PREPARING TO FIND A JOB

	· What kind of business they do
	· How long they have been in business
	· Company revenue
	· Company philosophy or mission
	· Current company news, business plans
	· Industry trends

	· College Career Centers
	· Internet
	· Business Publications
	· Job Fairs
	· Libraries
	· "Shikiho"
	· TS Consulting International, Inc.

RESUME WRITING

-	Start out your resume with a good, strong objective.
-	Depending on what you want to emphasize, your educational background or work experience can follow your objective.
-	After your educational background you can start a section called achievements, where you can list any scholarships, rewards, or honors you have received.
-	Your work experience should start off with your most recently held position. Be sure to cite the dates you worked Briefly describe your duties & responsibilities Do not include non-professional positions
-	List your skills & qualifications: computer skills, language skills, office skills, etc.
-	You can also list any extracurricular activities or volunteer activities you are actively involved in.

Making Your Resume Stand Out
You can add these to your resume to make it stand out:

• Academic achievements (GPA, honors, awards, etc.)
• Sports (Varsity letter, leadership, awards, etc.)
• Clubs & Organizations (Membership, leadership, etc.)
• Work Experience:
  • What have you done to make a company money?
  • What have you done to save a company money?
  • Performance evaluations
• For Sales positions:
  • Sales ranking
  • Monthly/Yearly sales quotas
  • How many new accounts?
  • Total generated sales

The Cover Letter

• Keep the cover letter as professional and simple as possible.
• State what position you are looking for and why you should be considered for that position.
• Personalize the letter by obtaining the person in charge of hiring for that position.
• Have someone with good writing and communication skills to proofread your letter.
• Consult professional letter writing books and guides for pointers on writing an effective cover letter.
• Compose an action statement: let them know that you will be following-up to set up an interview.

INTERVIEW TIPS

• Arrive on time; do not arrive more than 15 minutes early.
• Have the name of the person you will be meeting with.
• Dress professionally.
• Be as cooperative as possible.
• Take notes during the interview.
• Do not say unkind things about former bosses and coworkers.
• Be excited about the job.
• Be positive and eager, and sell yourself to the company.
• Be aware of your body language and maintain eye contact.
• Do not be the first one to bring up salary.
• Be prepared to ask some questions.
• Make sure your handshake is firm.
• If you want the job ASK FOR IT.

POST INTERVIEW EVALUATION

• Did I dress appropriately for the interview?
• Did I answer the questions well? Did I say too much or too little?
• What questions did I forget to ask?
• Did I prepare well enough for the interview? Did I do enough research?
• Was I an active, focused listener?
• Did I show enthusiasm?
• What was my overall impression of the company?
• What did I think about the position and the duties?

Review Your Goals, Needs and Desires
Review the goals that you wrote down earlier.

• Will this job move you closer to those goals?
• If yes, you need to decide what you must have in order to accept the position.
• Decide what you can compromise on.
• Remember, there is always room for negotiation.

Thank You Letter

• Send a thank you letter within 24 hours of the interview.
• Always send a thank you letter.
• Thank the interviewer for meeting with you and considering you for the position.
• Write and address your letter specifically to the person that interviewed you.
• Mention your strong points again and resell yourself.
• Write the letter in the native language of the person that interviewed you.
• Keep the letter brief.
• Compose an action statement: let them know that you will be contacting them to follow-up on the position.

Negotiation

• The goal of negotiation is to come to a mutual agreement with the company and you.
• If you have done your research on the company, you will be able to negotiate more effectively.
• Do not talk about salary requirements until you are positive that you meet the qualifications and that you want the position.
• If you are registered, TS Consulting International can help you in the negotiation process.

Follow-up

• Call 5 business days after the interview to find out about the status of the position and when you can make another follow-up call.
• Stay professional and positive.