Transcript Interviewing for a Job and Resume Writing

Chapter 8
Pages 204 - 229
 Prepare
for an interview by making an
inventory of your skills, experiences, and
accomplishments.
 Describe your strengths and weaknesses
as they might apply to a job situation.
 Anticipate questions and rehearse
effective answers.
 Dress appropriately and present yourself
in a professional manner.
 Define “first
impression.”
 What do you think the quote means?
 Do you agree or disagree with the quote?
 Why do you feel the way you do?
 What does this quote have to do with this
chapter, “Interviewing for a Job and
Resume Writing?”
 You
will surely have many opportunities to
be interviewed – for a contest, a job, or
admission to college – and all of those
occasions can be highly stressful.
 An interview may be one of the most nerveracking experiences you will ever face.
 Yet even the toughest interview teaches us
about ourselves and how to handle certain
situations better in the future.
 Good communication skills can help make
an interview a pleasant and productive
experience.
 The
interviewing process is a kind of
sale. In this case, you are the product –
and the salesperson.
 If you show up unprepared to talk about
your personal features and benefits,
you’re not likely to motivate an
interviewer to “buy.”
 The entire interview will hinge on how
well you know – and can speak about –
one question: “Who are you?”
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You already know your life by heart –
after all, you’ve been living it for quite
awhile now. Without a little practice,
however, you may not be able to account
for it in detail.
So, your first step is to build a dossier, or
personal inventory, on yourself.
The dossier will help you organize
important, work-related information
about yourself. You can then review it
before an interview to figure out how to
emphasize your strengths and minimize
your weaknesses.
With this information in place, it will be
easier to develop concise and
convincing answers to almost any
interview questions – answers that will
set you apart form the crowd.

Personal work history – To begin, make
a list of every job you’ve ever held, no
matter how briefly you worked. Any job,
even a menial one, can demonstrate
resourcefulness, responsibility, and
initiative.
•
For each employer, write down



•
Name, address, and telephone #
Names of all your supervisors and, if possible,
where they can be reached.
The exact dates (month & year) you were
employed.
For each job, list
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Your specific duties and responsibilities, such
as “grocery clerk” or “stock clerk.”
Specific skills required for the job.
Any promotions, awards, or recognition you
received.
*Do the same for each volunteer experience
you’ve completed.

Education – On another
sheet of paper, record
your educational
accomplishments. List
the following:
• Schools you’ve attended
•
•
•
•
and how many years you
have completed.
GPA
Academic honors or
awards.
Activities, clubs, or groups
you have belonged to.
Sports teams you played
on.

Self-Assessment – Now
set the sheets aside and
write brief answers to
the following questions
(which you can expect an
interviewer to ask you):
• 1. What accomplishments
are you proudest of ?
• 2. What mistakes have you
made? What have you
learned from them?
• 3. How well do you interact
with authority figures –
such as bosses, teachers, or
parents?
Parts of a resume…
 Every
resume should contain certain basic
elements, including a job objective, plus
your education and work history.
 Present the information in a clean, simple,
uncluttered outline form, usually in the
following order…

Identification – Put your
name, address, and phone
number at the top of the page,
usually centered. Putting your
name in front of an employer
is the single most important
job a resume can do.
Remember to use your name
as you want to be called at
work (are you Susie Thomas,
Susan Thomas, or Susan Beth
Thomas?).
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Your objective or job goal –
Creating a job objective is
important because it gives a
clear idea of where you are
headed and helps to focus
your entire resume toward a
particular goal.
Perhaps the easiest way to
start writing an objective is to
ask yourself, What is the
purpose of this resume? Am I
applying for a part-time job,
looking to be an intern, or
applying for a scholarship?
The answer to that question
will help you frame your
objective.
 A typical objective might sound like this:
• Seek hostess position at a fine dining establishment,
or
• Win an academic scholarship from the United
Methodist Church
• **If an objective is too narrow, it may limit other
opportunities that are available. Nevertheless,
having one will help you clarify in your own mind
what you are seeking. It is recommended that you
write a job objective so that you know what you’re
looking for – you can always leave it off or change it
as needed.

Education and Training
• As a high school student, you’ll probably want to put your
educational background near the top of your resume.
This is because you want to put your most impressive
credentials first. Remember that you will be updating
your resume for the next 40 years. As time goes on and
you gain more work experience, ,the education category
will move lower on your resume.
• Be sure to note any specific job-related skills you might
have, such as fluency in a foreign language or sign
language. It’s smart to list all the computer applications
you know how to run – for example, Word, Excel,
PowerPoint.
• If you can use specialized equipment such as digital
cameras, photo scanners, etc., be sure to include that too.
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Work History – Include information about each job you’ve held:
the name and location of the business, and dates of your
employment, and your responsibilities.
List your jobs in reverse chronological order; that is, start with your
current or most recent job and work backward.
You should use action verbs to describe your job responsibilities
that you held at each position. For example, if you worked as a
playground supervisor, you could list these job duties:
• Worked with other leaders to run a playground for elementary age children.
• Created lesson plans
• Coordinated games with other playground leaders
• **If you worked as a baby-sitter, you could list these duties:
 Prepared meals for young children.
 Gave baths and fed infants.
 ***Use the present tense if it is a position you currently hold; use the past tense if it’s not.
 Personal
data – Include clubs and
organizations you belong to (highlight any
leadership positions you have held), as well
as hobbies and outside interests. This is the
place to list your sports teams, FFA
activities, Choir club, Student council, or
virtually anything else that will help an
employer see you as a well-rounded person.
This is also an excellent place to list any
volunteer service you have performed.
(Colleges and scholarship committees are
especially interested in this.)
References – At the end of your resume state that
references will be provided on request. That
means that a few former employers or others
who know you well would be happy to discuss
your qualifications.
 Don’t forget that teachers, counselors, or clergy
can serve as references, especially if you have
done any odd jobs for them. Notify these people
whom you want to use, and make sure each
person agrees to be a reference before giving
out her or his phone number. Don’t use any
family members and try to refrain from using
friends.

The tone of your resume is often as important
as the information it contains. Here are five
things to keep in mind:
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Be Positive – This means showing confidence in your abilities and your
experience.
Be Brief – Try to keep your resume to a single page. Think of it as a oneminute commercial that must grab the attention of the person doing the hiring.
Be selective & choose only the most important and interesting details.
Stick to the Facts – If you can’t back it up, don’t say it. Job interviewers will
likely ask you to expand on certain points in your resume --- if you won’t be
able to, leave them out.
Keep your Language Clear – Stick to plain, ,straightforward English, with
active verbs and short, simple words. You don’t need to use complete
sentences but your phrases should read smoothly.
Keep your Eye on your Goal – You can do this by emphasizing the education
and experience that best match the work you seek. Tailor your resume as
closely as you can to a specific job, ,even if it means writing several different
versions.

Research the Employer & the Job
• Before you go to an interview, you
should find out what you can about
the business or organization. Read a
few articles or news clippings if you
can find them. Go online & do
research.
• Contact someone you know who has
worked with that company. That will
help you talk intelligently about the
place you want to work during the
interview itself.
• Try to talk with people who have
worked in similar positions in other
companies too. Armed with this
knowledge, you will be in a better
position to ask intelligent questions,
and you will also impress the
interviewer with your initiative.

Practice, Practice, Practice
• Before you go through an actual
interview, you should first try a mock
interview. Find a friend or classmate
who will pretend to be an
interviewer and ask you questions.
The mock interview is more than just
a chance to work out your jitters –
you can actually practice your
interviewing technique on a live
audience.
• You should see marked
improvement in your interviewing
skills from just one mock interview.
Why? Because it’s simply not
enough to look at an interview
question and say, “Yeah, I know the
answer to that one.” You need to
practice your answer, live, in front of
someone else.
What is the purpose
of preparing a
personal inventory?
Why is it useful to gather
information on the
business or company
you will be interviewing
with?
Good planning means that you try to guess, as best
as you can, the questions you may be asked in an
interview and give some thought to how you might
answer them. For example, the interviewer will
almost certainly ask you to describe yourself. Other
potential questions may be more difficult.
 The interviewer may want to know, for example, why
you’ve never held a job for very long. You should
guess that a question like this will be coming and
have a reasonable answer in mind – “I’ve had many
responsibilities at home, looking after my younger
brothers and sisters, but they’re all in school now.”
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Most interviews boil down to why you
are applying, ,what kind of person you
are, and what you can do. Know the
answers to those questions like you
know your own name.
Here are some possible questions you
might face…
Think about how you would answer
those questions, so that you don’t
stumble for words when they do come
up. Some students even memorize their
answers, but be careful that you don’t
have your responses down so well that
they seem canned. You don’t want to
sound like a robot. Instead, your goal is
to be so well prepared that you can relax
and be completely spontaneous.
General
Why do you want to work for us?
What are your strengths & weaknesses?
What would you like to be doing five
years from now?
Educational
What is your GPA?
What have been your favorite & least
favorite courses?
Were your extracurricular activities
worth the time you put into them?
Job-Related
Why should I hire you?
How long a commitment do you plan to
give me?
Personal
Tell me something about yourself.
What accomplishment in your life has
made you the proudest?
What is the last book you read?
Answering tough questions may make you feel as if
you’re playing defense. That’s only natural, but you
also need to have an offense planned for your
interview. Prepare a short list of positive points you
wish to make about yourself.
 Perhaps you want to be sure your future employer
knows about your volunteer experience, how well
you’re doing in school, or your plans for the future.
Whatever the case, prepare a list of points you want
to be sure to bring up during the interview – whether
the interviewer asks you about them or not.
 How can you get your positive points across? Be
alert for situations where you can bring them into the
conversation. Here are a few possibilities…
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Puff Balls – Puff balls are easy
questions lobbed in your direction. A
typical puff ball might be: “Tell me
about yourself.” Use a question like this
as a springboard to tell the interviewer
something you have planned to say.
Puff Ball questions give you the perfect
chance to put your best foot forward.
But beware: if you haven’t practiced
ahead of time, a question like this may
leave you at a loss for words.
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Pauses – Inevitably, you will feel a lull in
the conversation. Every interview has
some “down time.” Perhaps the
interviewer has looked down at her
notes, scratched her shoulder, or taken a
sip of coffee. In any event, a pause gives
you another chance to uses some
initiative. Remember, you’re not a
witness to a murder trial; you don’t have
to wait to be cross-examined.
While the interviewer is momentarily
distracted, jump in and offer to talk
about a subject you know will show your
skills and abilities.
You might say, for example, “By the way,
Mr. Smith, may I tell you a little about the
Habitat for Humanity project our school
did last year?”
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Bridges – A bridge is a transition from one
answer to another. Suppose the interviewer
asks, “Have you ever been late for work?”
Obviously the interviewer expects a one-word
answer—yes or no—but you can do more.
You first answer her question—”Yes”—and
then, by cleverly using a bridge, you turn the
original question toward something else you
wanted to talk about. “I was late once,” you say,
“but it was because I stopped to help a child
who had fallen off a bike.” Be sure that any
story you tell is true. This bridge gives you a
chance to show how responsible you are—so
responsible, in fact, that you realize some
things are even more important than being on
time.
Once an opportunity for making a positive
point presents itself, make the most of it. State
a key point and then back it up. For example,
don’t just say you’re organized. Give details.
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Sparkler – A sparkler is something that makes
the point come alive: an analogy, a story, an
anecdote, or a quote. Positive points aren’t
effective if they sound like propaganda, so you
can create a picture in the interviewer’s head
to help activate both sides of his or her brain.
For example, you could say “When my
government class was doing a unit on
Congress, I invited our representative to speak
to us. He was in the middle of a reelection
campaign, and his visit made the evening
news.”
You can help make your positive point stand
out by being brief. Think of your interview as
if it were being televised and keep your
answer to the length of a sound bite. Sound
bites are those short cuttings from interviews
that we hear on TV and radio broadcasts.
Sound bites last, as a rule, no more than 30
seconds, and they fit the needs of most
interviewers who frequently have many other
people to interview. Plan to answer each
question in 30 seconds. You might also have a
2 minute answer prepared (if time permits) or
even a 5 minute answer, depending on the
circumstances.
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What questions do you dread being
asked in an interview? Some of the
more common anxiety-inducing
questions include: “Where do you see
yourself in five years?” “Why should I
hire you?,” and “Why do you want to
work here?”
When you think about it, they are all
legitimate questions, and each presents
you with an opportunity to sell yourself.
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“Where do you see yourself in five
years?” --- The interviewer probably
wants to know if you are ambitious. If
you find it hard to look five years down
the road, try this: “Five years seems like
a long time, I can see myself going to
college and studying for a degree in
sports mgmt., but I might take a year off
first when I finish high school.”
“Why should I hire you?” --- Here’s
where the firm finds out how well you
understand its needs. How about a
response like this: “I think you should
hire me because I have the skills you
need in this position. My computer
courses at school have taught me how to
use your software, and my
communication skills are strong as a
result of my student government
experience.”

“Why do you want to work here?”
• This is where the employer finds out how much you know about
its organization. You want to convey your interest in
contributing to its mission.
• For example: “Some of my older friends have worked here in
the past and they said they liked their jobs and were treated
fairly.”
• If the interviewer asks why you are lacking in a particular area
(be it grades, work experience, or extracurricular activities),
you need to stay positive. In response to a question about a low
GPA, for example, you might say something like this – “I had
not yet learned how to say no. I was on the soccer team, the
speech team, and Student Council. There just weren’t enough
hours in the day and my grades began to slip. But I learned my
lesson and now know how to prioritize.”
No matter how well you prepare, however, you
will occasionally run into an extra-tough
question, one that takes you by surprise. In such
a potentially dangerous situation, take a moment
or two to gather your thoughts. Never let yourself
feel pressed to answer a question without
thinking.
 When you pause before answering, you show
your poise. Before long, a reasonable answer
should come to you. In case it doesn’t, however,
here are a few techniques to “buy time” while
you search your brain for an answer. You can…

1. Say the interviewer’s name once
slowly while you think.
2. Repeat the question. Restate it in
your own words to make sure you
understand it.
3. Address the “issue.” Make general
comments while you ponder the
specifics.
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It won’t hurt, either, to ask the
interviewer to give you a moment
to think. You wouldn’t want to do
this very often—the interviewer
has other things to do, too—but
there’s nothing wrong with calling
a brief time out. No matter what
else happens, you’re entitled to
take your time.
Once in awhile, ,the best answer,
the best answer to a tough
question is simply “I don’t know.”
You can’t know everything, and
most interviewers will appreciate
your honesty. The worst mistake
you can make is to try to bluff
your way through when you really
don’t know what you’re talking
about.
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While some interview questions may be hard to answer, others are
just plain inappropriate. Employers, for example, may not ask
whether you are married, have children, or belong to certain
religious group. Such questions are off limits because they have
no bearing on your ability to do the job.
In other words, answers to those questions might give employers a
reason to unfairly discriminate against some applicants. Just
asking the wrong question is not illegal in itself. But it may open
an employer up to a lawsuit if an otherwise-qualified applicant is
passed over for a job based on her or his answer.
This does not mean, however, that you won’t be asked such
questions. Sometimes interviewers don’t realize that they are
asking improper questions; other times interviewers know and ask
anyway to see how you handle uncomfortable situations.
The key is knowing when a question is inappropriate. Every
question the interviewer asks should pass this test: “Does it have
something to do with my current job or the one that I’m applying
for?”
APPROPRIATE
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“Are you in good health? What do you
do to stay in shape? --- These questions
are fine because employers have more
than just a passing interest in your
health. Most mgrs. are looking for ways
to keep the cost of health care insurance
from skyrocketing. Most mgrs. want to
know that you won’t fall victim to every
flu bug.
“Do you have any physical problems
that may limit your ability to perform
this job? --- This is okay, so be honest.
Are you going to be doing a lot of
walking & standing on the job that might
bother that problem knee? The key
words in this question are, “ability to
perform this job.” A physical problem
that is not job related is none of the
employer’s business, by law.
INAPPROPRIATE
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“Is that an Irish name?” --Employers may not ask about your
ancestry or nationality. It’s ok to
volunteer that you can speak a
language other than English, but
the interviewer should not use that
as an opening to ask questions
about your ethnic heritage.
“What religion are you?” --Employers may tell you which
religious holidays their companies
observe, but they cannot ask you
for any specific information about
your faith. If an interviewer presses
you to reveal your affiliation, simple
say: “I try to keep my religious
beliefs separate from my work.”
What political party
are you affiliated
with?
Do you
have a
girlfriend/
boyfriend?
Do you go to
church
regularly?
What is your
sexual orientation?
Do you have a physical
disability?
What is
your IQ?
Are you currently
married?
Do you drink?
How much do you
weigh?
Rather than simply refusing to answer a question –
and creating bad feelings between you and the
interviewer – you may find it helpful to tackle what
you believe are the employer’s real concerns.
 Imagine, for example, that the interview is going
smoothly. You begin to think you’ve got the job in the
bag. And then it happens. “How long has your family
been in this country?” Or, “Your people place a high
value on that, don’t they?” Or, “You’ve done
amazingly well for someone in a wheelchair. How
long have you had to use one?”
 On the surface the question may seem innocent
enough. Yet, the question is entirely illegal. So what
do you do? How do you respond?

 The
answer is up to you, but the text
recommends that you
• Answer briefly and move on to a new topic, or
• Ignore the question altogether and try to
address what the interviewer really wants to
know. The interviewer may even recognize
his/her mistake and appreciate your willingness
to put it aside and go on.
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Late in the interview, you will probably have an opportunity
to ask questions about the job or the company that is doing
the hiring. Don’t underestimate the importance of asking
questions.
Even if you think you’re sold on the position or you’re clear
on the responsibilities, you must speak up. If you don’t, the
interviewer might assume you are uninterested. And that
can be the kiss of death to your chances.
You might ask about the specific duties of the position, or
who your immediate supervisor would be. For example, you
might say, “How many nights will I be asked to close?”
Don’t ask about days off, vacation, holidays, sick leave,
personal days, and so on. You’ll seem like someone who is
looking for a chance to get out of the office before you even
start!
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1. There’s no way you can plan
for or anticipate questions that
might be used during an
interview.
2. “Tell me about yourself” is
an example of a puff ball.
3. A bridge can help you make
a transition from one answer
to another.
4. You should rehearse
answers to tough questions
such as “Why should I hire
you?”
5. Employers usually do not
ask why you want to work at
their place of business.
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6. It’s OK to ask for a time-out
during an interview to give
yourself time to think of a
reasonable answer to a tough
question.
7. A potential employer has
the right to ask you about your
religious beliefs.
8. An interviewer can ask you
about your health.
9. If an interviewer asks an
inappropriate or illegal
question, it’s best to call the
police & turn them in.
10. Only the interviewer
should ask questions during
an interview, never the
interviewee.
Interviews are certainly vital to your future success.
Many colleges are relying less on standardized test
scores (SAT & ACT) as criteria for admission and
giving greater emphasis to personal interviews.
Consequently, how well you do in an interview can
determine whether you are accepted by the college
of your choice.
 Sooner or later, too, you will interview for a job. How
you conduct yourself in interview situations will be a
great test of both your speaking and listening skills.
Remember, though, that the employer must satisfy
you too. You have to like each other before you can
“go steady” – that is, get the job.
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Remember that prospective employers are not out to
embarrass you or trip you up; they only want to gain an
accurate impression of you and your abilities. In particular,
they want to know how you communicate with other people.
Of course they are interested in your qualifications, but they
can find that information on your resume. When they call
you in for a personal interview, they mainly want to hear you
talk and see how well you can communicate.
Remember the traits employers are always looking for, no
matter what the job: CONFIDENCE, ENTHUSIASM, AND
DEPENDABILITY. Employers want someone who can
communicate effectively with customers and with other
employees.

Be Alert and Energetic
• During the interview, try to show
energy and enthusiasm. Sit on the
edge of your chair and lean slightly
forward. If you’re female, be sure to
cross your legs at the ankles. When
you make gestures, get your hands
about chest high. Using gestures
burns off tension and looks good – it
makes you animated.
• Keep eye contact with the person
interviewing you. Don’t become so
wrapped up in answering questions
that you forget to connect on a
personal level with your interviewer.

Pay Attention
• Pay attention to the interviewer’s
name and use his/her name
occasionally in your answers. That
helps the interviewer know that you
notice people and remember their
names. As much as possible, turn
the conversation toward things you
know and keep it away from
unfamiliar topics.
• During the intervew, remember to
be an active listener and show
respect to the interviewer.
• If the interviewer does not extend
his/her hand at the end of the
interview, you should wait one
moment, and then extend your own
hand. This shows a high level of
confidence and business awareness.
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While your school campus may be the perfect place for casual wear, the
interview is not. With few exceptions, sandals and sweatshirts are out.
Dress shirts, ties, blouses and jackets are in.
Even if a company has a relaxed style, interviews still follow the
conservative standard.
In general, dress for the interview in the clothes you would probably wear
on the job, or even one step above the job attire.
Moderation is the key. Jeans and a t-shirt won’t do, but neither will a
$1,000 Armani suit. Don’t wear anything outlandish – gaudy jewelry, short
skirts, or too much makeup. Interviewers expect you to look clean,
professional, and well-groomed. If your ears are pierced and you are
male, leave the earrings out. If you have tattoos, cover them up. You can’t
be too careful when making a first impression.
Here are some all too common appearance choices you should avoid:
•
•
•
•
•
An outfit that doesn’t match.
Clothes that don’t fit.
Poor grooming (hair out of control, overdone makeup, dirty fingernails).
Dressing too casually (blue jeans).
Wearing something too revealing.
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A day or two before the interview, call to confirm the time and
place. Ask how long you should allow for the interview and if
there’s anything you should bring. Sometimes, for example,
employers like applicants to bring their portfolios along. A
portfolio contains a sample of your best school assignments or
examples of other work you have done.
Plan to arrive about 5-10 minutes early. If you are unfamiliar with
the route, ask for directions and do a practice drive. You don’t
know what traffic problems you’ll encounter or if you’ll get lost.
And if you drive, you’ll have to find a parking place. Allow time for
all of these things.
Go to the interview by yourself. It shows confidence. Many teens
want to take along a friend for moral support – don’t do it; it’s not
perceived as professional behavior.
Use any waiting time to check your appearance or read any
company literature that may be on display. Take advantage of this
time to get a feel for the work environment by observing your
surroundings.
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1. Do I have copies of my
resume?
2. Do I have a list of three
references with addresses
& phone numbers?
3. Have I made sure I will
be there on time?
4. Have I dressed neatly
and appropriately?
5. Even if I feel tired, can I
remember to sit up & look
alert?
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6. Can I remember not to
criticize others, especially
past employers?
7. Can I make good eye
contact with the
interviewer?
8. Can I remember the
interviewer’s name & use it
during the interview?
9. Can I remember to thank
the interviewer at the close
of the interview?
10. Have I turned off any
electronic devices (cell
phones, etc.)?
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Consider every interview a learning experience. As soon as possible
after the interview, jot down some notes on how you would like to
improve. Replay the highs and the lows. What went well? What could you
have done better?
Always follow an interview with a thank-you letter. Begin by thanking the
interviewer for taking the time to meet with you. Then restate your
interest in the position.
You might also keep in touch with the business. After a week or two, call
to find out if the position has been filled. If you accept another job in the
meantime, be sure to notify the interviewer that you’re no longer a
candidate. You never know when you might be applying to that business
again.
You can also rewrite your resume. Did the interviewer have any questions
that you could have clarified through your resume? Did you find yourself
talking about accomplishments that you forgot to include? If so, now is the
time to revise your resume, before you send it out again.
Finally, if you do not get the job, you may want to ask the interviewer for
some constructive criticism or recommendations for future interviews.
What guidelines on
grooming would you
give to someone
interviewing for a
job in food service?
Why is it wise to
arrive 5-10 minutes
early to an interview?