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This brief presentation offers general tips for designing your resume. It focuses on the primary purpose of resumes, areas to focus on, and content for inclusion and exclusion. Slide 1 We know that we are more impressive than our resumes! The reality, though, is that resumes are needed for the advertised job market. This introductory slide presents key questions for you to consider… Slide 2 Your resume is submitted in competition with others. Its primary purpose is to get you shortlisted for interview. An excellent resume does you justice. It showcases your knowledge, experience, skills, achievements and management or working style. The employer wants to appoint an applicant who is a good fit for the advertised position. So, tailoring your resume for each application is recommended. Most times, this will mean adjusting a standard version of your resume by: adding content, deleting content, emphasising or de-emphasising existing content. For example, existing, highly relevant content might be emphasised by being relocated to the front page. You want your resume screened in, not out! Slide 3 To tailor your resume, it is critical to understand industry, organisational, and position challenges and needs. How might you be able to contribute and add value? Some possible sources of research information are listed. Slide 4 To get short-listed for interview, your resume needs to achieve these listed goals. Slide 5 The following three slides provide general guidance on what to include in, and exclude from, a resume. Most points are self-explanatory, but it is worth making some extra comments. • A Profile Statement placed at the start of your resume can be powerful. Its purpose is to quickly introduce your relevant knowledge, experience, skills, achievements and management or working style. In practice, it is best to draft this section last. • Many employees make the mistake of assuming that readers are familiar with the organisations for which they have worked. This is a mistake, unless you have worked only for large organisations with household names. It is worth including employer profiles when outlining your employment history. Readers are then provided with a better feel for your experience. • It is also important to emphasise your achievements. Where possible, select achievements related to target industry, organisation, and position challenges and needs. Slide 6 • Not all resumes will include a Community Engagement section. It is recommended, especially if: o The target organisation is in the not-for-profit sector; o The target role demands use of skills that you only use outside of work in a volunteer capacity; o Your work experience is limited; or o You have achieved significantly as a volunteer. Slide 7 Exclude content that might lead to being subjectively screened-out (i.e due to some form of discriminatory bias).
Citation preview
• What is the Primary Purpose of a Resume?
• In Preparation, What Should You Focus On?
• What are Your Goals?
• What Content Should be Included?
• What Content Should be Excluded?
Designing Resumes Designing Resumes
Horne (2014)
• Primary Purpose is to Secure an Interview!
• A Resume Markets You - Does Your Resume Do YOU Justice?
• TAILOR to Target Position
• NO Magic Format/Style
• (Robot or Human) Reader’s Goal is to Quickly• SCREEN OUT Majority of Applications• DEVELOP INTERVIEW Short-list
Designing Resumes : Overview Designing Resumes : Overview
Horne (2014)
• Meeting Challenges/ Needs of Organisation
• Research •Industry, Organisation, Position
• Information Sources•Job Specifications/Criteria•Nominated Contact•Public Documents (e.g. Annual Report, Press Releases)•Internet (Target Organisation Web Site)•Target Organisation and Industry Employees•Professional/Industry Associations
Designing Resumes : Preparation Designing Resumes : Preparation
Horne (2014)
• Capturing Reader's Attention
• Demonstrating Qualifications for Target Position
• Indicating Potential to Meet Challenges / Needs of Organisation
• Standing Out from Other Applicants!
Designing Resumes : GoalsDesigning Resumes : Goals
Horne (2014)
• Profile Statement
Snapshot Impression to Stimulate Interest
• Key Strengths
Relevant to Target Role
• Employment History and Contexts
Employer Profiles (Products, Services, Client/Geographic Markets, Size)
Position (Purpose, Key Responsibilities, Skills Applied, Achievements)
Designing Resumes: InclusionsDesigning Resumes: Inclusions
Horne (2014)
• Qualifications / Training
Relevant to Target Role
• Professional Memberships
Implies Industry Knowledge, Network of Peers
• Community Engagement (Optional)
Volunteer Positions, Achievements, Skill Application
Designing Resumes: InclusionsDesigning Resumes: Inclusions
Horne (2014)
Information with Potential to Result in Screening Out. In general:
• Age• Marital Status• Place of Birth• Reasons for Leaving Past Positions• Health Status• Political Affiliations• Religion
• Salary Expectations (Unless Requested at Time of Application)
• Referees (Unless Requested at Time of Application)
Designing Resumes: ExclusionsDesigning Resumes: Exclusions
Horne (2014)
