JOB HUNTING ADVICE

Looking Good on Paper - Resumes
Let's Talk About You - The Interview
The Interviewer's Hidden Agenda

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THE INTERVIEWER'S HIDDEN AGENDA

The following is a list of ten tips that interviewers learn in interviewing school. This list (source unknown) does not appear in any resume writing book or other resource - to the best of our knowledge. While you may not agree with everything on the list, we believe you will at least find some ideas to be valid and worthy of consideration.

Each interviewer will look at your resume differently. Applicants who understand "The Hidden Agenda" and apply this knowledge to their resume and interviews will increase their chances of success.

1. Start at the end. Most job applications list the least flattering information at the end of their resumes. Look for this information, and eliminate those applicants with troublesome credentials.
2. Beware of "functional" resumes. The "functional" resume is very general, containing no dates of employment but only descriptions of experience and qualifications. This may be a signal that the applicant is a "job-hopper."
3. Notice "profit-minded" attitudes. A resume that lists, as a part of the applicant's job experience, the implementation of cost-saving or efficiency measures indicates that the applicant is interested in promoting his or her employer's profits, a desirable attitude indicating both loyalty and the recognition that the profit motive is healthy.
4. Be wary of "trivia." A job applicant whose resume contains an extensive section on "outside" activities (e.g., sports, hobbies, etc.) may be weak in actual work experience.
5. Be wary of "qualifiers." The resume that contains phrases such as "knowledge of...," "assisted with...," "had exposure to..." may indicate that the applicant has little "hands-on" experience in the field.
6. Don't be misled by a lengthy education section. A resume listing special seminars instead of a solid educational background may signal a weakness in the applicant's education.
7. Be sensitive to sour grapes. A job applicant whose resume indicates bitterness about past jobs may be a potentially troublesome employee.
8. Notice sloppiness. A resume that is less than letter-perfect may indicate that the applicant may not be a conscientious employee.
9. Don't read more into a resume than is already there. If a skill is not listed on a resume, it generally means that the applicant lacks that skill.
10. Look for a willingness to work hard. Hard workers are difficult to find and this quality is difficult to assess from a resume. If there is an indication of this trait, consider the applicant carefully.

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