Want an Upgrade: Winning Resumes and

Lasting Impressions

Veronica L. Nelson

Manager, Career Pathways Program and Diversity Recruiting Initiatives Northrop Grumman Corporation

This workshop will help you – Build or upgrade a winning resume – Learn interviewing: Do’s and Don’ts – Learn critical networking techniques

Get ready to take action and win!

Winning Resumes

What Is a Resume? • A resume is your commercial ad • Give a positive first impression in 10-20 seconds • Provides opportunity for you to showcase your

strengths, accomplishments and experiences

• Tool to network and obtains interview

Resumes help secure interviews –

Interviews help secure jobs

The 4 Keys to Resume Writing Success

• Packaging - The appearance, design and layout

• Performance - The compelling evidence matching your skills to the position

• Positioning - The organized flow of information

• Punch - The content must answer the question:

Why should we interview you?

Quick Tips on Creating a Winning Resume – Keep it concise

– Make your words count

– Avoid large paragraphs

– Proofread thoroughly

– Adequate margins with lots of white space

– Neat, fresh, legible and error-free

– Effective language and correct grammar

– Communicate a professional image

– Convincing, relevant and positive

– Clearly identified skills, achievements and interests

Experience - Making Tasks into Accomplishments

Tasks- – Monitor inventory levels

– Tested software code

– Responsible for surveying orders

– Led Robotics team

Accomplishments- – Re-designed inventory tracking process. Lowered inventory levels by 20%

– Successfully completed testing of code for phases 1 and 2 allowing for timely delivery of product to customer

– Surveyed orders and made sure all repairs were done on schedule which resulted in 98% of repairs completed on schedule

– Led team of 5 in Robotics competition, placed 3 of 20 teams

PAR Statements Describe Accomplishments

P = The Problem, challenge, situation, or task you faced A = Specific Actions you took to resolve or improve the situation R = The end Results of your actions (Quantify with numbers, percentages, or dollars when possible)

Example: Redesigned service processes, increasing responsiveness 50% and reducing queues 50%

PAR

Reasons Resumes Get Screened Out • Categories missing • Unclear objective • Wrong job target • Generic and unfocused • Lacks relevant

experience/education • Explains job descriptions

not accomplishments • Hard to understand • Irrelevant information • Time gaps

• Boastful or dishonest • Slick, gimmicky • Poor physical layout • Too long, short, or

condensed • Wordy, misspellings, poor

grammar • Lengthy phrases,

sentences, and paragraphs

• Poorly reproduced

Types of Interviews • Screening: In Person or via Telephone

• Directed Traditional (One-on-One)

• Panel or Committee

• Behavioral

• Lunch or Breakfast

• Group (of applicants)

• Stress or Technical

• Serial or Follow-up

• Informational

Interviewing Do’s • Be Flexible • Plan timely arrival • Be friendly and respectful to everyone • Research the company • Offer a firm handshake, smile • Maintain eye contact • Dress appropriately • Show confidence and enthusiasm • Avoid distracting behaviors/mannerisms • Show appreciation • Take a practice run • Wait until you are offered a chair • Bring extra resume • Stress your achievements

Interviewing Don’ts • Be unprepared • Appear disinterested • Be argumentative • Interrupt • Ask for time off, special favors, etc. • Avoid controversial topics • Don’t ever lie • Don’t say anything negative about former colleagues,

supervisors, or employers • Don’t answer questions with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ • Don’t inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses, retirement,

or other benefits until after you’ve received an offer • Don’t bring up or discuss personal issues or family

problems

Interview Success Factors • Communication skills

• Problem-solving skills

• Interest in industry/company

• Adaptability

• Enthusiasm

• Leadership skill

• Confidence

• Staying focused

Interview Success Factors • High energy

• Teamwork

• Professionalism

• Time management

• Well rounded person

• Projecting substance/credibility

• Asking good questions/making statements that show thought process

• Ability to think creatively

• Clear, concise answers

• Honesty

Interview Responses …

Respond to questions like a "STAR"

• What was the SITUATION?

• What was your TASK?

• What ACTION did you take?

• What was the RESULT?

Networking

What is Networking?

• Developing strong connections and relationships with others within your career area

• The goal of networking: – Make solid connections with people which can help you

find a job

– Excel within your current job

Why is Networking Important? • Helps you achieve your goals: personal and

professional

• Builds experience and confidence

• Take control of your job search

• Networking is an on-going process – Tapping into…

– Expanding…

Tapping into your Network

• Who makes up your existing network?

– References

– Present/former managers and colleagues

– School friends and associations

– Friends, family, neighbors, etc.

Expanding your Network

– Phone calls

– Letters or emails

– Join a professional society or civic organization

– Social Networks

– Technical or professional development conferences and workshops

– Someone at a company you'd like to work for

– Recruiters and headhunters

Top 11 Networking Tips

• Do your homework • Set your goals • Web-to-Web: first impressions, firm handshake • Introduce yourself • Prepare conversation starters • Keep it short: 5-8 minutes per conversation • Card exchange • Follow up • Reciprocal relationship

Networking Techniques • Prepare a 60-second commercial • Ask for information, don't ask for a job • Don't pressure your network for more than it

can easily supply • Pass along information • Don't use pressure tactics • Always carry business cards • Follow-up

Interviewing/Networking Exercise “Taking Turns”

1. Partner up with someone you don’t know and interview one another.

2. Take 5 -10 minutes to get to know one another 3. Each participant introduces his or her partner to

the group and mention something interesting he or she learned during the interview.

Veronica L. Nelson Manager, Career Pathways Program and

Diversity Recruiting Initiatives Northrop Grumman Corporation

veronica.nelson@ngc.com