Preparing your own resume can seem a daunting task. Apart from what to put in and what to leave out; describing your own strengths and abilities is not easy. The following guidelines aim to make the whole process a much easier one. It will ensure that you end up with a professional document which shows you how to pitch your skills and stand out from the crowd. The following tips will help you craft a better resume:
Resume Format
Some consultants suggest that job applicants use a chronological format. As the name implies, it is a resume that details one's work experience in chronological order. Some prefer to use a functional format. This is a resume that is organised to highlight the applicant's qualifications and skills, without much emphasis on the specific dates. Then there are combination resumes that marry the best of both worlds. It is similar to a functional resume, only specific dates are provided on a separate sheet.
Most recruiters prefer a chronological resume as it helps the recruiter get a quick overview of the applicant's experience. Fresh school leavers on the other hand with very little work experience may opt to send out a functional resume as it emphasises some of their skills versus a very plain and empty chronological resume.
Presentation and Layout
- Always ensure that your resume is clearly printed on quality white paper, using a clean typeface and not smaller than 12 point. Ensure there is no smudging.
- The use of sub-headings (e.g. personal details, career history, etc.) will help potential employers glean the information they require with ease. There should be clear spaces between categaory headings for easy clarification and definition.
- Your name, address and phone number(s) should form the start of the document. If you are giving a workplace phone number, add the following - 'please use with discretion'.
- Commencing with your present or most recent employer, state your career history. Then list your professional qualifications. If you have been working for many years, list your academic qualifications and a brief mention as to your college or schooling. If you are just commencing your working life, having previously been a student, provide more in-depth knowledge regarding your academic achievements to date.
Content
- Starting with your current or most recent employment provide details of your position as follows:
- Job title and length of time that you have held this position.
- Key tasks and responsibilities that comprise this role's requirements - notable achievements while in the role.
- Where possible, quantify your achievements with precise facts and figures, e.g. managed junior staff, handled department budget, prepared management reports.
- Expand on the skills you are using in your current job which you believe will be valuable in the position(s) for which you are applying.
- Always include the name of your employer i.e. company name. The company you work for can lend more credibility to your resume. Some applicants do not include company name and instead state the nature of business, for example, large manufacturing company. This tends to 'dilute' the flavour of the resume and makes it weak. Sometimes employers who are busy may tend to put such a resume aside as they have to clarify or get some more information before they can make a decision as to whether to accept or reject the candidate. Often, if a resume gets placed aside for later, someone else's resume with all the relevant information may get the first option.
- It is not necessary to state the reason you are leaving your current position. This will be a topic for conversation when you are invited for an interview.
- For all previous employment, unless one appointment was more significant than your current or last position, keep details brief, i.e. the name of the company, job title, period of employment and the job scope. Give an overview of your duties. Too much information can be tedious to the recruiter, but too little can be frustrating. By reading your resume, the reader must be able to get a quick profile of you and your job scope.
- If you cannot remember dates, at least remember months. There is nothing more frustrating than having to 'piece' a resume together. Some applicants tend to omit certain dates and thus give a disjointed picture. Start with your most current posision and move into past jobs. Resumes that start with your first job can mislead the employer into thinking that you are not suitable for the job because usually your first job is the most junior position. So at a glance, they may make the mistake of putting your resume aside because you appear under qualified.
- Be sure there are no gaps in your career history - unless for example you took a year out to travel, in which case make a reference to this under Interests/Hobbies.
- If you are a student just starting work, give any evidence you can demonstrate your practical skills, e.g. school prefect, event organisations, member of sports team, constributor to college magazine or voluntary work.
- Use action or achievement words and short, clearly written phrases. Select words that will make sense to the reader, for example, use industry specific jargon, if required. List accmplishments rather than stating duties whenever possible. For example, 'organised marketing campaign', 'saved $100,000', 'designed a better system', 'created a community program', etc.
Some action words to use:
Improved Sold Evaluated Operated Built Directed Created Wrote Improvised Designed Taught Prepared Produced Planned Developed Expanded Handled Achieved Managed Supported Negotiated Facilitated Presented Organised Reorganised Established Exhibited Undertook Contributed Supervised Administered Implemented Coordinated - Personal particulars and references - In some countries, employers cannot request for certain information as it may be deemed as discriminatory. However, there are employers who ask for this information. There is no need to put down your date of birth but it may be necessary to give your age, marital status and nationality. In some cases, if you are applying for a job abroad, you may wish to state Mr/Ms as some employers abroad sometimes have difficulty in identifying your gender as they may not be familiar wih Asia names. A common dilemma applicants face is whether to attach references or not. There is no need to attach references unless it is specified in the job advertisement.
- Consider what examples (interests/hobbies) you can give to show that you match the selection criteria.
- If they want someone to work as part of a large team, remember to say if you belong to a local organisation or if you are part of a sports team.
- If they want someone who will work on their own for large periods of time, make a reference to an Open University course you are considering to undertake.
- Copies of certificates - There is no need to attach copies of certificates, unless the employer requests for it in the advertisemement.
- To fold or not to fold - This is a matter of personal choice. If you are enclosing certificates, it will make sense not to try and fold a thick wad of paper. It is better to send it out in an A4 sized envelope.
- Proof reading - Please get a close friend with a good command of the English Language to edit your resume (if the application is made in English). Many resumes get rejected because of poor grammar and choice of words. Sometimes, applicants forget to change the company name from a previous application and this may appear in the cover letter! Sometimes, applicants tend to absent-mindedly state their birth year as the current year!
- Your primary objective is to convince the prospective employer that you are the most suitable candidate who has the requisite skills, experience and hunger to do the job.
- Your resume should be no more than 2 A4 pages and as every employer is different, remember to customise your resume to every job you go after.
Always remember - You will never get a second chance to make a first impression. So do not be modest in writing your resume. Be factual and objective.
Even if you currently not seeking a job, make it a point to rewrite your resume once every six months, if not, every quarter. This will enable you to update it with the career progress you have made in the past six months. Your resume is your own personal product label and advertisement - it must be up-to-date and ready for dispatch to a potential employer at a mement's notice. Updating your resume is one way to review your career and its relevance to your current job and potential jobs you are considering.