2. 2
Testimonials
“I am very pleased and more ready and prepared for interviews now! Thanks, CRN!”
“I thought the resume creation portion was very helpful and encouraged me to think outside of the box
about my leadership experience. The staffing person I worked with was positive, encouraging and
excited to help me memorialize my qualities and accomplishments.
The interview portion of the program was very challenging and stretched me professionally. Andrew
prepared me for more thought-provoking interviews and he encouraged me to aim higher and own the
interview. I thought it was very refreshing since I have not had anyone of such caliber really challenge
me.
Thanks again, CRN.”
“The workshop facilitators were very prepared and willing to assist. I perceived them to be professional,
experienced and pleasant.”
“Everything was very satisfactory and helpful, thank you!”
“I loved every moment of this workshop and hope we can follow up soon.”
3. 3
“He or she who gets hired is not necessarily the one who can do the job the best; but, the one who
knows the most about how to get hired.” – Richard Lathrop
Resumes: Crafting an attention-grabbing resume in the 21st Century
A resume is a statement that should clearly, and briefly, answer the following about your professional
journey:
● What – What is your professional background
o Example: Shipping & Receiving, Retail, Sales, Accounting
● Who – Who you are as an individual
o How have you stood out in your field
● Where – Where are you in your professional journey
o What is your level of experience
It is important to keep in mind that your resume should show, not tell, an employer why they should hire
you. The employer should be able to review your resume and come to the conclusion that “our
organization could really benefit by hiring this person”.
All resumes should contain certain vital information, including:
Heading
● List your full legal name
o Listing your full name highlights a level professionalism
● Phone Number
o Mobile Phone Number(if an option)
o Create free email managed voicemail account at www.k7.net
● Address
o Listing an entire address is no longer necessary. The only detail that is important in the
recruiting process is your city; however, if your city is relatively small or not well known,
list the name of the nearest metro area
● Email Address:
o Many organizations initiate first contact by email. If you do not have an email address,
there are free options (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo).
o Best Practice – Your email address should contain your name in order to maintain a
professional appearance.
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Professional Objective
Having a professional objective – a concise statement of what you want to do – can help highlight your
professional area of focus, especially if you are seeking to advance internally across an organization;
however, it is are no longer viewed by many as necessary. If you are in need of additional space for
your resume, this should be the first area to consider reducing or removing.
● Best Practice – Resumes should be kept to one page in length.
Employment History
Company names, years employed, and job titles should be included.
Initially, many recruiters scan over resumes for keywords; such as position titles, skills, and locations.
Because of this, a resume should be concise and relevant to this position you're applying for. The
only experience to display on your resume should be related to the type of position you're applying
for.
Each bullet points should highlight one of three things:
● Made - What have you created that was unique and helpful, and what was the impact
● Saved - What have you done to save time, money, or resources for the organization, and how did
you do it
● Achieved - What have you been recognized for and why were you recognized
Best Practice – When writing your bullets, include any equipment, software, or skills you had to use.
This will demonstrate that you have knowledgeable experience.
Example Bullet Comparisons
Customer Service Example
Average: Provided exceptional customer service
Strong: Provided billing support for a daily average of 40 customers via phone, e-mail, and web chat
Sales Example
Average: Exceeded quota in device sales
Strong: Consistently exceeded in-store sales quota of mobile devices by an
average of 80% on a monthly basis
Business Support Example
Average: Trained users on software
Strong: Increased user adoption of sales-tracking software by 80% within a three-month period through
a bi-monthly training program
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Volunteer History
Including your volunteer history can also provider potential employers with an insight into your
capabilities and interest. Similar to the employment history section, the only experience to display here
should be related to the type of position you're applying for.
Example:
Atlanta Mission: Women's & Children Services Atlanta, Georgia
Volunteer Receptionist March 2014 - November 2014
· Provided first-line support by routing incoming calls on a multi-line, multi-department phone system
· Created weekly appointment calendars for three senior-level office administrators
· Recorded and maintained daily visitor registration logs in adherence to location safety policies
ChronologicalResumes
Depending on the position, you may be asked to present a resume prior to, or along with the
submission of an application. In either case, it is best to be prepared with a resume, and chronological
resumes provide a unique advantage; they are simple and logical.
Chronological resumes are organized to present an applicant’s prior education, experience, relevant
skills in a consistent manner. This type of format will allow the potential employer to quickly identify
your talents and goals.
In the work-experience section of a chronological resume, each position is in “last-to-first” order, with
the most recent position listed at the top of the section. The next listing should be the position held prior
to the first. Each position should follow this order.
Chronological Resume Example
Customer Support Associate January 2013 – December 2014
Tech USA Atlanta, Georgia
· Provided billing support for a daily average of 40 customers via phone, e-mail, and web chat
Mobile Services Representative May 2010 – December 2012
T-Mobile Atlanta, Georgia
· Consistently exceeded in-store sales quota of mobile devices by 80% on a monthly basis
With each position, include relevant employment bullets that following the Made, Saved, and
Achieved guidelines mentioned in the previous section.
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Functional Resumes
Functional resumes are often used when an applicant is seeking a major transition or
overhaul. The design of this resume format is intended to highlight the relevant skills and
accomplishments of an applicant. By highlighting relevant skills and accomplishments first, applicants
are able to present their qualification for a position prior to displaying an absence of direct employment
experience.
Best Resume Type for:
● First-Time Job Seekers
● People who are looking to reenter the job market after a period of absence
● People who are looking to pursue a new career path
Applicants are still required to include any relevant employment history; however, this section is only
intended to list the important details of prior employment – title, organization’s name, location, and
dates employed – in a chronological manner.
Functional Resume Example
Summary of Qualifications
· Increased user adoption of sales-tracking software by 80% within with a three-month period
through a bi-monthly training program
· Provided billing support for a daily average of 40 customers via phone, e-mail, and web chat
· Consistently exceeded in-store sales quota of mobile devices by 80% on a monthly basis
Employment History
Customer Support Associate January 2013 – December 2014
Tech USA Atlanta, Georgia
Mobile Service Representative May 2010 – December 2012
T-Mobile Atlanta, Georgia
Addressing Employment Gaps
Since the late 2000s, the employment market has shifted dramatically. With the change of
economic conditions, the average length of unemployment has increased and the length of consistent
employment has decreased. Because of this, short-term employment has become an accepted reality in
the eyes of many employers. A gap in a resume is no longer viewed as an immediate red flag;
however, consistent employment is always ideal. Because of this new reality, it is important to
highlight the skills, accomplishments, and experiences you have attained.
During periods of unemployment, it is important to display an active interest in personal
development or community involvement and how that can help you with the position you are applying
for. In the absence of work experience, skill-based workshops or volunteer activity can help lessen the
impact of employment gaps. Example: Volunteer Assignments (dishwasher, cook etc.)
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Interviewing Basics and Questions
Before Your Interview
1.) Research, Research, Research!!!!
● Identify key skills, qualities and experience required of the position
Refer to www.glassdoor.com
● Become familiarized with the organization by reviewing the website, industry publications
and/or other materials to learn more in advance of the interview.
● Here are some key topic areas to research about the organization:
-Accomplishments
-Core Values
-Competitors
-Culture
-Future Projections
-Mission and Vision statements
-Office Locations (local in the U.S. and/or overseas)
2.) Dress For Success
ACCEPTABLE NOT ACCEPTABLE
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3.) Interview Etiquette
-Attitude is everything, greet EVERYONE with a SMILE when you arrive
-Maintain eye contact
-Give a firm handshake
o Make the interviewer LIKE YOU
o Look on his/her desk or wall and find common areas of interest to bond with them over
(kids photos, sports awards, vacations, etc.)
o Answer all questions turning negatives into positives
o Before leaving the interview, ASK FOR THE JOB/NEXT STEP!
o Example: “When can I expect to hear from you regarding your decision?”
4.) After the Interview…
● Write down notes and questions immediately following the interview before you forget them
o Include interviewer’s names (Look them up on LinkedIn for more info)
o Write down the specific questions and concerns each interviewer had
● Write down your own observations and questions
● Get some blank note cards and write a handwritten note to each person you met on the
interview.
A well-written and thoughtful thank-you note can be the deciding factor between two
capable candidates.
For Example:
Dear Pam,
Thanks for a lively conversation about Supply Chain mechanics and international trade laws last
Thursday. I was happy to meet you, Steve and Vince. Looking forward to continuing the discussion and
learning more about what’s in the works at Angry Chocolates.
Enjoy your week,
John Cena
DO DO NOT
● Wear minimal cosmetics (i.e. makeup) and
perfume or scented lotions.
● Comfortable shoes (i.e. preferably
professional heels/pumps)
● Make sure hair is well groomed and in tact.
● Place your cell phone in “off mode” and/or on
“mute.”
● Have all of your documents (i.e. resume)
organized neatly in a folder.
● Bring along multiple copies of your resume to
hand-out (i.e. at least 4 copies).
● Have pens and a notepad to take notes, if
necessary.
● Chew Gum
● Answer personal cell phone calls and/or
engage in playing games on your cell
phone.
● Bring children and/or guests along with
you ensure all childcare arrangements are
made in advance of the interview
● Wear large earrings and/or a lot of
jewelry.
● Have excessive tattoes, body and/or nose
piercings exposed.
● Bright hair coloring/highlights.
9. 9
Standard Interviewing Questions
Tell me about yourself.
What are your strengths?
What are your weaknesses?
What do you like about yourself?
What would you change or improve about yourself?
Why should I hire you over other candidates?
Why do you want to go into this field?
What qualifications do you have that make you feel you will be successful in this
field?
Where do you see yourself in five years?
What do you do when you are not working?
Why do you want this job?
Why are you interested in this field?
What did you like/dislike about your most recent position?
How would others describe you?
Are you willing to work overtime?
What would you do differently with your previous positions?
What is your greatest accomplishment?
Explain how you would handle an issue with a coworker.
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Challenging/Tricky Interview Questions
What's your address/phone number?
Strategies: It is now a common and acceptable practice on resumes to not disclose your full
address and to instead just list the city and state (Atlanta, GA) where you live. This strategy has
the advantage of preventing a potential employer from searching for where you live and from
knowing exactly how long of a commute you would have to the job.
When possible, it is best to provide potential employers with your personal phone number. If
you have a cell phone, make sure to have your voicemail set-up and to have a professional
greeting as your message. If you do not have a cell phone, there are some VOIP (Voice Over
Internet Protocol) services that will provide you with a phone number and will forward
messages to your email account. One such service can be found at www.k7.net.
Nicknames/Name Changes
Strategies: If you have recently changed your name or if you go by a nickname, please make
sure to let your references and former employers know what name you are applying for
positions under so that there will be no confusion if they are contacted by a potential employer.
Have you ever been convictedof a felony?
Strategies: If you have any prior criminal convictions and are asked about them, make sure to
disclose that information at that time. If a company discovers that you have lied about your
criminal history at any point during the hiring process or even once you have been hired, it will
generally result in you being dismissed from the position.
Make sure to answer the question that is asked to you (e.g. if you are asked about felony
11. 11
convictions, you are not required to discuss any misdemeanor convictions). If you are not asked
about prior convictions, you are not required to disclose that information.
Explaining Gaps in Work History
Strategies: If you have longer gaps in your employment history, explain what you were doing
during that time period. Make sure to emphasize positive activities that happened during that
time (e.g. childcare, caregiver for a relative, volunteer experience, education courses, job
training, civic/social activities, etc).
Volunteer/Civic Experience
Strategies: If you have any experience with civic/social clubs, leadership roles, or volunteer
experience--including volunteer work done in the program you're residing in--it may make
sense to include that on your resume and discuss that on interviews. Make sure to emphasize
any transferrable skills that you've gained from these experiences that could be helpful to the
position you are applying for.
While it can be helpful to include this information, use caution when deciding what groups to
include/exclude. Experience with fraternities/sororities, religious group, political groups, etc
can be off-putting to some potential employers, and it may do more harm than good to mention
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Questions HR Representatives Aren't Legally Allowed To Ask
Questions about your citizenship (Are you a U.S. Citizen?)
What religion do you practice/what religious holidays do you observe?
How old are you/How much longer do you plan to work before you retire?
What is your political affiliation?
Questions about marital status
Do you have or plan to have children?
Do you smoke/drink/take drugs?
How tall are you?
How much do you weigh?
Do you have any disabilities?
Have you had any recent or past illnesses or operations
Questions about your debt
How far is your commute/do you live nearby?
Have you ever been arrested?
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Tips to Succeed in your New Job
Once you have been offered a position, it is important that you communicate with your new manager
prior to your first day. There are several important questions that should be answered before you walk
in the door.
Before your 1st Day:
1) What is their arrival preference?
· In some places of employment, it could be preferred that you arrive and clock-in several minutes
early in order to prepared for the upcoming shift.
2) What is the required attire, or preferences?
· Some attire may be required for safety, such as non-slip shoes, or preferred to maintain the image of
the hiring organization.
3) Is there any additional paperwork needed?
· In order to complete the process you may need to present a valid ID, banking information, or
additional employment documents.
On your 1st day:
1) Smile!!! This will be the first time you meet most of your co-workers, so it is important that you
make a strong, positive first impression. Your co-workers will be critical for your happiness and future
success.
2) Listen to the advice of others and take notes! Your co-workers will provide you with helpful advice
that can help you meet your performance goals and build important relationships.
3) Pay attention to your new manager’s management style. This can help you understand how to
interact with them.
During your 1st month:
It is important to ask questions regarding the nature of your job. This will be your introduction period
and you will not be expected to know everything; however, as time goes on, you will be expected to
know certain policies and procedures.
During this introduction period, it is also important that you make an effort to regularly speak with your
manager about the job’s expectations and your progress. This will demonstrate initiative and lead to
improvement in your job performance and their perception of you.
14. 14
State of Georgia Departmentof Labor Metro-Atlanta Locations
Find a Career Center Website: http://www.dol.state.ga.us/find_career_centers.htm
North Metro Atlanta CC South Metro Atlanta CC
Georgia Department of Labor Georgia Department of Labor
2943 North Druid Hills Road 2636-14 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive
Atlanta, GA 30329 Atlanta, GA 30311
Phone: (404) 679-5200 Phone: (404) 699-6900
Fax: (404) 679-1713 Fax: (404) 505-4898
TTY: (404) 486-6476 TTY: (404) 699-4352
Clayton County Cobb-Cherokee County
Georgia Department of Labor Georgia Department of Labor
2450 Mount Zion Parkway 465 Big Shanty Road
Building 100 (Suite 100) Marietta, GA 30066
Jonesboro, GA 30236 Phone: (770) 528-6100
Phone: (678) 479-5886 Fax: (770) 582-6139
Fax: (678) 479-5256 TTY: (770) 528-3527
TTY: (678) 479-3012
Dekalb County Gwinnett County
Georgia Department of Labor Georgia Department of Labor
3879 Covington Highway 2211 Beaver Ruin Road (Suite 160)
Decatur, GA 30032 Norcross, GA 30071
Phone: (404) 298-3970 Phone: (770) 840-2200
Fax: (404) 298-3995 Fax: (770) 613-4843
TTY: (404) 297-1301 TTY: (770) 840-2258
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Metro-Atlanta Public Library System Locations
Atlanta/Fulton County Public Library
To obtain contact information and hours of operation for library locations in Fulton County go to:
http://www.afpls.org/locations
Clayton County Public Library
To obtain contact information and hours of operation for library locations in Clayton
County go to: http://claytonpl.org/
Cobb County Public Library
To obtain contact information and hours of operation for library locations in Cobb County go to:
http://www.cobbcat.org/
Dekalb County Public Library
To obtain contact information and hours of operation for library locations in Dekalb County go to:
http://dekalblibrary.org/
Gwinnett County Public Library
To obtain contact information and hours of operation for library locations in Metro-Atlanta go to:
http://www.gwinnettpl.org/
CareerServices/WorkforceDevelopmentLocation
Atlanta Workforce Development Agency Urban League of Greater Atlanta
818 Pollard Blvd., S.W. 100 Edgewood Avenue, S.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30315 Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 546-3000 Phone: (404) 659-1150
Fax: (404) 546-6892 Website: http://ulgatl.org/
Website: http://www.atlantaga.gov/index.aspx?page=232
United Way of Metropolitan Atlanta
100 Edgewood Avenue, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30303
Phone: (404) 527-7200
Website: http://www.unitedwayatlanta.org/
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Professional/TemporaryAgencies
Ajilon Professional Staffing Kelly Services – Midtown Location
3455 Peachtree Rd N.E., Suite 110 1201 Peachtree Street N.W., Building 400, Suite 420
Atlanta, GA 30326 Atlanta, GA 30361
Phone: (404) 260-6000 Phone: (404) 607-7033
Fax: (404) 261-5566 Fax: (404) 607-0428
Webiste: http://www.ajilon.com/career-se Website: https://kelly.secure.force.com/
rvices/job-search/Pages/default.aspx CandidateExperience/
Manpower – Perimeter Area Location Ranstad – Corporate Office
6309 Roswell Road, N.E., Suite 9-2A 2800 Spring Road, S.E., Suite E
Sandy Springs, GA 30328-3220 Atlanta, GA 30339
Phone: (404) 256-6980 Phone: (404) 524-2776
Fax: (770) 390-9475 Fax: (404) 522-8128
Website: http://www.manpower.us/en/J Website: http://us.randstad.com/content/fin
ob-Seekers.htm djobs/job-search/search-list.xml
SelecSource Staffing Snelling Staffing
6111 Peachtree Dunwoody Road. N.E, Suite 202 1140 Hammond Drive
Atlanta, GA 30328 Atlanta, GA 30350
Phone: (678) 578-4940 Phone: (678) 387-6901
Website: http://www.selecsource.com/ Website: http://www.ajilon.com/career-services
/job-search/Pages/default.aspx
SNI Companies
3340 Peachtree Road (Suite 605)
Atlanta, GA 30326
Phone: (404) 585-5700
Fax: (404) 585-5730
Website: http://www.staffingnow.com/Job-Center
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ConstructionStaffing Agencies
Trillium Staffing: http://trilliumstaffing.com/hire/state/georgia/construction/
Turner Construction: http://www.turnerconstruction.com/office-network/atlanta
Film and TV Casting/Crew Positions
Georgia Film, Music and Digital Entertainment Office:
http://www.georgia.org/industries/entertainment/georgia-film-tv-production/casting-crew-jobs/
FederalGovernment Contracting Agencies
Carter Consulting, Inc - http://www.carterci.com/
Chenega Government Consulting, LLC - http://www.cgc-llc.com/
ICF International - http://www.icfi.com/
L3 - http://www.l-3com.com/about-l-3
McKing Consulting Corporation - http://www.mcking.com/
McNeal Professional Services - http://www.mcnealpro.com/
Northrop Grumman - http://www.northropgrumman.com/Pages/default.aspx
Scimetrika - http://www.scimetrika.com/
SRA International - https://www.sra.com/
Internet SearchTools
AJC Jobs: www.ajcjobs.com
CareerBuilder: www.careerbuilder.com
Idealist: www.idealist.org
Indeed: www.indeed.com
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com
Opportunity Knocks: www.opportunityknocks.org
Simply Hired: http://www.simplyhired.com
Snagajob: www.snagajob.com
State of Georgia Employment: www.careers.ga.gov
Federal Employment: www.usajobs.gov
Free WiFi locations
McDonalds
Starbucks Coffee Company
Parking Attendants/Cleaning Service Staffing Agencies
ABM: http://www.abm.com/pages/careers.aspx
Ace Parking: http://www.aceparking.com/careers/