• Create your resume:

    A resume is a summary of your skills, accomplishments, experiences, and education designed to help employers understand if you are a good fit for their job opening. Here is the common anatomy of a resume:

    • Keep it simple, professional, and easy to read. Bulleted lists, plain fonts, and proper grammar and spelling all help with this. 
    • Tailor your resume for each position you apply for. 
    • Use some of the keywords from the job description so it’s easy to tell how you match what they’re looking for. But be honest in what you list – the truth always comes out. 
    • See Ms. Gonzalez in the Career Center to review your resume, or ask your English teacher if they'd be willing to look over it for grammatical errors.  

    Common Interview Questions:

    Chances are you’ll be asked these questions in one form or another. Besides preparing for these, it’s a good idea to analyze the job description and try to figure out what questions the company may ask you based on their requirements and the job duties. 

     

    Tell me about yourself.

    The interviewer is looking for an overview of your professional background. For students, this should be more forward thinking and focus on what you would like to do in your career and how you landed there. Stay away from personal information unless it relates to why you’ve chosen a certain path.  

     

    Why did you leave your previous jobs?

    Be honest and stay positive. If you were fired, share how you’ve grown and how you approach your job and life now as a result. Try to position the learning experience as an advantage for this job and company. 

     

    Where do you see yourself in 5-10 years?

    The goal here is to show that you have a career plan and ambition .The interviewer wants to know your thought process and what’s important to you. Stay away from personal information.  

     

    Why do you want to work here? 

    This is where your research comes in. The interviewer wants to see what you’ve learned about the company and that there is substance in your answer. It’s easy to say you want to work there; you have to back it up. 

     

    Why should I hire you?

    Summarize what you have to offer the company as it relates to the position, rather than what you want from the company. There are likely other people interviewing for the same position so it’s important for you to show the company why you are the best candidate. 

     

    Tell me about your proudest accomplishment. What challenges did you face and how did you overcome them?

    The interviewer can learn a lot about you with this question. They want to see a pattern of achievement, and your thought-process on setting and reaching your goals. They will also want to know how you dealt with obstacles, so be ready to discuss those too – just remember to stay positive. 

     

    What are your strengths/weaknesses?

    It’s easy to talk about our strengths. Just be sure to have examples prepared to show them. Talking about our weaknesses can be tricky, so it’s important to think about this one ahead of time. You can find a weakness that is not crucially related to the particular job, or you can discuss a weakness that you are correcting and explain how. They want to see that you are self-aware, honest, and proactive. 

     

    When are you available to start? 

    Think about this ahead of time and be ready with a date, or at least a timeframe. 

     

    What questions do you have for me?

    Be prepared! Your questions will demonstrate your interest and thoughtfulness, which the interviewer appreciates.

    Questions to ask during an interview:

     

     When the interviewer asks “Do you have any questions for me?”, your answer should be “YES!”

     

    1. What is a typical day like at [company name]?

    Asking about operations and learning the “lay of the land” shows your dedication to the company and attention to detail. Hiring managers will often start by explaining basic schedules, events, and projects. Don't expect — or push for — detailed explanations about clients and projects. They still have to protect intellectual property. Focus more on the company's atmosphere and the people. Ask about newsletters, company picnics, and other initiatives meant to bring the company together. Executives love to brag about their connection with the team, so they should be happy to answer this question.

     

    2. What are the next steps in the interview process?

    Asking about the next steps shows you are optimistic and want the job. Hiring managers appreciate a good sense of self-esteem. Just don't seem too eager, as over-confidence may translate as arrogance. Asking about the next steps also helps with determining the follow-up protocols and prevents you from worrying whether it's too soon to check back in.

     

    3. What do you expect from team members in this position?

    Job descriptions often are nothing more than marketing jargon used to peak interest in a position, and sometimes the intricate requirements are neglected. Asking this question in an interview helps you determine what you're going to be doing and what is expected of you. Hiring managers expect and respect these questions. Asking them to explain the job requirements in detail shows you care about the position, like to know all the facts before making a decision, and have the courage to ask the difficult questions.