Arranging the Parts of Resumé

Before discussing what are and how to arrange your resumé, you must know first what the resumé is.

A RESUME is your ticket for employment. It is a written marketing tool that briefly summarizes your skills, abilities, experiences, and education.

The principal purpose of a resumé is for the employer to appraise your qualifications upon to which decide whether you merit an interview. Remember, that you are your resumé, so make sure that it will give the best impression of you.

Arranging the Parts of Resumé1. Identification- is a heading centered on top of

the first page that includes your full name, home address, telephone number and e-mail address. Your name should be in bold letters and one point larger than the text. Include your permanent address and telephone number under your name. Place your e-mail address on a separate line.

*Remember not to include the word resumé because it’s like putting the word letter above the correspondence.

Joanna Reyes#12B Casiana St., Santol, Quezon City

0928-1234-567joannareyes@yahoo.com

The Resumé of Joanna Reyes#12B Casiana St., Santol, Quezon City

0928-1234-567joannareyes@yahoo.com

RIGHT

WRONG

EXAMPLE:

2. Career Objective

Opinion is divided on the effect of including a career objective on a resumé. Employers think such statements indicate that a candidate has made a commitment to a career. But such declarations can also disqualify a candidate if the stated objective does not match a company’s job description.

The applicant has three choices regarding career objectives. • The first option is to write a career objective when

applying a specific, targeted position. • The second option is to omit the career objective

when you are preparing on all-purpose resumé.• The last choice involves the use of general

statement. For example: Objective: challenging position in marketing Job goal: position in Financial Management

Objective: To better facilitate student learning in the are of politics and history

* Note: In writing the objective, you don’t need to put a period in the end.

EXAMPLE:

3. Education- If your employment experience is not rich, put education first and elaborate on this. Conversely, put experience first if it’s heavier than your education. When you describe your educational attainment, list the names and addresses of schools, degrees earned, and the major dates your degree/s was/were completed. You can also include honors earned at the last part.* The reverse chronological order (most recent data)is used in arranging the educational background.

EXAMPLE:Education2001-2004 Saint Louis University• Master of Arts in Public Administration (specialization-

economic development, organizational learning)• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (completed seminars

on teaching and technology strategies)

1997-2001• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and International Relations

(Graduated summa cum laude) Saint Louis University

4. Work Experience- if your work experience is significant and relevant tot the position sought, this information should appear before educationList your most recent employment or work first and go backward, including only those jobs that you think will help you win the targeted position. You may including the following for each positionA. employer’s name and addressB. Date of employment, including month and yearC. Job titleD. Relevant duties, accomplishments and promotions

Action verbs may be used in statements describing your work experience.

EXAMPLE:ExperienceDec 2001 to present (Saint John’s Junior College, Teacher)Department of General Studies• Facilitate student learning and conduct research in the are of politics and

western civilization• Assist in the coordination and implementation of community service and

student-affairs activities

Aug 2000 to Dec 2001 (Saint Louis University)Graduate Researcher, Department of Public Policy and Urban Research, Saint Louis University• Conduct research in community, neighbourhood development, and economic

policy• Coordinated special outreach projects to promote the department’s research

interest

Jan 1999 to May 2000Resident adviser, Department of Residence Life, Saint Louis University• Developed and implemented programs to encourage student participation• Supervised others in the maintenance and enforcement of university policies• Participated in leadership –training and community –building workshops

5. Awards, Honors, Activities

If you have three or more awards or honors, highlight them by listing them under separate heading. Include the following kinds of entries in this categorya. Fellowships and scholarshipsb. Awards given by the professional societiesc. Recognition by civic groupsd. School and community activitiese. Other commendations and professional activities

This section provides an opportunity to demonstrate leadership and interpersonal skills. Employers will be more interested in you when they learn that you are a well-rounded person

EXAMPLE:Leadership 2002 to present Director of Youth and Member of the Central Executive, UDP2000 to 2001 President, International Students, Saint Louis University1999 to 2000 Student Representative, VP for Student Development’s Board 1997-1998 President, Saint John’s College Student Government

AwardsAug 2002 Commencement Speaker, Saint John’s College GraduationMay 2001 Recipient, Saint Louis University, Student Leadership AwardMay 1998 Recipient, The Katherine Walsh ScholarshipMay 1998 Speaker, The Belize National Teacher’s Day CeremonyApril 1998 Recipient, The Saint John Berchman Award for Leadership

6. Personal Data The trend in writing resumé today is to omit personal data such as birth date, height, weight and religious affiliation. However, some jobseekers include hobbies or interests that might grab the attention of the employer. If you think it is necessary to include the personal data, then include it. But if you think it is irrelevant to the job you are applying for, it is needless to include the information.

7. References- are people who know you personally. The people you select as reference should be familiar with your academic or professional strength, abilities and potentials. Do not include close friends, relatives and neighbours because employers are more interested in the opinions of objective individuals. You may include on your list at least three people. They could be your former professor, previous employers, and mentors who can testify positively about your professional and academic work. Include the name, title, address, and contact number of each references.

Listing references on a resumé is favored by some employers and opposed by others. Whether or not you include references on your resumé, you should have their names available when you begin your job search. In general, it is unnecessary to include the line references available upon request. For most employers, it is obvious that you will furnish them with a list of references when you are invited for the job interview.

EXAMPLE:References1. Dr. Melinda S. Castro President St. John Junior College Sampaloc, Manila

2. Dr. Carina G. Samillano Chair Department of General Studies St. John Junior College Sampaloc, Manila

Remember: All the information you put in your resumé

should be relevant and true.

Joanna Reyes#12B Casiana St., Santol, Quezon City

0928-1234-567joannareyes@yahoo.com

Objective: To better facilitate student learning in the are of politics and history

ExperienceDec 2001 to present (Saint John’s Junior College, Teacher)Department of General Studies• Facilitate student learning and conduct research in the are of politics and western civilization• Assist in the coordination and implementation of community service and student-affairs activities

Aug 2000 to Dec 2001 (Saint Louis University)Graduate Researcher, Department of Public Policy and Urban Research, Saint Louis University• Conduct research in community, neighbourhood development, and economic policy• Coordinated special outreach projects to promote the department’s research interest

Jan 1999 to May 2000Resident adviser, Department of Residence Life, Saint Louis University• Developed and implemented programs to encourage student participation• Supervised others in the maintenance and enforcement of university policies• Participated in leadership –training and community –building workshops

Education2001-2004 Saint Louis University• Master of Arts in Public Administration (specialization- economic development, organizational learning)• Postgraduate Certificate in Education (completed seminars on teaching and technology strategies)

1997-2001• Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and International Relations (Graduated summa cum laude) Saint Louis University

Example of Functional Resume (Illustrates the arrangement of parts)

Leadership 2002 to present Director of Youth and Member of the Central Executive, UDP2000 to 2001 President, International Students, Saint Louis University1999 to 2000 Student Representative, VP for Student Development’s Board 1997-1998 President, Saint John’s College Student Government

AwardsAug 2002 Commencement Speaker, Saint John’s College GraduationMay 2001 Recipient, Saint Louis University, Student Leadership AwardMay 1998 Recipient, The Katherine Walsh ScholarshipMay 1998 Speaker, The Belize National Teacher’s Day CeremonyApril 1998 Recipient, The Saint John Berchman Award for Leadership

References1. Dr. Melinda S. Castro President St. John Junior College Sampaloc, Manila

2. Dr. Carina G. Samillano Chair Department of General Studies St. John Junior College Sampaloc, Manila

(Continued..)

On the example on the previous slide, experience is richer than the education of the applicant,

therefore, it was put first.

ANSWER!1. What is the importance of your resumé?2. What order is used in arranging the educational

background, work experience, awards, honors and activities?

3. What are the parts of resumé? Explain each.4. Why we should not include close friends,

relatives and neighbours as our references?5. Why we should only put relevant informations in

our resumé?

Based on the book “Language at Work. A Guide for Effective Business Writing”