Career tips and resources

It is said that “your resume gets you the interview and the interview gets you the job.” With this in mind, you are encouraged to take the time to prepare a well written resume and spend time preparing before your interview at LG&E and KU Energy.

Whenever you are applying to a position, it is strongly encouraged that you upload a resume with your application to better demonstrate your qualifications. Below are some basic ideas to consider when creating a resume.  You may want to search the Internet for further resume writing tips and strategies.

• Include a chronology of prior employers, titles, work responsibilities, and/or accomplishments.
• Complete a spell check of your resume or have someone else look it over.
• Note education, training, or certifications that you have completed or obtained.
• Customize your resume to the position for which you are applying.
• Document specialized skills, technologies, tools/equipment, or software that you are experienced in using.

After you have applied, your application and resume will be reviewed by our recruiting team.  If you are invited to participate in an interview, you will need to prepare to discuss your background. LG&E and KU uses behavioral-based interviewing to determine how you may have acted or responded to past situations. The questions are centered on different competencies (e.g. adaptability, analytical thinking, initiative, innovative thinking, team integration, etc.) that have been identified as important characteristics of the position.  You will need to be prepared to provide specific examples of the situation or task, the actions that you took, and the result of your actions or outcome achieved.

As you prepare for your interview, look through your resume carefully, think about each item listed, and what particular skills you have developed related to the job. The more concrete your examples, the better. Don’t forget to review the job posting (you will need to have saved this after you applied) and research the company so that you can come prepared to ask some questions.

After you have arrived for your interview (you are encouraged to arrive 15 minutes early), it is ok if you feel nervous or are anxious. We understand this and expect individuals to be a bit nervous during this experience. During the interview, if you need a moment to think of an example, say so. Interviewers understand. With your responses, be sure to include the following when answering the questions:

• A specific situation or task that you performed or with which you were involved
• The action you took
• The results or outcome (what happened, specific accomplishment, targets/goals achieved, etc.)

There are no right or wrong answers to behavior-based interview questions. The interviewer is simply trying to understand how you behaved in a given situation.  How you respond helps determine if there is a fit between your skills/experience and the position for which you are interviewing. Be sure to listen carefully, give clear and concise responses, and most importantly, be honest.

All of your examples do not have to be reflected on your resume, but generally it is best to use examples related to your previous work experiences. If you are new to the workforce or rejoining the workforce, provide examples related to school projects, community involvement or volunteer experiences. Be sure to use the most recent examples. The following are sample questions you may encounter in a behavioral- based interview. Keep in mind that they will vary depending on the knowledge, skills and experience required for the job:

• Tell me about a time when you had to communicate with customers or clients under difficult circumstances.
• Give me an example of a time when you were given tasks to accomplish without advance warning.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem.
• Tell me about a time when you had to use your presentation skills to influence someone's opinion.
• Give me a specific example of a time when you had to conform to a policy with which you did not agree.
• Please discuss an important written document you were required to complete.

For further information and assistance regarding resume writing or behavioral interviewing, you may want to conduct a general Internet search.