I recently updated and streamlined my resume based on my recent work experience.
The longer your career history, the harder it actually becomes to write a strong resume or perform well in interviews. It’s easy for there to be gaps between what you’ve done and what’s expected. But at the very least, I want to clearly communicate my experience — essentially, to market myself. So I put together a few key points for interviews:
- A concise and impactful resume
- Be able to hold a conversation — do some research on the company and prepare a few topics to help ease interview tension
- Understand both your strengths and weaknesses (highlight strengths without sounding arrogant, and explain what actions you've taken to improve your weaknesses)
- Make sure your traits align with the role you're applying for
No matter what you're trying to learn, it always takes time. But before anything else, it's important to know how to express yourself well, and anticipate what questions might come up based on your experience.
I always stick to the STAR method:
- Situation
- Task
- Action
- Result
I tend to get nervous and have trouble showing my full potential, so I keep reminding myself that interviews go both ways — companies are also looking for the right person to do the job. At worst, I treat each one as practice. Confidence takes practice; it's not just about telling yourself to “be confident.”
With a busy schedule, it often feels like my goals are far away, but I believe I’m gradually getting closer. Never give up!
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