1. Resume and Interview Skills
Panel Members:
Ms. LaTanya Bryant, 96TW/FM
Mr. Jeff DeCocker, AFSOC/FM-1
Ms. Leah Hodge, AFLCMC/EBF
Ms. Denise Wagner, AFRL/RWF
April 20, 2017

2. Agenda How to Build a Great Resume - Denise Wagner
5 Step Process to ACE that Interview:
Steps 1 & 2 Understand Yourself & Create Your Personal Profile - Jeff De Cocker
Steps 3 & 4 Know the Position & Practice - LaTanya Bryant
Step 5 General Tips/Summary & Post Interview – Leah Hodge
Discuss ideas/strategies for building a great resume and preparing for your interview so you can ace it!

3. Resume Advice First Impressions count! Consider your Audience
Panel members review and grade resumes – this takes a lot of time
Easy to read = Easier to grade
Resume content should align with requirements in job announcement
Formatting counts – less distraction for reviewer
Pay attention to grammar and spelling
Have a mentor review your resume
Valuable insight/constructive criticism
Put your best foot forward, remember that first impressions count and are sometimes hard to overcome
Resume should align with the job you’re applying for and should be easy to read = easy to grade…very important for the panel who may be grading a lot of resumes with limited time
Formatting, grammar and spelling are critical – again, your first impression is critical
Have at least a couple people who you trust review your resume and give you constructive criticism

4. Resume Content Pay attention to the job announcement
For example, it says “must have strong knowledge of CCaR” or “RDT&E experience”
Ensure resume addresses your knowledge of CCaR
Ensure resume has RDT&E budgets addressed
No CCaR or RDT&E experience? May or may not get an interview
Keep resumes concise
Summarize experience – keep it to the point
Remove old work experience that is no longer relevant
Rule of thumb – reviewers pay most attention to the past 5-10 years
Exception: If you had supervisory experience in the past but are no longer a supervisor
Pay attention to the language in the job announcement which allows the hiring org limit who will be qualified to interview for the position
Put yourself in the shoes of the resume reviewer – is a 10 page resume fun to write – No…well it’s not fun to review and be searching for elements to grade it
My personal recommendation is to keep the resume to not more than 2 pages and remove old work experience – exception supervisory experience

5. Resume Formatting Formatting is important
Easier to identify graded categories such as:
Experience, Education, Training/Certifications, Professional Organizations, Recognition/Awards
Consistent font and no smaller than 10
Check your grammar and use spell checker
Resume with Headers for specific categories is helpful for the reviewer – easier to identify important info/achievements and grade it!

6. Step One 5 4 3 2 1 ACE the Interview!
5 Steps to Ace the interview – data from Jennifer Morgan our AFRL Comptroller 4 3 2 1

7. Understand Yourself - Know Your Resume
Take an inventory of your attributes
1. Work Experience
2. Education/Degrees
3. FM Training/Certifications (CDFM, APDP, etc.)
4. Developmental Education (DFMC, ACSC, FMSOC, etc.)
5. Professional Activities/Membership
6. Recognition/Awards
7. Work Ethics and Values
Step 1 – spend time developing and refining your resume…it should reflect you and your experience and accomplishments. Also, start building your own personal Interview Brain Book!

8. Step Two 5 4 3 2 1

9. Know Your Personal Profile
Have a professional resume
Create a powerful, competent and experienced image by using action words to describe yourself and your accomplishments
Give yourself all the credit you deserve – interview’s use “I”
Be honest, but don’t shortchange yourself by underestimating or minimizing your accomplishments
Have a mentor critique your resume
Step 2 – this is your time to shine…make sure your resume looks professional and tells your story! Have trusted friends/mentors review it.

10. Step Three 5 4 3 2 1

11. Ask About the Interview
Know the Position &
Ask About the Interview
Make sure you and the position are a match
Duties of the position
Location
Work Schedules / Travel
Leadership Team
Panel Members for the interview
Are notes allowed in the interview?
Will you receive the questions in advance?
How many questions? How long is interview?
Step 3 – find out everything you can about the job before you interview to ensure it is a good fit for you – for example, if job includes a lot of travel and this would cause you/your family too much stress, this may not be the best job for you. Also, you can ask who will be on the panel and questions about the interview format so you’ll be prepared.

12. Step Four 5 4 3 2 1

13. Practice
Create Sample Questions of all Types and Practice, Practice, Practice
Create your stories for all types of questions – leadership, communication, problem solving (HAVE SPECIFIC EXAMPLES), general FM, and specific FM questions (Reimbursements, Appropriations, PPBE, etc.)
Don’t forget to practice the more generic questions too
How do you react to criticism? (This is not the time for ego)
Describe a conflict or disagreement you have had at work and explain how you handled it
Give an example of a risk you took and how it turned out. What did you learn from the
outcome?
What is your managerial style?
What was your most important contribution to your last (or current) employer
What motivates you? & How do you motivate others to achieve their personal best?
Remember even if you do not have an exact example specific to the question asked, ALWAYS provide a relatable example!
Step 4 – How do you get better at anything…practice, practice, practice! Be sure to have at least 1 to 2 specific examples for each type of questions – tell what you did, how you did it and the impact/results. Also, if they ask a question which you have no experience, pick a relatable example even if it doesn’t match the question exactly.

14. Behavioral Type Questions
Practice
Behavioral Type Questions
Behavioral
SKILL: Coping
QUESTION: Describe a high-pressure situation you had to handle at work. What happened, who was involved and what did you do in terms of resolution?
SKILL: Tolerance of Ambiguity
QUESTION: Give an example of a time when you had to deal with frequent and unexpected changes. What does this say about your ability to work in an ambiguous or unstructured circumstance?
SKILL: Versatility
QUESTION: In work situations, as in life, we sometimes have to compromise to make things happen. Tell me about a time when you felt it necessary to compromise your own immediate interests in order to be flexible and tolerant of another’s needs.
Next 5 slides describe some of the types of interview questions that are used including: Behavioral, Leadership, Problem-solving, Work-habits, and Communications…use this as a guide when setting up your interview Brain Book!

15. Leadership Type Questions
Practice
Leadership Type Questions
Leadership
SKILL: Energizing QUESTION: Give an example of a time when your positive attitude caused others to be motivated or energized into action. Be specific. SKILL: Team Building QUESTION: Building a team spirit to get results is often difficult. Tell me about a time when you had your greatest success in building a team spirit. What specific results did the team accomplish?
SKILL: Influence QUESTION: (1) Give an example when you first used fact and reason to persuade others to take action. Be specific. (2) Give an example of a time when your communication skills were powerful enough to enable you to influence the way others thought or acted, even in a very difficult situation.
Be sure and communicate your Leadership skills with specific examples – motivating your co-workers, team building, etc.

16. Problem Solving Type Questions
Practice
Problem Solving Type Questions
Problem Solving
SKILL: Analytical
QUESTION: Give an example where you actively designed several solutions to a single problem.
SKILL: Creativity
QUESTION: Give an example of a situation where you were inventive and explored new ways of thinking. What was the outcome?
SKILL: Decision Making/Decisiveness
QUESTION: (1) Give an example of how you reached a practical business decision by an organized review of the facts and weighing of options. (2) Give an example of a situation when you had to stand up for a decision you made even though it made you unpopular.
Most interviews will involve at least 1 question on problem solving – your example should show how you were creative (thinking outside of the box) and the outcome

17. Work Habits Type Questions
Practice
Work Habits Type Questions
Personal Work Habits
SKILL: Commitment to Tasks
QUESTION: (1) Describe a time in which you were able to be very persistent in order to reach goals. (2) Give an example of any specific time in which you found it necessary to give long hours to the job.
SKILL: Goal Setting
QUESTION: What has been your experience in defining long and short-range goals? Tell me what specific goal was set, how was it set, and how successful you were in its achievement?
SKILL: Organization and Planning
QUESTION: Many positions have well-established, standard methods to help you do the job. Give an example of a time when you found a systematic method for solving work problems to be a good routine to follow. How did your planning help you deal with the unexpected?
Work habits are very important to your new employer – communicate how committed to reaching your personal and mission goals, etc.

18. Communication Type Questions
Practice
Communication Type Questions
Communication
SKILL: Interaction
QUESTION: Being skillful in dealing with others on the job is an important factor in being productive. Describe a time when you were successful in dealing with another person because you built a trusting and harmonious relationship.
SKILL: Spoken Communication
QUESTION: Careful listening and effective communication go hand in hand. Tell about a specific time when your ability to listen helped you communicate better. Tell about a specific experience of yours that illustrates your ability to influence others verbally.
SKILL: Written Communication
QUESTION: In some jobs, it is necessary to document work thoroughly. Give an example of a project you completed that required detailed written documentation.
Be clear on how you achieve both oral and written communication and the highest level you’ve achieved this communication, i.e., AFRL Comptroller, AFRL Director, etc.

19. Step Five 5 4 3 2 1

20. General Tips Map your route to the interview site so you’re not late
Appropriate business attire is a must
Refer to your achievements often before your interview date, so they’re
fresh in your mind
Know your answers to probable questions before you walk in the door
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE your answers and your delivery… Ask others to critique you
If you have access to a video recorder, tape a mock interview so you
can see your nonverbal communication
The image you project and how you present yourself will be a
deal-maker or deal-breaker
NEVER answer a question with “I have never done that.” ALWAYS relate it
back to something you have done
If you have time left at the end of the interview, this is your opportunity to add any other information you’d like to share with the panel
Step 5 is the Interview Checklist – what to accomplish before you walk in the door for the interview, as well as some tips. Remember if you have additional time, give your 1 minute elevator speech on who you are/what makes you special

21. Summary You know yourself and what you have to offer
You know you and the position are a match
You know the organization’s history and the benefits you would bring to it
You have prepared a professional resume that ensured you made the
interview list
You’ve practiced, practiced, practiced your delivery
You’ve selected appropriate attire
You know answers to probable questions, including behavioral-based
questions
You’ve practiced your smile, eye contact, and firm handshake
You’ve made it to the interview site on time
THE ORGANIZATION COULDN’T LIVE WITHOUT YOU!
Summary – the more you Practice, the better you will perform!!!

22. HIRED!!
You're

23. Post Interview – Ask for Feedback
Ask for feedback regardless of if you were offered the
position or not
Revise your responses based on feedback received
Your career is a marathon not a sprint – there will be
other interviews down the road so maintain a file to help
you prep for the next one
Always ask for feedback and meet with as many panel members as possible to get their input. Update your Interview Brain Book!

24. Questions?