Resume Tips

…CLEARING THE FIRST HURDLE – A GREAT C.V WILL HELP YOU SECURE THE INTERVIEW!

At Team we want to make sure you get the best opportunity possible to get your dream job.  A resumé is your personal advertisement – the principal marketing tool through which you can convincingly demonstrate to potential employers your suitability for their job vacancies.  A good resumé should reveal not only your achievements and proven abilities, but also your individuality and personality.

It is said that the skill of writing is to create a context in which other people can think. Your resume is your chance at a ‘first impression’ so it needs to embody you whilst still providing the reader with the needed information in a concise and creative manner.

Make your resumé concise, well organised, neat and free from errors. Remember layout is important, make it easy to read by using plenty of white space.

• Be consistent – choose a style and stick with it
• Presentation is important – make it look professional
• Be positive – speak of your achievements
• Be energetic – show enthusiasm
• Be truthful

BASIC RESUMÉ COMPONENTS

Personal Data

This is usually at the beginning of the resumé and includes the following:

• Name
• Address – local and permanent
• Telephone – home, business, mobile and message service
• E-mail

TIP – Put your name and page number on the bottom of every page just in case the pages are separated.

Education

When describing your educational background, the following information should be provided:

• Program of study including area of specialisation
• Period of attendance
• Name and location of educational institution
• Other degrees, diplomas or certificates attained (if any)

Technical Skills

TIP – Remember to include your computer skills and the packages you have worked on

Work Experience

Work experience is normally listed in reverse chronological order starting with your most recent job. The following information is generally provided in this section:

• Period of employment (start and end dates)
• Position title (create an accurate one if none existed)
• Name and location of employer (and a brief outline of what that company does)
• A brief summary of responsibilities, skills used and developed – using bullet points makes this information easy to follow and read
• Noteworthy achievements/accomplishments on the job

TIP – If the position was part time, temporary or holiday indicate this when stating the period of employment.  Prioritise the job duties most pertinent to your career objectives (i.e. related to the job which you are applying for) as this will grab the employer’s attention. Indicate level of responsibility, e.g. supervised 10 staff; managed department in absence of supervisor.

EMPLOYERS ARE GENERALLY LOOKING FOR

Technical skills
Communication skills
Commitment to the job
Acceptance of responsibility
Inter-personal skills
Evidence of teamwork
Decision making leadership

LAYOUT TRICKS

White Space – makes resumés more appealing, it gives the eye a break making it easier to read.

Balance – suggests organisation and makes the resumé more appealing, use of columns, centering and bullets.

Computer Fonts – choose a simple font and stick to it.

Changing fonts in a document looks disorganised. You may bold, increase size or underline words for information you wish to highlight.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS

List all the qualities that you can think of that you would use in describing yourself. Don’t be modest! Then, ask one or more people who know you to review your list. Ask them how they would describe you. Jot down their thoughts and add their input to your list. Try to think about yourself in an analytical way. This is how prospective employers will be viewing you.

If you have a written reference, saying good things about you – it is good to put a ‘quote’ in as another person’s point of view.  This can add credibility to your list of qualities.

Here are some ideas to get you started:

- Enthusiastic
- Dedicated
- Honest
- Work well with others
- Open-minded
- Hard working
- Conscientious
- Enjoy challenges