How to Get an Interview

So you’ve been searching for employment and haven’t landed a job – much less an interview.  Ever ask yourself “why?”.  I can tell you.  I’ve been a Human Resources Director for over 20 years and I know the key to unlock your future.

Forget about getting the job.  You need an interview first.  Here is a sure-fire method to obtain the all important interview that seems to elude you.employment

Take notes:

  1. Resumes:  You need a stellar, professional resume that truly showcases your talents, capabilities, and achievements.  Get professional help.  DO NOT waste your time typing your own resume using a MS Word template.  There are a variety of reasons I suggest getting professional help instead of doing it yourself.  First, the average person cannot express what they’ve accomplished or capable of doing on paper.  Also, the average person does not have the ability to structure a resume in such as way as to really “tell the story”.  Get a professional and spend the $50 on a good resume – it is an investment.
  2. Applications:  DO NOT fill out applications at the place you received it.  Take it home and take the time to complete the application in a neat handwritting.  Never hand in an application without attaching a resume – the professional resume I spoke of in item 1 above.
  3. Attachments to resumes and applications:  Keep it simple.  These are the only attachments I would inlcude:  registrations, licenses, certifications, letters of recognition, letters from past employers.
  4. Attire:  Deliver your application and resume in professional attire.  DO NOT deliver these all important items in jeans, shorts, blouses that showoff your breasts, or pants that show your butt.  Remember that the person doing the hiring is looking for a professional person to represent their company.  I’m sorry but I would cover up tatoos and take piercings out as well – you may like them but companies desiring professional-looking employees do not.   No aftershave.  No perfume.  Both of these can be a “turn-off” immediately.  If you smoke – don’t smoke that day until you turn-in your application – some companies do not like smokers.
  5. Don’t perster them to death:  The prospective hiring manager has your information.  Calling and emailing them repeatedly does not work.  I would suggest you follow-up in person – dressed professionally – the next day if you can.  Coming back in person speaks volumes about your eagerness to join their team.

These tibits of information will help you grately in your search for employment.  While they may not get you an interview, I can tell you that 20 years of experience says you will have a better chance than some that drop by.

Remember this one fact:  most hiring managers spend less than 2 minutes reviewing applications and resumes – 120 seconds.  You need to do whatever possible to stand out in those 2 minutes.

Good luck.

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Posted by Admin on Jul 24th, 2010 and filed under Employment. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response by filling following comment form or trackback to this entry from your site

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