Graduate Professional Programme: Power Up and Stand Out

(cc) Creative Commons 2017 Chuah Kee Man

One recent study showed that recruiters spent only

6.25 seconds looking at a candidate’s résumé

before deciding whether he or she is fit for a job.

~Forbes.com



Résuméa concise outline (1-2 pages) of your skills,

education and experience.


Let’s Power Up Your Résumé (cc) Creative Commons 2017 Chuah Kee Man

#1 Use the Right Layout


Messy and inappropriate


Looks crowded (centrealigned)


Looks catchy but messy


Clean and professional


Neat and organized


Neat and contemporary


Click Here for some useful

templates:http://is.gd/resumetemplates


Layout: The Basics Stick to standard paper size (A4) and

use left or justified alignment.

Use neat and professional layout (not

too fancy/creative)

Use suitable font types and font size

(10-11pt).

Use proper headings for each

section/part

Stick to maximum of 3 colours (if you

plan to use colours)


Layout: Best Fonts

• Arial

• Verdana• Calibri• Garamond

• Georgia


Layout: The Standard PartsUse headings to indicate:

Contact Details (No fancy email)

Career Objective (Precise)

Education

Work Experience

Skills

Achievements/Awards

Activities and Interests

References/Referees

Don’t forget your Portrait Photo.


Education Use Timeline (list the latest first).

Highlight your achievements or key

skills learned instead of results

alone.

If needed, highlight key courses

taken too (related to the job). -

Optional


Sep 2011 – Sep 2015

Bachelor of Business Administration (Hons.) Marketing

Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

• Graduated with a CGPA of 2.90 and advanced competence in strategic marketing.

• Key courses taken with valuable skills learned: promotion, online marketing and managerial finance.


Use the quadrant rule to check.

Make sure each quadrant is balanced.


Portrait Photo (Headshots) matters!

Get help to shoot a nice once. Smile, clean background, with professional attire and keep it recent. (Not too “passport-photo” like).


Sample pictures only. Google Images

#2 Use the Right Language


Language Tips #1

Use strong action verbs when writing your

experiences or achievements.


Overused Best Words

Best of breedGo-getterThink outside of the boxDynamicSynergyThought leadershipValue addResults-drivenTeam playerBottom-line

AchievedImprovedTrained/mentoredManagedCreatedResolvedVolunteeredInfluencedIncreased/decreasedWon


Language Tips #2

Be specific and concise when writing your key

activities or tasks


Example

April – June 2014

Marketing Intern – (EverDrop Sdn Bhd)

• Attended group meetings and recorded minutes.

• Updated departmental files.

Not good enough!

Preferably “Quantifiable Evidence”


Good Example

April – June 2014 (3 months)

Marketing Intern – (EverDrop Sdn Bhd)

• Recorded weekly meeting minutes and compiled them for future organizational reference.

• Reorganized 10 years worth of files, making them easily accessible to department members.

Action words are used to describe each task done clearly.


Language Tips #3

Keywords are the key

(use those keywordsmentioned in the ads)


Top KeywordsProblem solving

Leadership

Oral/ Written Communication

Team building

Productivity

Adaptable

If these keywords appear on the ads, do include them in your resumeif you have such qualities/capabilities.


Language Tips #4

Avoid “bombastic” words, keep it clear and

concise.


#3 Use the Right Focus


Customise Your Resume!

Make sure you modify your resume to fit the position.


Customisation Example:

Move specific parts up according to the job. E.g.

Move up skills if your work experience is limited.


Top 5 Most Wanted skills for Economic/Business/Finance Graduates

1. Verbal Communication

2. Commercial Awareness

3. Teamwork

4. Analysing and investigating

5. Time Management


Workplace

Communication


Emails1. Subject Line

2. Proper Opening

3. Impactful Ending


Phone Calls1. Greet and Introduce Yourself

2. Go straight to the point (politely)

3. Impactful Ending


Job Interviews

& First Impression


Do a “self-test”Be sure what the company wants really fit your

skills, career track, beliefs and experiences.


Be fully prepared.Do necessary check on the company and also

prepare your “weapons” (attire, resumes/cv, portfolios)


Be there earlier25% of candidates failed job interviews

because they were late. 85% of those were merely 5 minutes late.


Breathe DeeplyRelax your mind by breathing deeply. Treat the

interview like a conversation.


Be ConfidentFrom the moment you walk into the room, until the last word you said. But how? Be prepared

and be honest!



Be careful of your intonation when answering

questions.

o Be more authoritative in answering.

o Don’t turn all answers to sound like you are not confident.


Be Humble The best way to get what we want is to meet

the needs of the interviewer. Follow the “flow”.


Be FocusedListen attentively to the questions asked. If it’s not

clear, say it, don’t pretend to understand. Stay focused on your qualities when answering.


Be careful of these questions during interviews

o “Tell me more about yourself”

o “Why do you want this job?”

o “Tell me your biggest weakness”

o “Why should we hire you?”

o “If we offer you lower pay, will you accept this post?”

o “Are you willing to be relocated?”

These are “trick” questions to test your passion and sincerity.


Be Goal-OrientedWhere do you see yourself in the next 1, 5 and

10 years? Chart your goals clearly and in a realistic way.


LANGUAGE TIPS

For Interviews


Use action verbs when explaining your skills

and experiences. Avoid “clichés” or overused

words.


Language Focus during Interview

o Use active voice more instead of passive voice. (e.g. I conducted the project)

o Use more first-person pronouns (e.g. I, we)

o Avoid using run-on sentences. Pause at the right time to highlight keywords.


Over-used Statements

o I’m a team player

o I’m a perfect fit for this job

o I’m a perfectionist

o I’m a workaholic

o I have good leadership skills(Be specific, get ready the facts)

E.g. If you are a team player, say “I led my teams during undergraduate years in two important projects namely….”


It's competitive out there,

but the best may not always win.


Because in a fight, it’s not the best fighter who

wins, it’s the fighter who fights the best.


@keemanxp

fb.com/chuahkeeman

[email protected]

www.chuahkeeman.com


Date post:	06-Apr-2017
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