Repackaging Yourself For Career Success

It's Not What You Know...It's Who You Know

• Network to your best advantage
• Use your Primary Network--the people you know
• And your Secondary Network--the people they know
• Finally, your Expanded Network--other people they know

Making Your Calls

• Be prepared before you call
• Identify yourself
• Clearly state why you are calling
• Ask if it's a good time to talk
• Call early in the morning or around lunch
• Remember to speak at a normal speed
• Ask for an appointment--have your calendar handy

Your Resume

• There are two basic types of resumes: Chronological and Functional -- Chronological is the most common

• Chronological Resumes

• -  Advantage: it's the preferred format
• -  Advantage: it shows your progress in your field
• -  Disadvantage: highlights any instability
• -  Disadvantage: may focus too much on your last or current position

• Functional Resumes

• -  Advantage: emphasizes your capabilities
• -  Advantage: allows you to show your awareness of skill and disciplines for a particular job
• -  Disadvantage: diminishes emphasis on dates and places

What to Include in Your Resume

• Your full name, address, home and work telephone numbers, and e-mail address
• Your experience
• Your achievements
• Your education
• Ask yourself: "Will this information increase my chances for an interview?"

What to Leave Out of Your Resume

• Names of references
• Reasons for leaving a position
• Your present or desired salary level
• Outside activities that are not relevant
• A snapshot or picture of yourself
• Clichés
• Odd-sized paper or a color paper that will not copy or fax

Remember...

• Your resume is an advertisement for you
• It should tell enough about you to interest an interviewer
• But not enough to eliminate you from the search

Tough Interview Questions

• Tell me a little about yourself.
• Why did you leave, or why are you leaving your current position?
• What are your greatest strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?
• What type of salary do you have in mind?
• What do you like most and least about your current job?
• Why should we hire you?
• Where do you hope to be in five years?
• Do you have any questions?
• For more questions and suggestions on answers, see "Interview Questions You'll Be Asked (and Answers)."

Your Interview Questions--The Company

• What plans does the company, division, and/or department have?
• What impact will they have?
• Are there any short- or long-term problems with financing, production, or marketing?
• Who are your key people and what are their backgrounds?
• Do you have personnel problems?
• What is the company's management philosophy?

Your Interview Questions--The Position/Products

• Why is the position open?
• What are the responsibilities and reporting relationships of this position?
• What are your six-month and one-year goals?
• What is the history and growth of the product line?
• Are there product line changes?

Your Final Interview Questions

• Don't ask these questions until the end of the interview process
• What are your Human Resource policies?
• What is your employee benefits program?
• When do I become eligible?