Monday, February 25, 2013

Thank you, CLAIR! Vince interview video on the way...


Hi AJC participants:

I had a great time presenting resume, CV, cover letter, and interview tips on Mon, 25 Feb. 

You asked excellent, insightful questions and kept me on my toes. I love this event!

As promised, I plan to produce a new video to help you prepare for interviews.

For now, I am pasting my "mirror method" tips, as mentioned in the presentation. 

Please subscribe to my YouTube channel for the latest video updates.

Most of all, please enjoy the rest of the AJC and your JET experience!

Cheers,

Vince




Use Vince's "Mirror Method" to practice your interview answers at home


  • Interviewing is physical
  • Do not prepare for interviews by writing outlines or scripts, or, worst of all, creating PowerPoint slides
  • Instead, talk ... to yourself

Background

  • Although I majored in History at Stanford, I took more acting classes than history classes
  • Patricia Ryan Madson was my acting professor (check out her bestselling book)
  • She taught me how to use the mirror to prepare for challenging roles
  • I have modified her method to help you pass your MBA interviews

 


Supplies needed

  • note cards
  • a mirror
  • a timer set for 30 minutes (typical interview length)
  • a voice recorder (smart phone, computer, IC recorder: anything that will record your voice for playback and review)





Mirror Method Steps

A. Write these 11 core interview questions on note cards

1. SELF-INTRODUCTION: Tell me about yourself / Walk me through your resume. 
4. TEAMWORK: What role do you usually play in teams?
8. WHY THIS COMPANY / WHY THIS SCHOOL?
10. ONE LAST THING ABOUT YOU: Surprise me. Tell me something else you want me to know that is not covered in your application.  
B. Write keywords or bullet points on the back of each card
C. Assemble the cards in random order (different every time)
D. Start the timer as you begin speaking
E. Ask and answer each question
F. Maintain eye contact (with yourself) as you talk (try not to look at your cards)
G. Ask yourself "why" and "how" whenever appropriate to simulate an interviewer's follow-up questions
H. Make each answer as direct and concise as possible
I. Listen to your answers in between self-study practice sessions to ensure continuous quality improvement



 

REPEAT STEPS 

EVERY MORNING AND EVERY NIGHT UNTIL YOUR ACTUAL INTERVIEW


  • Shuffle your question cards every time you practice
  • Make sure to ask yourself questions in a different order every time
  • Reason: human memory is built through repetition in random order
  • If you expect questoins to follow a certain logical order, you might be surprised and unprepared if the interviewer follows her own logic and asks the questions in a different order than you expected 



-Updated by Vince on 25 Feb 2013

Please watch 2 videos and post your questions for Vince in YouTube BEFORE 9am on Mon, 25 Feb


Dear 2013 After JET Conference Participants:

Please watch these 2 videos and post your questions for Vince in YouTube BEFORE 9am on Mon, 25 Feb ▸ j.mp/4JETs_vid 

Then, Vince can customize his presentation to cover your questions. 

Looking forward to seeing you all in Yokohama!

Safe travels and best wishes for an amazing conference,

Vince






VIDEO 1 OF 2: "Resume bonsai"










VIDEO 2 OF 2: "Cover letter magic"



Sunday, February 24, 2013

ALT resume sample for 2013 After JET Conference

Please review this sample ALT resume before attending the 2013 After JET Conference















The latest version is in Google Drive (Google Docs).

Please click here to view and print the latest update.

Google allows you to export as MS Word, though the formatting might be altered in the process.

This file is public on the web at ▸ http://bit.ly/JET_ALT


This resume is just a sample to get you thinking before the Conference.

Please make yours BETTER!













Sample résumés




Additional resources










-Updated by Vince on 17 Feb 2013








Saturday, February 23, 2013

PA resume sample for 2013 After JET Conference

Please review this sample PA resume before attending the 2013 After JET Conference











The latest version is in Google Drive (Google Docs)

Please click here to view and print the latest update


Google allows you to export as MS Word, though the formatting might be altered in the process

This file is public on the web at ▸  http://j.mp/PA_res








Sample résumés




Additional resources










CIR resume sample for 2013 After JET Conference

OPTION 1 (recommended)

Please click here to view and print the

Google Docs version

Public on the web ▸ http://bit.ly/JET_CIR

Bottom line: this resume is just a sample to get you thinking.
Please make yours BETTER!








Sample résumés





Additional resources










-Updated by Vince on 23 Feb 2013











Friday, February 22, 2013

Sample ALT cover letter


Sample ALT cover letter










1-23-1 Sensei-machi

Nishi, Osaka, Japan 500-0001
May 1, 2013

Ms. Johanna Gonzalez
Director, Rice University Office of International Students & Scholars
6100 Main MS-365
Houston, Texas 77005

Dear Ms. Gonzalez:

After speaking with my friend Charles Clark, I felt excited to learn about the position of Program Coordinator for International Students at Rice’s Office of International Students and Scholars (OISS). Based on my past experience in New York and Japan, I can bring some unique contributions to the OISS.

First, I helped start new initiatives at New York's largest adult training center. After graduating with honors in Linguistics from Boston University, I joined The Center for Adult Training and Employment. As the youngest program coordinator, I served over 3,000 clients, which is 20% above average. Best of all, I helped increase job placements by 15%.

Now, I believe I can help the OISS increase opportunities for international students, as well. Speaking with Charles, who was my senior colleague and mentor at the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme, I understand that Rice is trying to increase the percentage of international students by 5% over the next three years. Based on my unmatched results in New York and Japan, I feel confident that I can help you meet that target, or even exceed it.

Finally, I believe that my background as an educational resources coordinator and overseas teacher demonstrates that I possess the ideal mix of organizational, creative, interpersonal, and counseling skills to be the best Program Coordinator for International Students.
In addition, my adjustment to Japanese culture has made me uniquely sensitive to the experiences of those living away from home.


I enclose a résumé of my background and qualifications, and will follow-up with you in the coming weeks. Also, I might have the opportunity to visit my family in Houston. I will let you know if I am in the area, as it would be wonderful to meet with you or a member of your staff in person. Thank you for your time and interest in my candidacy.

Sincerely yours,

Anna the ALT
















Confused about cover letters?



















Need help?



  • Please watch these sample job interview videos on ▸ YouTube
  • Check Vince's resume and interview links on ▸ Delicious 

















-Updated by Vince on 22 Feb 2013
























Need some inspiration?








Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Is a resume a greatest hits compilation?

I encourage clients to think of a resume as a "greatest hits" compilation. 

Can you include only the best examples of each type of achievement? 

Can you highlight the breadth and depth of your technical, analytical and interpersonal skills?



  • 3 core skills spell TAI
    • Technical (languages, including computer code, accounting: certificates, testable)
    • Analytical (curriculum development, decision making)
    • Interpersonal (dealing with students, parents, politics, public speaking, leadership)





If music metaphors fail to move you, I encourage you to analyze your resume using the MECE principle.

  • Mutually
  • Exclusive
  • Collectively
  • Exhaustive

(ME) Mutually Exclusive - "must ensure that a list of items is mutually exclusive, or that every item is separate and distinct"
(CE) Collectively Exhaustive - "it must also be collectively exhaustive, that it includes every issue relevant to the problem"



an example of MECE



The MECE principle, pronounced 'meesee', mutually exclusive and collectively exhaustive, is a grouping principle. It says that when data from a category is desired to be broken into subcategories, the choice of subcategories should be
  1. collectively exhaustive -- i.e., the set of all subcategories, taken together, should fully characterize the larger category of which the data are part ("no gaps"),
  2. mutually exclusive -- i.e., no subcategory should represent any other subcategory ("no overlaps")
This is desirable for the purpose of analysis: mutual exclusivity avoids the risk of double counting information, and collective exhaustion avoids the risk of overlooking information.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia






Need help?



  • Please watch these sample job interview videos on ▸ YouTube
  • Check Vince's resume and interview links on ▸ Delicious








-Updated by Vince on 18 Feb 2013











Tuesday, February 19, 2013

What is resume bonsai?

Resume slides from 2012 After JET Conference




View more presentations from VincePrep .

I once told a client that résumés are like bonsai - you must craft your knowledge, skills and accomplishments to fit into the confines of a single sheet of paper. 

Happy pruning!


Use these four tips to boost your résumé's chance of survival:
  1. Insert dates for everything. Don't try to cover up your age or a gap in experience by omitting dates. Use your cover letter to explain any peculiarities.
  2. Use buzzwords. Many HR folks look for certain buzzwords from the job description. Don't expect your generic résumé to make it through; customize it for each potential job.
  3. Be specific. "Assisted" or "worked on" is much fuzzier than "designed," "wrote," or "led." When choosing verbs, use ones that mean something.
  4. No typos. This goes without saying, but too many résumés are full of them nonetheless. Proofread, proofread again, and then ask someone else to proofread once more.

Your resume should be a concise summary of the high points of your education, work experience, and other qualifications relevant to your audience’s needs and to your employment interests, not a complete history of your life. It communicates your professional qualifications to employers, to interest them in interviewing you, and it creates their first impression of you. It is a marketing tool and an introduction to you and your experiences. Do enough research about the employer and the field to decide which messages are most important to your audience, and communicate these messages succinctly and clearly in a visually appealing format. Here are some guidelines to help you do this:

Style

  • Proofread to eliminate all spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors.
  • Use action verbs and strong adjectives
  • Make it future or present oriented, suggesting that "I am this kind of person, with these abilities, as my past record demonstrates."
  • Avoid repeating words or phrases.
  • Leave out unnecessary words, sentences, and phrases such as "Duties included / Hired to / Project involved."
  • Avoid stilted or confusing language. Ask yourself, "Would I talk like that?"
  • Don’t use the first person I or any pronouns.
  • Be consistent and use the same grammatical style throughout.
  • Avoid self-flattering terms such as "highly skilled, outstanding, or excellent." Describe your accomplishments effectively and let readers decide for themselves that you are well-qualified.
  • Be honest and accurate, but not overly modest.
  • Convey through the style and content of your resume an understanding of your audience’s needs, priorities, hiring criteria, and vocabulary.

Format

  • Stick to 1 page; use 2 pages if you have an advanced degree or extensive experience (10+ years).
  • Make the page easy to scan and graphically-pleasing: leave sufficient white space.
  • Select a format that suits your qualifications. Don’t automatically follow someone else’s, which may not suit what you have to say.
  • Underline, bold face, and use bullets to emphasize your credentials.

Content

  • Put name, address, and phone number at the top of the page. If you have a 2nd page, repeat your name at the top.
  • Highlight skills, accomplishments, capabilities, and work experience. Give evidence of your personal impact: show not only that you completed tasks but that you contributed to organizational goals.
  • Include marketable and/or relevant data only; for example, include classes that have been most important in your education and are most relevant to the type of work you seek; don’t provide an extensive list of courses.
  • Choose topic headings that invite your readers’ interest, e.g., "related experience, overseas experience, or skills" rather than "employment or other."
  • Cite numbers to convey size and/or scale of project, budget, and staff supervised.
  • Give examples that demonstrate desirable personality traits such as leadership, interpersonal facility, confidence, and independence.
  • Minimize personal information and omit unrelated memberships, age, marital and health status, and information that is repetitive, implicit (e.g. high school graduation for a college graduate), or out-of-date. If you are a US citizen or hold a permanent resident visa, include this if readers might have reason to think otherwise.
  • Generally, it is a good idea to exclude data relevant to salary expectations, religious or political affiliations, and geographic descriptions.
  • References are usually omitted, although you should line up at least 3 (including 1 or 2 who are non-academic) at the beginning of your job search. They can be listed separately and made available when requested. Employers assume that “references are available upon request,” so leave this phrase off.




First, you need to know how far back in time to detail in this document. As a general rule, if you are applying to graduate school and have at least two years of work experience, your high school activities should not be included in your resume. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, if you won a prestigious national award in high school, you may certainly consider including this important recognition.

Other general rules for the resume:
  • There should be no more than four bullet points beneath each position.
  • Each bullet point should ideally be no more than two lines long.
  • To ease the reader’s eye strain, the font should not be smaller than 10 pt.
  • Margins should be as close to one inch all around as possible – no lower than 0.7 inches. 

Limit the number of bullet points describing your early entry-level roles and instead expand the space dedicated to those in which you made the most impact. For instance, if you were promoted from an entry-level programming position with your company, then you don’t even need to dedicate a separate line to describe that first role. Instead, you can simply impress the reader by describing the fast pace of promotion in a line of the job description, like this:

Team Lead, IT Consulting Company                    2007-Present
Twice promoted from Analyst (2007-2008) to Senior Analyst (2008) and then Team Lead in record 12 months, a full 4 times faster than the average rate of promotion.

What if one position has allowed you significant leadership opportunities and impact? Or what if you have been in your current role for several years? How can you detail all that you have accomplished in just four bullet points? The trick is to break that down into sections, like this for example:

Private Equity Associate, PE Firm                         2008-Present
Lines of job description here…

Leadership Accomplishments Include:
  • First point
  • Second point
  • Third point
  • Fourth point
Financial Impacts Include:
  • First point
  • Second point
  • Third point
  • Fourth point
Keep in mind that the majority – if not all – of those bullet points should include quantifiable impact that you had on the organization. Breaking up a bulk of text with numbers and section headings makes the entire document more compelling.
Finally, to ensure that your document is easy to read and keeps the admissions officer’s attention, you need to include ample white space. To add some white space above each position in Microsoft Word, highlight the title line of each row (hold the Ctrl button down as you click to keep them all highlighted), then click on Format, Paragraph, then in the Spacing Before box try at least 4 pt. (if you have more space left on the page at the end you can go to 6 pt.). Do the same Ctrl highlighting for the bullet points throughout the document and try 2 pt. or 3 pt. spacing before each of those lines.
Check out this pdf file (viewable in Adobe Reader) to see the difference this little formatting trick can make.





Management Skills

Administered
Analyzed
Assigned
Chaired
Consolidated
Contracted
Coordinated
Delegated
Developed
Directed
Evaluated
Executed
Organized
Oversaw
Planned
Prioritized
Produced
Recommended
Reorganized
Reviewed
Scheduled
Supervised

Communication Skills

Addressed
Arbitrated
Arranged
Authored
Co-authored
Collaborated
Corresponded
Developed
Directed
Drafted
Enlisted
Formulated
Influenced
Interpreted
Lectured
Mediated
Moderated
Negotiated
Persuaded
Promoted
Proposed
Publicized
Reconciled
Recruited
Spoke
Translated
Wrote

Research Skills

Clarified
Collected
Critiqued
Diagnosed
Evaluated
Examined
Extracted
Identified
Inspected
Interpreted
Interviewed
Investigated
Organized
Reviewed
Summarized
Surveyed
Systematized

Technical Skills

Assembled
Built
Calculated
Computed
Designed
Devised
Engineered
Fabricated
Maintained
Operated
Pinpointed
Programmed
Remodeled
Repaired
Solved
Operated
Pinpointed
Programmed
Remodeled
Repaired
Solved

Teaching Skills

Adapted
Advised
Clarified
Coached
Communicated
Conducted
Coordinated
Developed
Enabled
Encouraged
Evaluated
Explained
Facilitated
Guided
Informed
Instructed
Lectured
Persuaded
Set goals
Stimulated
Taught
Trained

Financial Skills

Administered
Allocated
Analyzed
Appraised
Audited
Balanced
Budgeted
Calculated
Computed
Developed
Managed
Planned
Projected
Researched

Creative Skills

Acted
Conceptualized
Created
Customized
Designed
Developed
Directed
Established
Fashioned
Illustrated
Instituted
Integrated
Performed
Planned
Proved
Revised
Revitalized
Set up
Shaped
Streamlined
Structured

Helping Skills

Assessed
Assisted
Clarified
Coached
Counseled
Demonstrated
Diagnosed
Educated
Facilitated
Familiarized
Guided
Inspired
Motivated
Participated
Provided
Referred
Rehabilitated
Represented
Reinforced
Supported
Taught
Trained
Verified

Clerical or Detail Skills

Approved
Arranged
Catalogued
Classified
Collected
Compiled
Dispatched
Executed
Filed
Generated
Implemented
Inspected
Monitored
Operated
Ordered
Organized
Prepared
Processed
Purchased
Recorded
Retrieved
Screened
Specified
Systematized
Tabulated
Validated

Stronger Verbs for Accomplishments

Accelerated
Achieved
Attained
Completed
Conceived
Convinced
Discovered
Doubled
Effected
Eliminated
Expanded
Expedited
Founded
Improved
Increased
Initiated
Innovated
Introduced
Invented
Launched
Mastered
Originated
Overcame
Overhauled
Pioneered
Reduced
Resolved
Revitalized
Spearheaded
Strengthened
Transformed
Upgraded

From "To Boldly Go: Practical Career Advice for Scientists", by Peter S. Fiske



The use of action words / power verbs, are essential in the promotion of your skills and experience. Using these words at the start of each bullet point under the details of your employment will assist the reader in noticing your key achievements.

The words you use will obviously depend upon your experience / industry so try not to just stuff your CV full of power words in the hope that this will look good. For example, a candidate applying for a managerial position will want to make use of words such as "oversaw, developed, improved and reduced", whereas someone looking for a more creative role will want to use words such as "designed, compiled and created".

Power verbs to accentuate organisational skills:

Arranged
Categorized
Collected
Compiled
Corrected
Distributed
Filed
Incorporated
Logged
Maintained
Monitored
Observed
Ordered
Organized
Prepared
Recorded
Registered
Reserved
Responded
Reviewed
Scheduled
Screened
Supplied
Updated

Power verbs used to highlight achievements:

Achieved
Built
Created
Developed
Established
Expanded
Founded
Identified
Implemented
Increased
Initiated
Instigated
Launched
Lead
Managed
Reduced
Solved
Streamlined

Other power verbs:

Administered
Advised
Analyzed
Approved
Completed
Conducted
Controlled
Coordinated
Defined
Delivered
Demonstrated
Designed
Instructed
Introduced
Maintained
Negotiated
Oversaw
Performed
Planned
Presented
Supervised
Supported


SAMPLE


More tips here:

http://delicious.com/admissions/PowerVerbs










Sample résumés




Additional resources












-Updated by Vince on 11 Feb 2013