Tips for a good Curriculum

A job interview:

• It is an important tool to assess candidates for a position
• Its objective is to evaluate your personal competencies in relation to the job profile
• Prepare yourself with information, motivation, and a positive attitude

How to prepare for your interview?

Before applying for or attending an interview as a candidate for a vacant position:

• Conduct an analysis of the field or industry where you are seeking employment, for that:

Seek information about the existing companies and institutions:

How do they compete with each other? What position do they hold in the market? What are their future trends? What services or products do they offer?

• Familiarize yourself with the position you wish to occupy and gather information about similar positions.

Activities carried out, required computer knowledge and skills, necessary languages, offered salary, work schedules

• Reflect on why you believe you meet the required profile and ask yourself if you are prepared for that position.

To assess whether you are a candidate for the company or institution:

• Research the competencies promoted by the organization.
• Investigate the competencies required for the position you are interested in.
• Compare them with your personal competencies.

Company Competencies: They define its culture and are reflected in all positions.
Example: global thinking, teamwork, open communication, motivation, among others.

Job Competencies: Knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes that the company requires for the specific position to achieve the goals set by the organization.
Example: ability to persuade and sell, technical/professional knowledge, planning and organization, adaptability, building trust, among others.

Personal Competencies: Knowledge, skills, attitudes, and motivations that a person has acquired through education and experience to apply them in problem-solving or strategy creation, in addition to the specific competencies developed during professional or postgraduate studies.
Example: initiative, creativity, customer orientation, leadership, teamwork, adaptability, among others acquired through personal culture throughout university life and participation in the world of work.

The impression your resume makes is important, so we suggest:

• Check for spelling or typographical errors.
• Organize the information and keep it to a maximum of one or two pages.
• Omit obvious details, such as primary, secondary, and high school education.
• In the Professional Experience section, present information in descending order, starting with the most recent.
• Highlight achievements in your social service, internships, or previous jobs, indicating information that demonstrates your developed skills.
• Before submitting your resume, define the companies and positions you are interested in, so that when crafting your professional objective, you have a clear idea of the activities you want to pursue to demonstrate that you are the right person for the job.
• Be honest; exaggerations or lies can be detected during the interview.
• Use white paper to maintain the formality of the document. Special designs take up significant space and can make it difficult to send by email.
• Do not mention desired salary unless requested by the company or institution. If applicable, research the salary ranges for the position you are interested in based on your experience.
• Include your photograph only if requested, as it is not considered an essential element of the document.
• Maintain a consistent structure and order in presenting each section to ensure coherence and harmony in the document.

Before the Interview

Review your resume

If necessary, make adjustments to include achievements or experiences directly related to the job being offered.

If you are a designer, photographer, architect, or webmaster, you should bring your portfolio.

Interview location

• Find out the address of the company and the specific area where the interview will take place in advance.
• Confirm the name and position of the person who will be interviewing you.
• Prepare to answer questions about tasks or responsibilities.

The company or institution

Get informed and learn as much as possible about the company: its industry, services, benefits, current circumstances, and future vision.

Be punctual

Arrive 15 minutes early with a positive attitude.

During the Interview

Presentation

Present a neat personal appearance, take care of your grooming, and avoid excessive use of lotions or perfumes.

If you are a woman:

• Dress formally in discreet colors.
• Use subtle makeup and accessories.
• Pay attention to necklines and skirt length.
• Take care of your footwear.

If you are a man:

• Preferably wear a suit or a combination of a dark-colored jacket and pants (navy blue, black, or gray).
• Wear a long-sleeved shirt in a discreet color.
• Make sure that your tie, socks, and shoes match your attire.

Attitude

Show seriousness and respond honestly. Recruiters want to get to know you, assess your negotiation skills, and see how you handle yourself.

Body language

Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake and maintain eye contact at all times. Pay attention to your sitting position and posture. Smile and demonstrate enthusiasm and interest in the position. Try to communicate clearly and speak slowly, as this will help you control your nerves.

Show your skills and competencies

• Be courteous and polite from the beginning of the interview; demonstrate your social skills.
• Show that you are familiar with the company and have an interest in the vacant position.
• You should be able to interpret the information you receive and align it with your competencies to present yourself as the most suitable candidate.
• Provide clear and concise examples that relate to the questions asked, based on your most significant experiences.
• Remember to be convincing in order to minimize any objections that may arise.

Closing the interview

• Take the initiative at the end and ask for a date to know the outcome of the selection process, which will demonstrate your interest.
• Request business cards from the interviewers.
• Bid farewell politely.