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

clair.crj@gmail.com 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