RESUMES

1. CREATING A RESUME2. TYPES OF RESUME3. SETTING OBJECTIVES4. TARGETTING YOUR RESUME5. SALIENT POINTS OF RESUME6. THINGS TO AVOID.

FOUR BASICS

• Make certain your resume and cover letter are completely accurate and a true reflections of your experiences.

• Illustrate your skills and abilities by relating your specific accomplishments instead of merely listing the jobs you held.

• If you are mailing your resume and cover letter, use 8.5 inches X 11inches sheets of good quality paper in white, off-white, or a muted neutral colour.

• Use readable typeface. Steer clear of trendy or unusual fonts, and keep the size at 12 points – no larger, and never below 10 points.

CREATING A CV

1. PERSONAL BACKGROUND / CONTACT INFO FULL NAME.

DATE OF BIRTH. MARITAL STATUS. PHONE NUMBER ( S ) , FAX & E-MAIL HOME ADDRESS ( PRESENT & PERMANENT ) NATIONALITY.2. OBJECTIVE ( S )3. EDUCATION4. EXPERIENCE / EMPLOYMENT INCLUDING

ACCOMPLISHMENTS5. SKILLS / INTERESTS /HOBBIES / LANGUAGES6. COVERING LETTER

A STATEMENT OF YOUR OBJECTIVE

• THIS LETS THE READER QUICKLY ASSESS THE KIND OF JOB YOU’RE LOOKING FOR AND THE EXPERIENCE OR SKILLS THAT MAKE YOU QUALIFIED FOR IT. ( IF YOU’RE APPLYING FOR A SPECIFICJOB, TAILOR THE OBJECTIVE ACCORDINGLY )

• “ SEEK ENTRY-LEVEL POSITION IN SALES THAT PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO USE MY COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND MY ABILITY TO REACH & EXCEED QUOTAS”

• “ GOAL IS TO WORK AS AN INSIDE-SALES SUPPORT MANAGER, PUTTING TO FULLER USE THE MANAGERIAL SKILLS & TECHINICAL KNOWLWDGE I GAINED AS ASSISTANT MANAGER AT INFOSYS”

SETTING OBJECTIVES

1. THE MORE FOCUSSED YOUR OBJECTIVES THE MORE SUCCESSFUL YOUR CV IS LIKELY TO BE. 2. REMEMBER YOUR CAREER OBJECTIVES WILLNOT BE THE SAME AS OTHERS. 3. LEARN LESSONS FROM PAST EXPERIENCE TO USE IN THE FUTURE. 4. BE PREPARED TO REVIEW AND REVISE YOUR OBJECTIVES. 5. BE POSITIVE ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN ACHIEVE IN THE FUTURE.

TYPE OF CVSTYPE USE

FUNCTIONAL

HIGHLIGHTS YOURPRINCIPAL SKILLSAND STRENGTHSRATHER THANCAREER HISTORY

MOST USEFUL FORFIRST TIME JOB HUNTERS AND THOSE SEEKING ACHANGE OF CAREER DIRECTION, AS THE EMPHASIS IS NOT ON CAREERHISTORY BUTON TRANSFERABLESKILLS.

TYPES OF CV

TYPE USE

CHRONOLOGICAL

LISTS YOUR EMPLOYMENTHISTORY IN REVERSECHRONOLOGICALORDER

MOST EFFECTIVEWHEN YOU ARE APPLYING FORJOBS IN THE SAME LINE OF WORK AND YOUR CVDEMONSTRATESA CLEAR RECORDOF CAREERPROGRESSION.

TYPE USE

ONE PAGE SUMMARY

SUMMARIZE YOUR CAREERAND DISPLAYS YOUR TRACK RECORD

MOST EFFECTIVE FOR SENIOR MANAGERS ORTHOSE LOOKING FOR FREELANCE OR TEMPORARY WORK. MAY BESPECIFICALLY REQUESTED BY HEAD HUNTERS OREMPLOYERS.

TARGETTING YOUR CV

1. READERS WILL BE LOOKING FORREASONS TO SCREEN YOU OUT, SO

ALWAYS REREAD YOUR APPLICATION. 2. THE JOB APPLICATION WILL BE READ

BY DIFFERENT PEOPLE WITH VARYING PERSPECTIVES AND ATTITUDES.

3. KEY WORDS AND PHRASES RELATINGTO THE JOB NEED TO BE INCLUDED IN

THE APPLICATION. 4. A CULTURE FIT WITH A PROSPECTIVE

EMPLOYER IS ESSENTIAL.

SALIENT POINTS OF CV

1. ENSURE THAT YOUR CV IS CONCISE AND EASY TO READ.

2. AVOID USING OVERLY FORMAL LANGUAGE IN YOUR CV OR COVERING LETTER.

3. ENSURE THAT YOUR ABILITIES ARE NOT OBSERVED BY TOO MUCH DETAIL.

4. USE GOOD-QUALITY PAPER AND A CLEAR, PLEASING LAYOUT.

5. WRITE IN AN EASILY READABLE STYLE.6. COMMUNICATE COMPLICATED SUBJECTS

SIMPLY AND CLEARLY.7. NO SPELLING MISTAKES.

8. SELECT RELEVANT PERSONAL INFORMATION AND CAREER DETAILS.

9. INCLUDE APPROPRIATE QUALIFICATION AND EMPLOYMENT HISTORY.

10. BE PREPARED TO EDIT, RE-EDIT AND REVISE YOUR CV MANY TIMES.

11. MAKE SURE THAT WHATEVER JOB YOU ARE APPLYING FOR, YOUR SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS STAND OUT.

THINGS TO AVOID

1. DO NOT LIE.

2. DO NOT INCLUDE SALARY DETAILS.

3. DO NOT ATTACH A PHOTOGRAPH.

4. DO NOT UNDERSELL YOUR-SELF.

5. DO NOT FORGET THE IMPORTANCE OF FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

6. DO NOT INCLUDE REFERENCES - THEY MIGHT BE REQUESTED LATER.

COVERING LETTER

• AS YOU COMPOSE YOUR APPLICATION LETTER, KEEP FIRMLY IN MIND WHAT YOU’RE SELLING – YOUR ABILITIES , YOUR SKILLS , YOUR EXPERIENCE & YOUR EDUCATION AS THEY RELATE TO THE EMPLOYMENT NEEDS OF THE COMPANY.

• YOU HAVE TO CONVINCE THE READER THAT YOU MAY WELL BE THE BEST PERSON FOR THE POSITION ; DO THAT BY STATING WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR THE COMPANY , NOT WHAT THE COMPANY CAN DO FOR YOU.