Technical Prosource Staffing

Spending some time preparing for your job hunt will greatly increase your chances for success and will eliminate much of the stress.

• Write down a description of the kind of job you are looking for.
• Write down several sales pitches for yourself.
• Write down all the details that might be needed for an application such as:
  • Work history including dates, addresses and phone numbers.
  • Places you have lived in the last 5 years.
  • Education history including dates, locations, and GPA.
• Contact all the people that you wish to use as references and let them know you are job hunting, and ask permission to use them as a reference.
• Make sure you have a good suit ready for interviews.
• Practice answering questions about yourself.

• A good detailed resume should be 2-3 pages long.
• A manager will usually take only about 5 seconds to initially scan through a resume.  Your resume should be concise, poignant and easy to read.  Bullets are a good way to achieve this.  Paragraphs might not be read.
• Dates should include month, but day is not necessary.
• Make sure the resume's formatting is consistent.  (Bullets are all in order.  Dates are tabbed over correctly and in the same spot for each company...etc)
• Most resumes are now scanned by a program before they are read by a person.  Be sure to include important keywords including, product/brand names, acronyms, terms or art and 'buzz words'.  Imagine searching for your resume on Google.
• Provide detail to go with your keywords that demonstrate your experience and/or training.
• If you have an advanced degree or certifications, you may want to move that to the front of the resume.  Your competition may not have it.
• Always spell/grammar check your resume and then spell/grammar check it again.
• Do NOT include your picture on the resume, and do not include personal information.
• Put your references on a separate document and avoid making that information available to the general public.

• Dress professionally: dark suit, conservative tie, polished/clean shoes.
• Make eye contact.
• Be ON TIME for the interview (15 minutes early if possible).  Use a map to find the location at least 1 day prior, and leave time for wrong turns and traffic problems.
• Show enthusiasm!
• Show the client how you have achieved results on your current (or last) position, and how those results can transfer to their position.  (Give specific examples)
• Never say anything negative about anybody for any reason.
• SELL YOURSELF!
• Get sold on the job.  Visit the company’s web site and do some research on the company.  Find out what you need to know to make an informed decision about the position.
• Ask the manager/interviewer to tell you about the position, ask if they mind if you take notes (then take notes).
• After they talk about the position, respond to key points from their description with examples of how you did those things on your last position.
• When they ask about your strengths, be specific.
• When they ask for weaknesses, have one ready, and tell them how you are working on improving on it.
• When they ask why you are looking, tell them you are happy with your present position (if you are working!) then try to be specific about the reason you want to leave—but BE POSITIVE!  Be honest about a reason you are leaving, but show them how their position will fulfill that goal for you.
• When you talk about your goals be realistic.
• If the manager asks you about money, tell him "I am mostly interested in the opportunity, and if you are as interested in me as I am in you, I know you will make me a fair offer."  If he still wants you to talk about money, tell him you would rather he discuss that with your recruiter.
• Don’t forget to close the deal: "Based on my qualifications and what you’re looking for, do you have any concerns?", and "I’m excited about this opportunity—what do we have to do to take this to the next step?"