Career Advice

The job seeking process is all about presentation. The candidate who presents him or herself in the best light, usually lands the job. Unfortunately, as a job seeker you only have a few opportunities to present yourself to an employer, so it's essential to make the most of these opportunities. To help you, we've got some resume tips and interview advice.

• Planning a Career in Science Education
  
  
• Career of the Month
  
  
• Resume Guidelines
  
  
• The Interview

Resume Guidelines

• Style Tips
  • Keep it simple – Use a clear, concise, well-organized design.
  • Represent your skills accurately; you want to be believable.
  • Use action words to describe what you’ve done.
  • Make sure your key strengths are easy to locate on the resume.
    
    
• Formatting
  • Carefully check your spelling, grammar, and dates. Remember you are trying to sell yourself and misspelled words do not reflect favorably.
  • Have more than one person read your resume. They may be more likely to spot typos that you’ve missed.
  • Chronological resumes are the most common type and are easier to follow than other formats.
  • Employers recommend that if you have more than five years of work experience, list your work experience at the top, then your education.
  • If you are a student or recent graduate with a GPA of 3.0 or higher then you should include your GPA on your resume. If your school uses a different scale than the 4.0 scale, be sure to explain.
  • If you are a student or recent graduate, include organization memberships, clubs, academic achievements (Dean’s list), or other appropriate engagements that highlight your willingness to learn, be part of a team, and/or be a leader.
    
    
• Submitting your Resume at the NSTA Career Center
  • Preview your resume often to make sure everything is displayed in the manner you intended.
  • Do not worry about how aesthetically pleasing your resume is on the NSTA Career Center. Everyone’s resume will look the same to employers.
  • The resume posting system can’t possibly accommodate every conceivable item that you may have on your resume. Just make it fit as best you can.
    
    
• Cover Letter
  • Highlight specific reasons you are applying for the position and ways you will benefit the employer. Your cover letter is a valuable tool if it’s written correctly. Don’t just rehash your resume.
  • Use key words from the prospective employer’s advertisement and match your skills to what the employer is seeking.
  • Indicate a date and time that you will follow-up with the potential employer. It is imperative to follow-up because it demonstrates initiative and persistence.
  • Have a friend proofread your cover letter. Grammatical and spelling mistakes can ruin an otherwise great package.
    
    

The Interview

• Preparing for the Big Day
  • Research the employer for a solid understanding of their mission and business.
  • Prepare questions you would like to ask the interviewer.
  • Run through a mock interview with a friend or family member
  • Review and be prepared for any of the following sample interview questions
  • Take out and prepare your outfit for the interview the night before. This will help you feel prepared. The last thing you need is to be stressed out immediately before the interview.
  • Get a good night’s sleep.
    
    
• Punctuality Counts!
  • Show up at least 15 minutes before the interview time.
  • Do not call the day of the interview to reschedule, unless it is a dire emergency.
  • If you are a smoker, do your best to abstain from smoking before the interview.
    
    
• Mannerisms
  • Be yourself!
  • Do not cross your arms during the interview. This body language suggests you are nervous and/or uncomfortable.
  • Look the prospective employer in the eye.
  • Shake hands with your right hand. A nice firm handshake indicates you are confident. Do not give a weak handshake or one that is too hard.
    
    
• Asking Questions
  • Do not be afraid to ask questions, but make sure they are relevant.
  • Ask some questions because it indicates that you care and are interested in the position.
    
    
• In Closing and Follow-Up
  • Thank everyone properly for his or her time.
  • Ensure that you understand what and when is the next step (if any) of the interview process.
  • Send thank you notes promptly to the interviewer(s) thanking them for their time. This is one of the most important and often overlooked steps in the interview process.