or individual has had the greatest influence on you? Tell me about a supervisor, professor or other individual that has made a significant impact on your life. Tell me about an event that has had a great impact on your life. What is the most useful criticism you received and who was it from? 11

12 What would you change about yourself? Which decisions are easiest for you to make and which are the most difficult? What is the most important decision you've made in the past year? What were your other options? How did you go about making the decision? What is the greatest obstacle you've overcome in the past year? How did it affect what you were doing at the time? How did you go about overcoming it? Describe your work ethic. What are your long-term goals? What are your short-term goals? How do you set goals? Do you meet them? Tell me about a time when you showed initiative or that demonstrates your abilities as a self-starter. What is important to you in a job? Tell me about your "dream job." Do you prefer working with others or by yourself? What percent of your day would you like to spend doing "peoplework" vs. "paperwork"? What percent of your day would you like to spend working with people on the phone vs. in person? What percent of your day would you like to spend working with people vs. information vs. things? Three step process to answering any question Identify what s really being asked Present solid facts that highlight your positive qualities Provide clear examples to support your claim Step 3: Once you have an offer, negotiate what you re worth. Now that you have proven yourself and have obtained the right job for you it is now important that you get what you deserve. One of the first steps you should take is checking out the at recent salary survey in your field. Choosing the best offer There are many things to weigh when considering an offer. Type of work, opportunity for advancement, salary, location and the company culture are the primary areas for consideration and concern. Whether you are choosing from multiple offers or one, it is wise to accept a position only when it is of high interest to you and fits your needs. One that provides you with the opportunity to acquire and expand the kinds of skills and experience that is of value in your field. Salary and location are important, but ultimately, job satisfaction comes from being challenged and happy with the work. Factors such as company stability, company growth potential and market share are also important considerations in choosing an offer. Reading business publications, visiting Vault.com for insider information, etc. will help you get a handle on an employer. 12

13 Do not accept a position unless you are fully committed to working for the employer and once you have accepted an offer, you should cease all other efforts towards seeking employment. Ask yourself the following questions when contemplating an offer: Is the position stimulating and challenging? Will I acquire the kinds of experiences that will make me more employable? Is the employer well respected? Do the values of the company and employees reflect my own? Would I enjoy working with the people in the office? Is the salary competitive? Cost of living. Will the salary be sufficient? Will the overall benefits package meet my needs? Are the requirements and demands of the job compatible with my lifestyle? Will I be successful in meeting the challenges of the job? Can I build a good rapport with my immediate supervisor? Does the company support and provide opportunities for additional education and upgrading my skills? How much travel is required? Is it too much? Not enough? Is the job located in a community that offers the lifestyle I desire? The best job is one that is fun, exciting, challenging and interesting. Networking is Key Network with friends to get a referral Referrals were the number one source of filling jobs at 25.6 percent Always ask for business cards Carry around personal business cards to hand out Research and contact employers Personal or phone call Attend a networking party You can look up online in your specific city under city events and most cities have a professional group that meets for networking purposes. Network online LinkedIn is a business-oriented social networking site, mainly used for professional networking. As of September 2007, it had more than 14 million registered users, spanning 150 industries and more than 400 economic regions (as classified by the service). The main purpose of the site is to allow registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business. The people in the list are called 13

14 Connections. Users can invite anyone (whether a LinkedIn user or not) to become a connection. This list of connections can then be used in a number of ways: A contact network is built up consisting of their direct connections, each of their connections' connections (called 2nd degree connections) and also the connections of 2nd degree connections (called 3rd degree connections). This can be used, for example, to gain an introduction to someone you wish to know through a mutual, trusted contact. It can then be used to find jobs, people and business opportunities recommended by anyone in your contact network. Employers can list jobs and search for potential candidates. Job seekers can review the profile of hiring managers and discover which of their existing contacts can introduce them. Extend Your Resume It is important for you to post your resume or pass your resume along through different avenues. Many alumni associations around the U.S. have portals or means for you to extend your resume to be passed on to potential employers. Also, recruiters and head hunters are always on the search to fill job positions online through search engines. Some of the top search engines are: Monster.com Career Builder Hot Jobs Jobsonline.net Aftercollege.com Worktree.com Proportion of the 12.3% External hires attributed to job boards. 6.5% 29.5% 35.0% Monster CareerBuilder HotJobs All Other 35.0% 14

15 Use a Search Firm or Head Hunter Another effective way to seek out employment is hiring someone else to seek it out for you. Head hunters and recruiters are professionally trained to know how to learn your strengths and be able to match you with a job that would be a good fit for you. For a small fee, you can have a professional looking up job opportunities for you. Business Etiquette Since first impressions greatly influence a hiring decision, the manner in which perspective employees present themselves can make a critical difference. Two really important aspects of business etiquette are professional dress and dining. Dressing right and eating with good manners are essential to the job interviewing process. It is always important to freshen up on your business etiquette. You never know when a company will be judging you during an interview if it is not in the typical business setting. For example, over lunch or dinner. Take Advantage of New Technologies Find more creative ways to find jobs YouTube: YouTube is a video sharing website where users can upload, view and share video clips. Companies are putting together commercial like advertising to promote positions they are recruiting for. Job searchers are now looking to YouTube to get job descriptions through video. Also, some candidates are posting their own personal creative resume testimony for recruiters to view. com/2007/07/youtube-being-used-for-recruitment.html SecondLife: SecondLife is an Internet based virtual world that was launched in percent of Europe has a membership in this second world and has opened up great possibilities for recruiters to reach an international market. The first virtual career fair on SecondLife was held on May 15-17, This gave recruiters and candidates the opportunity to cross over distance barriers and meet and greet in this virtual world. Facebook: Is a social networking website that was launched February of It s popularity has grown and the functionalities have expanded. Facebook now has a Market Tab where individuals can post or seek out jobs. Keep a clean image on Facebook and MySpace: It is important for candidates to maintain an ethical and conservative Facebook profile. Recruiters and employers are now pre-screening applicants by looking through candidates profile and pictures posted for the public on their Facebook page. According to a March survey by Ponemon Institute, a privacy think tank, 35 percent of hiring managers use Google to do online background checks on job candidates, and 23 percent look people up on social networking sites. About one-third of those Web searches lead to rejections, according to the survey. 15

16 References Americas Headquarters Cisco Systems, Inc. 170 West Tasman Drive San Jose, CA USA Tel: NETS (6387) Fax: Asia Pacific Headquarters Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd. 168 Robinson Road #28-01 Capital Tower Singapore Tel: Fax: Europe Headquarters Cisco Systems International BV Haarlerbergpark Haarlerbergweg CH Amsterdam The Netherlands www-europe.cisco.com Tel: Fax: Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on the Cisco Website at CCVP, the Cisco logo, and Welcome to the Human Network are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Changing the Way We Work, Live, Play, and Learn is a service mark of Cisco Systems, Inc.; and Access Registrar, Aironet, Catalyst, CCDA, CCDP, CCIE, CCIP, CCNA, CCNP, CCSP, Cisco, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert logo, Cisco IOS, Cisco Press, Cisco Systems, Cisco Systems Capital, the Cisco Systems logo, Cisco Unity, Enterprise/Solver, EtherChannel, EtherFast, EtherSwitch, Fast Step, Follow Me Browsing, FormShare, GigaDrive, HomeLink, Internet Quotient, IOS, iphone, IP/TV, iq Expertise, the iq logo, iq Net Readiness Scorecard, iquick Study, LightStream, Linksys, MeetingPlace, MGX, Networkers, Networking Academy, Network Registrar, PIX, ProConnect, ScriptShare, SMARTnet, StackWise, The Fastest Way to Increase Your Internet Quotient, and TransPath are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document or Website are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (0711R) Americas Headquarters Cisco Systems, Inc. 170 West Tasman Drive San Jose, CA USA Tel: NETS (6387) Fax: Asia Pacific Headquarters Cisco Systems (USA) Pte. Ltd. 168 Robinson Road #28-01 Capital Tower Singapore Tel: Fax: Europe Headquarters Cisco Systems International BV Haarlerbergpark Haarlerbergweg CH Amsterdam The Netherlands www-europe.cisco.com Tel: Fax: Cisco has more than 200 offices worldwide. Addresses, phone numbers, and fax numbers are listed on the Cisco Website at CCVP, the Cisco logo, and Welcome to the Human Network are trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc.; Changing the Way We Work, Live, Play, and Learn is a service mark of Cisco Systems, Inc.; and Access Registrar, Aironet, Catalyst, CCDA, CCDP, CCIE, CCIP, CCNA, CCNP, CCSP, Cisco, the Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert logo, Cisco IOS, Cisco Press, Cisco Systems, Cisco Systems Capital, the Cisco Systems logo, Cisco Unity, Enterprise/Solver, EtherChannel, EtherFast, EtherSwitch, Fast Step, Follow Me Browsing, FormShare, GigaDrive, HomeLink, Internet Quotient, IOS, iphone, IP/TV, iq Expertise, the iq logo, iq Net Readiness Scorecard, iquick Study, LightStream, Linksys, MeetingPlace, MGX, Networkers, Networking Academy, Network Registrar, PIX, ProConnect, ScriptShare, SMARTnet, StackWise, The Fastest Way to Increase Your Internet Quotient, and TransPath are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document or Website are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. (0711R) 12/07