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RESUME WRITING

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C.V VERSUS RESUME RESUME• Is brief and concise• Contact information• Objective• Education• Experience• Honors and Awards• Hobbies• Knowledge of Multiple

languages

C.V• Is a longer synopsis.• Educational an academic

backgrounds• Experience• Publications• Presentations• Awards• Honours

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Resume Preparation Process

• Has great individual benefits like– It forces you to organize your thoughts– It prepares you for interviewing– Helps you to examine your career goals– Restores your sense of self identity– Serves as an ego booster– Assists you to talk about yourself confidently

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Focus on the employer’s Need

• Imagine - You are the one who is doing the hiring decision

• Write to appeal directly to this person• Ask yourself

– Who would be a perfect candidate?– What does the employer really want?– What special abilities are expected?– What would make you an exceptional candidate?

• If you do not know, then find out…

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Resume Purpose• Instrument to sell yourself in the job market.

– Your Marketing Brochure– Career Search Flyer

• Communicates– Professional Credentials– How you are beneficial to an organization

• Tells your story– What, Where, – How well you have performed– Creates your image

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RESUME KEY FEATURES

• Focus, Credibility and Direction

• Concise and Logical

• Different resumes for different jobs

• Avoid cliches such as “Like working with people”

• Emphasize short term aspirations

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CONTENT• Stress on Accomplishment and Results• Proof read and Spell Check• Don’t rely on software for correcting spelling,

punctuation and typographical errors.• Tailor contents to each position• Omit info which could be used in a

discriminatory manner.

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Physical Formats• Length

– Typically around 2 pages– Three Pages if there are extensive experience related

information• Layout

– Catch Reader’s eye using Headings– Choose standard font in 10-14 point size– Use appropriate color– Use high quality A4 size paper - one sided only– Black / Navy blue color– One inch margin on each side is standard

• CV should be consistent with – Indentations– Capitalization's– Font– Spacing (Double Space)

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RESUME FORMATS• Chronological Manner

– Accepted one in Reverse manner

• Functional Manner– Focus more on Achievements

• Combination of the Two

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CHRONOLOGICAL FORMAT

• Advantages– Most widely accepted and most familiar to resume

readers– Easy to organize and prepare – shows career progression most readily

• Disadvantages– Employment gaps stand out– Highlights frequent job changes – Accomplishments gets hidden in different jobs – Highlights frequent job changes– Focuses attention only on your last few jobs

ADVANTAGE / DISADVANTAGES

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FUNCTIONAL FORMAT• Advantages

– Highlights skills and accomplishments you want to emphasize – De-emphasizes possible weaknesses – Emphasizes extraordinary accomplishments– Minimizes the appearance of frequent job changing– If your recent job has lesser responsibilities, it hides that– Favors individuals pursuing career change from one industry or

profession to another

• Disadvantages– Readers of resumes are less comfortable – Reader may not see your broadly showcased expertise as an asset – Format may rule out your getting more than the 20-second scanning

ADVANTAGE / DISADVANTAGES

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Sections of Resume• Assertion Section

– About Abilities, Qualities & Achievements– Powerful, Honest, Advertisement copy– Juice is in this section– Has 2 further sections

• Objective Section ( Sometimes separate or combined with Summary)

• Summary Section

• Evidence Section– Back up your assertions– List your jobs, education, etc.

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ELEMENTS OF A RESUME• Summary• Career Objective• Accomplishments• Education

– Highest degree first followed by other degrees.– Specify your marks, if more than 60%.– Specify the details of subject in the Degree level

• Other Training– Short courses, Seminars, etc.

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CONTINUED…• Employment History

– Indicate job titles, date of employment, followed by description of the job and highlight details to the new role/Job in a reverse manner.

– Highlight respective skills developed and accomplished results.

– Indicate full and part time positions including deputation.– Relevant volunteer work.

• Professional Memberships• Technical Expertise / Skills

– Equipments / Knowledge of procedures like ISO, etc.– Softwares / IT skills

• Languages Known• Personal Data • Personal References

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How to write OBJECTIVE• Decide on a specific job title for your

objective• Decide which are the 2 or 3 qualities to be

highlighted• Must be to the point• Do not use fluffy phrases

• This is the section which will catch the first attention

• Must have the punch in a single line• IT MUST BE SIZZLING…

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How to write a summary section• Answer the question

“What would make someone the ideal candidate?”• Look for the qualities the employer will care about most. • Why you are the perfect person to fill their need • Pick the stuff that best demonstrates why they should hire you. Assemble it

into your Summary section • Most common ingredients of a well-written Summary

• A short phrase describing your profession • Followed by a statement of broad or specialized expertise • Followed by two or three additional statements related to any of the

following: – breadth or depth of skills – unique mix of skills – range of environments in which you have experience – a special or well-documented accomplishment – a history of awards, promotions, or superior performance

commendations • One or more professional or appropriate personal characteristics • A sentence describing professional objective or interest.

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Resume Do’s• Focus on Accomplishments & Skills• Write a Good Summary• Minimize using I or me very often• Keep it short• Use short sentences• Use Strong Action Words• Put Strongest points First

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Do’s – Continued…

• Use Visually appealing format– White space is important– Avoid cluttering, overcrowded appearance

• Consistent style, punctuations, format• Highlight what is important, but don’t

overdo it• Edit & Proofread• Use facts and figures

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Resume Don’ts• Avoid misinterpret able statements• Do not attach photograph• No personal data about height, weight,

etc.• No fancy binders / folders• Avoid acronyms or buzzwords• Avoid anything unessential