Writing A Great Resume!
Writing A Great Resume!
If you are looking for a job, then it is very important that you understand how to offer yourself in the best way to an employer.
This is done by writing a ‘CV‘ (curriculum vitae – Latin for ‘life story’), called in some countries a ‘resume’.
Different countries may have different requirements and styles for CV resumes. So you must follow the correct practice for your culture and country.
What IS a resume?
A Resume is a self-promotional document that presents you in the best possible light, for the purpose of getting invited to a job interview. It’s not an official personnel document. It’s not a job application. It’s not a career obituary! And it’s not a confessional.
What Contents within the Resume?
It’s not just about past jobs! It’s about YOU, and how you performed and what you accomplished in those past jobs–especially those accomplishments that are most relevant to the work you want to do next. A good resume predicts how you might perform in that desired future job.
What is the fastest way to improve a resume?
Remove everything that starts with responsibilities included and replace it with on-the-job accomplishments.
Most common resume mistake made by job hunters!
Leaving out their Job Objective! If you don’t show a sense of direction, employers won’t be interested. Having a clearly stated goal doesn’t have to confine you if it’s stated well.
What’s the first step in writing a resume?
Decide on a job target (or job objective) that can be stated in about 5 or 6 words. Anything beyond that is probably fluff and indicates a lack of clarity and direction.
Chronological resume or a Functional one?
The Chronological format is widely preferred by employers, and works well if you’re staying in the same field (especially if you’ve been upwardly-mobile).
Only use a Functional format if you’re changing fields, and you’re sure a skills-oriented format would show off your transferable skills to better advantage; and be sure to include a clear chronological work history!
What if you don’t have any experience in the kind of work you want to do?
Get some! Find a place that will let you do some volunteer work right away. You only need a brief, concentrated period of volunteer training (for example, 1 day a week for a month) to have at least SOME experience to put on your resume.
Also, look at some of the volunteer work you’ve done in the past and see if any of that helps document some skills you’ll need for your new job.
Writing Resumes without Mistakes
Resume and curriculum vitae act as entry tickets to a job. Today’s world is full of competition. A prospective employer is in search for a person who is active, productive, and skillful in nature and with a positive attitude.
The resume should reflect the attitude and details of education, age, qualification, experience etc. The resume should be written with relevance to the particular job.
Gone are the days where one resume was used for all the jobs. The resume should be attractive enough to catch the attention of the employer among the thousands of resumes. It is important that the resume should be free from any common mistakes.
Effective resume writing:
An effective resume should contain basic sections viz., complete and powerful contact information, headline of what is being offered by the employee to the employer, summary of skills – highlighting relevant skills will be an added advantage,
professional experience which has to be relevant and last but not the least educational qualification- details of grades, year of passing etc.
An effective resume will be free from grammatical and spelling mistakes. This shows the command over the language. Hence, it is very important to proof-read more than twice to avoid any mistakes in the resume.
Common mistakes in a resume:
The resume with irrelevant contents is a common mistake, like the information regarding the children, spouse, hobbies etc and also when applying for a computer job, it is irrelevant to show an experience of a position held as an accountant.
When using creative fonts, one has to be very careful. It might be easier to read on the computer of the person writing the resume, but not necessarily it can be readable in the employer’s computer. If the font is not found in the computer it will show bizarre information.
The resume should not be like a job application, the previous employer’s name, contact information of the previous employer; reasons for leaving the job are irrelevant in the resume.
Never get obsessed about the length of the resume but focus on the content. Also personal pronouns like “I”, “me” should be avoided, as it might pose you as an egoistic person.
When sending resumes to multiple recruiters never send it via one email, as personalized addressing is very important.
Are you about to record your first voice CV?
Congratulations, you are one of the progressive jobbers who have realized that a voice Curriculum vitae is huge positive statement on your job application.
Why? Because your resume is probably your best shot – and in many cases the only shot at you getting an interview.
Typical busy bee recruiter has less than 2 minutes for a resume – if at all that. Your voice CV buys you some additional time, if you get some of the smarts:
Decide the approach for your voice CV: (A) I am going to present highlights from my resume (B) I am going to add information to my resume (C) I am going to build intrigue with a story or an achievement (D) What are attention grabbers – in a 1 minute voice recording you should have 3 or 4 attention grabbers.
Here is your check list:
1. I have a script before I can record
2. I have rehearsed and heard myself, I slept over the script and it looks good
3. Someone listened to my voice CV and gave me feedback (not a patronizing friend)
4. My voice CV adds value to my job resume – in 4 or 5 specific points
5. There is quantification of my achievements that a recruiter can relate to
You have a great voice, then
(not because you can sing in the shower or your friends thought so)
Do not get carried by the voice and try to sound good
Do not over stylize
Remember not everyone with a great voice made a great orator or a singer
Nothing unusual about your voice resume then
Good, focus on the content
Speak slowly, clearly
Choose words that make you sound better
Short sentences help you sound better
Choose to present in lists
Remember some of the greatest singers or orators did not have the best of voices
End note: Your voice CV is about your career and not your voice – So try one.
I have a voice CV, but do not know of a place to post it?
Oh that’s easy
GoRecroot is one of the better places for a multi media career portfolio.
Why You Only Really Need Four Sample Resumes
Any job seeker looking for sample resumes usually doesn’t have to look very far.
A multitude of sites today are offering free sample resumes on the internet in addition to the avalanche of books that are released each year touting resume examples.
With this kind of information overload it can be quite easy for the unsuspecting job seeker to become mired down in sample resumes, moving from one to the next in their pursuit of the ‘ultimate’ professional resume example that will land them the job of their dreams.
Every book and website has a different twist, a different acclamation to insure you their samples resumes are the absolute best. The truth is that sample resumes, for the most part, do not vary much.
That is not to say there are not certain guidelines and tips a job seeker should follow, but there is not a free resume example in the world that will get you the job you want. Only your skills, experience and determination will land you the job you seek.
Sample resumes do serve a purpose and that is to assist you in placing your information on a resume in the manner that will best market your skills and experience to the employer. In order to do that, you do not need to surf thousands of web pages or study an entire library of books on sample resumes.
You simply need to understand the purpose of each of the four basic types of resume and current resume guidelines.
Functional Sample Resumes
In a sample functional resume, the focus is on your skills rather than your work history.
This type of format is great for individuals who may not have remained at jobs for long periods of time or for individuals who have held numerous jobs.
This type of resume can also work well for individuals who are changing careers and want to shift the focus from their work history and what they may have done in the past to their skills and what they wish to do in the future.
Chronological Sample Resumes
In a chronological resume, the focus is on work history, giving a clear indication of where you have worked and how long you worked there.
This type of resume is good for individuals who have had a stable work history and are looking to stay within the same career field.
Combination Same Resumes
In a combination resume, the benefits of the chronological and the functional resumes can be combined in order to emphasize specific transferable skills.
Curriculum Vitae Sample Resumes
A curriculum vitae, or CV resume differs from the chronological and functional resume in that it can be a bit longer and contains information the other two resumes do not such as description of papers written,
and related professional and association memberships. This type of resume is geared towards individuals who are applying for work in international firms or in academic fields.
Resume Guidelines
In regards to guidelines, sample resumes usually give the same advice.
Include an objective statement that is clear, focused and concise.
Do not include personal information such as marital status and age.
Focus on accomplishments, not activities.
Above all, be honest.
Avoiding Cv Writing Disaster – Statistically Proven Curriculum Vitae Slips
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to get inside the mindset of HR departments and employers and know exactly what they’re looking for in an applicant’s Curriculum Vitae and interview?
It’s always difficult to know how a given employer will react to specific elements of your CV – is it a positive thing to be in demand, undertaking interviews at many companies,
or does it suggest you’re disloyal to your potential new boss? Is being in a job a long time a sign of loyalty or stagnation, and is looking to move on quickly from company to company a sign of ambition or simply job hopping?
Well, of course the response varies from person to person but a few surveys on the subject give some indication of general trends of opinion from surveyed employers on topics from lies on a
CV or covering letter to the pedantry of human resources departments.
The first point of interest from these statistics is that 86% of interviewers surveyed are sceptical of Curriculum Vitaes and applications forms, and believe that there are at best exaggerations and at worst downright lies.
The same survey indicates that just over a third of CVs are 100% factually accurate. Overlooking the dishonesty inherent in the whole process for a moment here,
it seems it’s right for the employers to be sceptical – and as such there is a real advantage in being honest and up front when CV writing and in your interview:
Convince your interviewer that you are the honest type and that there are no lies on your CV or covering letter, and you’re in the honest attractive minority – that bit more likely to receive a job offer at the end of the interview process.
On a related note, having reliable and complimentary references is essential. 59% of those surveyed mentioned having to withdraw job offers to successful applicants on the basis of poor references – to be so close,
only to fail on a poor reference either means exaggerated Curriculum Vitae, or a poor choice of referee. By being truthful (though bold) with your CV writing,
and ensuring your references are prepared to give solid endorsement, you can not only ensure that you avoid the heartbreak of a withdrawn job offer,
but also guarantee you’re a superb backup candidate should this fate befall your competitor! According to the survey, 85% of interviewers contact at least one reference to ensure they’ve got the right person for the job – this is one corner that should not be cut!
Here’s a fact likely to perturb the thousands of youngsters graduating the University system each year – only 8% of interviewers believe that academic qualifications give any indication to a candidate’s job suitability.
Obviously doctors, scientists and academics will need a good University degree, but it appears the best CV writing strategy is to concentrate on the attitude,
skills and knowledge, rather than to rely on your academic qualifications. With such little credence seemingly given to ‘book smarts’ it appears insane for anyone to lie on a CV and forge qualifications
– but people do! It’s a foolish risk to take, especially when you consider that two thirds of interviewers check up on professional qualifications, and well over half check up on academic accreditation claimed!
Finally, when it comes to posting your application through, here’s some eyebrow raising stats about the nature of HR departments from the Royal Mail: 83% of them will reject incomplete or inaccurately addressed CVs and covering letters out of hand,
55% of them gave significant favour to those addressed to a named person and over 60% found applicants including a photo resulted in lowering their opinion of the person applying.
Apparently a little more care and research in the distributions of applications along with a little less vanity will go a long way to impressing human resource managers with your curriculum vitae and covering letter!
Do I Need a Resume or Curriculum Vita?
If you’re confused about the difference between a resume and a curriculum vita (CV), you’re not alone! Both are job-seeking documents used to help you obtain a job interview with a prospective employer.
Both a resume and CV list relevant information about your background and your qualifications. To add to the confusion about these job-seeking tools, many people use these terms interchangeably. What are the differences?
The Resume
A resume is an overview of your relevant work experience, skills, education, and any other information related to the targeted job, such as volunteer work or professional memberships.
There are three primary types of resumes: functional, chronological, and combination. A functional resume highlights skills, abilities, and education rather than work history.
A true functional-style resume does not list employment dates. A chronological resume highlights employment (or volunteer work)
shown in reverse-chronological format; that is, the most recent employment is listed first. A combination-style resume combines elements of the functional and chronological styles. Most resumes are one or two pages long.
For most job applications, a combination style resume is the best choice many applicants, including college students and new graduates.
Even though work history on a graduate resume may not be as extensive as for that of a seasoned employee, a chronological work history can demonstrate transferable skills and dependability.
A purely functional style resume would not provide this advantage, and yet a purely chronological style would not allow for additional information highlighting relevant skills or other information.
The Curriculum Vita
A CV is a more detailed listing of information used by applicants in select fields, such as the medical and education industries.
The format of a CV is sometimes similar to that of a resume, but it is typically a straightforward listing of information.
A CV includes information such as employment, education, and publications in a reverse-chronological order. It is often used by those seeking advanced positions in the medical and teaching professions.
For example, someone applying for a university teaching position would list his or her education, classes taught, and any relevant publications. CVs can be much longer than a traditional resume.
A CV may also be required for those applying to graduate school, although again, a CV is typically used for specific fields, such as research or teaching.
However, if you are applying for a position in a foreign country, you may need a CV. A professional resume writer can help you determine whether you should use a resume or a CV for these types of positions.
Which Do I Need?
For most new graduates and college students, a resume is the best option to use for job application purposes. There is a bit more room for creativity
(in styling, not false information!) with a resume. Additionally, resumes are traditionally what hiring managers expect to see unless specifically noted otherwise.
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