Job Search, Resume writing, and Interview skills

Job Search, Resume writing, and Interview skills

Agenda: • Introduction (Informal Session) • Job Search Skills and Resources • Writing Good Resumes • Preparing For Interview • The Interview process • Interview Follow Up • Open Q&A (Focus of this session)

Job Search Skills and Resources: • Web search • Networking (personal contacts) • Local news papers • Specific company web sites • Industry flyers posted on campus • Attend university organized visits to companies (e.g. Sabre, Lockheed Martin) • Head hunters • Be very persistent in your search

Writing Good Resumes: • Be brief, precise and objective (Avoid being a Jack-of-all-trades) • Update your resume per specific job, emphasis points, avoid generic resumes • Managers usually spend a very short time on initial review of resumes due to volume, give them reason to select yours • Ensure that key items are on the first page

Writing Good Resumes: (Continued) • Avoid lengthy paragraphs and detailed description (save for interview) • Do not include unrelated job experiences (e.g. delivering news paper) • List affiliations and memberships, highlight your relevant interest areas • Pay attention to format, avoid gaps in dates (avoid conflicting information)

Resume Format • Personal Information • Objective • Education • Skill summary • Work Experience • Teaching/Teaching Assistance • Publication • Activities and Memberships • Other Supporting Information

Sample Resume JEFF SMITH 4800 Harbor Dr. Dallas, TX. 75022 (817) 272-5407 or (972) 691-0000 E-mail: jeff.smith@abc.com OBJECTIVE To pursue a web development position …. {Short: max 1 to 2 sentences with focus on the specific job your applying for} EDUCATION Ph.D. Computer Science, X University, Dallas, Texas, 2003 Dissertation Title: A Methodology for Data…Advisor: X M.S. Computer Science, Y University, Dallas, Texas, 1997 Thesis Title: A Structured Approach ... Advisor: Y B.S. Computer Science, University of Z, Waterloo, Canada, 1995

Sample Resume – Cont’d SKILLS: • Languages:C/C++, JAVA, XML, HTML, ASP • Operating Systems: Windows, Web Servers (IIS/Apache), Unix, Linux • Hardware: Intel-Based PCs, SUN SPARC, RS/6000, AIX • Network Protocols: TCP/IP, Ethernet, Serial comm.(E3270, RUMBA) • Distributed Protocols: CORBA, RPC, SOAP, Open/SQL servers • Database: SYBASE, ORACLE

Sample Resume – Cont’d WORK EXPERIENCE Senior Software Engineer, October 2000 to Present Company X, Dallas Texas Participated in design, development, testing and integration of a number of real-time embedded systems at X. …. . . Software Engineer, August 1998 to October 2000 Company Y, Dallas, Texas Software Engineer with the primary responsibility for converting a large-scale legacy-based software system to a client-server distributed system. The project was completed successfully in approximately 10 months and it was enhanced by an addition of a data acquisition system. Highlights included: • Implemented a system …. • Designed and Developed ….. List all jobs …

Sample Resume – Cont’d TEACHING/TEACHING ASSISTANCE {if any} • List relevant courses: Include Title and date PUBLICATIONS {significant, if any} • Paper/workshop/other: Include title and date published • Journal/trade magazine articles ACTIVITIES AND MEMBERSHIPS { significant, if any} • Association for Computer Machinery (ACM) • IEEE Computer Society Include Personal and other relevant Information: {Optional: e.g. work status, visa status. Include this information only if it strengthens your resume}

Preparing for the Interview: • Learn as much as you can about the company and the job you are applying for • Learn about the company’s product line; specifically in the area for which you have applied • Develop your thoughts on how you are qualified for this job • Write out a list of what you have to offer this employer in this job • Relax, get some rest… go into the interview well-rested, at the “top of your game”

The Interview process: • Be on time • Dress in an appropriate manner • Don’t try to oversell yourself! • Remember that, often, the selection is based mostly on how a person will “fit” into a team/company

The Interview process: (Cont’d) • Ask questions, be involved in the process • Be honest about your technical skills, but share your ability and willingness to learn • Try to get a commitment from the hiring manager on when a decision will be made and when you can expect to hear from him/her

Interview Follow up: • Don’t be a pest! • Follow-up only after the expected feedback/decision date • If not selected, try (respectfully!) to get information on why

Questions Q&A?

Job Search, Resume writing, and Interview skills