Avoid Resume Mistakes
Why should you NOT include a photograph of yourself on your resume?
Because a resume should only include relevant information about your education, skills, and experience. An employer doesn't need to know what you look like to know if you're qualified. And a photograph might lead them to make incorrect assumptions about you - so it's better not to include it!
You receive an email from an employer inviting you for a job interview. What is something you can do to make a good first impression when you email them back?
Examples: Be friendly and professional, thank them for the opportunity, use complete sentences and correct grammar and punctuation, etc.
In the U.S., the law that protects people with disabilities from discrimination is called the ADA, which is short for ________.
The Americans with Disabilities Act. People with disabilities fought for their rights for decades, and because of their activism, the Americans with Disabilities Act was finally passed in 1990. The ADA is an important law to understand in order to know what legal rights you have.
What is an example of a soft skill you can develop as a college student that may help you in your future career?
Example answers: Time management, organization, problem-solving, communication, teamwork, etc.
What is one example of how your campus Career Center can help you with your job search process?
Examples: Help you find out about job or internship opportunities on or off campus, look over your resume or cover letter and give suggestions for improvement, do a practice job interview with you, etc.
Why should you NOT have typos, spelling mistakes, or other errors on your resume?
Because the employer may think your work is rushed, careless, and unprofessional. Always ask someone - ideally, more than one person! - to look over your resume for errors before sending it to an employer.
You wake up the morning before your job interview. What is something you can do before you leave the house to ensure you will make a good first impression?
Example answers: Dress professionally, make sure you are well groomed, print out a clean copy of your resume to bring with you, leave the house early so you can arrive on time, etc.
K. is on the autism spectrum. She finds it difficult to work in rooms with a lot of background noise. Her employer allows her to move to a quiet area and wear headphones to help her work more effectively. This is an example of a reasonable ______.
A reasonable accommodation. A reasonable accommodation is any change that helps an employee with a disability work more effectively, but does not interfere with the essential requirements of the work.
H.'s career goal is to be a graphic designer. He does not have the qualifications for that job yet, so he starts working as an assistant in a graphic design company so he can gain the skills and experience he needs. This is an example of a _____ _____ job. (2 words)
Entry level. An entry level job is a position that does not require a lot of experience, but that can help you get started learning the skills you need for your future career goal.
What is one example of a common question that you should expect to hear in a job interview?
Examples:
Tell me about yourself.
Why should we hire you?
What is your greatest weakness?
Do you have any questions for us?
Why should you NOT list an email address like "animefan300@yahoo.com" on your resume?
Because some employers might see this email address as unprofessional. It is a good idea to have a professional email address on your resume that is just based on your first and last name or initials.
Body language is important during a job interview. What kind of body language you can use to make a good first impression?
Examples: Making occasional eye contact, facing the interviewer, showing listening by nodding, sitting upright, not looking at phone or other distractions.
An employer says that they have had problems with an employee with ADHD in the past, so they don't want to hire anyone else with ADHD. Is this legal or illegal?
Illegal. This is discrimination. Any discrimination based on disability is illegal according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
List 2 ways that volunteering can help you make progress toward your career goals.
Examples: Gain experience to add to your resume, build your hard and soft skills, meet new people for networking, use your volunteer supervisor as a reference.
True or False: You should avoid talking too much about your accomplishments during a job interview because you don't want to sound like you're bragging.
False. Job interviews have different social rules than other kinds of conversations. Employers want to hear about your strengths and accomplishments because they want to know what will make you a good employee. So don't lie or exaggerate, but do be honest about your strengths!
What is an example of someone you should you NOT list as a reference on your resume?
Example answers: your family, your friends, any supervisor or professor you had a bad relationship with, etc. Your references should be people you had a professional, not personal, relationship with. They should also be people who will say positive things about your work.
During a job interview, the employer asks, "Do you have any questions for me?" Which answer will make the best first impression?
A) "No, I don't have any questions."
B) "Yes, I wanted to ask about how soon I will get paid."
C) "Yes, I wanted to ask about what starting employees can do to be successful in this position."
(C). Asking about how starting employees can be successful tells the employer that you are motivated and interested in doing well in the position. If you don't ask any questions, or if you only ask about the pay or vacation, the employer may think you are not really interested in the job.
Should you tell an employer about your disability during the job interview?
A) Yes, always
B) No, never
C) It depends
C) It depends. Sometimes you might want to disclose your disability during the job interview, but sometimes you might want to wait until after you have been hired. The general rule is that you should disclose your disability whenever you want to discuss accommodations.
Y. thinks she might want to be a computer programmer, but she is not sure if the job is right for her. She sets up a meeting with someone who works as a computer programmer. Y. asks the computer programmer questions about the pros and cons of their job. This is an example of an _______ _______ (2 words).
Informational Interview. An informational interview is a great way to explore your career options and learn more about what a job is really like.
You have a job interview scheduled in an hour, but an unexpected emergency comes up. You know that you will arrive 15 minutes late for your interview. What should you do?
Contact the employer immediately, apologize, let them know you will be late due to an emergency. Sometimes, emergencies happen, but communication is your best tool to make a good impression. Employers will be more forviging if you let them know in advance.
Why should you NOT send an employer a 5-page long resume?
Because a resume should usually only be 1-2 pages long - any longer, and the employer will lose interest! Most employers will spend less than a minute looking at your resume. They want to be able to quickly see your most important experience and accomplishments.
During a job interview, the employer asks, "Why did you quit your last job?" Which answer will make the best first impression?
A) "Because the work was boring."
B) "Because I wanted an opportunity to learn new skills."
C) "Because I didn't get along with my boss."
(B). Saying you wanted an opportunity to learn new skills tells the employer you are motivated and want to grow. Speaking badly about your old job or your previous boss may make them think you are too negative, or that you will have the same problems when working with them.
You are hired for a job, but after working there for a month, you find that you are struggling with the work because of your disability. What should you do?
Talk to someone about getting accommodations: your supervisor, the company's Human Resources Department, a job coach, or someone else who can support you. You can also find help with getting accommodations on the Job Accommodation Network at askjan.org.
Networking means connecting with people in order to learn about job opportunities, build positive relationships, and help your future career. As a college student, who can you network with?
Examples: Your professors, your academic adviser, your classmates, other students who are in campus clubs with you, etc.
True or False: If you apply for 10 different jobs and all 10 of them reject you, that means your job search is hopeless, and you should give up.
False! Rejections are a normal part of the job search process. It is normal to be rejected from 10 jobs, or even more, before you get hired. So try not to get discouraged - the more jobs you apply for, the more likely you are to find the job that will be a good fit for you.