dated September 15, 2004
I am planning to change my organisation. How should I mention experiences along with my career graph?
Joy Choudhary
Berhampur
Under the objective on the first page, list any relevant education or skill. If you are just out of college and have little relevant experience, then your education section will be placed at the top of your resume. As you gain experience, your education almost always gravitates to the bottom. If you have participated in college activities or received any honours or completed any notable projects that relate directly to your target job, this is the place to list them. Showing high school education and activities on a resume is only appropriate when you are under 20 and have no education or training beyond high school. Once you have completed either college courses or specialised technical training, drop your high school information altogether.
Continuing education shows that you care about life-long learning and self-development so think about any relevant training you have undergone since your formal education was completed. Relevant is the key word here. Always look at your resume from the perspective of a potential employer. Don't waste space by listing training that is not directly or indirectly related to your target job.
In a recent interview, I was asked, "How do you handle rejection?" What should have been my answer?
Md Turrab
Lucknow
This is a popular question, particularly if you're in sales. Much of today's world is commercially orientated and therefore the interviewer will be keen on how rejection affects you. A good answer would be something along these lines: "I accept rejection as part of the sales process, I'm accustomed to forgetting about it and moving on with the conviction that the experience may bring me a little closer to my next sale."On the other plane, like it or not, rejection is a fact of life, especially when it comes to your job search.
No matter how skilled or experienced you are, a rejection or two (or more) is inevitable. But, there is an upside. The trick is to learn how to handle rejection, maintain a positive attitude and use that rejection to your advantage in your next opportunity. You had a great interview. Your skills are right on target. But, you still didn't get the job!
Being passed over for a position may have nothing to do with you personally. So, start forging your own connections. Professional organisations, former colleagues, friends and online communities are all great places to strengthen your network. Remember to seize this opportunity to analyse exactly why you didn't get the job. And then work to improve your chances next time.
If you are given a chance to speak, ask the interviewer how you could have increased your chances as a candidate. Build your skills or rework your resume to compensate for any perceived weaknesses. You can even ask a friend to practice with you to improve your interview skills.
Recently I attended an interview. I am very impressed with the person who interviewed me. How do I send a formal letter of thanks?
Deepa
Pondicherry
Thank the interviewer for the chance. Express your enthusiasm to join the organisation. Reiterate your qualifications for and continuing interest in the position. Include any personal skills you forgot to mention during the interview.
Lay emphasis on a particular skill or accomplishment that would make you an asset as an employee. Towards the end, briefly thank the interviewer again for consideration. Express confidence in your ability to perform well in the organisation. State that you look forward to hearing from the interviewer and give a specific date if you plan to follow up with a phone call. A thank you letter offers you a second chance to convey something you forgot during the interview. Additionally, it will help confirm your understanding of topics and issues discussed, so there's no misunderstanding later.
Should I mention an objective on my resume or not? I often get a lot of conflicting advice.
Eliza
Panaji
It depends upon the organisation you are applying. An objective like, "to obtain a position that utilises strong analytical, teamwork and leadership skills" is quite a monotonous one.
If you are applying for a specific job, then no, you don't need an objective. Recruiters know that your objective is to get that job.
Some people write, "to obtain a financial analyst position at a major accounting firm" on resumes and then send them to ad agencies.
The time you need an objective is when you are sending your resume to a large company that does not have a specific job opening. In that case, it's helpful for the recruiter to know which department to forward your resume to.
I am not sure that my resume is projecting the right image. Inquiries from prospective employers have been few. Has my resume reached the targeted audience or not?
Makarand Gupta
Jaipur
There are no hard and fast rules for resumes. A good resume is one that gets you a chance to attend an interview. But, some general guidelines apply in most situations. A good resume should have the following basic qualities:
(1) The focus of the resume should be that the reader has no trouble ascertaining what you can do very well
(2) The resume demonstrates a candidate's skill at concise communication - an ability to distil a long and varied career to the essentials. In most cases this means two pages at the most. In a few cases, it is appropriate to attach supplementary information, but keep the basic resume to two pages
(3) The resume bullets should be quantifiable accomplishments
The faq column deals with career concerns addressed to The C&K Management LTD. PO Box 2178, Secunderabad 500003 or emailed to faqs@cnkonline.com
Joy Choudhary
Berhampur
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