Biggest Interview Mistakes:
They say job-hunting success is all about who you know. But how much you know about prospective employers plays a crucial role, too. A new survey by Accountemps finds that an overwhelming majority of executives said that having little or no knowledge of the company is the most common mistake job seekers make during interviews. The top interview mistakes:
1. Little or no knowledge of the company (47%)
2. Unprepared to discuss skills and experience (17%)
3. Unprepared to discuss career plans and goals (9%)
4. Limited enthusiasm (9%)
5. Lack of eye contact (3%)
6. Monopolize interview (2%)
7. Focus on salary/benefits/perks (2%)
8. Lack of self-confidence (2%)
9. Inappropriate dress (2%)
10. Late arrival (2%)
Job search tips :
"101 Great Answers to the Toughest Interview Questions"
By Ron Fry
"101 Smart Questions to Ask on Your Interview"
By Ron Fry
"60 Seconds and You're Hired!" By Robin Ryan"
Put together a marketing strategy for yourself. Include a positioning statement which is a 2-3 sentence summary of your experience. List your specific skills or competencies. Finally, put together a list of target markets and companies including recruiters or other resources being used. Keep this plan with you and track your progress as you contact each company.
Faxing Resumes:
Many people anxiously fax in their resume upon request; never knowing that their resume will never be read because they made a faxing error. The most common faxing error is using too small of a font. If you are using Times New Roman, 13 point is the best. Twelve points can be a little hard to read. Anything smaller may cause you to loose out on a job opportunity because your phone number isn't legible.
The margins need to be .8 inches or more. Much smaller risk parts of the resume being cut off when transmitted.
Emailing Resumes:
Typically most employers can accept Microsoft Word files. Formatting is the best way to send these. Using tabs and spaces can cause the emailed copy to become misaligned when transmitted, especially if your font type is not an exact match to that of the employers.
Although most employers can open PDF files, many employers don't have the extra time to open this kind of file. Only send this format if invited to. Don't email Macintosh unless the employer tells you they have a Macintosh computer. They can't open your resume.
The margins need to be .8 inches or more. Much smaller risk parts of the resume being printed on a third and forth page.
