If you send a resume before seeing someone, its purpose is to act as a personal selling document - one that will get you invited to an interview or for a meeting.

A resume is not always the first step in the process to hiring someone. It may be your door opener but you may also use it as a follow-up tool after seeing someone.

People who receive resumes often use them for screening you 'out' rather than 'in.' Be aware that the first person to look at your resume for a specific job is not likely to be the person, who will do the interviewing. The person screening out inappropriate resumes may only have a list of criteria to match. Your resume will have to get beyond this point to ensure you are considered for an interview.

When you get to the interview, your resume can act as the agenda for your discussion, giving the interviewer a springboard from which to launch the inquiry. Yes, it is acceptable to keep it in front of you, but only refer to it as and when you need to.

Do

• Keep the layout and design clear, consistent and easy to follow, with good clear headings, large easy-to-read typeface such as Times New Roman, Courier or Arial
  
  
• Use good quality plain paper. (Coloured paper or a fancy border doesn't add anything unless the position in question requires a demonstration of that sort of creativity. E.g. The creative area of an advertising department.)
  
  
• Target your resume towards specific (and quantifiable) achievements rather than duties and responsibilities. It should tell prospective employers everything that might interest them and nothing that will waste their time.
  
  
• Write in clear and concise terms using active words (eg. accomplished, created, enhanced, launched, negotiated, etc). If you don't feel comfortable with this, write a factual statement such as: 'Achieved sales objectives of 250 units per month'.
  
  
• Keep it short. Highlight particular personal achievements. For example: 'During my period as Manager, turnover decreased 120 per cent.'
  
  
• Put your work history and educational details in reverse chronological order. E.g. Most recent to least recent. (It's easier to follow).
  
  
• Be specific in your resume. Use numbers or percentages to illustrate your successes or the impact you can have.

Don't

• DON'T send poor quality photocopies. It doesn't cost much for good quality copies -and this is your career we're talking about!
  
  
• DON'T exaggerate your experience to make it sound more impressive. If it can't stand up to scrutiny in the interview, you will blow your chances of getting the job.
  
  
• DON'T claim complete responsibility for achievements - implying no one else deserves any credit, is usually not the case.
  
  
• DON'T write a novel. It should concisely paint a picture of you and your job history. Key points should be highlighted to develop interest and excitement about you as a potential candidate.
  
  
• DON'T use a narrative style. Highlight your accomplishments in a bullet point format, then you don't need as many complete sentences. Be warned: Brief points must be carefully thought out.
  
  
• DON'T use initials and jargon. Write so you're understood. There's a general consensus by good interviewers that people who really know their subject, write and speak clearly and don't try to complicate issues.

Preparation is the first essential step towards a successful interview. Company interviewers are continually amazed at the number of applicants who drift into their offices without any apparent preparation, and only a vague idea of what they are going to say. Thus, it is essential you:

• Know the exact place and time of the interview, the interviewer's full name, the correct pronunciation and his/her title.
  
  
• Find out specific facts about the company - where its plants, offices or stores are located; what its products and services are; what its growth has been; and what its growth potential is for the future.
  
  
• Refresh your memory on the facts and figures of your present/former employer. You will be expected to know a lot about a company that you have previously worked for.

Before the interview consider how you would answer the following questions:

Career focus

• Why did you choose this particular role?
• What do you really want to do in your next career move?
• What do you want to be doing in your career five years from now? Why?

Experience & working environment

• What have you learnt from some of the jobs you have held? Which did you enjoy most? Why?
  
• What is your major weakness? What have you done about it?
  
• What do you think determines a person's progress in a good company?
  
• What style of management gets the best from you?
  
• What does 'teamwork' mean to you?

Motorvation & interests

• Why would you like to work for our organisation?
• What interests you about our products or services?
• How do you spend your spare time? What are your hobbies?
• What type of books do you read? What was the last one?

Prepare the questions you will ask during the interview. Remember that an interview is a 'two-way-street' and you must determine through questioning, whether the company will give you the opportunity for the growth and development you seek. Probing questions you might ask:

• A detailed description of the position?
  
  
• Reason the position is available?
  
  
• Culture of company?
  
  
• Anticipated induction and training program?
  
  
• What sorts of people have done well?
  
  
• What additional training will be provided for successful employees?
  
  
• Earnings of those successful people in their third to fifth year?
  
  
• What is the company growth plans?
  
  
• What are the company strengths?

Dress conservatively and preferably in darker colours. Pay attention to all facets of your dress and grooming. Make sure your dress standards match the position you are applying for.

You are being interviewed because the interviewer wants to hire somebody - not because he/she wants to trip you up or embarrass you.

Through the interaction which will take place during the interview, he/she will be searching out your strong and weak points, evaluating you on your qualifications, skills and intellectual qualities and he/she will probably probe deeply to determine your attitudes, aptitudes, stability, motivation and maturity.

• DON'T answer questions with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Explain whenever possible. Tell those things about yourself which relate to the position.
  
  
• DON'T lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as to the point as possible.
  
  
• DON'T ever make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers or companies.
  
  
• DON'T 'over answer' questions. The interviewer may steer the conversation into politics or economics. Since this can be ticklish, it is best to answer the questions honestly, while trying not to say more than necessary.
  
  
• DON'T enquire about SALARY, HOLIDAYS, BONUSES etc, at the initial interview unless you are positive the employer is interested in hiring you and raises the issue first. However, you should know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary or range.

DON'T answer questions with a simple 'yes' or 'no'. Explain whenever possible. Tell those things about yourself which relate to the position.

DON'T lie. Answer questions truthfully, frankly and as to the point as possible.

DON'T ever make derogatory remarks about your present or former employers or companies.

DON'T 'over answer' questions. The interviewer may steer the conversation into politics or economics, since this can be ticklish, it is best to answer the questions honestly, and trying not to say more than is necessary.

DON'T enquire about SALARY, HOLIDAYS, BONUSES etc, at the initial interview unless you are positive the employer is interested in hiring you and raises the issue first. However, you should know your market value and be prepared to specify your required salary or range.

If you are interested in the position, ask for it. Ask for the next interview if the situation demands. If he/she offers the position to you, and you want it, accept on the spot. If you wish some time to think it over, be courteous and tactful in asking for that time. Set a definite date when you can provide an answer.

Don't be too discouraged if no definite offer is made, or specific salary discussed. The interviewer will probably want to communicate with his/her office first or interview more applicants before making a decision.

If you get the impression that the interview is not going well and that you have already been rejected, don't let your discouragement show. Once in a while an interviewer who is genuinely interested in your possibilities, may seem to discourage you in order to test your reaction.

Thank the interviewer for his/her time and consideration of you.

Last and most important, call the consultant who referred you to the position immediately after the interview and explain what happened. He/she will want to talk with you before the interviewer calls him/her back.

If you are interested in progressing further it will assist if your feelings towards the position are known, together with your perception of what the client's reaction is likely to be.

During the course of an interview, the employer will be evaluating your negative factors as well as your positive attributes. Listed below are the top 10 negative factors frequently evaluated during the course of an interview and those, which most often lead to rejection.

• Poor personal appearance.
  
  
• Overbearing-aggressive-conceited 'superiority complex' 'know-it-all.'
  
  
• Lack of interest and enthusiasm-passive and indifferent. Lack of confidence and inability to express thoughts clearly
  
  
• Over-emphasis on money- persistent attitude of 'what can you do for me?'.
  
  
• Evasive-makes excuses for unfavourable factors in record.
  
  
• Condemnation of past employers.
  
  
• Failure to look interviewer in the eye.
  
  
• Limp handshake.
  
  
• Lack of preparation for interview -failure to get information about the company, resulting in inability to ask intelligent questions