Resume Writing & Interview Skills

1. Resume Writing & Interview Skills

2. Resume Check List • One page • 20-second glance: most relevant first • Tailor your resume to the position • Use industry language to describe experience • All relevant experience, paid or unpaid • High school experience • Avoid personal pronouns (I, me, my) • Use appropriate verb tenses • Error free (both spelling and grammar) • Know your resume

3. Opening Statements • Objective NOT THIS: I am looking for an internship with a progressive company that will allow me to contribute to the overall mission of the company and help me acquire experience and skills to better serve the company and my colleagues. BUT THIS: To obtain the summer marketing internship with Deckers Outdoor Corporation utilizing ability to create customized marketing materials and foster excellent client relations. Avoid being generic NOT THIS: Hard worker Communication skills Team player Detail-oriented Spanish

4. Education EDUCATION B.S., Biomedical Engineering June 2013 California State University Long Beach • Tips: • Current information • Only list schools from which you receive a degree • Relevant courses or study abroad—end of resume, if included Awards if education related can either be listed under the education section or at the bottom of the resume AWARDS BMES poster: Effects of Cell-Metal Interaction on Immunogenicity of Stent Graft 2011 Summer Undergraduate Research Program Fellow 2011

5. Work and Research Experience Edwards Lifescience Center KLAB, CA January 2011 –September 2011 Undergraduate Researcher • Tested biocompatibility of metal scaffolds to analyze immunological responses • Evaluated potential usage in tissue engineered cardiac structures • Constructed 3D co-cultured tissue engineered scaffolds FPL, Ormond Beach, FLMay 2012 –September 2012 Electrical Engineer Intern • Performed installation, maintenance, troubleshooting , and root cause analysis on protective relay control systems • Installed and repaired remote terminal units and communication equipment • Verified Z-Block wiring of protective relay panels

6. Experience What is experience? • Paid or unpaid • Presentations or public speaking • SERVICE in student organizations • Formal or informal faculty research • Volunteering and internships • Class projects, labs, MAJOR assignments

7. How Do I Talk About Experience? • Not job title, but tasks Cashier…Try this: • Operated cash register and balanced $1500 in receipts • Accomplishments, not duties Responsible for sales…Try this: • Awarded associate of the month for record-setting sales. • Use action words Responsible for inventory…Try this: • Maintained primary inventory

8. Other Experience Categories LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Vice President, Delta Upsilon Fraternity, UC Riverside 2009-2011 • Established a mentor program in which members partner to provide tutoring and support. • Developed online server to upload and share notes and readings from all members’ courses. • Member, TOMS Club, UC Riverside 2009-2010 • Fundraised and created awareness to support projects and companies that help less fortunate. • Volunteered time, money and resources to help manage events and programs. • IEEE member

9. Skills • Computer Skills Computer: Minitab, Auto Cad, SolidWorks, Adobe CS, MatCAD, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project, Visio…. • Language Skills Language: Bilingual in Spanish and English. • Transferrable Skills Presentations: Demonstrated experience developing and executing professional presentations to groups of up to 25. • Specific Skills ELISA Assays, Plasma Treatment, Hardware Design

10. References • Who? • Someone who knows your work habits • Someone you has known you for a long time • Someone who is credible • Contact your references before • Ask if they are willing to give you a positive reference • Make sure their information is correct • Names, job titles and phone numbers

11. Interview • Purpose of Interviewing • Interviewing is about interacting with the candidates in a structured way to make the best match to the position requirements • What we can see • Presentation • Personality • Similarity • Resume • Public Information • What we want to learn • Knowledge, Skills, and Ability • Leadership • Motivation • Career Potential • Fit Factors

12. Interview Notes • Always do research and be familiar with the company • Be confident • Speak well, but not too fast • Ask questions if you are not sure what is being asked • It is better to ask questions than to answer the wrong one.

13. Answering Questions • Be honest and complete • BBI Structure (behavior based interviews) The best indicator of future performance is past performance • Provide STAR answers • Situation • Task • Actions • Results Role Play Examples- Tell me about a time when you had to deal with a difficult situation…… Give me an example of a situation when you… Tell me about a challenging time when you had…. Walk me through an experience when you….

14. Ask Questions Asking Questions is important • It shows you are engaged and interested in the position as well as your future career • It allows the interviewer to see what things are important to you • They know that you do not know everything about the company or position and not asking questions shows you did not research the company Examples • What is your vision for this position? • What do you like best about working for this company • What are some of the most challenging things that a new employee in this position can face? • What are the companies values? • What are the next steps in the process?

15. Thank You and Good Luck