Do’s
- Connect personal strengths to supporting examples
- Focus on details and outcomes you can quantify
- Mention past experiences and proven successes
- Align your current job responsibilities to the role
- Highlight your personality
- Connect your skills to the job description
- Briefly mention hobbies, intellectual development and community involvement
Dont’s
- Avoid mentioning personal information such as political or religious affiliations, etc. These can be highly sensitive topics that might work against you as a candidate, not to mention such details should not be factors for the employer in determining your ability to perform the job
- Don’t list multiple, vague strengths without supporting examples. Instead, you may want to choose two or three qualities about yourself. Support each with short, polished stories that can be supported by your work experience
- Don’t summarize your resume word for word. Instead, discuss high points that are relevant to the position
- Don’t rush into conversations regarding what you’re looking for in the role or how the company can benefit you—save such topics for the final stages of the interview process when they are “sold” on you as a candidate and you have more leverage