Resumes & Interviews
CLAIR CRJ ConferenceMarch 5, 2012
Vince Ricci
Vince RicciCounselor and Coach since 2002 Think
Present
Create
• Created 500+ resumes
• Conducted 750+ interview sessions
• Adjunct Professor, University of Tokyo
Future
PresentPast
FuturePresen
tPast
The Resume
Resume = Bonsai
7 Steps
① List everything you have done during and after college
Step One
② Write an objective to help you focus
Step Two
Experienced international educator seeks project management position at leading global university
OBJECTIVE
③ Delete everything that does not help you realize your objective
Step Three
Four Sections1. Contact Info2. Professional3. Education4. Additional
contact info
Keep it simple
professional section
④ Divide job details into responsibilities and achievements
Step Four
Selected to participate as only non-Japanese English teacher at public senior high school as member of one of Japan’s largest cultural exchange programs (JET), run by 3 Japanese government ministries
Responsibilities
Boosted attendance at international events by over 20%; effectively managed staff to increase community presence of International Affairs Section
Achievements
⑤ Make every responsibility sound like an achievement
Step Five
Demonstrate Results
Tired
Helped students improve their skills
Hired Coached 1st
place student in Osaka Prefecture’s High School English Speech Contest
Show ImpactNo detail Encouraged
cross-cultural communication with other countries
More detail Initiated 80-
student penpal exchange program with school in Mexico
Use Action Verbs
SKILL VERB
Analytical evaluatedCreative conceived,
designedManaging mentored,
facilitatedSales negotiated,
resolved
Add Qualifiers First Youngest Only Best
First Created knowledge
sharing system
Youngest Youngest leader ever selected to
spearhead team of 10 Regional Advisors serving more than 300 schools across Gifu Prefecture (central Japan, population 2M+)
Only Revitalized English
language program as only non-Japanese member on 6-person team
Best Awards, prizes, special
recognition
education section
additional section
⑥ Proofread Record yourself reading every word at full volume
Step Six
⑦ Solicit feedback from friends, family, and mentors
Step Seven
Vince Feedback
① Follow 7 Steps② Email to
[email protected] ③ Deadline: April 2, 2012④ Vince helps first 10
The Interview
5 Tips
① Interpret your résumé
Tip One
“Walk Me Through Your resume.”
What you chose
1st position
2nd position
Current position
Why?
Skill 1
Skill 2
Synthesis
What you chose
1st position
2nd position
Current position
What you learned
Skill 1
Skill 2
Synthesis
Chose
ALT
Learned
Japanese
Chose
CIR
Learned
Organizing
Chose
Translator
Learned
Lead teams
Chose
ALT
CIR
Translator
Learned
Japanese
Organizing
Lead teams
1st
2nd Now
② Tell stories that demonstrate commitment problem solving ability relationship building drive & results
Tip Two
Structure your stories
“I am …” “I love…”
Problem
Action
Results
I am someone who loves to make the most of what I am given. I love to innovate.
“I am …” “I
love…”Proble
m Action Results
Students were not motivated to learn English
“I am …” “I
love…”Proble
m Action Results
Implemented outdoor language-lab
“I am …” “I
love…”Proble
m Action Results
Students entered speech contests and gave me the highest
evaluation scores
“I am …” “I
love…”Proble
m Action Results
③ Ask questions, especially when interviewers ask if you have any questions
Tip Three
Ask Open-ended Questions
Closed-ended: "Are first-year staff able to make important decisions?”
vs. Open-ended: "In what ways
can new hires get involved in decision-making?”
④ Show gratitude⑤ Follow through
Tips Four & Five
Resources
Blog → JETResumes.blogspot.com
Videos → bit.ly/Vids_4JETs Links → bit.ly/4JETs Updates → VincePrep.com
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