| With today's ever changing market, more and | | | | Office. This is especially true in positions where |
| more employers are finding themselves | | | | customer service or people interaction is a major |
| bombarded with job applications and resumes | | | | part of the position. If you are an IT professional, |
| when posting openings in their company. You've | | | | of course you would want to focus more on your |
| heard time and time again, that a good resume is | | | | expertise of computers and technology in general. |
| a representation of what you've offered | | | | For a position such as an Office Manager, |
| companies in the past, and what you can offer | | | | however, not only would the employer want to |
| the hiring company. However, with so many | | | | know if you were computer savvy, he or she |
| resume services and software, more and more | | | | would more than likely be most interested in your |
| job hunters have excellent resumes to submit. So | | | | time management skills, how you prioritize your |
| how do employers decide not only who to | | | | daily work, and how you work under pressure. |
| interview, but who to hire? Once your resume | | | | You can easily add these attributes to your |
| has passed the preliminary screening of | | | | resume right along with the yearly number of |
| possessing all of the minimum qualifications desired | | | | profits you made for your last position. |
| by the company for the position, how do you | | | | Remember, companies are beginning to look for |
| stand from all of the other resumes who also | | | | an overall "good fit" when it comes to hiring |
| passed the preliminary screening? | | | | employees to reduce turnover and to focus on |
| Have you ever been on a behavioral interview? | | | | retention. |
| It's not the typical "tell me about yourself," or | | | | When thinking of the types of soft skill you could |
| "where do you see yourself in five years," type | | | | add on your resume think of your... |
| of interview. Behavioral interviews are the | | | | • Confidence skills- You know what your |
| interviews where you are given a scenario and | | | | strengths are and you know what makes you a |
| asked what you would do in that specific situation. | | | | good employee. |
| Here is an example: "Can you tell me about an | | | | • Communication skills - communicating with |
| occasion where you needed to work with a group | | | | co workers, supervisors, and customers are not a |
| to get a job done? What were the challenges and | | | | problem for you. How do you communicate? |
| difficulties and how did you face them?" With | | | | What do you feel are your pluses when you |
| these types of questions, the employer is looking | | | | communicate with others? |
| for your behavioral traits and not particularly your | | | | • Problem Solving Skills - You are able to |
| technical skills. | | | | analyze a situation and discover problems, then |
| They want to know how you would handle | | | | take the responsibility to find effective solutions. |
| situations in their company if selected for the | | | | • Leadership skills- You take the initiative to |
| position. They normally base these questions on | | | | get things done. You know what is needed for |
| true day to day experiences with the position | | | | the company to reach success and you follow |
| that they are hiring for. In the employers mind, | | | | through. You know that leadership is a skill that all |
| they have a good idea of the TYPE of personality | | | | employees should have. |
| needed for the person who would excel in the | | | | Hopefully as you are reading this you are thinking |
| position, this is why it is a good idea to highlight | | | | of your personal great attributes that any |
| your soft skills in your resume. (Some companies | | | | company would be fortunate to have. You don't |
| even go as far as giving personality tests when | | | | want to overflow your resume with every detail |
| you fill out an application. An individual who is an | | | | about what you can offer, but you do want to |
| introvert, may not do as well in a sales position as | | | | highlight your best qualities. Remember to think |
| someone who was an extrovert. ) | | | | about the position and try to imagine if you were |
| Take the time to think about what you can offer | | | | the boss, what type of employee would probably |
| a company personally. Try not to think only about | | | | be the best fit for the type of job. Use your |
| your typing speed, or your expertise in Microsoft | | | | resume to let them know how awesome you are! |