by Nusrat Alam

Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc., with the cooperation of IFSC and the Career Center, held three days of programs designed to help students with landing a job. The first day was focused on resume building and what was important to add to a resume and what one should leave out. As students, because we do not have that much work experience, we must emphasize our qualities and skills even more. In this case we must strategically embellish ourselves without over-exaggerating. Everything we put in our resume has to indeed be true and factual. Lying will only get you in trouble. Proper grammar is always a must! Never hand in a resume without checking it several times.

Two years ago alumnus Wai Lam, VP of FalconStor, told students how he goes through the huge piles of resumes that land on his desk. If he sees a spelling error - just one - the resume is automatically thrown out. He said that if someone doesn't care enough to check for misspellings, especially with spellcheckers so readily available, then they aren't going to be thorough in their work either so he doesn't want them working for him.  

Interviews are often the first impression an employer has of a prospective employee. How you dress has a great impact on if you will or will not land a job. It breaks or makes you. Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity Inc. held a Business Fashion Show on March 9th to show the dos and don'ts of how to dress in a business workplace. 

Besides just how you dress, your mannerisms are very important as well. First thing in greeting your interviewer, have a firm handshake! This is a body signal on how confident a person really is. When you sit, cross your legs and have your shoulders straight; do not slouch. Last of all, but maybe the most important, speak appropriately. Do not use slang or improper grammar, speak like an educated person. Always be professional.

Check out these sites for more help!

http://www.jobweb.com/Resumes_Interviews/default.htm

http://interview.monster.com/

http://www1.umn.edu/ohr/ecep/resume