Ancillary Services:

Interview Tips:

Preparing for the interview
Thorough preparation is critical. It is great for your confidence in the interview room and it leaves a very positive impression with the interviewers.

1. Get the logistics right. Time, location, interviewer's name and position title.
2. Do your research. Find out as much as possible about the company: size, scope, location of branches and offices, financial/share performance, range of products and services, etc. The company website and annual report are two very good sources.
3. Do some more research. Make sure you have key data in your head about your existing and most recent employers.
4. Do even more research. Ask former co-workers to tell you about your professional traits. What did they most admire? Try to find some faults as well. This leaves you more prepared for questions such as "what are your greatest faults" or "if I were working with you ...".
5. Prepare questions. The employer will be trying to work out whether you fit the available role. You should also take the opportunity to ensure that the company is right for you.
6. Practice (see below). Take time to run through some of your answers. Don't over-rehearse, but make sure that you are coming across confidently.
7. Present yourself well. Find out what the company culture is regarding business dress. If in doubt, go more formal, not less formal. Make sure you are well groomed on the day.

1. Be descriptive. Don't just answer "yes" or "no" to questions. But also avoid "over-answering." Make your answers colorful but not lengthy.
2. Sell yourself to the interviewer, but without exaggeration or telling lies. You are there to market yourself, "blow your own trumpet" and explain why you'd be right for the role. But don't come across as arrogant.
3. Avoid making negative remarks about your current employer, or past employers or colleagues. This will only reflect on you in the interview.
4. Be determined. Make it clear that you want to get the job, even if you are given information in the interview that sheds a new light on the role. Be positive, and then evaluate the opportunity again when you are away from the interview. Don't burn your bridges.
5. Have positive body language, and maintain a good posture.

Resume Writing:

Six Tips to Optimize Your Resume
by Kim Issacs

Has your resume been generating calls for interviews, or does it seem lost in the crowd? Follow these six tips to supercharge your resume:

1. Renew Often
   One of the most popular ways hiring managers search resumes is by the date they were posted. Keep your resume updated in the system by renewing it at least once every 30 days.
2. Target Your Resume Title
   The Resume Title is one of the most important sections of the Resume Builder. When hiring managers search for resumes, they often look at the title first to decide whether to view a resume. It's best to include the specific job title you're pursuing, along with a brief description of your top credentials. Choose your words carefully as you have a 70-character limit. Examples of good title:
   • Network Administrator – CNA Specializing in NetWare – 5 Years' Experience
   • Technical Sales Representative – Maximizing Sales for the Technology Industry
   • Secretary/Administrative Assistant with 10 Years' Experience
3. Maximize Your Keywords
   One of the best ways to increase the number of hits your resume receives is to include an abundance of industry keywords. Do some research on keywords that might be used to find someone with your talents. Search jobs to get an idea of what credentials hiring managers value. Then look for places in your resume where you could incorporate these keywords. The Skills section is a great place to include keywords that don't appear elsewhere in the document.
4. Show You Care About Employers' Needs
   If you have outlined your wants and needs, revise your career objective to show the benefits you offer potential employers. Consider these before-and-after ideal job descriptions:
   • Before: A challenging position with a large firm that offers great pay/benefits, flextime and a comfortable working environment.
   • After: Customer service or front-desk position providing world-class service to international guests.
5. Proofread
   Employers are immediately turned off by resumes with typos. Many employers will discard a resume that contains even one error, so thoroughly proofread your Monster resume. Email it to yourself and open the file in a program with good spell-check capabilities. Then show your resume to a writer, teacher or colleague with excellent proofreading skills to make sure it is perfect.
6. Invest in Your Resume
   Yes, spending a little money on your resume can improve it. One of the benefits of these services is that your resume is featured with graphical enhancements, including bold type and industry icons.