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