Group Discussion Preparation

Group Discussion
A Group Discussion can be defined as a formal discussion involving 10 to 12 participants in a group.
It is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its members. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss it among themselves for 15-20 minutes.

As in a football game, where you play like a team, passing the ball to each team member and aim for a common goal, GD is also based on team work, incorporating views of different team members to reach a common goal.

Group Discussion is one thing that needs practice for the following reasons:
It takes a bit of time to get used to speaking in a group. In the sense that, you have to get used to speaking seriously in a group and not all of us are gifted public speakers.

Secondly and more importantly, you should understand the entire process: in terms of what to speak, how often, in what context, etc.

Moreover, practice gives you more things to speak about in case if you come across a similar topic.

Now these are the things that they essentially look in a GD:

Leadership/Initiative – in terms of giving it a start, leading the group when the discussion goes slightly off-track. This is probably the most important aspect that comes out in a GD.

There are three types of situations that can arise in a GD:
~ A GD where participants are unable to establish a proper rapport and do not speak much.
~ A GD where participants get emotionally charged and the GD gets chaotic.
~ A GD where participants discuss the topic assertively by touching on all its nuances and try to reach the objective.

Here, a leader would be someone who facilitates the third situation at a GD. A leader would have the following qualities:
~S/he shows direction to the group whenever group moves away from the topic.
~S/he coordinates the effort of the different team members in the GD. dsadsadsad
~S/he contributes to the GD at regular intervals with valuable insights.
~S/he also inspires and motivates team members to express their views.

Content – Relevance of points spoken: it is better to pitch in 3-4 crucial points in a GD than to have 5 minutes of cumulative airtime in a 15 minutes GD and coming out with nothing specific. GK included here, its great if you can quote some facts: like average growth rates of economy when you are discussing India and China, etc

Analytical Thinking – How you analyse a situation that has come up.

Group Dynamics – Don’t try fighting with someone there. The idea is to contribute as much as you can in those 15 minutes than trying to pull someone else down or proving his/her point wrong.

Listening skills – Important to listen to what others are saying, helps to summarize later if you keep writing down major points side by side – Summary should consist of what the group has spoken and not what you have.

Body Language – Should look as though you are interested in what is happening, being a bit proactive at times.


Group Discussion Common Tips

Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. Be yourself.
A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator wants to hear you speak.

Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say. Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject. Don't start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.

Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else's point and then move onto express your views. Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.

Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say. Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.

Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis. Don't lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective. Don't take the discussion personally.

Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object' or `I disagree'. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…' or `One difference between your point and mine…' or "I beg to differ with you"

Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say "let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say," or "Raghu, let us hear your views" - Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.

If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.

Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.

Common mistakes made at group discussions

Emotional outburst
Rashmi was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view. When Rashmi finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of focussing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women in general. What Rashmi essentially did was to Deviate from the subject.

Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views. Lose objectivity and make personal attacks. Her behaviour would have been perceived as immature and demotivating to the rest of the team.

Quality Vs Quantity
Gautam believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the discussion. Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to be a team player. Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your contribution must be relevant. The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success."

Showing off
Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his contained statistical data - "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking up the data. Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showing-off your knowledge.

Facts and figures need not validate all your statements. Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important - not just facts and figures. You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will fail miserably in your people skills. Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed.

Get noticed But for the right reasons
Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic - "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected his mistake.

False starts are extremely expensive.
They cost you your admission. It is very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your opinions. Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others may not have thought about. Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas. Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the information in a better manner. Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor.

Managing one's insecurities
Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to remain silent. Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read. Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So, rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in the discussion. Your confidence level is being evaluated.

Decent communication skills with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs. Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you. It is easy to pick up these cues from your body language.

Tricky Questions with Answers

May I contact your present employer for a reference?

If you’re trying to keep your job search private, this is the last thing you want. But if you don’t cooperate, won’t you seem as if you’re trying to hide something?

BEST ANSWER: Express your concern that you’d like to keep your job search private, but that in time, it will be perfectly okay.Example: “My present employer is not aware of my job search and, for obvious reasons; I’d prefer to keep it that way. I’d be most appreciative if we kept our discussion confidential right now. Of course, when we both agree the time is right, then by all means you should contact them. I’m very proud of my record there.

The "Hypothetical Problem"
Sometimes an interviewer will describe a difficult situation and ask, “How would you handle this?” Since it is virtually impossible to have all the facts in front of you from such a short presentation, don’t fall into the trap of trying to solve this problem and giving your verdict on the spot. It will make your decision-making process seem woefully inadequate.

BEST ANSWER: Instead, describe the rational, methodical process you would follow in analyzing this problem, who you would consult with, generating possible solutions, choosing the best course of action, and monitoring the results.Remember, in all such, “What would you do?” questions, always describe your process or working methods, and you’ll never go wrong.

Sell me this stapler…(this pencil…this clock…or some other object on interviewer’s desk).
Some interviewers, especially business owners and hard-changing executives in marketing-driven companies, feel that good salesmanship is essential for any key position and ask for an instant demonstration of your skill. Be ready.

BEST ANSWER: Of course, you already know the most important secret of all great salesmanship – “find out what people want, then show them how to get it.”If your interviewer picks up his stapler and asks, “sell this to me,” you are going to demonstrate this proven master principle. Here’s how:

“Well, a good salesman must know both his product and his prospect before he sells anything. If I were selling this, I’d first get to know everything I could about it, all its features and benefits"

"Then, if my goal were to sell it you, I would do some research on how you might use a fine stapler like this. The best way to do that is by asking some questions. May I ask you a few questions?”

Then ask a few questions such as, “Just out of curiosity, if you didn’t already have a stapler like this, why would you want one? And in addition to that? Any other reason? Anything else?”

“And would you want such a stapler to be reliable?...Hold a good supply of staples?” (Ask more questions that point to the features this stapler has.)Once you’ve asked these questions, make your presentation citing all the features and benefits of this stapler and why it’s exactly what the interviewer just told you he’s looking for.

Then close with, “Just out of curiosity, what would you consider a reasonable price for a quality stapler like this…a stapler you could have right now and would (then repeat all the problems the stapler would solve for him)? Whatever he says, (unless it’s zero), say, “Okay, we’ve got a deal.”

NOTE: If your interviewer tests you by fighting every step of the way, denying that he even wants such an item, don’t fight him. Take the product away from him by saying, “Mr. Prospect, I’m delighted you’ve told me right upfront that there’s no way you’d ever want this stapler. As you well know, the first rule of the most productive salespeople in any field is to meet the needs of people who really need and want our products, and it just wastes everyone’s time if we try to force it on those who don’t. And I certainly wouldn’t want to waste your time. But we sell many items. Is there any product on this desk you would very much like to own…just one item?” When he points something out, repeat the process above. If he knows anything about selling, he may give you a standing ovation.

The Salary Question” – How much money do you want?
May also be phrases as, “What salary are you worth?”…or, “How much are you making now?” This is your most important negotiation. Handle it wrong and you can blow the job offer or go to work at far less than you might have gotten.

BEST ANSWER: For maximum salary negotiating power, remember these five guidelines:

1. Never bring up salary. Let the interviewer do it first. Good salespeople sell their products thoroughly before talking price. So should you. Make the interviewer want you first, and your bargaining position will be much stronger.

2. If your interviewer raises the salary question too early, before you’ve had a chance to create desire for your qualifications, postpone the question, saying something like, “Money is important to me, but is not my main concern. Opportunity and growth are far more important. What I’d rather do, if you don’t mind, is explore if I’m right for the position, and then talk about money. Would that be okay?”

3. The #1 rule of any negotiation is: the side with more information wins. After you’ve done a thorough job of selling the interviewer and it’s time to talk salary, the secret is to get the employer talking about what he’s willing to pay before you reveal what you’re willing to accept. So, when asked about salary, respond by asking, “I’m sure the company has already established a salary range for this position. Could you tell me what that is?” Or, “I want an income commensurate with my ability and qualifications. I trust you’ll be fair with me. What does the position pay?” Or, more simply, “What does this position pay?”

4. Know beforehand what you’d accept. To know what’s reasonable, research the job market and this position for any relevant salary information. Remember that most executives look for a 20-25%$ pay boost when they switch jobs. If you’re grossly underpaid, you may want more.

5. Never lie about what you currently make, but feel free to include the estimated cost of all your fringes, which could well tack on 25-50% more to your present “cash-only” salary.

The Illegal Question
Illegal questions include any regarding your age…number and ages of your children or other dependents…marital status…maiden name… religion… political affiliation…ancestry…national origin…birthplace…naturalization of your parents, spouse or children…diseases…disabilities…clubs… or spouse’s occupation…unless any of the above are directly related to your performance of the job. You can’t even be asked about arrests, though you can be asked about convictions.

BEST ANSWER: Under the ever-present threat of lawsuits, most interviewers are well aware of these taboos. Yet you may encounter, usually on a second or third interview, a senior executive who doesn’t interview much and forgets he can’t ask such questions.

You can handle an illegal question in several ways. First, you can assert your legal right not to answer. But this will frighten or embarrass your interviewer and destroy any rapport you had.

Second, you could swallow your concerns over privacy and answer the question straight forwardly if you feel the answer could help you. For example, your interviewer, a devout Baptist, recognizes you from church and mentions it. Here, you could gain by talking about your church.

Third, if you don’t want your privacy invaded, you can diplomatically answer the concern behind the question without answering the question itself.

Example: If you are over 50 and are asked, “How old are you?” you can answer with a friendly, smiling question of your own on whether there’s a concern that your age my affect your performance. Follow this up by reassuring the interviewer that there’s nothing in this job you can’t do and, in fact, your age and experience are the most important advantages you offer the employer for the following reasons…

Another example: If asked, “Do you plan to have children?” you could answer, “I am wholeheartedly dedicated to my career“, perhaps adding, “I have no plans regarding children.” (You needn’t fear you’ve pledged eternal childlessness. You have every right to change your plans later. Get the job first and then enjoy all your options.)

Most importantly, remember that illegal questions arise from fear that you won’t perform well. The best answer of all is to get the job and perform brilliantly. All concerns and fears will then varnish, replaced by respect and appreciation for your work.

The Opinion Question
"The Opinion Question” – What do you think about …Abortion…The President…The Death Penalty…(or any other controversial subject)?

TRAPS: Obviously, these and other “opinion” questions should never be asked. Sometimes they come up over a combination dinner/interview when the interviewer has had a drink or two, is feeling relaxed, and is spouting off about something that bugged him in today’s news. If you give your opinion and it’s the opposite of his, you won’t change his opinions, but you could easily lose the job offer.

BEST ANSWER: In all of these instances, just remember the tale about student and the wise old rabbi. The scene is a seminary, where an overly serious student is pressing the rabbi to answer the ultimate questions of suffering, life and death. But no matter how hard he presses, the wise old rabbi will only answer each difficult question with a question of his own.In exasperation, the seminary student demands, “Why, rabbi, do you always answer a question with another question?” To which the rabbi responds, “And why not?”

If you are ever uncomfortable with any question, asking a question in return is the greatest escape hatch ever invented. It throws the onus back on the other person, sidetracks the discussion from going into an area of risk to you, and gives you time to think of your answer or, even better, your next question!In response to any of the “opinion” questions cited above, merely responding, “Why do you ask?” will usually be enough to dissipate any pressure to give your opinion. But if your interviewer again presses you for an opinion, you can ask another question.

Or you could assert a generality that almost everyone would agree with. For example, if your interviewer is complaining about politicians then suddenly turns to you and asks if you’re a Republican or Democrat, you could respond by saying, “Actually, I’m finding it hard to find any politicians I like these days.”(Of course, your best question of all may be whether you want to work for someone opinionated.)

If you won $10 million lottery
If you won $10 million lottery, would you still work?

TRAPS: Your totally honest response might be, “Hell, no, are you serious?” That might be so, but any answer which shows you as fleeing work if given the chance could make you seem lazy. On the other hand, if you answer, “Oh, I’d want to keep doing exactly what I am doing, only doing it for your firm,” you could easily inspire your interviewer to silently mutter to himself, “Yeah, sure. Gimme a break.”

BEST ANSWER: This type of question is aimed at getting at your bedrock attitude about work and how you feel about what you do. Your best answer will focus on your positive feelings.

Example: “After I floated down from cloud nine, I think I would still hold my basic belief that achievement and purposeful work are essential to a happy, productive life. After all, if money alone bought happiness, then all rich people would be all happy, and that’s not true.“I love the work I do, and I think I’d always want to be involved in my career in some fashion. Winning the lottery would make it more fun because it would mean having more flexibility, more options...who knows?”“Of course, since I can’t count on winning, I’d just as soon create my own destiny by sticking with what’s worked for me, meaning good old reliable hard work and a desire to achieve. I think those qualities have built many more fortunes that all the lotteries put together.

Cover Letter General / Experienced

Cover Letter General / Experienced


09/20/2006

To

The HR Manager
Company Name

Dear Sir/Madam,

I was interested to see your job posting for Web Developer and would like to learn more about this opportunity.

I am a .net Developer/Programmer with extensive experience in [ C # , ASP.NET and SQL SERVER 2000 ] Being a Microsoft Certified Professional (Jun 04, 2004) for VB.NET and C# .Net, i have around 5+ years of experience in progressive roles as a Software Engineer, Web Developer, Solution Architect, Team Leader to an Independent Consultant in diverse organisations

I feel that my thorough Knowledge and experince in all of the Microsoft technologies namely VB / ASP / C # / ASP.NET / SQL 200 / XML etc would be a great asset in this role.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope to have the opportunity to discuss the opening with you in person.

Sincerely
Firstname Lastname

PS: [I can be reached at XXX-XXX-XXXX -Cell 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM ] You can check my credentials at https://mcp.microsoft.com/authenticate/validatemcp.aspx

I have attached my resume as requested , it can be also seen at http://myresumeurl.com/



Sample Cover Letter


April 14, 2006

Mr. William Jackson
Employment Manager
Acme Pharmaceutical Corporation
13764 Jefferson Parkway
Roanoke, VA 24019
jackson@acmepharmaceutical.com

Dear Mr. Jackson:

From your company's web site I learned about your need for a sales representative for the Virginia, Maryland, and North Carolina areas. I am very interested in this position with Acme Pharmaceuticals, and believe that my education and employment background are appropriate for the position.

While working toward my master’s degree, I was employed as a sales representative with a small dairy foods firm. I increased my sales volume and profit margin appreciably while at Farmer’s Foods, and I would like to repeat that success in the pharmaceutical industry. I have a strong academic background in biology and marketing, and think that I could apply my combination of knowledge and experience to the health industry. I will complete my master's degree in marketing in mid-May and will be available to begin employment in early June.

Enclosed is a copy of my resume, which more fully details my qualifications for the position.
I look forward to talking with you regarding sales opportunities with Acme Pharmaceuticals. Within the next week I will contact you to confirm that you received my email and resume and to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
Lynn A. Johnson
5542 Hunt Club Lane,
#1Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-8082
lajohnson@vt.edu

Resume attached as MS Word document (assuming company web site instructed applicants to do this)



Letter of Application


E-2 Apartment Heights Dr.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 551 - 1010
abcd@vt.edu

February 22, 2007

Dr. Michael Jr. Rhodes
Principal, Wolftrap Elementary School
1205 Beulah Road
Vienna, VA 22182

Dear Dr. Rhodes:

I enjoyed our conversation on February 18th at the Family and Child Development seminar on teaching young children and appreciated your personal input about helping children attend school for the first time. This letter is to follow-up about the Fourth Grade Teacher position as discussed at the seminar. I will be completing my Bachelor of Science Degree in Family and Child Development with a concentration in Early Childhood Education at Virginia Tech in May of 2007, and will be available for employment at that time.

The teacher preparation program at Virginia Tech includes a full academic year of student teaching. Last semester I taught second grade and this semester, fourth grade. These valuable experiences have afforded me the opportunity to:

/develop lesson plans on a wide range of topics and varying levels of academic ability,
/work with emotionally and physically challenged students in a total inclusion program,
/observe and participate in effective classroom management approaches,
/assist with parent-teacher conferences, and
/complete In-Service sessions on diversity, math and reading skills, and community relations.

Through my early childhood education courses I have had the opportunity to work in a private day care facility, Rainbow Riders Childcare Center, and in Virginia Tech’s Child Development Laboratory. Both these facilities are NAEYC accredited and adhere to the highest standards. At both locations, my responsibilities included leading small and large group activities, helping with lunches and snacks, and implementing appropriate activities. Both experiences also provided me with extensive exposure to the implementation of developmentally appropriate activities and materials.

I look forward to putting my knowledge and experience into practice in the public school system. Next week I will be in Vienna, and I plan to call you then to answer any questions that you may have. I can be reached before then at (540) 555-7670. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Donna Harrington

Enclosure




Letter of Application


March 14, 2008

Ms. Charlene Prince
Director of Personnel
Large National Bank Corporation
Roanoke, VA 24040
cprince@largebank.com

Dear Ms. Prince:

As I indicated in our telephone conversation yesterday, I would like to apply for the marketing research position you advertised in the March 12th edition of the Roanoke Times and World News. With my undergraduate research background, my training in psychology and sociology, and my work experience, I believe I could make a valuable contribution to Large National Bank Corporation in this position.

In May I will complete my Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in Sociology from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. As part of the requirements for this degree, I am involved in a senior marketing research project that has given me experience interviewing and surveying research subjects and assisting with the analysis of the data collected. I also have completed a course in statistics and research methods.

In addition to academic work, my experience also includes working part-time as a bookkeeper in a small independent bookstore with an annual budget of approximately $150,000. Because of the small size of this business, I have been exposed to and participated in most aspects of managing a business, including advertising and marketing. As the bookkeeper, I produced monthly sales reports that allow the owner/buyer to project seasonal inventory needs. I also assisted with the development of ideas for special promotional events and calculated book sales proceeds after each event in order to evaluate its success.

I believe that the combination of my business experience and social science research training is well-suited to the marketing research position you described. I have enclosed a copy of my resume with additional information about my qualifications. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to receiving your reply.

Sincerely,

Jessica Lawrence
250 Prices Fork Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1234
jessica.lawrence@vt.edu

Resume text included in email below and attached as MS Word document



Sample Cover Letter

1000 Terrace View Apts.
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-4523
stevemason@vt.edu

March 25, 2005

Mr. John Wilson
Personnel Director
Anderson Construction Company
3507 Rockville Pike
Rockville, MD 20895

Dear Mr. Wilson:

I read in the March 24th Washington Post classified section of your need for a Civil Engineer or Building Construction graduate for one of your Washington, DC, area sites. I will be returning to the Washington area after graduation in May and believe that I have the necessary credentials for the project.

I have worked at various levels in the construction industry every summer since the 8th grade. As you can see from my resume, I worked several summers as a general laborer, gradually moved up to a carpenter, and last summer I worked as assistant construction manager on a 100 million dollar job.

In addition to this practical experience, I will complete requirements for my Building Construction degree in May. As you may know, Virginia Tech in one of the few universities in the country that offers such a specialized degree for the construction industry. I am confident that my Building Construction degree, along with my years of construction industry experience, make me an excellent candidate for your job.

The Anderson Construction Company projects are familiar to me, and my aspiration is to work for a company that has your excellent reputation. I would welcome the opportunity to interview with you. I will be in the Washington area during the week of April 12th and would be available to speak with you at that time. In the next week to ten days I will contact you to answer any questions you may have.
Thank you for your consideration.


Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Steve Mason

Enclosure

Sample Dynamic Cover Letters for Job-Seekers

Sample Cover Letter for a New College Grad

Mr. Archie Weatherby
California Investments, Inc.
25 Sacramento Street
San Francisco, CA 94102

Dear Mr. Weatherby,

My outgoing personality, my sales experience, and my recently completed education make me a strong candidate for a position as an insurance broker for California Investments, Inc.

I recently graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in marketing, where I was president of both the Future Business Leaders of America and the American Marketing Association.

Although a recent graduate, I am not a typical new graduate. I attended school in Michigan, Arizona, and Oregon. And I've put myself through these schools by working such jobs as radio advertising sales, newspaper subscription sales, and bartending, all of which enhanced my formal education.

I have the maturity, skills, and abilities to embark on a career in insurance brokering, and I'd like to do this in California, my home state.

I will be in California at the end of this month, and I'd like very much to talk with you concerning a position at California Investments. I will follow up this letter with a phone call to see if I can arrange a time to meet with you.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
John Oakley



Sample Ad Response Cover Letter

1090 Peachtree Lane #4
Atlanta GA30303
404/555-3030

Ms. Judy Sumner

Atlanta Board of Education
45 Peachtree Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30303

Dear Ms. Sumner,

Perhaps I am the "multi-talented teacher" you seek in your "Multi-Talented Teacher"advertisement in today's Atlanta Constitution. I'm a versatile teacher, ready to substitute,if necessary, as early as next week. I have the solid teaching experience you specify aswell as the strong computer skills you desire.

I am presently affiliated with a highly regarded private elementary school. Mr. Craig, theheadmaster, will certainly give you a good reference. The details of your advertisementsuggest to me that the position will involve many of the same responsibilities that I amcurrently performing.

In addition to the planning, administration, and student-parent counseling duties Ihighlight in my resume, please note that I have a master's degree as well as a teachingcertificate from the state of Georgia.

Knowing how frantic you must be without a fifth grade teacher, I will call you in a fewdays. Or if you agree upon reviewing my letter and resume that I am the teacher you need,call me at the home number listed above, or at 555-7327 during business hours.Thanking you most sincerely for your time and consideration.

Cordially,
Maria Plazza-Smith



Cover Letter Sample

Sept 20, 2006
Address comes here
1140 Georgia Avenue Apt # 101
Cell number: xxx-xxx-xxxx
emailhere@yahoo.com

To
The HR Manager
Company Name

Objective: Application for position of web developer/designer

Dear Sir / Madam

As a graduating student from Your University Name doing my MS in Electrical Engineering, I am interested in joining Company Name. for the position of Position Applied For. I am currently working as a programmer in Your Company Name.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in computer engineering and masters in Industrial engineering with experience in Statistical Analysis Software (SAS), Simulation modeling using Arena and operations research. Have competence in database management systems with experience in Oracle, SQL/Plus and Visual Basic.

I would deeply appreciate the opportunity working at “Company Name.” and enhance my horizon.

Yours Sincerely,
First Name Last Name

Enclosed resume



Sample Letter

November 30, 2006

Mr. James G. Webb
Delon Hampton & Associates
800 K Street, N.W., Suite 720
Washington, DC 20001-8000
webb@delon.com

Dear Mr. Webb:

Thank you so much for taking time from your busy schedule to meet with me last Tuesday. It was very helpful to me to learn so much about the current projects of Delon Hampton & Associates and the career paths of several of your staff. I appreciate your reviewing my portfolio and encouraging my career plans. I also enjoyed meeting Beth Ormond, and am glad to have her suggestions on how I can make the most productive use of my last semester in college.

Based on what I learned from my visit to your firm and other research I have done, I am very interested in being considered for employment with your firm in the future. I will be available to begin work after I graduate in May 2003. As you saw from my portfolio, I have developed strong skills in the area of historical documentation and this is a good match for the types of projects in which your firm specializes. I have enclosed a copy of my resume to serve as a reminder of my background, some of which I discussed with you when we met.

During the next few months I will stay in contact with you in hopes that there may be an opportunity to join your firm. Thank you again for your generous help.

Sincerely,
Kristin Walker
23 Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1123
KWalker@vt.edu


Information Seking Letter

23 Roanoke Street
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-1123
email: K.Walker@vt.edu

October 23, 2006

Mr. James G. Webb
Delon Hampton & Associates
800 K Street, N.W., Suite 720
Washington, DC 20001-8000

Dear Mr. Webb:

I will be graduating from Virginia Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture in May 2007, and am researching employment opportunities in the Washington area. I obtained your name from VT CareerLink, Career Services' Alumni database. I very much appreciate your volunteering to help students with job search information, and I hope that your schedule will permit you to provide me with some advice. I am particularly interested in historic preservation and understand that your firm does work in this area. I am also interested in learning how the architects in your firm began their careers. My resume is enclosed simply to give you some information about my background and project work.

I will call you in two weeks to arrange a time to speak to you by telephone or perhaps visit your office if that would be convenient. I will be in the Washington area during the week of November 21. I very much appreciate your time and consideration of my request, and I look forward to talking with you.

Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Kristen Walker

Encl



Letter of inquiry about internship opportunities

2343 Blankinship Road
Blacksburg, VA 24060
(540) 555-2233
StacyLeeGimble@vt.edu

January 12, 2006

Ms. Sylvia Range
Special Programs Assistant
Marion County Family Court Wilderness Challenge
303 Center StreetMarion, VA 24560

Dear Ms. Range:

I am a junior at Virginia Tech, working toward my bachelor's degree in family and child development. I am seeking an internship for this summer 2006, and while researching opportunities in the field of criminal justice and law, I found that your program works with juvenile delinquents. I am writing to inquire about possible internship opportunities with the Marion County Family Court Wilderness Challenge.

My work background and coursework have supplied me with many skills and an understanding of dealing with the adolescent community; for example:

I worked as a hotline assistant for a local intervention center. I counseled teenagers about personal concerns and referred them, when necessary, to appropriate professional services for additional help.

I have been active at my university as a resident hall assistant, which requires me to establish rapport with fifty residents and advise them on personal matters, as well as university policies. In addition, I develop social and educational programs and activities each semester for up to 200 participants.

My enclosed resume provides additional details about my background.

I will be in the Marion area during my Spring break, March 6 - March 10. I will call you next week to see if it would be possible to meet with you in early March to discuss your program.
Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
(handwritten signature)
Stacy Lee Gimble



Letter of inquiry about employment possibilities

December 12, 2007

Mr. Robert Burns
President, Template DivisionMEGATEK Corporation
9845 Technical Way
Arlington, VA 22027
burns@megatek.com

Dear Mr. Burns:

I learned of MEGATEK through online research using the CareerSearch database through Career Services at Virginia Tech where I am completing my Master's degree in Mechanical Engineering. From my research on your web site, I believe there would be a good fit between my skills and interests and your needs. I am interested in a software engineering position upon completion of my degree in May 2008.

As a graduate student, I am one of six members on a software development team where we are writing a computer aided aircraft design program for NASA. My responsibilities include designing, coding, and testing of a graphical portion of the program which requires the use of GIARO for graphics input and output. I have a strong background in computer aided design, software development, and engineering, and believe that these skills would benefit the designing and manufacturing aspects of Template software. Enclosed is my resume which further outlines my qualifications.

My qualifications make me well suited to the projects areas in which your division of MEGATEK is expanding efforts. I would appreciate the opportunity to discuss a position with you, and will contact you in a week or ten days to answer any questions you may have and to see if you need any other information from me such as a company application form or transcripts. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
William Stevens123
Ascot LaneBlacksburg,
VA 24060(540) 555-2556
WStevens@vt.edu

Resume attached as MS Word document



Sample Cover Letter to Recruiter

Carmen R. Ellison
624 S. Church St.Mt. Laurel,
NJ 08054
609.555.0262
E-Mail: TEllison@home.com

Mr. Barton Keene
Able Employment Recruitment
3400 Einstein Parkway
Princeton, NJ 08540

Dear Mr. Keene:

If you have a client seeking a brand strategist who can deliver bottom-line results, I'd like to make a strong case for myself. My track record in business-to-business international branding and marketing has helped enhance the reputations of such firms as Bank of America, The Nikkei Stock Market, Northern Telecom, and Intel, to name a few. I am contacting you as I believe it is time for a change. My employer is in the process of merging with another company, so the time seems right to move on.
Of particular interest to your client firms:

· I have demonstrated my strategic ability through successfully launching companies, communications departments, Web sites, PR programs, ad campaigns, branding programs, and more.
· I have consistently contributed my leadership skills in a corporate setting, while managing the creative process, motivating and empowering team members, fine-tuning marketing plans, and juggling multiple projects. I am a proficient top manager and profit-minded leader.
· Time and again, my initiatives have resulted in increased awareness and press coverage, successful advertising campaigns, and winning branding strategies.

I am particularly interested in positions in the San Francisco Bay area that start at a salary range of $80K to $100K, in the following categories: marketing partner at a venture capital firm, entailing leveraging marketing opportunities for the portfolio companies and advising them on branding and marketing strategies; brand strategist and global head of marketing for a service-oriented preferably global business; senior-management role in a mid-sized integrated agency specializing in advertising, PR, and interactive services; marketing and communications head for a high-end financial services boutique; high-end headhunter or right-hand in a large philanthropic organization.

I'd like to meet with you to discuss adding value to one of your client firms as I've done for my previous employers. I'll contact you soon to arrange a meeting. Should you wish to contact me before then, I can be reached during the day on my direct line (609.555.6325) or at home most evenings (609.555.0262).

Sincerely,
Carmen R. Ellison



You can get more information regarding Interview Preparation , Writing CV, Sample Resumes and Cover Letters at http://www.about.com/ > jobs and careers. The above material is collected from the http://jobsearch.about.com/od/coverlettersamples/a/coverlettsample.htm

How to E-mail Your Cover Letter

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Tips to improve your Resume

Improve Your Current Resume

If you are thinking about looking for a new job, you might want to take a look at your old resume. While your resume is a work in progress, it’s not always a good idea to simply input new information into the old format and assume it’s good enough.

By following just a few steps you can totally makeover your current resume, which will help you land more interviews, as well as make the tough task of writing your resume much easier.

Make Sure Your Resume Is Focused
If you are thinking about applying for new jobs because you want to advance your career or you are simply ready for a career change, you need to be sure that your resume has a focus. You might find writing an objective at the top of your resume the simplest way to give your resume focus. You’ll want to be sure that every person that picks up your resume knows not only where you have been and what you have done, but also where you want to go. When an employer can’t look at your resume and understand within moments what you want or why you are applying with them, they won’t be interested. So, pick your field of interest and make sure that what you what is very clear to anyone that may read the resume.

Don’t Forget About Education
Many people that have been working for a long time think that they no longer need to list their education on their resume, but this is something that you should definitely include. You should not only include your college, certificate, and diploma programs but you should also choose to include any optional or continuing education programs or certificates that you have earned. Education shows most employers that you are educated and have the ability to put your education to good use.

Use Industry Buzzwords
Read over your resume and insert industry relevant buzzwords. While this may seem as though it is not necessary, it’s a good idea to use the language that is relevant to the job you held. This shows employers that you have a grasp on the industry and knowledge that you are eager to apply in future positions as well. While you want to make sure to use these buzzwords to show that you are involved and knowledgeable, you want to make sure that your resume isn’t just all buzzwords. You don’t want a resume that is so full of buzzwords that it doesn’t tell the employer anything about you. So, review your resume to be sure that you achieve a balance between sounding knowledgeable and actually saying something!

Write Great Job Descriptions
You should attempt to write really great job descriptions for each of the jobs that you held. Not only will this include the buzzwords mentioned above, but also it will also engage the reader and actually have them interested in your past employment. You can get help with job descriptions by contacting the human resources departments of the places you’ve worked, or you can visit your library and browse through the Dictionary Of Occupational Titles, which will provide a great description of just about any job title you can think of and then some!

Give Job Details
When you list your jobs, don’t just list the titles and the dates that you were employed. Review your current resume and be sure that you give adequate details about each position such as what responsibilities you held, how many people you supervised, and any other important information. Remember to use buzzwords and keywords that are job specific here, as well. List

Your Accomplishments
It’s important to remember that a resume isn’t just a list of job descriptions; it’s also about your accomplishments. You need to really think about all of the great things you’ve done in your career. Ask yourself what you have done that has gone above and beyond your job description and detail these things in your resume. If you helped to develop a new product, exceed sales goals, or start a training program make sure to include that in your job description. Remember that when you are writing a resume it’s always a good idea to quantify your accomplishments because numbers are always impressive.

Don’t Be Afraid To Delete
After you’ve added new information and perhaps changed the formatting a bit to make your resume more focused, don’t be afraid to delete information that is not relevant to the type of career you are now aiming for. You don’t have to submit an all inclusive resume, you just need to give a prospective employer enough to get him interested, to get you in to have an interview. Make sure you keep sentences that have your all important buzzwords, but remember that less is often more with a resume so deletion generally isn’t a bad thing.

Grammar Check
Read over your resume and be sure that you have written in a language that your target audience will be able to understand. Make sure that your sentences are complete and avoid short and choppy sentences in your description of job duties. You want sentences that really flow together and are compelling and really sell your ability to do the job you are applying for. Sentences that begin with verbs are often the most compelling, though they should be positive in nature, as well as very brief and accurate. Only use words that you are sure of their meaning when you write your resume. When you are checking the grammatical correctness of your sentences you should also think about their order. Read your resume aloud so you can see if there is a better sentence order than the current one.

Extra Qualifications
Don’t forget to update your qualifications that may be above and beyond what other people have achieved. Your qualifications can be listed at the bottom of your resume after your work experience. You’ll want to list items such as special licenses, certifications, affiliations, and even hobbies if they relate to the industry in which you are applying for jobs. You’ll notice that when you review your resume and you make these changes that it not only looks better and reads better, it will serve you better! It’s never too late to revise your resume and breathe some new life into it. When you fail to update your resume the only person you are holding back is yourself. So, look over your resume closely and see if you can’t make some of these changes for the better!


Ten Easy Ways to Improve Your Resume from Quintcareers

1. Use a bulleted style to make your resume more reader-friendly. Given that employers screen resumes for between 2.5 and 20 seconds, they will find your resume a lot more readable if you use bullet points instead of paragraph style. It's just easier to read.

2. Follow "The Resume Ingredients Rule." Information on a resume should be listed in order of importance to the reader. Therefore, in listing your jobs, what's generally most important is your title/position. So list in this preferred order: Title/position, name of employer, city/state of employer, dates of employment Dates can be important to some employers, but they're generally not as important as what your position was and whom you worked for. Education follows the same principle; thus, the preferred order for listing your education is: Name of degree (spelled out: Bachelor of _____) in name of major, name of university, city/state of university, graduation year, followed by peripheral information, such as minor and GPA. If you haven't graduated yet, list your information the same way. Simply by virtue of the fact that the graduation date you've listed is in the future, the employer will know you don't have the degree yet.

By the way, the Resume Ingredients Rule is also the reason that experience and education are listed in reverse chronological order on your resume; it's assumed that your most recent education and experience are most important and relevant to the reader

3. Eliminate "responsibilities" words from your resume vocabulary. Never use expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities included," or “Responsible for” on your resume. Why? Because your resume should be accomplishments-driven, not responsibilities-driven. Anyone (well, maybe not anyone…) can perform the duties listed in a job description. Job-description language is not what sells in a resume. Accomplishments-oriented language tells employers how you've gone above and beyond in your jobs, what makes you special, how you've taken initiative and made your jobs your own.

4. Eliminate clutter from your resume. Several elements can clutter up your resume and impede readability:

Unnecessary dates. Don't list dates that don't add anything to your resume; for example, dates you spent involved in college extracurricular activities. If you were involved in these activities during college, the reader can pretty much guess your dates of involvement, and listing the dates will just clutter up your document. Same with dates of involvement in professional or civic organizations; ask yourself if those dates will be meaningful to the employer reading your resume.
Parentheses. Jobseekers have a particular tendency to set off dates of employment with parentheses. It's easier on the reader if you just use commas.

The line "References: Available upon request." This statement is highly optional because it is a given that you will provide references upon request. If you couldn't, you would have no business looking for a job. The line can serve the purpose of signaling: "This is the end of my resume," but if you are trying to conserve space, leave it off.
Articles. Those little words "a," "an," and "the." Generally, resumes aren't written in sentence form, but in concise phrases that have become an accepted shorthand that employers understand. Articles tend to clutter up that shorthand; your resume will read in a more streamlined manner without them.

5. Use strong, concrete verbs to describe your jobs, and don't mix noun and verb phrases. Let's look at this example:
/Managed and controlled all aspects of company's West Coast presence. [verb]
/Complete ownership of inventory and financial standards. [noun]
/Full P&L responsibilities. [noun]
/Analyzed market and forecast sales, prepared corporate budgets and monitored results to achieve ROI objectives. [verb]

Instead, be consistent with verbs:
Supervised inventory and financial standards.
Completely oversaw profit and loss aspects of operation.

6. Focus on describing past job activities that highlight the skills you most like to use and want to use in your next job. Don't spend a lot of time, for example, describing all that clerical stuff you did in a past job if you have no intention of doing clerical work again. Even if you've mastered skills that are in great demand, don't emphasize them if they're not the skills you want to use in the future.

7. Don't fret about the one-page resume rule. Sure, it's nice to keep your resume to one page if you can, but don't go to extraordinary lengths, such as by using tiny type. If you have significant experience, you'll probably need more than one page. What you should avoid is having one full page with just a little bit of text on your second page. If you fill a third or less of the second page, consider condensing to one page. Ways to condense:
/Narrow your margins. The margins in Microsoft Word are set very wide by default. You can have margins as narrow as .75” all around and still have a nice-looking document.
/Use a smaller point size, but not too small. A font size of 11-point is good; don't go too much smaller than 10.5-point.
/Many jobseekers use a two-column format with headings in the left-hand column. To conserve space, narrow or even eliminate the left-hand column and simply stack your headings on top of each section.


8. Make sure your resume has a sharp focus. Again, given the microscopic amount of time that employers spend screening resumes, you need a way to show the employer at a glance what you want to do and what you're good at. One way to sharpen your focus is through an objective statement. Another way is to add a section called something like "Summary of Qualifications," or "Profile."

9. Don't list too much experience on your resume. The rule of thumb for someone at the senior level is to list about 15 years worth of jobs. Age discrimination, unfortunately, is a reality, and even more likely, employers may think you're too expensive if you list too much experience on your resume. Similarly, don't give the date of your college graduation if it was more than about 10 years ago.

10. Be sure the reader will understand all the acronyms and jargon you use in your resume. Resumes in the high-tech field are notorious for these mysterious terms. We recently received a resume containing the following acronyms and jargon: MCSE, MCP+I, TCP/IP, CCA, CCNA, token ring and PCMCIA network interface cards for LAN connectivity, NT Service Packs, Ethernet cards, Server 4.0, SQL 6.5, 7.0, Red Hat Linux 6.1, Turbo Linux 4.0 and Caldera 2.3, Cisco 2500 routers and switches. Now, chances are that employers in this jobseeker's field understand all these terms. Just be sure that's the case. Spell out any acronyms you think could be questionable, and explain any terms you think some readers of your resume might not understand.



TIPS TO IMPROVE YOUR RESUME

General

1. The name and mailing address including email ID, Tel No should be prominent.
2. Font style should be: [12-point size] [Use regular/ bold/ italics style]
3. The resume should not be too lengthy. The length should be 2/ 2.5 pages.
4. 'References'/ 'Salary Expected' should not be mentioned.
5. Location/s preferred: Metros/India/ Abroad should be specified.
6. Preference for a particular industry/ company should be indicated.
7. Job objective should be included in the resume/ it should be focused.
8. If you have a varied background it is advisable to prioritise.
9. Your date of birth and not age should be mentioned.
1 0. Indicate professional qualifications. Mention specialisation, University/Institute, year of passing the exam.
11. Check for spelling/ grammar mistakes.
12. Check the alignment before sending the resume, the margins should not exceed the printable area.



Professionals

1. 'Summary of Skills and Experience' should come just after 'Job Objective'. It should give total years of experience.
2. Under the heading 'Organisational Experience' you should begin with your current job.
3. The name of organisation/ tenure/ designation should be mentioned. Year should be also mentioned against positions held.
4. Provide company details like (a) name of the company, (b) products/ services, (c) area of operation, (d) turnover, (e) nature: MNC, ISO 9002 certified JV etc.
5. In case of promotions begin with the earliest position and move chronologically.
6. Show how your responsibilities grew with promotions.
7. Highlight your achievements/ expertise more than your responsibilities & Justify your achievements with figures/ percentages.
8. Separately mention responsibilities and achievements.
9. Furnish an account of projects undertaken.
10. Give a summary of training programmes attended (ignore if less than 4 weeks).



Freshers

1. Highlight your skills/ strengths like leadership qualities, communication skills.
2. Give an account of the Course including details of projects undertaken.
3. Give a summary of Projects undertaken and skills developed thereby.
4. Mention your qualification. Indicate elective papers.
5. Distinctions (if any)/ Scholarship/s should be properly highlighted.
6. Provide details of the training.
7. Give a detailed account of articleship in case of CAs.
8. In case of Software projects please specify language/ platform/ RDBMS/ Project description/ team size.

Reasons for CV Rejection

CV Rejection, Why ?

First impressions - These really matter! Your CV is a marketing document and must attract the reader's attention in the first 20-30 seconds; otherwise your chances of getting an interview are greatly reduced. A recruitment consultancy or an employer may have a hundred or more CVs to look through and probably only a couple of hours in which to select for interview. So put your work experience at the start of your CV, not personal or educational details, unless you have only just left education.

Poor visual layout - The visual layout of your CV is very important. Even though the wording you use may be correct, if people cannot find the information they want quickly they will move on to someone else's CV. You should use plenty of 'white' space in your CV and appropriate headings and section breaks.

Email Your CV - If you can! Sending your details electronically gives the recruiter a faster response and allows them to use and respond to your application more easily, so always email if you can. Then follow through with a 'hard copy', this confirms your interest and gives you a second chance during the selection process.

Always use a printer - Use good quality A4 paper, preferably 90-100gram for both your CV and cover letter. Selective and very careful use of colour can be useful if a CV is to be sent in by email.

Length of CV - Two pages of A4 are ideal, although four pages of 'interesting' will beat two pages of 'boring/difficult to read' any day! But remember, employers do not want to know your whole life history - just enough to decide whether they should interview you or not.

Organisation of the information on your CV - If your CV is not well organised then the reader will find it hard to follow and will not be able to build up a picture of you quickly. Remember the reader will not spend very long looking at your CV - so if they cannot find what they want they will not bother to read any further.

Overwritten - long paragraphs and sentences This makes it difficult to read quickly - try and keep your sentences short and punchy and use bullet points to break up the text under section headings.

Too little information - A lot of applicants do not include enough details about their previous experience; an employer therefore may not have enough information and will reject your application.

Not results orientated - You need to shout about your achievements. Remember that your CV is your sales document, if it does not say clearly and unequivocally why you should be employed then it has failed. An employer will only want to employ you if they can see a benefit in it for themselves. So do tell them the benefits of employing you.

Misspellings, typographical errors, poor grammar - Your CV should be carefully checked for such errors before you send it out to employers. Tiny errors in your CV can detract from an otherwise good presentation and make you look lazy or careless, not the sort of qualities you want to portray. As you will probably be 'blind' to these errors you should get someone else to check your CV for grammar and spelling errors.

Writing CV

Generally you will find that the layout described here will work for most senior positions. Feel free to add other sections or change the ordering to suit yourself.

Front Page...

Profile/Summary - This should be a short summary of your experience and abilities, and be contained in four to six lines of text. This section should also indicate what sort of a position you are looking for. List only those attributes that will be of interest to your next employer; exclude any irrelevancies.

Achievements - Key Skills In bullet format, detail things that you are really good at. List 3 to 6 achievements, which you can deliver on and which you feel are relevant your next position. Once again, do not list achievements, which are not in line with what you want to do next. Start with the strongest point in your favour and then work backwards from there.

Career Summary - This should summarise your job history in reverse chronological order (starting with your most recent job and working backwards). You only need to include the year you started and the year you finished each job, together with your job title and your employer's name.Note: Page 1 of your CV is now a resume. When you circulate your details to your network of contacts, you need not send out the whole document, but can send page 1 only. The full document can be sent on if interest is shown, or presented at interview.

Pages 2 and onwards…

Career History - Once again, this should be in reverse chronological order i.e. starting with your most recent job and working backwards. You only need to include the year you started and the year you finished each job. You do not need to include the month or day, e.g. put 1993 - 1995 rather than 1.8.1993 - 4.6.1995.

Always give a brief overview of the company you worked for; its size, numbers employed etc. You may know the intimate details of Brown's Widgets Plc, but your reader will not necessarily understand who they are and what they do.

Describe the responsibilities for each position that you have held, starting with the strongest point in your favour and then work backwards. If you have a lot of points to put under one specific job you may want to break this description into two or more sections, or at least be careful not to use too many words.

Separate responsibilities and achievements. Anyone doing your job would have had the same responsibilities as you; the thing that differentiates you from anyone else is what you actually achieved.

Remember, this is absolutely vital to your success in securing a senior role!If you have had a number of positions for a particular employer you may not want to include every individual job (in which case leave out the year designations for all jobs titles and just include the start and finish years for this employer), or you may be able to combine one or more of the jobs.Do make sure that you stress your achievements under each job (these should be relevant to your next job) but do not repeat information too often; this will just bore the reader.

Training - Only include the most important training courses, you could combine it with the section on Education and Qualifications, depending on how much space you have.

Education/Qualifications - Only list your most important qualifications.If you are a graduate you do not really need to list your 'O' Levels/GCSEs, just indicate the number of 'O' levels gained.Unless you have just completed a degree or MBA, this section should go after work experience, because your work experience is more likely to be of interest to an employer.If you have qualified recently, you could mention your recent qualifications in your covering letter.

Personal Details - Include your date of birth, marital status and driving licence. If you have a clean driving licence, say so.

Interests - Keep this part fairly short, but make sure you list any current positions of responsibility. If you do not currently have any management responsibility and you are applying for a management position you may want to include positions of responsibility that you have held over the last few years, e.g. Play football for a local team - Captain, 1993 - 1996.

Interview Do's and Dont's

Interview DOs
Dress appropriately for the industry; err on the side of being conservative to show you take the interview seriously. Your personal grooming and cleanliness should be impeccable.
Know the exact time and location of your interview; know how long it takes to get there, park, find a rest room to freshen up, etc.
Arrive early; 10 minutes prior to the interview start time.
Treat other people you encounter with courtesy and respect. Their opinions of you might be solicited during hiring decisions.
Offer a firm handshake, make eye contact, and have a friendly expression when you are greeted by your interviewer.
Listen to be sure you understand your interviewer's name and the correct pronunciation.
Even when your interviewer gives you a first and last name, address your interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name, until invited to do otherwise.
Maintain good eye contact during the interview.
Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching.
Respond to questions and back up your statements about yourself with specific examples whenever possible.
Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question.
Be thorough in your responses, while being concise in your wording.
Be honest and be yourself. Dishonesty gets discovered and is grounds for withdrawing job offers and for firing. You want a good match between yourself and your employer. If you get hired by acting like someone other than yourself, you and your employer will both be unhappy.
Treat the interview seriously and as though you are truly interested in the employer and the opportunity presented.
Exhibit a positive attitude. The interviewer is evaluating you as a potential co-worker. Behave like someone you would want to work with.
Have intelligent questions prepared to ask the interviewer. Having done your research about the employer in advance, ask questions which you did not find answered in your research.
Evaluate the interviewer and the organization s/he represents. An interview is a two-way street. Conduct yourself cordially and respectfully, while thinking critically about the way you are treated and the values and priorities of the organization.
Do expect to be treated appropriately. If you believe you were treated inappropriately or asked questions that were inappropriate or made you uncomfortable, discuss this with a Career Services advisor or the director.
Make sure you understand the employer's next step in the hiring process; know when and from whom you should expect to hear next. Know what action you are expected to take next, if any.
When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully.
After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details.
Write a thank-you letter to your interviewer promptly.


Interview DON'Ts
Don't make excuses. Take responsibility for your decisions and your actions.
Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others).
Don't falsify application materials or answers to interview questions.
Don't treat the interview casually, as if you are just shopping around or doing the interview for practice. This is an insult to the interviewer and to the organization.
Don't give the impression that you are only interested in an organization because of its geographic location.
Don't give the impression you are only interested in salary; don't ask about salary and benefits issues until the subject is brought up by your interviewer.
Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
Don't make the interviewer guess what type of work you are interested in; it is not the interviewer's job to act as a career advisor to you.
Don't be unprepared for typical interview questions. You may not be asked all of them in every interview, but being unprepared looks foolish.
A job search can be hard work and involve frustrations; don't exhibit frustrations or a negative attitude in an interview.
Don't go to extremes with your posture; don't slouch, and don't sit rigidly on the edge of your chair.
Don't assume that a female interviewer is "Mrs." or "Miss." Address her as "Ms." unless told otherwise. Her marital status is irrelevant to the purpose of the interview.
Don't chew gum or smell like smoke.
Don't allow your cell phone to sound during the interview. (If it does, apologize quickly and ignore it.) Don't take a cell phone call.
Don't take your parents, your pet (an assistance animal is not a pet in this circumstance), spouse, fiance, friends or enemies to an interview. If you are not grown up and independent enough to attend an interview alone, you're insufficiently grown up and independent for a job. (They can certainly visit your new city, at their own expense, but cannot attend your interview.)

FEW MORE INETRVIEW DOs and DONTS

Do take a practice run to the location where you are having the interview -- or be sure you know exactly where it is and how long it takes to get there.
Do your research and know the type of job interview you will be encountering. And do prepare and practice for the interview, but don't memorize or over-rehearse your answers.
Do plan to arrive about 10 minutes early. Late arrival for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, do phone the company.
Do greet the receptionist or assistant with courtesy and respect. This is where you make your first impression.
Don't chew gum during the interview.
Don't rely on your application or resume to do the selling for you. No matter how qualified you are for the position, you will need to sell yourself to the interviewer.
Do greet the interviewer(s) by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you're not sure, do ask the receptionist about the pronunciation before going into the interview.
Do shake hands firmly. Don't have a limp or clammy handshake!
Do wait until you are offered a chair before sitting. And do remember body language and posture: sit upright and look alert and interested at all times. Don't fidget or slouch.
Don't tell jokes during the interview.
Do make good eye contact with your interviewer(s).
Do show enthusiasm in the position and the company.
Don't smoke, even if the interviewer does and offers you a cigarette. And don't smoke beforehand so that you smell like smoke. And do brush your teeth, use mouthwash, or have a breath mint before the interview.
Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as "like," "uh," and "um").
Don't be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects confidence.
Do have a high confidence and energy level, but don't be overly aggressive.
Don't act as though you would take any job or are desperate for employment.
Do avoid controversial topics.
Don't say anything negative about former colleagues, supervisors, or employers.
Do make sure that your good points come across to the interviewer in a factual, sincere manner.
Don't ever lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and succinctly. And don't over-answer questions.
Do stress your achievements. And don't offer any negative information about yourself.
Don't answer questions with a simple "yes" or "no." Explain whenever possible. Describe those things about yourself that showcase your talents, skills, and determination. Give examples.
Do show off the research you have done on the company and industry when responding to questions.
Don't bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
Do remember that the interview is also an important time for you to evaluate the interviewer and the company she represents.
Don't respond to an unexpected question with an extended pause or by saying something like, "boy, that's a good question." And do repeat the question outloud or ask for the question to be repeated to give you a little more time to think about an answer. Also, a short pause before responding is okay.
Do always conduct yourself as if you are determined to get the job you are discussing. Never close the door on an opportunity until you are sure about it.
Don't answer cell phone calls during the interview, and do turn off (or set to silent ring) your cell phone and/or pager.
Do show what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
Don't inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement, or other benefits until after you've received an offer. Be prepared for a question about your salary requirements, but do try and delay salary talk until you have an offer.
Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry.
Don't ever not ask any questions -- it shows a lack of interest.
Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process. (Some experts even say you should close the interview by asking for the job.)
Do try and get business cards from each person you interviewed with -- or at least the correct spelling of their first and last names. And don't make assumptions about simple names -- was it Jon or John -- get the spelling.
Do immediately take down notes after the interview concludes so you don't forget crucial details. Do write thank you letters within 24 hours to each person who interviewed you.

Sample Cover Letters

Cover Letter

Cover letter is a document which is attached to each resume you send out to prospective employers. If your cover letter isn't professional, managers will likely ignore it and toss it in the trash. Because of this you will want to spend time making sure both your cover letter and resume are equally impressive. A cover letter should enhance the design of your resume.

A cover letter should almost always accompany a resume unless you have good reason not to do so. Here are some guidelines you should keep in mind while writing your cover letter.

Keep your cover letter concise and job specific. It should be modified to address the specific job you are applying for. The goal when writing the cover letter is you address your strengths and accomplishments in a paragraph or two.

Relate your past work experience and training to the qualities the company is looking for.

If you are fresh out of school and do not have a lot of experience to write about, relate your accomplishments, research, and/or class projects to the qualities the company is looking for.

Make it clear in your cover letter that you understand what the company is about. This means doing a little research ahead of time so that you can better match your skills/experience with their needs and goals.

Once again, keep your formatting consistent throughout the cover letter.

Be sure to double and triple check your grammar and spelling. It is also a good idea to have someone proofread for you. The more eyes that see it and the more feedback you receive, the better it will be!

Sample Cover Letter

This sample letter is meant to give you an idea of how you may want to organize your cover letter. (The content of this letter is fictional)

John Smith
1784 Maple Road
Seattle, WA 97654
Home: (345)555-2322
e-mail: jsmith23@yahoo.com

Apr 03, 2005

Dept. of Human Resources
Company Name
Portland, Oregon

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am considering relocating to the Portland area during the last week of July and am currently exploring job opportunities. As my resume reveals, I have both a Bachelors and Master's degree in Computer Science. I have more then three years of professional software development experience using C++, C and Java in PC based and real-time systems. I enjoy working in a high energy and high performance work environment. I have worked on and learned a great deal from several very interesting and complex commercial projects.

Currently I am leading an extremely talented software team to build a dual-mode wireless communication device with a display interface. The total budget for the project is approximately $3M. At the completion of this project in July I will be anxious to take on new challenges and build upon my knowledge base. I am excited by the prospect of working with an organization that is both an unquestioned leader in its programming niche and an enthusiastic risk taker in an entirely new frontier.

I have enclosed my resume for your review. I would like the opportunity to meet and share more about my qualifications and the ways in which I can contribute to the team. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,
John Smith

Cover Letter 2

Mary George
33 116th Street
Seattle, WA 98990
Home: (888)-453-2322
e-mail: mary@yahoo.com

Nov 12, 2005

Ms. Melissa Stephenson
Recruiting Coordinator
Freeman Consulting
602 Main Street, Suite 212
Dallas, TX 75202

Dear Ms. Stephenson:

I am writing in reference to your advertisement for a staff consultant as listed in the Southem Methodist University Career Center. I will be graduating in May 199X with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering and I believe my qualifications to be consistent with those desired by your firm.

Throughout my collegiate career, I have attempted to stay well-rounded combining academic excellence with leadership and work experience. By majoring in Electrical Engineering with a concentration in Biomedical Engineering, I have been exposed to all facets of scientific and analytic disciplines from mathematics to circuit analysis to Fortran. Beginning with my appointment to the President's Developing Leadership for Tomorrow freshman year, I have chosen to actively participate and take on responsibility in community service and campus activities during my four years at SMU. I have also worked continuously while in college.

I am currently working at MJ Skyline in Dallas, a technology management company, generating reports and updating their database. My previous work experience has provided me with a strong exposure to both corporate and technical environments and has taught me the importance of team work and open communication with clients and coworkers.

I look forward to meeting with you on January 28 to further discuss my qualifications with you. Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely,

Mary George
Enclosures

Entry-level cover letter

[your name]

[Street Address]

[City, ST ZIP Code]

June 11, 2007

[Recipient Name]

[Title]

[Company Name]

[Street Address]

[City, ST ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient Name]:

Your ad for an entry-level position caught my attention as I prepare to begin my professional career upon graduation this spring from State University. I say "professional" because I have worked steadily throughout college, gaining valuable experience that equipsme to present your
firm with advantages others may not offer.

For example, as a resident assistant for a 250+ person co-ed dorm, I acquired strong leadership and interpersonal skills. I am now able to think quickly in emergency situations and in those requiring quick assessment of many factors in order to make approproate decisions. Dealing with diverse concerns of students, parents, and faculty, I have become adept at operating with proper mix of authority, diplomacy and tact.

While working in this demanding position, I achieved a 3.75 cumulative grade-point average.My double major, communications and political science, provided me with a thorough foundation in
principles that effect businesses every day.

I would welcome the chance to discuss openings at your firm. If you will contact me at (425) 555-0524, we can schedule a meeting.

Thank you for your consideration.

Sincerely
[Your Name]
Enclosure

Experienced customer service rep letter

[your name]

[Street Address]

[City, ST ZIP Code]

June 11, 2007

[Recipient Name]

[Title]

[Company Name]

[Street Address]

[City, ST ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient Name]:

It is tempting to telephone in response to your ad for a customer service representative since the majority of the service take place over the phone these days.Instead, I enclose my resume as you requested, providing you with in-depth information on the 11 years I have spent dealing with the public. Throughout this time, I have successfully resolved customer claims and accurately recoreded complex product orders with consistent praise from my supervisors.

More importantly, I have enhanced each company's reputation, keeping existing customers satisfied and transforming first time buyers into loyal, repeat purchasers.

I would appreciate the chances to do the same for your organisation and will call you shortly so that you can experience my skills on a first-hand basis.

Sincerely
[Your Name]
Enclosure

Sample Cover Letter

[your name]

[Street Address]

[City, ST ZIP Code]

June 11, 2007

[Recipient Name]

[Title]

[Company Name]

[Street Address]

[City, ST ZIP Code]

Dear [Recipient Name]:

As a State University student who will be graduating in August, I am answering your ad because I believe I can offer your firm an unusual mix of abilties, talents, and enthusiasm. For instance :

My Double major(economics/English literature) demonstrates my willingness to assume more than the typical level of resposibility and to achieve in a challenging environment.

Through my coursework, I acquired in-depth coputers proficiency and a profound belief in the importance of effective communication in todays growing entrepreneurial endeavour.

To finance my education, I planned, launched and operated a highly successful catering business. I gained hands-on experience in properly managing revenues, time and employees.

As you can see, I am goal-oriented, self-driven, and not afraid of hardwork.

I look forward to hearing from you so that we may schedule an interview.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Enclosure