Dr. Diane DeBacker Deputy Commissioner Kansas State Department of Education.

Get That Job: Resumes,

Applications & Interviews

Dr. Diane DeBackerDeputy Commissioner

Kansas State Department of Education

“A lot of fellows nowadays have a B.A., M.D. or Ph.D.

Unfortunately, they don’t have a J-O-B.”

--Attributed to Fats Domino--American pianist and singer

Occupation Total Job Openings2006-2016

Registered nurses 1,001,000

Nursing aides, orderlies and attendants 393,000

Licensed practical and licensed vocational nurses

309,000

Automotive service technicians and mechanics

265,000

Computer support specialists 242,000

Preschool teachers, except special education

187,000

Hairdressers, hairstylists and cosmetologists

151,000

Real estate agents 115,000

Welders, cutters, solderers and brazers 107,000

Fitness trainers and aerobics instructors 107,000

Occupations with the Most Jobs Openings: Associate’s Degrees or Postsecondary Vocational Awards

Occupation Total Job Openings2006-2016

Elementary school teachers, except special education

545,000

Accountants and auditors 450,000

Secondary school teachers, except special and vocational education

368,000

Computer software engineers, applications 300,000

Computer systems analysts 280,000

Middle school teachers, except special and vocational education

217,000

Network systems and data communications analysts

193,000

Securities, commodities and financial services sales agents

161,000

Network and computer systems administrators 154,000

Construction managers 152,000

Occupations with the Most Job Openings: Bachelor’s Degrees

Occupations with the Most Job Openings: Graduate Degree

Occupation Total Job Openings 2006-2016

Postsecondary teachers 662,000

Lawyers 288,000

Doctors and surgeons 204,000

Clergy 130,000

Pharmacists 95,000

Educational, vocational and school counselors

84,000

Physical therapists 68,000

Mental health and substance abuse social workers

62,000

Rehabilitation counselors

60,000

Mental health counselors

50,000

I demand a salary commiserate with my extensive experience.

I have lurnt Word Perfect 6.0 computor and spreadsheet progroms.

Receive a plague for Salesperson of the Year.

Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.

Wholly responsible for two (2) failed financial institutions.

Taken from Real ResumesFrom Fortune Magazine

Marketing tool – for applicant Screening tool – for employer Purpose: to get you an interview First impression of you Professional looking Free of errors 3-4 pages long, printed single-sided Average time human resources personnel

review resumes – 20-30 seconds!

Resumes

Dos and Don'ts of Resume Writing

DO’s Don’t‘s

Use a professional layout style or template.

Make up the layout as you go along.

Include a footer with your name, contact number and page number.

Include a photo or graphics.

Confidently represent your academic, employment and extra-curricular achievements.

Make false statements about your work history, academic results or residency status.

Include meaningful details in your work history, e.g. "Commended by Management for polite and efficient customer service".

Write vague statements in your work history about your duties, e.g. "Served customers". 

Tailor the content to prove how well you fulfill the job selection criteria.

Use the same version of your resume for every job application.

Failed bar exam with relatively high grades. Marital status: Single. Unmarried.

Unengaged. Uninvolved. No commitments. I have an excellent track record, although I

am not a horse. I am loyal to my employer at all costs…

Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.

I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.

What Not to Put on Resumes!(More from Fortune Magazine)

Paid work

Volunteer positions

Extracurricular activities

Leadership roles

Internships

STEP 1 - Make a list of your various activities over the years

Free writing. Don't worry about the wording of your paragraphs at this point.

Describe accomplishments as well as duties.

For now, use whatever language you want. You’ll clean up the language later.

STEP 2 - Write a paragraph about each important item in your list

What are your greatest strengths? How can you demonstrate those strengths? Employers value certain qualities

◦ team player◦ good communication skills◦ leadership abilities

What are the requirements and needs of this particular industry, this particular employer, and this particular job?

You may want to create somewhat different resumes for different jobs.

STEP 3 – Highlight or emphasize

Name & Address

Objective/Keywords/Summary

Education

Experience

Activities/Volunteer Work/Interests

Skills

References

STEP 4 - Create the sections of your resume

Leave plenty of white space on your resume. Emphasize job titles by boldfacing them. Place the most important information closer to

the top of your resume. Use descriptive category headings such as

"Counseling and Tutoring Experience" or "Leadership Experience“.

Limit to 3-4 pages if possible. Use 8 1/2" x 11" white, off-white or very light-

gray bond paper. Do not use colored paper. Proofread carefully; have someone review it for

you.

STEP 5 - Format your resume

Personal interests: Donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.

Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.

Note: Please don’t misconstrue my 14 jobs as job-hopping. I have never quit a job.

Marital status: Often. Children: Various. Reason for leaving last job: They insisted that all

employees get to work by 8:45 a.m. every morning. Could not work under those conditions.

More Funnies from Real Resumes

Highlight your qualifications

Highlight your accomplishments

Explain why there are gaps in your work history (if any)

Express interest in the position

Letters of Application

Strong first paragraph, explaining why you’re perfect for the position

Second paragraph – briefly describe your work experience and how it relates to the position

Limited or no work experience? Highlight your volunteer activities, leadership opportunities, community involvement

Be honest

Letters of Application

Close your letter with a strong

paragraph that briefly

summarizes your strength

s.

Say thank you

.

Sound confident.

Letters of Application

My goal is to be a meteorologist. But since I possess no training in meteorology, I suppose I should try stock brokerage.

I procrastinate, especially when the task is unpleasant.

It’s best for employers that I not work with people.

The company made me a scapegoat, just like my three previous employers.

The Funnies Keep Going

Let’s meet, so you can ooh and ahh over my experience.

You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time.

Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.

Finished eighth in my class of ten. References: None. I’ve left a path of

destruction behind me.

The Final Funnies

The Interview

1. "What are your strengths and weaknesses?“2. "Why did you leave your last position?“3. "Can you describe a previous work situation

in which you ... ?“4. "What is your ideal work environment?“5. "How do you handle mistakes?“6. "What is your most notable

accomplishment?"

Six Common Job-Interview Questions

Asking questions shows that you're interested in the job. It also gives you a chance to show how knowledgeable you are about the position and the industry. Most important, it lets you highlight why you're the perfect candidate.

You have to choose your questions carefully, though, depending on who's doing the interviewing.

There are certain questions you should never ask early in the interview process. Don't ask about salary, vacation, 401(k) or anything else that might make you seem more interested in the compensation than the company.

What to Ask an Interviewer

1. Layoffs are happening all around me. How can I show my boss that I’m an asset?

◦ Stay visible◦ Volunteer to lead special projects◦ Mentor new staff

2. Is it suicide to ask for a well-deserved promotion now?◦ No, but be realistic

3. If I take a lesser job to get back on my feet, will I ever regain the career success I once had?

◦ Having somewhere to go and something to do is important for emotional well being

◦ Get humble; be willing to do more for less to be a top earner in the future

How to Find (and Keep) a Job(From Real Simple, May 2009)

4. I’ve been offered a position at another company. How can I tell if it’s a risky move?

◦ Health care and education have traditionally been recession-proof

5. My job was eliminated. Can I still ask my old boss for a reference?

◦ Don’t burn any bridges

6. What’s the best way to market myself in this economy?

◦ Highlight your skills instead of your previous title or position

How to Find (and Keep) a Job

7. What are the new do’s and don’ts of interviewing?◦ Research the company◦ Bring visuals◦ Make a personal connection◦ Don’t use the interview as therapy◦ Don’t appear overconfident

8. Should I offer up my current salary in an interview?

◦ No

9. Should I look for another job while I still have my current one?

◦ Experts advise good employees to sit tight & weather the storm

How to Find (and Keep) a Job

Job Content Salary

◦ Base Salary◦ Commission◦ Bonuses◦ Projected Salary Increases

Benefits◦ Vacation Leave◦ Sick Leave◦ Health Insurance◦ Life Insurance◦ 401K◦ Pension Plan◦ Stock Options

Job Offer Checklist

Hours and travel Work environment Flexibility and company culture Promotion and growth opportunities

Your personal circumstancesWhat does your gut tell you?

Job Offer Checklist

Following is an actual job application that this 75 year-old senior citizen submitted to WalMart in California.

WalMart Applicant

Do you have any special skills?Yes, but they’re better suited to a more intimate environment.

May we contact your current employer? If I had one, would I be here?

Do you have any physical conditions that would prohibit you from lifting up to 50 lbs.?Of what?

Do you have a car?I think the more appropriate question here would be, ‘Do you have a car that runs?’

Have you received any special awards or recognition? I may already be a winner of the Publishers Clearing House Sweepstakes, so they tell me.

Do you smoke?On the job – no! On my breaks – yes!

What would you like to be doing in five years?Living in the Bahamas with a fabulously wealthy dumb sexy blond supermodel who thinks I’m the greatest thing since sliced bread. Actually, I’d like to be doing that now.

Nearest relative?7 miles.

Do you certify that the above is true and complete to the best of your knowledge?Oh yes, absolutely.

Yes, because he was funny!

So, Did He Get the Job?