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TIPS ON RESUME WRITING
YOUR
RESUME OR CURRICULUM VITAE
(CV)
A
resume or curriculum vitae
(CV)
is a marketing tool. With your resume you will be able to promote yourself.
Think of your CV as being a brochure that will list the benefits of a particular
service. The service being your time and skills! When writing a CV look at it
from your employers point of view. Would you stand out against the competition
(the other candidates) and would the manager want to talk you for a possible
job?
You have to ask yourself these questions when writing your resume.
Networking and interviewing are essential for your job hunt and your CV is just
the first step in the job search. However a CV will be your first contact with
potential employers and will open the door.
A great
resume doesn't just tell them what you have done but makes the same assertion
that all good ads do:
If you buy this product, you will get these specific, direct benefits.
It presents you in the best light. It convinces the employer that you have what
it takes to be successful in this new position or career.
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REASONS TO HAVE A RESUME
-
To pass the employer's screening process (requisite educational
level, number years' experience, etc.), to give basic facts which might
favorably influence the employer (companies worked for, political
affiliations, racial minority, etc.). To provide contact information: an
up-to-date address and a telephone number (a telephone number which will
always be answered during business hours).
-
To establish you as a professional person with high standards and
excellent writing skills, based on the fact that the resume is so well done
(clear, well-organized, well-written, well-designed, of the highest
professional grades of printing and paper). For persons in the art,
advertising, marketing, or writing professions, the resume can serve as a
sample of their skills.
-
To have something to give to potential employers, your job-hunting
contacts and professional references, to provide background information, to
give out in "informational interviews" with the request for a critique (a
concrete creative way to cultivate the support of this new person), to send a
contact as an excuse for follow-up contact, and to keep in your briefcase to
give to people you meet casually - as another form of "business card."
-
To use as a covering piece or addendum to another form of job
application, as part of a grant or contract proposal, as an accompaniment to
graduate school or other application.
-
To put in an employer's personnel files.
-
To help you clarify your direction, qualifications, and strengths,
boost your confidence, or to start the process of committing to a job or
career change.
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Your Guide to Resume Writing
How to Prepare an Effective
Resume
Resume Essentials
Before you write, take
time to do a self-assessment on paper. Outline your skills and abilities as well
as your work experience and extracurricular activities. This will make it easier
to prepare a thorough resume.
The Content of Your Resume
Name, address, telephone, e-mail address, web site address
All your contact
information should go at the top of your resume.
-
Avoid nicknames.
-
Use a permanent address. Use
your parents' address, a friend's address, or the address you plan to use after
graduation.
-
Use a permanent telephone number
and include the area code. If you have an answering machine, record a neutral
greeting.
-
Add your e-mail address. Many
employers will find it useful. (Note: Choose an e-mail address that sounds
professional.)
-
Include your web site address
only if the web page reflects your professional ambitions.
Objective or Summary
An objective tells
potential employers the sort of work you're hoping to do.
-
Be specific about the job you
want. For example: To obtain an entry-level position within a financial
institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills.
-
Tailor your objective to each
employer you target/every job you seek.
Education
New graduates without a
lot of work experience should list their educational information first. Alumni
can list it after the work experience section.
-
Your most recent educational
information is listed first.
-
Include your degree (A.S., B.S.,
B.A., etc.), major, institution attended, minor/concentration.
-
Add your grade point average
(GPA) if it is higher than 3.0.
-
Mention academic honors.
Work Experience
Briefly give the employer
an overview of work that has taught you skills. Use
action words to describe your job duties.
Include your work experience in reverse chronological order—that is, put your
last job first and work backward to your first, relevant job. Include:
-
Title of position,
-
Name of organization
-
Location of work (town, state)
-
Dates of employment
-
Describe your work
responsibilities with emphasis on
specific skills and achievements.
Other information
A staff member at your
career services office can advise you on other information to add to your
resume. You may want to add:
-
Key or special skills or
competencies,
-
Leadership experience in
volunteer organizations,
-
Participation in sports.
References
Ask people if they are
willing to serve as references before you give their names to a
potential employer.
Do not include your
reference information on your resume. You may note at the bottom of your resume:
"References furnished on request."
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What Employers
Want
Employers say they want
trustworthy new hires who can move right in, get along with their co-workers,
and get the job done without having to be babied at each step.
Top 10 Qualities
Employers Seek
-
Communication skills
(verbal and written)
-
Honesty/integrity
-
Teamwork skills (works
well with others)
-
Interpersonal skills
(relates well to others)
-
Motivation/initiative
-
Strong work ethic
-
Analytical skills
-
Flexibility/adaptability
-
Computer skills
-
Organizational skills
Employers Rate the Importance of Experience
5-point scale:
5=Extremely important; 1=Not important
Relevant work experience
...................................... 4.0
Internship experience ............................................ 3.9
Any work experience ............................................. 3.6
Co-op experience .................................................. 3.2
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Tips
Resume exposes the job-seeker to age discrimination by going too
far back into the job-seeker's job history.
The rule of thumb for someone at
the senior level is to list about 15 years worth of jobs. Age discrimination,
unfortunately, is a reality, and even more likely, employers may think you're
too expensive if you list too much experience on your resume. Similarly, don't
provide the date of your college graduation if it was more than about 10 years
ago.
The bottom line is that if you apply for a
job with a company that searches databases for keywords. If your resume doesn't
have the keywords the software will not pick it up and you will loose the
opportunity.
Internet Posting
Beyond a resume that an be sent as an
e-mail attachment, it's crucial these days to have at least one type of
electronic version of your resume for sending via e-mail and posting to Internet
job boards. It's an absolute must these days because, as noted earlier, 80
percent of resumes today are placed directly into keyword-searchable databases.
Read more in our article,
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