Center for Professional Excellence

Resume Action Verb List pdf

Reference Sheet pdf

If you need help, come see us! We are located in the Mabee Business Building in room 103. Or call 501-279-5555 to set up an appointment.

Remember, your resume is your "foot in the door" to a prospective job.

Please refer to Handshake for a variety of approved and professional resume and cover letter templates for each of your career or post-graduate paths. They can be found under “Resources” on Handshake.

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LinkedIn

Glassdoor

Monster

Indeed

Accepting a job offer, letter example pdf

Rejecting a job offer, letter example pdf

The Suit

• Choose a common color (black, charcoal, navy, or gray).
• The pant leg should touch the front of the shoe and fall just above the heel.
• Wear coordinating socks (definitely no white socks!).
• Pants can either have cuffs or not.
• The suit jacket should be buttoned while standing and unbuttoned to sit. Do not button the bottom button of a three or two-piece suit.

The Dress Shirt

• Make sure dress shirt is ironed (if possible, have your shirt professionally laundered).
• Always wear a long-sleeve shirt.
• Avoid shirts with insignias on them.
• The sleeves should extend beyond the suit jacket sleeves by ½ inch.
• Always wear an undershirt, but avoid V-necks as they give the appearance of a finished look.

The Tie

• Wear a conservative tie with subtle patterns or solid colors.
• Tie your tie to fall in the middle of your belt.

Accessories

• Wear coordinating dress socks – No white socks!
• Wingtips or lace-up, conservative shoes are the most appropriate. Loafers should be used for business casual.
• Shoes should be in good, clean condition.
• Belts should match shoe color and be in good condition.
• Men should limit accessories/jewelry to 3 pieces.
• Accessories include the following: watch, ring, handkerchief, lapel pins, cuff links, and tie tacks. Avoid athletic watches.
• Avoid bracelets, necklaces, and visible piercings.

Grooming

• Facial hair should be neatly trimmed (moustache, sideburns, beards).
• No heavy cologne.
• Nails should be clean and trimmed.

The Suit

• For a conservative organization, a skirt suit is still considered the appropriate interview attire. A pantsuit, while acceptable for some organizations, is still considered less formal.
• Hemlines should be knee length or longer – No miniskirts!
• Color does not have to be limited to dark colors, but remember the rule: if you have to ask yourself “Can I?”, then don’t.
• Make sure the suit flatters your figure and is a good fit, not too tight or too loose.
• Jacket sleeves should fall ½ inch below your wrist.

The Blouse

• Blouses should be updated – Not low-cut or revealing!
• Do not wear a camisole or see-through blouse.

Shoes

• Shoes should be pumps or slingbacks – Try to avoid open-toed shoes.
• Shoes should be of good quality and in good condition.

Accessories

• Jewelry should be kept minimal and conservative. Remove all facial piercings, except earrings.

Make-up and Grooming

• Makeup should be natural looking, better toned down than so loud that they remember your eye shadow but not you.
• Nails should be clean and manicured, avoid overly long fingernails and nail art.
• Nail polish and lip color should not be too bright.
• Hair should be clean and neat in appearance.
• Perfume should be applied very lightly, if at all.

Interview Do's

• Arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time of the interview.
• Dress appropriately and conservatively.
• Be prepared for the interview by researching the company beforehand.
• Know why you want to work for the company and why you are interested in the position.
• Have a clear understanding of what you want to get across to the interviewer.
• Show enthusiasm and interest in the position and the company.
• Keep your intensity level up with every interviewer.
• Make a positive impression when presenting your skills.
• Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake.
• Maintain eye contact and good posture during the interview.
• Keep your answers straightforward, speaking firmly, clearly, and loudly enough to be easily understood.
• Prepare appropriate questions to ask.
• Prepare for questions you may be asked – formulate possible answers (practice with someone
  you trust).
• Be relaxed and natural – smile when appropriate.
• Relate your skills and experience.
• Watch for opportunities to sell your skills.
• Ask the interviewer if you have answered the questions fully.
• Be sure you understand the question before you answer.

Interview Don’ts

• Don’t arrive late!
• Don’t criticize previous employers.
• Don’t exaggerate or embellish your experience.
• Don’t exhibit overbearing, overaggressive or egotistical behavior.
• Don’t appear excessively nervous.
• Don’t answer only “yes” or “no” to questions.
• Don’t fail to let them know that you have knowledge of their company.
• Don’t ask questions just to ask questions.
• Don’t assume that you know the outcome of the interview after it’s over. Offers will sometimes come from interviews you think went badly, and it’s not unusual to be rejected after an interview that you felt went well.
• Don’t let the interview process discourage you or affect your search efforts.
• Don’t use negative terms.
• Don’t get defensive.
• Don’t talk too much.

Sample Interview Questions

• What do you know about our company?
• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your career goals?
• Where do you expect to be in your career within five years? Ten years?
• What future training do you plan in connection with your career goals?
• What do you know about the position I’m interviewing you for?
• What skills, experience, and training do you have that make you qualified for the job?
• What other positions have you had that qualify you for the position?
• What are you particularly good at in your present position? Why?
• What major strength do you feel will make you a great employee?
• What is your management style?
• Have you had any supervisory or administrative experience? Please tell me about it.
• How are your people-management skills? Can you give me one or two examples?
• How well do you communicate orally and in writing? Give me some examples of this.
• Can you meet deadlines? If so, give me an example.
• Give me an example of a decision you made that benefitted your company.
• What would your boss say about you?
• If people who work with you were to evaluate you, what would they say?
• What motivates you?
• How do you best motivate others?
• What professional associations do you belong to?
• What volunteer work have you done in the past?
• What are your hobbies?
• What do you do in your spare time?
• Have you ever traveled? If so, where?
• If your career demanded it, would you be willing to relocate for advancement?
• Do you know about other countries and cultures? If so, which ones?
• What are your salary requirements?

Find more industry-specific interview questions

Prepare Questions to Ask

• What are the common denominators of successful people in this company?
• What characteristics are unique about this company?
• What outside influences affect the company’s growth?
• What are the short and long-range company objectives?
• In what areas does this company excel?
• How can I contribute to the department as well as overall company goals?
• How long was the last person in this position? What made this person successful?
• What would you expect me to achieve/accomplish during my first six months to a year?
• What obstacles do you foresee that I would have to overcome?
• Why do you enjoy working here?
• What attracted you to this company?
• Who are your competitors?

Interview Closing and Follow-up

Closing an Interview: It is important that you leave the interview expressing enthusiasm about the position as well as uncovering any doubts the interviewer may have about you as a viable candidate for the position. It is also appropriate to ask when the employer expects to make the hiring decision. Don’t be discouraged if no definite offer is discussed. Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration.

Follow-Up: Following up on an interview is very important! Write individual thank you notes or letters (preferably hand-written) to each person who interviewed you - within two business days. Also, follow up with a telephone call to the employer within a week to ten days (or sooner, if the employer had a shorter timetable) to ask about the position. And do continue to build rapport and sell your strengths during the phone call.

A critical part of achieving our goal is to partner with you, the faculty, in helping students realize and reach their life goals. As you integrate career components into your courses, Career Center staff members are available to present career information on several aspects of career planning. Some of the popular topics include:

• Choosing a major
• Resume writing
• Job search skills
• Interview skills
• Internships
• Career fairs
• Applying to graduate schools

If you would like to request a classroom presentation from the Center for Professional Excellence, please let us know at cpe@harding.edu.