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"You
have to target your resume to your audience |
|
How
we work |
Resume
writing
Sample
resumes
Interview
preparation and tips
Reference
sites:
Salary
and Paycheck help, Quick reference
help,
Resume help
Thinking
of relocating? Check this out.
Maps:
Shuart
& Associates
Greater
New Orleans Area
Resume Writing
The primary purpose of a resume is to secure an interview—nothings your "advertisement" to potential employers; you and your skills are the product that you want them to purchase.
Resumes should be clear, concise, and, if possible, limited to one page. Emphasize what you can do for the employer, not what you need. Use "action" words—not just the usual "responsible for ..." to describe what you did in each position. If any of your accomplishments are measurable, use the actual numbers to state your results.
Present your credentials accurately—they will be verified. Misrepresentations or exaggerations are bound to be uncovered and could disqualify you for the position.
The names of all companies and firms with which you have worked should be listed so that any potential conflicts can be clarified in advance. List your most recent employer first, and the rest, in reverse chronological order.
When stating "worked from" and "worked to" dates, use the month and the year. This gives interviewers the information needed without having to ask a lot of questions. If there are significant gaps in your work history, prepare an explanation of that time.
While word processors can produce wonderfully complex documents, your resume should not be one of them. Simple formatting and simple fonts are best and look the most professional.
Simplicity is essential when sending a resume as an attachment to an e-mail. If your recipient opens your attachment and cannot read the resume, you may be eliminated immediately. Send resumes in RTF or plain text format.
Finally, save
the colored paper, colored ink, and pictures for documents you may want
to use as examples of your skills if that kind of work is appropriate
to the position.
Sample resumes
There are many ways to write effective resumes. The links below show just a few examples of resumes we consider to be good ones. You will need the Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view or print these documents.
New graduate/beginnerTwo
to five years
AttorneyAttorney
ParalegalParalegal
Legal
SecretaryLegal
Secretary
More
than five years
Attorney
Paralegal
Legal
Secretary
Interview preparation and tips
PREPARING FOR THE INTERVIEW
Always research the industry, the company, the hiring manager, and the position for which you will be interviewing. To be well versed about the company, browse the company’s web site for information regarding the company's size, its philosophy, the year it was established, its projected future growth, etc.
When setting up an appointment, ask the interviewer how much time to allow for the meeting. Plan some additional time for possible unscheduled interviews with other decision makers.
Prepare an interview folder with additional copies of your resume and paper to take notes. Write the name of your interviewer at the top of the your notes as a reminder to use his or her name during the interview. Your folder should also contain a list of questions that you will want to ask at the appropriate time.
In addition to resume copies and note paper, your interview folder should contain your list of references including addresses and telephone numbers; three should be professional, and three, personal. It is important to notify your references before an interview that they may be receiving a call. You want them to be prepared so clarify dates of employment, salary, and other details they will be asked about.
Think about and prepare appropriate and positive responses for present/previous reasons for leaving a company. Always speak positively about present and past employers. Be truthful in your disclosure, and present your reasons in a positive manner.
It is inappropriate to complain about a former supervisor or a previous situation. Instead, discuss how your work experience relates to the needs of the organization.
Prepare answers for those questions you'll likely be asked. For example,
- Tell me about yourself.
- What did you like most/least about a previous position? Why?
- What do you see as your primary strengths and weaknesses?
- Describe a time when you were confronted with a conflict in the workplace. How did you handle it?
- What does "being motivated" mean to you?
- What interests you about this potential new position?
First impressions are lasting. Dress conservatively, preferably in navy, black, gray, or brown. Avoid loud colors and anything faddish or distracting that will draw attention to your appearance and away from what you're saying. Do not wear perfume, cologne, or excessive jewelry.
Hair should be neatly combed and trimmed; fingernails, clean and manicured; clothes, wrinkle free; and shoes, polished. (Your clothing should fit the environment where you are interviewing). If you have any questions or concerns about appropriateness of dress, please ask!
TRAVELING TO THE INTERVIEW
Familiarize yourself with the location of the interview. If necessary, travel to the location the day before, so that you will know exactly where you are going and where you're going to park.
Arrive 10 minutes early, instead of rushing through early morning traffic to arrive just on time. It is better to leave early, have a cup of coffee at a nearby restaurant, relax, and review your notes and responses to anticipated questions.
DURING THE INTERVIEW
Ask interviewers for a business card so that you will have their correct titles and spelling of names.
Be aware of your body language and that of the interviewers to interpret how they are responding to your answers. Do not fold your arms in front of you. It will appear that you have closed off the interviewer. Sit straight and do not slouch.
Never chew gum or smoke.
Maintain eye contact without staring, and be sure not to lose eye contact when you are asked a difficult question; otherwise, your answers may be perceived as untrue or evasive.
Do not talk with your hands.
Smile during the interview. Be enthusiastic and engage in the conversation. Be attentive, responsive, and direct. Listen to what is being asked in the question, and be concise with your response.
If you find yourself rambling in a response, go back to the original question, repeat it, then answer the question specifically and move to the next question.
Never ask questions about salary or benefits during the first interview. Concentrate on finding out about the company and position first. If asked directly about salary, respond honestly with your current earnings. A good response to "What salary do you want?" is to express interest in the job for the merits of the position, not just the money. Other factors such as growth potential, benefits, location, people, etc. are all factors you should consider in any job offer.
If you are truly interested in the position, tell the interviewer! If he or she has not already told you, ask what the next step is in the process.
AFTER THE INTERVIEW
Send a thank you note to each interviewer within one day of the interview. Use the interviewer's business card ensuring the correct spelling of the name and title.
In the note, thank the interviewer
for his or her time, restate your qualifications, and express your interest
in the position. Check the note for possible spelling or grammatical errors.
A poorly written note or letter has been known to disqualify a perfectly
suited candidate for the position.
Reference Sites
Salary
and paycheck help
Salary
Surveys and Comparisons
Paycheck
Calculators
Cost
of living - Salary Calculator
Quick
reference help
Zip
code Locator
Postal
Rates
On-line
Dictionary
On-line
Encyclopedia
MapQuest
BellSouth
Yellow Pages
White
Pages
Resume
help
The
Rockport Institute
How
to write a masterpiece of a resume
Electronic
Resumes
E-resume
writing
Resume
Scanning
by
Jerry Seregni, Webmaster, WWLTV.com
On-line articles
of interest
Best
Foot Forward, by Frank Etheridge
(Gambit
6/25/00)
Legal
Interest Sites
Martindale-Hubbell®
The
American Lawyer-On the Web
Industry organizations
National
Association of Legal Search Consultants
National
Association of Personnel Services/
Recruiting
Life
American
Staffing Association
Louisiana
Staffing Association
New
Orleans Paralegal Association
National
Association of Legal Administrators
National
Association for Law Placement
Other
links
Adobe®
Acrobat® Reader
The
Weather Channel
The
New Orleans Times Picayune
The
New York Times
