Curabitur quam justo, accumsan nec commodo nec, tempor ut leo.  Nulla sit amet rhoncus dui.  Etiam at rutrum tortor.  Aenean interdum urna odio, ac feugiat nisi puvinar non.  Cras ac finibus urna, quis aliquam nisi.  Nunc a convallis nisl.  Curabitur eu consectetur mi, a tempus sapien.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, conectetur adipiscing elit.  Phasellus accumsan elementum ante id rhoncus.  Nunc eu nisi nisl.  Quisque ullamcorper bibendum lectus et elementum.  Nullam in tellus vel tortor rutrum tristique sed laoreet magna.  Nulla elementum nisi at congue tempus.  Nullam commodo lobortis vestibulum.  Sed vitae enim diam.  Interdum et maesuad fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.  Aliquam ac luctus felis.  Quisque tempor lorem orci, sit amet condimentum augue lobortis ac.  Maecenas luctus lectus vitae suscipit finibus.  Curabitur ac ornare mass.  Integer vitae ligula eget libero vehicula alesuada vitae quis odio.

Suspendisse lacina lorem vitae ligula tempus, eu ornare augue laoreet.  Fusce sed feugiat enim, a lacinia nisl.  Phasellus efficitur venenatis est, eu pulvinar turpis sollicitudin at.  Etiam malesuada ligula ultrices diam faucibu efficitur.  Cras convallis tellus mollis lacinia vehicula, eros tellus consequat mi, in vehicula eros sem vel nulla.  Class aptent taciti sociosqu a litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.  Pellentesque neque augue, varius eu nisi sit amet, tempus egestas nunc.  In lacus quam, elementum vel ultricies sit amet, viverra in eros.  Sed faucibus urna eget mauris faucibus aliquet.  Duis id pharetra sem.  Nam leo nunc, pellentesque at sapien elementum, interdum auctor sem.

Curabitur quam justo, accumsan nec commodo nec, tempor ut leo.  Nulla sit amet rhoncus dui.  Etiam at rutrum tortor.  Aenean interdum urna odio, ac feugiat nisi puvinar non.  Cras ac finibus urna, quis aliquam nisi.  Nunc a convallis nisl.  Curabitur eu consectetur mi, a tempus sapien.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, conectetur adipiscing elit.  Phasellus accumsan elementum ante id rhoncus.  Nunc eu nisi nisl.  Quisque ullamcorper bibendum lectus et elementum.  Nullam in tellus vel tortor rutrum tristique sed laoreet magna.  Nulla elementum nisi at congue tempus.  Nullam commodo lobortis vestibulum.  Sed vitae enim diam.  Interdum et maesuad fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.  Aliquam ac luctus felis.  Quisque tempor lorem orci, sit amet condimentum augue lobortis ac.  Maecenas luctus lectus vitae suscipit finibus.  Curabitur ac ornare mass.  Integer vitae ligula eget libero vehicula alesuada vitae quis odio.

Suspendisse lacina lorem vitae ligula tempus, eu ornare augue laoreet.  Fusce sed feugiat enim, a lacinia nisl.  Phasellus efficitur venenatis est, eu pulvinar turpis sollicitudin at.  Etiam malesuada ligula ultrices diam faucibu efficitur.  Cras convallis tellus mollis lacinia vehicula, eros tellus consequat mi, in vehicula eros sem vel nulla.  Class aptent taciti sociosqu a litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.  Pellentesque neque augue, varius eu nisi sit amet, tempus egestas nunc.  In lacus quam, elementum vel ultricies sit amet, viverra in eros.  Sed faucibus urna eget mauris faucibus aliquet.  Duis id pharetra sem.  Nam leo nunc, pellentesque at sapien elementum, interdum auctor sem.

Curabitur quam justo, accumsan nec commodo nec, tempor ut leo.  Nulla sit amet rhoncus dui.  Etiam at rutrum tortor.  Aenean interdum urna odio, ac feugiat nisi puvinar non.  Cras ac finibus urna, quis aliquam nisi.  Nunc a convallis nisl.  Curabitur eu consectetur mi, a tempus sapien.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, conectetur adipiscing elit.  Phasellus accumsan elementum ante id rhoncus.  Nunc eu nisi nisl.  Quisque ullamcorper bibendum lectus et elementum.  Nullam in tellus vel tortor rutrum tristique sed laoreet magna.  Nulla elementum nisi at congue tempus.  Nullam commodo lobortis vestibulum.  Sed vitae enim diam.  Interdum et maesuad fames ac ante ipsum primis in faucibus.  Aliquam ac luctus felis.  Quisque tempor lorem orci, sit amet condimentum augue lobortis ac.  Maecenas luctus lectus vitae suscipit finibus.  Curabitur ac ornare mass.  Integer vitae ligula eget libero vehicula alesuada vitae quis odio.

Suspendisse lacina lorem vitae ligula tempus, eu ornare augue laoreet.  Fusce sed feugiat enim, a lacinia nisl.  Phasellus efficitur venenatis est, eu pulvinar turpis sollicitudin at.  Etiam malesuada ligula ultrices diam faucibu efficitur.  Cras convallis tellus mollis lacinia vehicula, eros tellus consequat mi, in vehicula eros sem vel nulla.  Class aptent taciti sociosqu a litora torquent per conubia nostra, per inceptos himenaeos.  Pellentesque neque augue, varius eu nisi sit amet, tempus egestas nunc.  In lacus quam, elementum vel ultricies sit amet, viverra in eros.  Sed faucibus urna eget mauris faucibus aliquet.  Duis id pharetra sem.  Nam leo nunc, pellentesque at sapien elementum, interdum auctor sem.

The most nerve-wracking part of the interview process for some candidates is the question portion of the interview. Review some of the questions below and prepare possible answers, so that when you are in the interview, you are ready to shine!

1. Why are you interested in this position?
2. What were some of the challenges you faced at your previous job?
3. What did you like the most/least about your last job?
4. Tell me about the most significant project you have worked on and why it was crucial to keep track of details while still managing the “big picture.”
5. Tell me about a time when you and your boss/co-worker disagreed and how was the issue resolved?
6. Describe your most disappointing experience. How did you cope with it? What did you do to move beyond it?
7. What kind of supervisor do you work best for? What motivates you?
8. What kinds of people do you get along with the best?
9. What types of people irritate you?
10. What aspirations/goals do you expect to satisfy with this position? 

You need to give a prepared and well thought-out initial marketing statement of yourself and your skills. Here are the 3 steps to follow:

1. Give a career summary statement
    • One-sentence summary of career history
    • Include the most important aspects of career
    • Example: “I am a five-year veteran of LAN/WAN Admin and Systems Engineering
       with substantial experience using Novell, NT, Cisco, and Lotus Notes/Domino.”

2. Single accomplishment that you are proud of:
    • One to two sentence summary that will grab the attention of the interviewer
    • Accomplishment must be easy to explain or illustrate and clearly highlights your
      bottom line impact
    • An example of this step would be showing how you directly saved or made your
      past employer money by something you initiated

3. Summary of specifically what you want to do next in your career
    • One-sentence summary that is specific
    • This must change from interview to interview to make sure it matches exactly
       what you are interviewing for
    • An example could possibly include the size of company that you want to work for,
      specific job duties, the ability to apply skills used in a past job to help a 
      company grow, the focus of the company, etc.

If you take the time to prepare for this, you will improve your initial verbal impression and get the interview off to a good start—confident and focused.

Getting an interview with a company is a big thing; it means that the company thinks that you may have something that they are looking for. You need to do your best and not sabotage your own interview by the way you look or the things you say.

Here are five steps that will keep you in the running for an open position:

1. Dress your best, come prepared including a clean copy of your resume
and use good posture and diction.

2. Make sure that you are prepared with an inventory of your skills and a
list of things you have done, during your career, of which you are most
proud.

3. Keep in mind that it is a no-no to exaggerate on your resume. Resumes
are marketing tools, and you must be able to back up what it says to
enhance your credibility.

4. Be focused on what you do best, not just finding a job.

5. Be realistic about your salary, next job title, and responsibility
requirements. If your background and skills warrant the money, best job
title, and responsibility—you will get it!!

After interviewing, always be sure to send your interviewer a handwritten thank you note. Here is a simple formula to follow when writing one:

Date
Name
Title
Organization
Address
City, State, Zip Code

Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name:
It was very enjoyable to speak with you about the management position at {Company}.
The job, as you presented it, seems to be a very good match for my skills and interests. The creative approach to account management that you described confirmed my desire to work with you.

In addition to my enthusiasm, I will bring to the position strong writing skills, assertiveness and the ability to encourage others to work cooperatively with the department. My strong management background and experience will make for a smooth transition.

I understand your need for administrative support. My detail orientation and organizational skills will help to free you to deal with larger issues. I neglected to mention during my interview that I had worked for two summers as an administrative assistant. This experience helped me to develop my organizational skills.

I appreciate the time you took to interview me. I am very interested in working for you
and look forward to hearing from you about this position.

Sincerely,

John Smith 

Here are some simple instructions on what a basic cover letter should look like. 

Date

Contact or Department
Company Name
Address
City, State Zip
Re: Position

Dear Mr./Mrs./Ms.:

The first paragraph tells why you’re contacting the person, then either mention your connection with that person or tell where you read about the job. It also quickly states who you are.

Next, it wows them with your sincere, researched knowledge of their company. The goal: demonstrate that you are a worthy applicant and entice them to read further. The second and possibly third paragraph tell more about yourself, particularly why you’re an ideal match for the job. Include your accomplishments as they are related to the job you are applying.

The last paragraph is your goodbye; you thank the employer for his or her time. Include that you look forward to their reply or give them a time when you’ll be getting in contact by phone.

Sincerely,

John Smith

After working for a staffing and recruiting agency for nearly 6 years, I’ve seen my share of poorly written, badly formatted, and self-destructing resumes. Many job seekers have shot themselves in the foot for making simple and basic mistakes. As I’m sure you’ve heard and read time and time again, your resume is a marketing tool to promote yourself. It’s evident to hiring managers how much time and effort you’ve invested in this critical piece and the results speak for themselves. If you are an active and serious job seeker, you should check your resume today to avoid making damaging mistakes.

Self-promote, don’t self-serve. Your resume shouldn’t be about what you are
looking for in your next job opportunity, but instead how your skills and background
can fill a void at an organization. For example, don’t state in an objective that you
are looking to utilize your education and experience to grow within a company. This
is a very self-serving statement and doesn’t provide the hiring manager with insight
as to why they should hire you.

Check your email address. Your email address says a lot about you. Some
addresses reveal more than what a hiring manager would ever want to know. I’m
sure you want your friends and family to know you as hotmama166, but do you
want your future employer to know you that way? Create a new email address
specifically for your job search. When doing so, keep it simple and professional.

Don’t undersell yourself. Spend time thinking of all the tasks and responsibilities you
had at your previous jobs. It may be something you only did monthly, but that
experience could be relevant to a prospective employer.

Use action words. You can make any sentence pop by adding a power or action
word. For example you could state that you file documents or you could state you
accurately and systematically file confidential information.

Don’t include pictures or personal information. A guaranteed way to get your
resume tossed aside is if you include a picture with your resume. Even if your
picture is professional, which the majority of the ones I see are not, it shows a lack
of judgment on the job seekers behalf. Leave the pictures for your online profiles.
Also, do not include anywhere in your document your personal interests. Knowing
that you like to fish with your family has no relevance on your professional future
and may even cause an employer to negatively judge you.

Quantify your successes. Nothing stands out more than numbers. For instance,
which candidate would you choose; someone who states they have customer
service experience or someone with over 12 years of progressive growth in
customer service? If possible, try to back up your success with numbers. Here’s 
another example; by researching and selecting a different paper vendor I saved the
company $450 per month.

Make sure to spend some time upgrading your resume. With the job market as competitive as it is, those who spend the time will be the ones who get results.

Resumes are often the first impression that a hiring manager gets of you. Make sure that your copy is logically laid out and describes your skills accurately. Here is an example of an industrial resume. 

Robert Similar

123 Apple Ave., Rockford, IL 12345 • 715-555-1234 • rsimilar@yahoo.com

JOB OBJECTIVE

Warehouse Associate or Forklift Operator

SUMMARY OF QUALIFICATIONS

• Over 12 years of experience working in a warehouse with 5 years experience operating a forklift.
• Highly dependable and reliable. Throughout my career, I’ve never been tardy or have had an unexcused absence from work.
• Ambitious, flexible team member who loves to learn.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

2014-2020, General Company USA, Rockford, IL

• Lead Warehouse Associate - Maximized manufacturing and distribution efficiency for up to 50 specialized product lines.
• Received regular, outstanding feedback from managers and line staff throughout the plant.
• Forecasted and ordered production and shipment of over 20 million units per month, analyzing sales data to accurately meet demand and emergency orders.
• Juggled manufacturing schedules and equipment to achieve complex technical requirements such as narrow turnaround times, capacities, and temperature ranges.
• Ordered, tracked, and monitored inventory of supplies and finished goods system-wide, ensuring freshness and proper handling of critical substances, and accuracy in billing and record keeping.
• Prepared and analyzed statistical and productivity reports, and coordinated information management between two data-tracking applications.
• Improved production processes and increased distribution center efficiency.

2008-2014, Big Company, Rockford, IL

• Shipping and Receiving Personnel – Accurately verified and kept records on incoming and outgoing shipments.
• Computed amounts, such as space available, shipping charges, and storage, using calculator or price list. Was able to minimize costs by 10%.
• Conferred and corresponded with establishment representatives to rectify problems, such as damages, shortages, and non conformance to specifications.
• Contacted carrier representative to make arrangements and to issue instructions for shipping and delivery of materials.

EDUCATION

Rockford High School, Rockford, IL 

Resumes are often the first impression that a hiring manager gets of you. Make sure that your copy is logically laid out and describes your skills accurately. Here is an example of a clerical resume. 

Mark Jones

8899 S. Mine Street, Portage, WI 55662 • (920) 555-3266 • mjones@hotmail.com

OBJECTIVE: Customer Service Representative

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Expert knowledge and abilities in written communication.

• A patient listener who focuses on speakers and understands different dialects.
• Organized and detail-oriented; knack for understanding procedures and logistics.
• Strong skills in time management, prioritizing tasks, and meeting deadlines.

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

Communication & People Skills:

• Consistently maintain a positive attitude and enjoy helping people.
• Articulate and effective working with people of different backgrounds and temperaments.
• Accurately record, remember, and verbally communicate detailed information.
• Cooperatively work with others to produce and deliver required work.

Organization & Time Management:

• A problem solver who quickly grasps complex situations and turns them into manageable tasks.
• Produce quality work even when under extreme time pressure and deadlines.
• Proven ability to understand and follow complex instructions to successful conclusions.
• Many years of experience successfully managing and organizing personal time and workload.

Technical Skills:

• Very accurate and rapid keyboarder.
• Experienced in editing and proofreading lengthy documents with focus on word definitions, spelling, sentence structure, syntax, and grammar.
• Work with technical vocabularies from a variety of fields.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS

• Academy of Stenographic Arts, Missoula, MT, 2012-2013
• Missoula College of Court Reporting, Missoula, MT, 2009-2012
• Certified Shorthand Reporter, State of Montana, 2013-pres.

WORK HISTORY

• Beverly Reporting Associates, Red City, MT, 2015-2020
• Louis Lane & Associates, Green City, MT, 2013-2015
• Missoula Court Reporters, Blue City, MT, 2013