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Should you Embellish on your Resume or in a Job Interview?

Home2016 September
Should you Embellish on your Resume or in a Job Interview?
September 20 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: Embellishing, interview tips, resume tips

Over the last number of years, more and more people have found themselves between successes for longer periods of time.  This, for the most part, has had to do with the increased trend of organizational downsizing.  As a result, many job seekers will either embellish the dates of employment on their resumes in an attempt to close some of their employment gaps or will embellish their experience in an attempt to elevate their profile.  This can tend to follow through to a job interview as well.

That said, honesty is the best policy.  There are ways to frame your experience on your resume or in your interview answers to highlight the great experience you have while keeping your integrity intact.

How to Avoid Embellishing on your Resume

When considering any employment gaps you may have, most employers are aware of the increased frequency of corporate downsizing.  As such, it matters very little if a person had been downsized from their previous position.  It does matter, however, if a person lies about the dates or circumstances.  In fact, it is very easy for an employer to uncover the truth through employment verification and reference checks.  Exaggerating on your dates of employment could put you in a bad light.

In terms of your work experience, it may be tempting to elevate your profile.  To illustrate this, I’ll use the example of a Customer Service Team Lead who changes their title to Customer Service Manager.  The difference might seem like semantics, however, the difference in title can indicate a higher level of authority.  As an alternative to changing the job title, consider framing your resume to highlight your accomplishments instead.  Using our example, this person may state under their accomplishments that they were promoted to team lead in six months.  They could provide further context by adding that this promotion occurred in half the time that other team lead promotions have occurred.  Of course, this is assuming that both the promotion and timing are truthful statements.

How to Avoid Embellishing in a Job Interview

It can be tempting to embellish your experience while in a job interview.  After all, there is a job on the line and you want to show that you are the best person for that job.  The downside is that you paint yourself into a corner, especially if you are asked follow-up questions.

Again, it all comes down to framing your answers.  Using another example, let’s say you were asked if you have experience using a particular software program, System A.  Instead of saying yes and risking follow up questions, you could say that although you don’t have experience with that particular system, you are a quick learner.  Follow up by saying that in your previous roles you were able to quickly learn System B and System C, and became so proficient in these systems that you were considered a super user.

By framing your answers in this way, you can demonstrate your transferable skills and ability to learn quickly while keeping your integrity intact.

Final Thoughts

As I’ve said before, honesty is always the best policy.  Further, keep in mind Murphy’s Law: whatever can go wrong will go wrong.  The one thing that you choose to embellish on your resume or in a job interview might be that one thing that is thoroughly checked by an employer.  If the employer determines that you were not being honest, this could put you in poor light.  Further, it may also result in a negative hiring decision.

 

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.  For personalized advice, click here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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How to Handle Repetitiveness on Your Resume
September 15 2016 nfougere Resume Writing, Uncategorized 0 comments Tags: Repetitiveness on Resume, resume advice, resume tips

Repetitiveness in a resume can sometimes be unavoidable.  This is especially true if you have followed a particular career path where the roles you’ve held have been similar from company to company.  This was the case with one of my viewers who wrote to me asking how he should handle repetitiveness on his resume.  If you’re struggling with this issue, then this post is for you!

Tips for Dealing with Repetitiveness

  1. Focus on Accomplishments – as a best practice, you should highlight your accomplishments on your resume. Assuming that you have accomplished different things in different roles, you should be able to illustrate how you have developed along the same career path.
  2. Change the Wording – although you may have had similar experience, try re-wording some of the line items. Use a thesaurus for reference or inspiration.  Again, if you can demonstrate some level of progression in terms of added responsibilities or expanded experience in the more recent role, all the better.
  3. Change the Formatting – if the roles you’ve had were practically identical in duties and accomplishments, then consider combining the roles. You can edit the format so that you have your job title listed first, then each of the organizations (with dates) in which you’ve held each position.  Follow this with a brief description of your job duties and highlight your accomplishments.  This can be especially impactful for career changers

Final Thoughts

Repetitiveness in a resume may be unavoidable.  You can use this opportunity to maximize the keywords throughout your resume.  Keep in mind, you should be using keywords that are relevant to the role to which you are applying.  This is a great opportunity as well to highlight any transferable skills you would have gained in the event that your experience isn’t directly aligned with the role to which you are applying.

 

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.  For personalized advice, click here.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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Top Tips for Attending Job Fairs
September 13 2016 nfougere Job Search 0 comments Tags: interview tips, Job Fairs, Job Search Advice, Job Search Tips

Job fairs are a great way to maximize your exposure to a wide variety and a large number of potential employers.  This is true for both campus job fairs for students, and job fairs aimed at experienced professionals.

Job Fair Tips

Job fairs can be overwhelming, but there is a method for optimizing your time and for making a great first impression:

  1. Pre-Register – even in cases where it is not mandatory to pre-register, I recommend you do. Typically, you will have the opportunity to share your resume with employer attendees, providing you with exposure even before attending the fair.
  2. Review & Research Employers – before you attend the job fair, do your homework. Most job fairs will make the list of employer attendees available to job seekers.  Be sure to take the time to research each employer and be sure to review their career site.  In doing so, you will be better able to articulate how your skills will match their needs.
  3. Rank the Employers – it is not necessary to meet with every employer at a job fair. After reviewing and researching the list of employer attendees, make note of the A (definitely want to meet), B (would be interested in meeting), and C (not interested in meeting) companies.  If there is a map of the employer booths, you can strategize the best path for seeing your A and B list companies.
  4. Bring Resumes & Business Cards – you should bring copies of your resume in case the employer(s) ask for one. In the case that an employer is not accepting hard copy resumes, consider printing out personalized business cards.  This way the employer will have your contact information at the ready.
  5. Dress for Success – think of meeting employers at a job fair like a mini job interview. As such, you should dress accordingly.  Keep in mind, however, that you could be on your feet for an extended period of time.  Be sure to wear comfortable shoes.
  6. Prepare Questions – if you have done your research, you shouldn’t need to ask the employer what the company does. Having great questions that are specific to the employer is a great way to stand out among the other job seekers.
  7. Body Language is Key – your body language is a key contributor of an employer’s first impression of you. As such, try not to fidget or chew gum, be sure to maintain eye contact, and have a firm handshake.
  8. Elevator Pitch – an elevator pitch is your 30-60 second sound bite on your skills, experience, and passion points. It’s a summary of how you can fill the needs of an employer.
  9. Don’t be a Time Hog – speaking as someone who has been a recruiter representing an organization at job fairs, it is difficult to deal with those job seekers who fire off a barrage of questions. Not only is this frustrating to the other job seekers who are in line to speak with the recruiter, but it also doesn’t leave a good first impression.  Be sure to ask questions, but be aware of your surroundings.

Final Thoughts

Job fairs are like speed dating, but for jobs.  You have the opportunity to meet with a number of employers in one venue.   As such, it is important to keep track of the employers with whom you have met and any information they may have shared with you.  After the job fair, follow up with the employers of interest via email.  Make mention of any conversation points you shared and express your continued interest in the organization.  As a result, this could lead to a formal interview and potentially, your next job!

 

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, happy hunting!

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Top Tips for Acing the Lunch Interview
September 06 2016 nfougere Interviews 0 comments Tags: Ace the Interview, interview tips, Lunch Interview

More and more interviewers realize that by meeting candidates in an informal setting, such as over lunch, they can create a closer, personal connection with the prospective hire.  As an interviewee, the lunch interview is a great opportunity to showcase both your skills and your cultural fit.  That said, it is still considered an unconventional setting for a job interview.  Here are my top tips for acing the unconventional lunch interview.

Lunch Interview Tips

  1. Prepare – preparation is critical for any interview, but there are unique considerations when attending the lunch interview:
    1. Dress as you would for a more formal interview. Remember, a lunch interview is still a job interview.
    2. Do your research. Researching the organization is critical, but be sure to also research the restaurant.  Familiarize yourself with the menu.  After all, you don’t want to waste valuable interview time pouring over the menu.
    3. Conduct a Google image search on the interviewer. In doing so, you will have an idea of who to look for when you arrive (15 minutes early).
  2. Table Manners – be sure to be polite to the wait staff and practice those childhood lessons like no elbows on the table, and no speaking with your mouth full.
  3. Follow the Interviewer’s Lead – order something at a similar price point to what the interviewer orders. Ordering the most expensive item on the menu could send a negative signal.
  4. Easy to Eat –avoid ordering food that is cumbersome to handle such as ribs or chicken wings.
  5. Avoid Alcohol – even if the interviewer orders an alcoholic beverage, I recommend refraining. Consuming alcohol during an interview may inhibit you from presenting the best version of yourself.
  6. Informal, Not too Informal – it is perfectly acceptable to have casual conversation. That said, this is still an interview, so be sure to stick to professional conversation topics.
  7. Interviewer Pays – when an organization invites you for lunch, the expectation is that they will pay for the meal.
  8. Thank You Letter – it is a best practice to send a thank you letter after your interview. After a lunch interview, you have the opportunity to make the letter more personal by making mention of the restaurant or meal.

Final Thoughts

As with any other job interview, it is important to remember that you are interviewing the organization as well.  Take note of how the interviewer treats the wait staff as an indication of their potential treatment of employees.

 

I hope you found this post helpful.  If you have any additional insights, or would like to share your experience, I’d love to hear from you.

Until next time, happy hunting!

For personalized advice, click here.

 

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Posts

  • Should you Embellish on your Resume or in a Job Interview?
    Should you Embellish on your Resume or in a Job Interview?
    September 20 2016, 0 comments
  • How to Handle Repetitiveness on Your Resume
    How to Handle Repetitiveness on Your Resume
    September 15 2016, 0 comments
  • Top Tips for Attending Job Fairs
    Top Tips for Attending Job Fairs
    September 13 2016, 0 comments
  • Top Tips for Acing the Lunch Interview
    Top Tips for Acing the Lunch Interview
    September 6 2016, 0 comments
  • Top Sources for Your Job Search
    Top Sources for Your Job Search
    August 30 2016, 0 comments
  • 5 Things to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer
    5 Things to Consider Before Accepting a Job Offer
    August 23 2016, 0 comments
  • Top 5 Resume Mistakes to Avoid
    Top 5 Resume Mistakes to Avoid
    August 14 2016, 0 comments
  • Job Searching: Is it a Good Sign When….?
    Job Searching: Is it a Good Sign When….?
    August 11 2016, 0 comments
  • How to Turn an Interview Rejection into a Networking Opportunity
    How to Turn an Interview Rejection into a Networking Opportunity
    August 7 2016, 0 comments
  • How to Conduct a Keyword Search on Job Boards
    How to Conduct a Keyword Search on Job Boards
    August 4 2016, 0 comments

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