Assembling An
Interview Packet
Making An Amazing Impression
5/9/2012
Contact Management
Version 1.0
About JobGroup.org
• Mission statement – JobGroup.org empowers
professionals to effectively manage their careers by
promoting networking, volunteerism, and job search skills.
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Eight module curriculum presented weekly
Online resources
Networking events
Recruiter engagement
Volunteers
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About The Presentations
• JobGroup.org is an organization that exists to
facilitate your job hunt and career
• We have compiled the best information that
we have from our own experience and other
sources
• These presentations can benefit hugely from
your input; don’t be shy about asking
questions or contributing!
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About The Curriculum
Managing Your
Online Profile
Developing A
Personal Marketing
Plan
Negotiating
Compensation
Professional
Networking
Interview Tactics
Assembling an
Interview Packet
Contact
Management
Resume
Optimization
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Previous Presentation – Resume Workshop
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Purpose, use, and value of resumes
How your resume is used
Resume components
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
‘Suicide By Resume’
Frequently Asked Questions
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Next Presentation – Interview Tactics
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Doing your research
Planning the interview
Telephone vs. in-person
Interviewer ‘skill’: HR reps & hiring managers
Common questions
Steering the interview
Followup
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Introduction
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What is an interview packet?
Purpose and value
Interview packet components
Software tools
Managing printing costs
Recycling document components
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What Is An Interview Packet?
• A collection of ‘Value
Added’ information not
addressed in a resume
• Expanded overview of
the things you want an
employer to know
about you
• Professionally finished
• A leave-behind that
may make you more
memorable
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Purpose and Value
• Distinguishes you
from other applicants
• Can help shape the
content of an
interview
• Can show the
amount of effort and
quality of work you
are capable of
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Interview Packet Components
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Layout
Title page
Table of contents
Resume
Critical skill set
Endorsements
Professional references
Work Samples
Other elements
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Layout
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Headers and footers
Fonts and colors
Embedded images/text
Logos and branding
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Title Page
• Layout
• Job title
• Interview date and
location
• Company’s logo
• Name of primary
interviewer
• Your logo & branding
• Contact information
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Table of Contents
• Color, font, and
spacing
• Logical progression
• Ease of locating
information
• Overview of
information inside
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Resume
• Use optimized resume
• Shameless plug
• Remember
header/footer
• Uniform style for color,
fonts, and layout
• Simple plug in or
maintaining separate files
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Critical Skill Set
• Color, font, layout
• Every skill you have that
relates to the job
• Arranged hierarchically
and sensically
• Limited to three layers
Technical
Skills
Project
Management
Soft Skills
Critical
Skill Set
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Endorsements
• Scan of signed letters
for signature
• Make sure pasted
graphics are legible
and/or retype
• Name and contact info
for writers
• Have a structure in
mind for ordering
(applicability,
chronologically, etc.)
• For LinkedIn, cut and
paste images from web
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Professional References
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Have a structure in mind
Name
Company
Title
Contact information
(reference preference)
• Description of
relationship
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Work Samples
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Font, color, and layout
Title
Background information
Pasted graphics
Demonstrated skills
What you did, why and how you did
it, and skills you used
Avoid any proprietary information
Bonus: value to the employer
Use of sample vs. real data
Possible inclusions: task lists, project
plans, status reports, budgets,
workflows, case studies, specialty
tools
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Other Elements
• Job specific elements
– Code snippets
– Performance graphs & charts
• Industry specific elements
– Advertising copy
– Blog posts
• Portfolios
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Graphic arts
Music
Developed applications
Writing samples
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Software Tools
• Document editing
– MS Word, MS Publisher
– OpenOffice
• Mindmapper software
– FreeMind
• Cut and paste from web
– Windows &MS Paint
– OSX screenshot keyboard commands
• Work sample software
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Managing Printing Costs
• Short run: cheaper to outsource
• Is your career management path likely
to be a short term one?
• Selecting the right paper
– High gloss laser
– Kelly: ~$20/ream (500)
– Kinko’s: ~$1.25/page
• Cover materials and binding machine
– ~$100 machine, $25 combs (100), $25
back cover (25), $14 front cover (25)
– More pages= higher cost
– Kinko’s = ~$4/bind
• Printing and Printers
– Office quality laser
– $300-$500 buy in
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Recycling Document Components
• Resume – LinkedIn, Recruiter
packet
• Critical Skill Set – Marketing
Plan, Recruiter packet,
Compensation packet
• Endorsements – LinkedIn,
Recruiter packet,
Compensation packet
• Work samples – Recruiter
packet, Compensation packet
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The End Result
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More memorable
Interview assistance
More/better justification to hire you
Tools required to produce professional-grade
marketing copy
• Recycled components
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This Presentation is Available Online
• http://www.jobgroup.org/curriculum
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