I have recently come to a situation where I need to find a good job: a career. I can't seem to find it. Everytime I look for something along the line of what I want... I have to have experience in order to get that job. Well, I don't have it. I need to go to school for that... BUT I NEED MONEY TO GO TO SCHOOL! What are some good tips for good interview, or one's resume? I am tired of working part-time. I want to make a living doing what I do best.

What type of jobs are you interested? I am guessing is related to art?

Every job is different, and the way you get into a field depends on the job you're looking for. So like Nyu said, what sort of job were you looking for?

I'm currently on a four week long course that is Pre-apprenticeship Training. Gives me a food hygene, health and safety, key skills and first aid certificates as well as going over my CV/resume and interview techneques. It's also padded out with all the customer care and communication skills.
You would basically be doing eighteen months of college in just four short weeks. You'll see these courses popping up in your job papers but the idea only started two weeks ago so just ask your job advisors or try those job papers.

In interviews never give a negative responce. If you feel that you have no experiance in a role then break it up - You will see the generic parts like customer care, teamwork, solutions handling etc.
ALWAYS!!! Give a reason why you say you have skill one and experiance two - Example: I'm honest, because I'm a key holder to premisis and the safe of my previous employer. I have experiance in talking to customers both face to face and over the phone because I worked as the receptionist for Company abc where customers will appear or phone at any time of the working day.
You should do ninty percent of the talking and qestion asking ;P

I see.

Oh, and yes... I am looking somewhere along the line of art. I'm doing storyboarding right now. A buddy of mine asked me if I wanted to be an extra for a movie. I naturally said yes, since it's not everyday an opportunity like that falls next to me. I met a guy who was in need of a storyboard artist. Though, I never had an experience I took the initiative and took the job. Only thing is... I don't know if he will pay me for it... not to mention it's a short term work.

That's besides the point. I don't have any experience to put down on my resume. I am very tempted to bullshit the whole resume. That's not uncommon, is it?

Don't lie. They ask questions that leave you stuttering and making retarded sounds as you think up the answer.

If you feel that you have no experiance in a role then break it up - You will see the generic parts like customer care, teamwork, solutions handling etc.
You have experiance in your stotyboard role so use that to claim you have experiance in thinking and imagination. Educated in art, mention any similar projects you did during your educations, saying that it was a topic you enjoyed.

I am very tempted to bullshit the whole resume. That's not uncommon, is it?

Do not do that. It may cause you a negative view in the future and with the current client if find out.

My recommendation is to showcase your storyboards in a personal website or a website that does not have links to other people's work. Put the link in your résumé, so they can easily access your work and judge it. If they call/e-mail you for an interview, bring a portfolio with your storyboards for a presentation. In a black foam-board or a binder with each camera shot numbered and with all the descriptions and arrow signs needed.

And like Hantony said, you should do most of the talk. Since you are selling yourself, you need to tell them why you are good for them. Explain the camera shots of your storyboard, Why did you decide to make this frame from this camera view? Why did you decided to make a camera panning in this shot? Why are you giving X or Y instruction in the frame? Etc. If you are able to explain the reasons of what you have done in the previsualization, it means that you understand what you are doing.

Also, avoid working without a contract. If something goes wrong or you do not get paid, the contract will save you of future problems. Avoid underselling yourself if the job is a commercial one. If you get less money than a McDonald employee, the job is not worth for you, with the exception of having it as experience in your résumé and for references also. But once you have many, it will be a total waste of time. (Points to indie/student films that pay low or do not have money to pay for anything).

Being interviewed is relatively simple if you remember these few things:

1) Realize that majority of facilities follow "Robert's Rules of Order" when doing an interview. You may want to skim through a copy of it to find out how they run meetings so that you can get a full scoping of what they will be doing and how they are organized. Usually, the interview starts with personal introductions of the corporation first, and they ask about you second. Do not give a programmed answer at this point. Instead, tell them who you really are and ever-so-slightly touch the company's mission statement without using their words. For example: a company slogan of "You Create Reality, We Make It Fantasy" can be easily broken down to a personal introduction talking about how you've never let limitations block your imagination. This says the same thing, but not using any of their words.

2) The interview is usually a filtration process to determine the final candidates for a job, but *not who gets the job*. Instead, they usually work off of personality and vigor towards the position. Most times, your highest impact is given through the small talk held after the formal interview; be sure to shine your brightest there.

3) Never lie, even if what you state will be for your negative, you can quickly follow up on it with why it was negative or about how you're working to improve yourself. While it is nice to have someone that is 100% positive about their career being interviewed, it's rare to find someone that recognizes their faults and are working to correct them (shows maturity, independence, and passion toward the field). So don't fear negative answers, but instead follow up on them such as "I'm afraid I haven't done that, but I would most likely..." and fit it to your situation. Since I'm in a technical field, I can follow up saying "...research the matter and follow the industry's standard. If that solution doesn't work, then I would slightly tweak the areas identified in conflict in terms of value to cost". For art, I would say that you would most likely have something similar, but more along the lines of self improvement and seminars.

4) Bring two copies of a portfolio of your work, but do not show any of it unless it relates to a question or inquiry from them. Only then can you bring out an example of something you worked on to the board. Pass around two of them when the time comes. At the end of the meeting, let them keep a copy; this shows integrity.

5) Everything is experience, even if it's not a formal job. If you have done independent work where you produced an output, and it is directly related to your field, it is job experience. Do not be ashamed to put it on your resume. Most corporations understand that people from college don't have much practical experience, but if you have done independent work in your field, it is good to tell them that you have done it once before. This shows passion.

6) Avoid all paralanguage. "Um" and "ahh" and "hm" sounds should not be said. If you do say them, the people reviewing you will think that you have poor communication skills or are scatterbrained.

7) Don't be afraid to take your time to answer a question. It is better to answer a question completely rather than quickly. Similarly, don't be afraid to ask for more details on a question that they ask you. Most times, the confusion is in the wording of the question, not the content.

If you're a good artist, you should be able to get an entry-level job with your art alone if you look hard enough, even if it's something simple you don't really want to do for a living. I would never lie on anything. Your integrity is extremely valuable, especially as an artist; if you lie on your resume, what's to say you won't plagiarize, too? A lying artist is a liability, not as asset. If you start lying now, your career is going to be a short one!\

The job you're doing now is a good one, and you didn't lie to get it, right? Do a few more crappy, easy jobs like that to build yourself an honest resume, and get great at what you do. Then jam your foot into someone's door firmly and honestly to make sure it stays there. =D

Wow... these are some good stuff. What about following up after a job interview? Do employers look for that kind of stuff, or do they find it irritating. Or asking them to hire me even after they already said "no". The thing is, I currently don't have a job, and I don't have money, so naturally I'm desperate.

If they said no, then is no. If it is possible, ask why you were not hired. Also, if you were not accepted now, you can still try in the future to apply in the same place.


For generic jobs you can check this sites:


http://www.careerbuilder.com/

http://hotjobs.yahoo.com/jobs/

http://www.snagajob.com/


I would list craiglist, but that place is full of SPAM and crap.

Wow... these are some good stuff. What about following up after a job interview? Do employers look for that kind of stuff, or do they find it irritating. Or asking them to hire me even after they already said "no". The thing is, I currently don't have a job, and I don't have money, so naturally I'm desperate.

Personally, I'm annoyed if someone asks that of me. It's better to ask at the end of the interview an estimated date of appointment if you got the job. From there, make your phonecall milestone 3/4 of the time from the interview to the appointed date. That's usually when they make the phoncalls. If they say that they don't have an estimated date, call them about 10 weeks after the interview. Generally by then they should have went through the interviewing process for your cluster.

Unless you're applying for a government position, which then you better be ready to wait upwards of a month to find anything out.

I have a question related to résumé:


I have 5 certificates. Should I put them under education or should I open a new section titled "Certificates"?


Edit:

In the "Technical Skills" section, should I just add the skills related to the position I want? There are some that are irrelevant and I am not sure if should be included since is from another field and would not have any possible effect.

I have a question related to résumé:


I have 5 certificates. Should I put them under education or should I open a new section titled "Certificates"?


Edit:

In the "Technical Skills" section, should I just add the skills related to the position I want? There are some that are irrelevant and I am not sure if should be included since is from another field and would not have any possible effect.

A general rule is that two paragraphs, a paragraph and any number of bullet points, or four (or eight if two columns used) bullet points gets a heading (major or minor). The goal is to be able to quickly reference any section of the resume without having to read through it to find more information. Think of it as a numbered outline with how easy it is to tell someone where the information is.

Also, when you say Certificates, do you mean Certifications (like a legal bar exam, teaching bar exams, and the many computer certifications) or do you mean like "Honor Role" and "Leadership Merit"? Generally, if the certificates cannot be identified by a common person in your field, then you shouldn't include them on the list (even if you have them). For example, going with my computer science background again, I placed 2nd in a Regional SkillsUSA competition and was awarded the John Phillip Sousa award in High School, obtained over forty Solo/Ensemble metals, and also was also certified in Technical Writing when in College. None of these were put onto my resume. Instead, I put down certifications that enforced my education that are industry buzz words: Lead Six Sigma - GB, Security+, Linux+.

Also, do not put down mild certifications. Some people see these and instantly lower you on the scale because of the simplicity of the certification.

Technical Skills generally remarks what areas you have more detail in regarding your education. If it was in art, you would place down art styles/techniques. In sciences, you would put down particular focuses such as sound studies or detailed psychology. You can also put in general elements such as Leadership and Organization in this area as well.

Thanks!

The certificates are from an Art University. Each certificate is from individual courses I took in that university (Traditional art + 1 digital).

In Technical skills what I am listing is the software I know how to use, Photoshop, Illustrator, inDesign, Dreamweaver, Quark, etc. However, I also have knowledge of audio software.

Should I include my musical education? I studied Piano Performance in the Conservatory of Music from here but I did not finish my studies there in its totality, though I spent many years there.

Should I put under my Bachelor degree "Graduated August, 2010" or just the month and year is enough? Does it matter the honors under the Bachelor degree?

In 2009 I worked as a clerk for less than a month and in the same month I started working as a graphic designer for the same company, is it ok just to put the month and not the day? I do not remember the day.

When I worked for a printing company as a graphic designer, I did other activities not related to my position. Should I just put "Graphic Designer" or add something else as "Assisted in other areas"?

I was an assistant in a salesmen training, is it worth to mention that? My help was minimal.

Currently I am a freelance graphic designer, should I write down what kind of projects I have done? (brand identity, package design, magazine design, Covers, etc) and should I also mention the clients I had?

Should I keep a general objective or write an individual one for each company I am interested? Is it ok to Omit this?

I know I have many questions... Sorry... :heh: I always have problems with résumés... and frustrated me of what I should put or not. :hey: If anyone is able to answer any of my question I would be thankful for your help.

Edit #1:

I was assistant in the salesmen training 3 times, each one of 8 hours long.

Edit #2:

If I am asked in an interview about salary, what would be the best way to avoid this? After saying I prefer to talk about it when things are clearer. In case they push.

Sometimes they ask for salary historial, does this have a big impact in how much you would be paid?