Burnett / Choice Blog

 You’ve spent a lot of time creating your resume. Spend a few more minutes being sure there are no “red flags” that could sabotage a potential interview!

·  Your resume should never be titled "RESUME."

·  Skip the “Objective” unless it is specific to the type of job you are seeking. Never say, “I’m seeking a job with a growing, stable company where I can use my skills.” Who isn’t?

·  Don’t use colored paper. Use a good white bond for your printed copies.

·  Don’t use unusual fonts or script. Make your resume as easy to read as possible.

·  Check to be sure your contact numbers are all working and that your address is current.

·  Don’t use wacky personal email address like princessleah@hotmail.com.

·  Have someone else read your resume to be sure there are NO grammatical errors.

·  Have someone else read your resume to be sure that it clearly presents your skills and experience.

· Be sure that all of your employment dates are correct and easy to find.

A resume is your chance to make a first impression. Don't be fancy, be factual! Errors on your resume will have you ending up in the trash, not the corner office.

It is very important, now more than ever, that we understand the importance of maintaining a strong, articulate vocabulary.  We live in an internet-based society, where slang is commonly used for social networking and fun. While acceptable for the personal life, untailored speech should not be used in the professional world. We must learn to exercise top-notch grammar and vocabulary, especially within a job search.

For example, we sent a candidate to interview with an oil & gas company located in Downtown Houston. The candidate was polished, bright and had the right personality for the individual she would be supporting. Unfortunately, as intelligent as she is, she made a few subtle grammatical errors that could not be overlooked. When making reference to her personal life, she said "me and my husband" instead of "my husband and I." Sure, the average person may not observe such a mistake, but she was interviewing with a high-level executive with a legal background and a degree in Journalism.

She made a couple of similar errors, and it cost her the job. Although the team felt she would be a wonderful match otherwise, they decided not to pursue her due to her "unpolished" grammar

Before an interview, be sure to spruce up on your grammar and vocabulary. While being careful to avoid common errors, it would behoove you to learn an impressive vocabulary word to use within your interview. It may be something as simple as a word that gives you an extra notch above the other candidates.

Recommendation:

Record a practice interview with a friend. Play it back and listen to your grammar and pronunciation. Do you say, “You know” frequently? This is very annoying. If the person already knew something then you wouldn’t need to tell them. Watch the laziness of your speech. Do you say “fer” for “for”? “yer” for “your”? “doin’” for “doing”? Be sure to pronounce the “g” on the end of words. Polish up your presentation and make a great impression on your interviewer.

Visit these websites for tips to improve our vocabulary:

http://www.world-english.org/improve_vocabulary.htm

http://quiz.getwords.com/

http://www.dailywritingtips.com/vocabulary-test-1/

If your voice mail greeting is the first opportunity a prospective employer has to hear from you, what does your message say about you? Will your greeting make a positive, professional impression on your callers or will it alienate them before you even have a chance to meet to them?

Consider these suggestions for creating a professional voice mail greeting:

·         Your greeting should not contain any music.

·         Your voice on your greeting should be pleasant and well-articulated.

·         Your greeting should not be too long – about 20-25 seconds

·         Your greeting should not mislead the caller into thinking the phone is being answered when in reality it is a pre-recorded "Hello, Hello" - that is very rude.

·         Your greeting should be tasteful - nothing suggestive, off-color or discriminatory.

·         Your greeting should not be “silly” while you are job hunting.

Example of professional voice mail greeting:

“You’ve reached (your name). I'm currently unable to take your call. Please leave your name, phone number, and a brief message, and I will contact you as soon as possible. Thank you!"