Job Hunters Receive Tips On Getting Noticed
By Xuan Huynh
Lemke Ledger Staff
As the school year and many college careers came to a close, UA journalism students received this advice for the future: “Put your best forward.”
Sam Smith, the human resources director of the Little Rock-based full-service ad agency Cranford Johnson Robinson Woods, advised students on how to prepare a résumé, to highlight core competencies and to present themselves during an interview. Smith has been with CJRW since March 2008 and brings more than five years of human resources experience to the agency.
First and foremost, a resume must spark an employee’s interest, said Smith, a UA grad.
“You have two or three seconds to stand out, to capture attention for yourself,” Smith said. “Make yourself marketable.”
Present facts and only facts, Smith said, adding it is important to make sure everything is verified and nothing is “shady." That is, don’t push your prospective employer to have questions or doubts regarding your credibility.
Competencies are considered to be the knowledge, skills, abilities and behaviors that can be observed and measured. Employees are often evaluated for interpersonal skills, customer interactions, communication skills and innovation and creativity.
"Check out any experiences you’ve had because all are applicable,” Smith said. “Skills are developed along the way, whether you feel like they’re meaningless or worthless. All can be used to show what you can do.”
Smith offered a number of tips to job hunters:
• Look within your work experience, campus leadership and involvement and volunteer opportunities.
• Showcase yourself as a well-rounded person; you’re more than just academics.
• Do your homework before the interview. For structure interviews with commonly asked questions, research what possible questions might be asked and practice your answers.
“The questions are widely available, so there is no excuse not to be prepared,” Smith said. “Make the answers good, meaty. Saying ‘Because I’m a people person’ is the worst answer ever.”
Smith has been conducting behavioral interviews at CJRW, asking open-ended questions intended to elicit reactions to different scenarios. “Tell me about when…” or “Tell me about how…” allows prospective employers to gauge personality and character within the response, he said.
Before going to the interview, it is absolutely critical to have good questions ready for the interviewer. Smith said that without them, most employees will bypass hiring you.
Smile also mentioned the importance of appearance.
"It’s more than just attire, Smith said. "It’s your smile, posture and look of interest. Convey that you are comfortable and willing to be there.
Smith passed along his favorite piece of advice, courtesy of actor Will Rogers: “Never miss a good chance to shut up.”
He said sometimes it's beneficial to hold your tongue and listen.