You might wonder why you would need to review your own resume before an interview. After all, you are the person in the resume! This is actually one of the most important steps in your pre-interview process. A good interviewer will not take you at face value, and you need to know exactly how to translate your resume into conversation!
Study your resume using the guidelines below to give yourself an edge in the interview room.
memorize your skills and accomplishments
- Go over every entry on your resume and memorize what you have put there. There is no telling what your interviewer will ask about.
- Connect your past accomplishments to the needs of the company in front of you.
- Demonstrate how your past accomplishments will help your potential employer succeed.
- Practice in real time so that you are not surprised by any question in the interview room.
explain your weaknesses
- Be prepared to explain any gaps or weaknesses in your resume.
- If your interviewer doesn't bring up these details, approach the subject if you have a relevant reason to do so. For example, you may want to explain what you've learned and how it has improved your professional career.
- This information will expand the conversation you can have with your interviewer. If you know your stuff, your interviewer can relax into a more personable conversation with you, giving you leverage over your competition.
print out your resume
- Come to the interview with multiple copies of your resume and hand them out to everyone — the people who have read it already, and the people who have not.
- Do not be afraid to update your resume between your initial contact with the company and your interview.
- An updated resume with new accomplishments showcases your initiative, which can help you in the interview room.
- Lead the conversation by pointing out the new entries and explaining exactly how you are moving forward in your industry.
- It’s also a smart idea to print out a list of questions you might have for your interviewer. This shows you’ve done your homework.
Next step: practice makes perfect