The Curriculum Vitae or Resume is a two-minute commercial about you.
It will not get you a job … it may get you an interview
WHAT IS A RESUME?
· A summary of your work related information
WHAT IS A RESUME FOR?
The employer wants to receive a concise, honest & relevant summary of you. From reading the resume the employer wants to know:
· What are the skills and personal qualities of this applicant?
· Can this applicant do the job?
· Will this applicant fit in?
You want to produce a document that makes you look as good as possible. At the end of reading the resume you want the employer to:
· Give you an interview (and after that )
· Give you a job
STYLES OF RESUMES
The Chronological Resume (see example):
· Is the most common and conservative form of presentation
· Is often preferred by small to medium sized organisations
· Arranges your experience and education in reverse chronological order
· Is good for demonstrating your growth and continuity in a single profession
· Is most suited to people who have not had long periods of unemployment
The Functional Resume (see example) :
· Organises the job-related aspects of your background by the relevant functions you performed
· Headings relate more to your skills and competencies than employers or job titles
· Indicates that you are capable of making a significant change in your career
· Is well suited to students who have gained valuable experience through a number of unrelated jobs and courses
· Uses a common resume style, with which most employers are familiar and feel somewhat comfortable
· Is often preferred by large organisations
· Eliminates repetition of job duties
· Camouflages undesirable characteristics such as; lack of career progress or continuity, job hopping, lengthy/frequent unemployment, lack of required experience/education, age
The Academic Resume:
· Emphasises academic qualifications, articles published, books written (if any), conference papers delivered, professional development
· Suited to academic staff or post graduate students seeking an academic position
The Imaginative Resume:
This style is most effective for people who are seeking employment in a field, which demands creativity and individuality, such as graphic design, creative writing or marketing. Some employers however prefer a more conservative resume style. You should research your companies thoroughly to see if they are open to creative styles. This type of resume acts as a mini-portfolio and can be impressive if well-designed.
The Combination Resume:
As there is no absolute right or wrong in resume writing, you can combine the styles in any way which makes your particular background look the best
SOME USEFUL TIPS FOR A GOOD RESUME
· There is no one optimal style or format
· Match the resume style to the company/position you want:
Conservative company… conservative resume
· Presentation and clarity are very important
· Be concise
· Include relevant and positive information only
· Be honest, be able to explain/prove everything on your resume. Remember your resume is often used as the basis of questions in an interview
· Layout should be consistent and reader friendly
· Use clear type styles
· Use a reasonable font size for the text (~ size 12)
· Avoid "font mania" - the excessive use of different fonts, italics, bold, underlined, ETC!
· Not cluttered – lots of white space
· Use bullet points and relevant subheadings
· Use short statements in point form rather than lengthy sentences or paragraphs
· Only use abbreviations that are widely understood (Beware of technical jargon)
· Eliminate excessive punctuation
· Check for spelling and grammatical errors
· Have all indents in alignment
· Use a laser printer
· Page breaks should not split lists, paragraphs, etc.
· Use A4 good quality paper and usually pick subtle colours; white, buff, pastel
· Print on one side of the paper
· Use an A4 envelope for posting
· Binders and fancy covers are seldom worthwhile
COMMON RESUME HEADINGS
To know which of the following subheadings you are going to use you have to know: Who is this resume for? Resumes must be targeted to a particular employer, position or job type. It is impossible to produce a resume without having such a focus. A one-size fits all resume does not exist.
There are no specific headings you have to use. You must select or invent headings that show you in the best possible light and are relevant to the job for which you are applying.
There is no particular order in which you must present your information but one usually puts the most recent or impressive information first.
HEADINGS ABOUT YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
Name, Address, Phone No. Mobile, Fax, E-mail
· Personal
· Personal Data/Details
· Summary
· History
· Profile
HEADINGS ABOUT YOUR CAREER PLANS
· Objective
· Career Objective/Ambition
· Five year plan
HEADINGS SUMMARISING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE
· Career Overview/Summary
· Career Highlights/Achievements
HEADINGS ABOUT YOUR EDUCATION
Formal, Tertiary, TAFE, Secondary School
· Qualifications
· Formal Qualifications
· Education
· Relevant Education and Training
· Educational Qualifications/Achievements/History/Experience/Record/Background
· Academic Qualifications/Achievements/History/Experience/Record/Background
· Professional Qualifications/Development/Training
· Additional Training
· Training Courses Attended
· Short Courses
· Job Related Courses
· Conferences Attended
· Licences
· Certifications
· Accreditations
· Examinations
HEADINGS ABOUT THE JOBS YOU HAVE HELD
Professional, General, Voluntary
· Experience
· Employment
· Employment History/Experience/Record/Background
· Work History/Experience/Record/Background
· Professional Employment/Background
· Career History/Record/Background
· Community Involvement
· Community Service
· Voluntary work
· Positions Held
· Appointments
HEADINGS ABOUT YOUR SPECIAL ACHIEVEMENTS
Special achievements can include: Professional, Personal, Sporting, and Key
· Achievements
· Accomplishments
· State Representation
· Scholarships
· Awards
· Publications
· Portfolio
· Conference Papers Delivered
· Articles Published
· Honours
· Prizes
HEADINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU CAN DO
Areas of expertise could include technical: computer, keyboard, testing, languages or; generic skills: communication, interpersonal, judgement, problem solving. Include information about your level of expertise &/or length of experience.
· Knowledge
· Skills
· Technical Skills
· Skill Summary
· Areas of Expertise
· Main Capabilities
· Competencies
· Relevant skills
· Career Skills Summary
· Professional Skills and Achievements
· Summary of Qualifications
· Strengths
· Key Knowledge Area
· Key Competencies
· Demonstrated Abilities
· Personal Attributes
HEADINGS ABOUT THE GROUPS YOU HAVE JOINED
Professional, Social, Recreational
· Memberships
· Professional Affiliation/Memberships
· Positions of Responsibility Held
HEADINGS ABOUT WHAT YOU DO IN YOUR SPARE TIME
· Hobbies/Interests/Activities/Leisure
· Community Involvement
· Community Activities
HEADINGS ABOUT OTHERS WHO WILL SPEAK POSITIVELY ON YOUR BEHALF
It is not always appropriate to include these in your resume
· Referees
· References
· Additional References
HEADINGS WHICH ARE USUALLY IRRELEVANT
· Date of Birth/Age
· Place of Birth
· Nationality
· Ethnic Origin
· Marital Status
· Religion
· Number of Children
· Health
· Height and Weight