Preparing for an interview can be stressful. In collaboration with Career Services, the Graduate College has developed five resume and interview tips to help you ace your next interview.
Resume and CV Tips
Your resume is alive
Your resume is always evolving. A good resume item for one job may not be the best fit for another job – even in the same field. For that reason, considering the job description and field are important in shaping your documents for a targeted position.
Experience to include in my resume
You may have had jobs that are not related to your current field of study or even from a different career. Use the category “Other Experience” to list these jobs without bullet points if they are not directly related to the positions you’re applying to and you want to highlight your work history. Conversely, you can use bullet points to focus on transferrable skills and accomplishments.
Resume vs. CV
Resumes and curriculum vitaes – commonly known as CVs – are often used interchangeably, but they are different. CVs are typically used in academia or research positions. Research the field and positions in your given area to find out which option is the best fit for you.
Interviewing Tips
Reflect
Ask yourself these questions before the interview:
- “What is the most relevant information/experiences you want them to know as it relates to the job?”
- “What excites you about the position?”
- “What are some examples of how you’ve demonstrated the skills they are looking for?”
Question the interviewer
Remember, this is your time to interview your hiring panel to ensure the position will be a good fit for you. Ask your interviewers questions related to relationship building such as:
- “What do you love about your job and what are some challenges?”
- “What keeps you working for this organization?”
Then move on to more specific questions about the role like:
- “What are some things you’d like to see this hire accomplish in the first 30 days, 6 months, and a year?”
Lastly, don’t forget to ask about a hiring timeline. This question is a key indicator of when you should follow-up with your interview panel.
Boise State Career Services is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for assistance with career options, resume review, and everything in between. To schedule an appointment visit the Career Services website.
– Lanyell Bowman