Free Resume Advice For Job Seekers

I have had several university students in their final year of studies commission me to work on applications for internships or holiday work placements with the ‘Big4′ Accounting firms (KPMG, Deloitte, Ernst & Young, and PriceWaterhouseCoopers), which all lead to the prospect of securing a full time position when the internship/placement is completed. The application process is similar for all four firms each requiring submission of a cover letter, resume and answers to questions (each with a specified character or word limit). There is not a lot of variation between the types of questions asked between the four firms. Outlined below are two of the more commonly asked questions and responses (200 word limit) prepared for one of my clients who was subsequently offered a placement with all four firms; she had quite a decision to make.

1. Please detail your personal achievements and involvement in the community over the last 4 years, which may include accomplishments in sports, drama, clubs, societies or charities.

I recently spent time raising money for the Cancer Council’s Daffodil Day, which I believe is a very worthwhile cause. The funds contribute towards important support services and research, which many people will benefit from at some point in their lives. I found the experience very rewarding, as well as motivating and moving. I had the opportunity to speak to many people who had been affected by cancer, and I found their stories very moving. Some had survived this dreadful disease, while others had recently lost a loved one. I was amazed by their resilience and positive attitude, and inspired by their stories of courage. I was also encouraged by the amount of support and enthusiasm we received from the public. I am determined to contribute more of my time to this very worthwhile and important cause. Importantly, I am enthusiastic in supporting any efforts that ABC shows towards worthwhile and worthy causes that help people in the community.

2. Please detail what personal and professional goals you have set yourself in the
next 3-5 years and how you plan to achieve your goals.

I have set myself several professional and personal goals. These include graduating from university and maintaining a high GPA; contributing to the community through volunteer work; gaining a position with a top accounting firm with a view to working overseas; and securing challenging and fulfilling work in my chosen profession. On the personal front, I would like to take lessons and learn to play the violin. At the beginning of each year, I strategise and plan my goals, and toward the end of that year I reassess any goals that were not achieved and attempt to analyse why such goals were not reached. I place a substantial amount of emphasis on my growth as an individual and try to critically assess my achievements every year. As a result, this enables me to attain the goals that I set out for myself and be the best that I can be in everything that I set out to do. Importantly, I believe that hard work, staying focused and enjoying what I do, lay the foundations in achieving both my personal and career goals.

I’m here to help market you!
Cheers,
Annie Cerone

Following on from my previous blog titled ‘Job Selection Process and Psychometric Testing’ dated 1st July 2009, I’d like to share more real-life experiences with you.

Example 1:

A few months back I revamped a resume for a gentleman who had over 20 years senior management experience and had established several successful and profitable businesses. I met him face-to-face to deliver final product at his ‘office’ which was at a local coffee shop not far from where he resided. He conducted his business (using a laptop and mobile phone) sitting at his regularly allocated table on a daily basis (with the exception of weekends). In our discussions, he revealed that he was in ongoing consultations with another gentleman regarding a lucrative and dynamic position that would entail working overseas. He did not apply for this position, it was never advertised. Over a two month period he would see this gentleman at the coffee shop who was also a frequent patron. They introduced themselves, got to know each other more as time progressed, whereupon they began to disclose more about their businesses, experiences and expertise. Ongoing discussions resulted in unplanned brainstorming sessions where my client offered thoughts on how and what the gentleman could do in his business to improve and expand on operations. As a result, the gentleman offered my client a dynamic opportunity which would also involve overseas travel. His exact words to my client were: “You would be a great fit in the business and you’re the one I want!” At no time was there a structured interview process that took place.

Example 2:

Prior to establishing my current business, I managed office administration processes in a Brisbane-based labour hire company. We were on the look out for a receptionist/office administrator and I was getting ready to start the candidate search process (calling up recruitment agencies). On one particular day, the company’s recruitment manager came into my office asking me to pop into his office to chat with a female who had presented herself at the front desk asking if there were any positions available. The recruitment manager had been talking with her for ten minutes before I entered the scene. He disclosed to me that he liked her from the outset and thought she would be perfect for the role. I concurred with his sentiments; I only needed five minutes with her to determine that she was sincere, loyal, trustworthy and eager to learn, importantly, she was eager to work. Moreover, the rapport established between the three of us was very positive; she was very likeable and approachable. I offered her the position on the spot with a one month trial period. During the time we spent talking with her, we did not ‘interview’ her in a structured manner. Subsequently, she worked out very well and was well-liked by all the other staff members and those important personality traits that I determined from the outset, solidly established themselves throughout her employ with the company.

Example 3:

Prior to my employment in the labour hire company, I was living and working overseas in Vancouver, Canada.  I was employed in an administrative capacity in a company that specialised in managing new start-up oil and gas ventures. I was getting bored in the position. Every morning I frequented the coffee shop located on the mezzanine level of the office building before heading to the office. What is it with coffee shops! Anyway, one gets to see the same people day-in-day-out, and on one particular day, a gentlemen introduced himself to me after a certain amount of time passed where we would only exchange smiles and ‘hellos’. For around two months we would engage in light discussions but never for too long. As far as the context of work went, the only question we asked each other is what we did. He knew what I did (but not that I was dissatisfied) and I knew that he was the director of a small but successful business on the other side of the street of the office building I worked in. Time passed and then out of the blue one morning he took me aside and offered me the opportunity to work in his business in an administrative management capacity. I was quite taken aback and asked if he would like to sight my resume. His immediate and resounding response was an affirmative ‘NO’, he then went on to say and I quote verbatim: “Annie, I know and have seen enough to convince me that you would be a great employee and an asset to the business, my decision is made, you just need to make yours!”.

These are just some examples of job offers being made where job selection formalities and structure do not come into play. It’s a changing world out there, never before has networking been so important. Just by taking the initiative and being proactive in putting yourself out there and introducing yourself could assist you in landing a position. Even better, possibly even dispensing with having to go through all the formalities associated with the job selection process.

Cheers,

Annie Cerone