1. 1. RESUMEWRITINGEfforts by:Vibhor Agarwal
2. 2. Resume Writing Resume or CV is the most importantdocument in the job hunting process; it is thefirst introduction of the candidate to theemployer, and explains the candidatesbackground. It should be well laid out.
3. 3. Know the purpose of your resume Companies receive tons of resumes andreviewing them is a tedious task. Make yours easy to read, simple, crisp and tothe point. It is a good idea to make your resumecompany-specific and particularly highlightthose qualities that you feel the company islooking for.
4. 4. Back up your qualities and strengths Use bullets to list your achievements. Do not list responsibilities as that becomeslong and boring to read. Ensure that you list the most importantachievements first and provide relevant data.
5. 5. Achievements instead of responsibilities Resumes that include a long list ofresponsibilities included are plain boring,and not efficient in selling yourself. Instead of listing responsibilities describeyour professional achievements.
6. 6. Curriculum-Vitae Your CV must sell you to a prospectiveemployer, and compete against otherapplicants who are also trying to sellthemselves.
7. 7. Curriculum-Vitae This means that your curriculum vitae must bepresented professionally,clearly, and in a waythat indicates you are an ideal candidate forthe job, i.e., you possess the right skills,experience, behaviour, attitude, that theemployer is seeking.
8. 8. Curriculum-Vitae In your CV it's important to emphasise yourattributes in strong, relevant and expressiveterms; modesty doesn't work particularly wellon any CV.
9. 9. Resume Writing Write it with focus on the prospectiveemployers needs. Therefore, the resume must be modified forevery job you apply for, so that you canemphasise your qualification for that specificjob.
10. 10. Back up your qualities and strengths Dates, figures, etc. make the data morerealistic and appreciable. Try and show your interviewers how yourskills will benefit the specific company. Your headings should be bold and underlined.
11. 11. Proofread it twice Proofread your resume and ask your friendsto review it for any spelling or grammaticalerrors. A resume with errors is absolutelyunacceptable and will give a shoddy (poorlymade) impression. One small typo and your chances of gettinghired could slip. Proofread it as many times as necessary.
12. 12. Use bullet points No employer has the time (or patience) toread long paragraphs of text. Use bullet points and short sentences todescribe your experiences, educationalbackground and professional objectives.
13. 13. Put the most important information first Most of the times your previous workexperience will be the most important part ofthe resume, so put it at the top. When describing your experiences or skills,list the most important ones first.
14. 14. Attention to the typography First of all make sure that your fonts are bigenough. The smaller you should go is 11 points, but 12is probably safer. Do not use capital letters all over the place,remember that your goal is to communicate amessage as fast and as clearly as possible. Arial and Times Roman are good choices.
15. 15. No Pictures Do not use graphics or photos (unlessspecifically required).
16. 16. CURRICULUM VITAE Summary of ones life details ofeducation, experiences and achievements. Personal Details Name and Address,Ph.No, email Easy to read language, focus on the job Use font size 10-12, Arial/Times NewRoman style Typed in A4 size paper.
17. 17. Avoid negativity Do not include information that might soundnegative in the eyes of the employer. This is valid both to your resume and tointerviews. You dont need to include, for instance, thingsthat you hated about your last company.
18. 18. You dont need to list all your workexperiences If you have job experiences that you are notproud of, or that are not relevant to thecurrent opportunity, you should just omitthem. Mentioning that you used to sell hamburgerswhen you were 17 is probably not going tohelp you land that executive position.
19. 19. One resume for each employer One of the most common mistakes thatpeople make is to create a standard resumeand send it to all the job openings that theycan find. Sure, it will save your time, but it will alsogreatly decrease the chances of landing aninterview . Tailor your resume for each employer. The same point applies to your cover letters.
20. 20. Avoid Age It is illegal to discriminate people because oftheir age, but some employers do theseconsiderations nonetheless. Why risk the trouble? Unless specifically requested, do not includeyour age on your resume.
21. 21. Go with what you got If you never had any real working experience,just include your summer jobs or volunteerwork. If you dont have a degree yet, mention thetitle and the estimated date for completion.
22. 22. Dont include irrelevant information Irrelevant information such as politicalaffiliation will not help you. In fact it might even minimise your chances oflanding an interview. Just skip it.
23. 23. Use Mr. and Ms. if appropriate If you have a gender neutral name like Alex orRyan make sure to include Mr. or Ms. prefix,so that employers will not get confused aboutyour gender.
24. 24. No lies While it is acceptable to show off your skills,do not lie or exaggerate. A company may verify your claims and undersuch circumstances, authenticity is crucial. Apart from being wrong, most HRdepartments do background checks thesedays, and if you are buster it might ruin yourcredibility for good.
25. 25. One or two pages Your resume should not be more than a pageor two. Provide all the necessary information, theshorter your resume, the better. Most employers and recruiting specialists,however, say that it should contain one or twopages at maximum.
26. 26. Use action verbs A very common advice to job seekers is to useaction verbs. Action verbs are basically verbs that will getnoticed more easily, and that will clearlycommunicate what your experience orachievements were. Examples include managed, coached,enforced and planned.
27. 27. Use a good printer If you are going to use a paper version of yourresume, make sure to use a decent printer. Laser printers usually get the job done. Plain white paper is the preferred one as well.
28. 28. No hobbies Unless you are 100% sure that some of yourhobbies will support your candidacy, avoidmentioning them.
29. 29. Update your resume regularly It is a good idea to update your resume on aregular basis. Do not think of it as something you made inthe past. It is not necessary to list everything you haveever done.
30. 30. Update your resume regularly If it is not relevant to your current area ofwork (you may have worked in a restaurantand are now a teacher) then theres no needto list it. Add all the new information that you think isrelevant, as well as courses, training programsand other academic qualifications that youmight receive along the way.
31. 31. Make the design flow with white space Do not jam your resume with text. Make your resume as short and concise aspossible, but that refers to the overall amountof information and not to how much text youcan pack in a single sheet of paper. White space between the words, lines andparagraphs can improve the legibility of yourresume.
32. 32. No jargon or slang Slang should never be present in a resume. As for technical jargon, do not assume thatthe employer will know what you are talkingabout.
33. 33. Careful with sample resume templates There are many websites that offer freeresume templates. While they can help you to get an idea of whatyou are looking for, do not just copy and pasteone of the most used ones. You certainly dont want to look just like anyother candidate, do you?
34. 34. No fancy design details Do not use a colored background, fancy fontsor images in your resume. You might think that the little flowers willcheer up the document, but other peoplemight just throw it away at the sight.
35. 35. Dont forget the basics Your contact information should include yourname, address, phone and email. It should be bold and with a larger font thanthe rest of the text. Make sure that your contact details are clearlylisted.
36. 36. Importance of CV CV will give chance to evaluate yourself. CVs are mostly used to screen candidates forinterview. CVs are the first introducer to the interviewerand explains your complete background.
37. 37. Types of CV Chronological CV Functional Resume (Skills-based) Chrono-Functional CV
38. 38. Chronological CV The chronological or Performance CV is themost traditional and widely used format. This type of CV basically outlines your workand educational history and is ideal if youhave stayed in the same career for most ofyour working life, steadily working your wayup.
39. 39. Chronological CV Chronological resume lays out qualifications(education and experience) in chronologicalorder, that is in order of the dates (in reverseorder). It indicates what the applicant did duringevery month and year. Employers prefer the chronological format.
40. 40. Use the chronological CV in the following situations: If you have steadily progressed in one chosenfield. If you have no gaps in your work history. If you are staying in the same industry.
41. 41. Functional Resume (Skills-based) This type of CV focuses on and highlights theskills and achievements that you have gainedthroughout your whole working careerirrespective of where and when you acquiredthem.
42. 42. Functional Resume (Skills-based) This is useful if you do have gaps in yourworking career or if want to change careercompletely. If you have gaps in your work history or havechanged jobs frequently, the functional CVwould be better suited.
43. 43. Use the functional CV in the followinginstances: If you have changed career fields. If you have gaps in your work history due toillness or any other reason. If you have little experience due to juststarting out or just finishing college oruniversity.
44. 44. Chrono-Functional CV The best of both, the combination CV is anamalgamation of the previous two formats. Slightly longer in layout; it is imperative(essential) that you grab the reader'sattention from the start, as there may be adanger of him getting bored and discardingthe CV without reading it entirely.
45. 45. Chrono-Functional CV The combination CV should be used when you wantto highlight both skills and achievements togetherwith your impressive work history and education. Your skills and achievements are listed first andthese are then backed up by your work andeducational experience, all in all leading to anextremely potent (effective) and impressivedocument.
46. 46. Use the combination CV when: You want to show that not only you have the rightskills for the job but also the work experience tosupport. You would have used a chronological CV but wantto highlight your skills too. You have plenty of experience in the chosen field.
47. 47. Order of Contents in CV Name and address Contact Details Career Objectives Educational Qualification Awards (if you have any) Skillsets and personal attributes Experiences / employment history Voluntary work (if you have done any) Extracurricular activities, interests and hobbies References
48. 48. Resume Highlights the relevant facts about you, your education, andyour experience. Makes the first impression about you. Positions you in the mind of the employer, thus creating avalue. The interview gets you the job, the resume gets you theinterview!
49. 49. Resume Enables you to assess your strengths, skills, abilitiesand experience - thereby preparing you for theinterview process. Be a basis for the interviewer to justify your hiring.
50. 50. Relevant, Clear and Concise. No typing errors. No misspellings. No Abbreviations. Do not tell a lie. Do not include any negative information.
51. 51. Should I Have More Than One Version ofMy Resume? YES! Create a targeted resume each time you apply for anopportunity.
52. 52. Use Action Verbs!Organized Communicated DirectedPlanned Created AssistedSupported Initiated SolvedReported Edited AnalyzedDescribed Developed ManagedLed Sold Designed
53. 53. Critical CategoriesPut in everything that would point out why youwould be good at the job.
54. 54. Contact Information Name (largest font) Address, City and State Telephone Number Cell Number Email Address
55. 55. ExampleDEEPA SANKAR409-b, Cross RoadSouth Extn-INew Delhi-11Mob: 09995595959deepas@yahoo.comRajesh Krishnan580 Church Road Phone: 022-2354698Worli, Bombay-69 Mob: 09747123333Krish_raj@sbcglobal.netDeepa sankar409-b, cross Road,South Extn-INew-Delhi-11Mob: 09995595959Rajesh Krishnan580 Church Road Phone: 022-2354698Worli, Bombay-69 Mob: 097471233332hotforyou@rediffmail.com
56. 56. ExampleDEEPA SANKAR409-b, Cross RoadSouth Extn-INew Delhi-11Mob: 09995595959deepas@yahoo.comRajesh Krishnan580 Church Road Phone: 022-2354698Worli, Bombay-69 Mob: 09747123333Krish_raj@sbcglobal.netDeepa sankar409-b, cross Road,South Extn-INew-Delhi-11Mob: 09995595959Rajesh Krishnan580 Church Road Phone: 022-2354698Worli, Bombay-69 Mob: 097471233332hotforyou@rediffmail.com
57. 57. The Career Objective Keep it short. Example: To obtain a position as an AdministrativeAssistant in a hospital setting.
58. 58. Employment History Reverse chronological order. Five Components: Job Title Name of the organization Location Dates of employment Description Exclude Unaccountable (unanswerable) gaps. Street address, reason for leaving.
59. 59. Education List most recent education first. Mention Date of Completion and University/College name. Percentage only if I class. Academic honors. Dont include high school (unless this is your highest level ofeducation).
60. 60. Relevant Coursework(Optional) This lets the employer know which courses you havealready completed. Do not list every course, only relevant courses tospecific skills.
61. 61. Activities and Honors Only if relevant to job. Mention scholarships, memberships etc. Community work, volunteer work etc. Dont include anything from before college. Avoid controversial topics such as Politics, Religion etc.For Freshers, you may mention extra-curricular activities, which wouldhighlight your suitability to the job.
62. 62. Significant Personal Facts Technological Skills. Foreign Language.
63. 63. Hobbies and Interests Dont list unless Organized, that is, if you belong to a club or group Relevant to the position
64. 64. References Do not send to employer unless they request it. Between 2-3 references, All individuals with direct knowledge of your job abilities. Ask the permission of references before giving their namesand numbers.
65. 65. Dos of Resume Writing Be brief - 1 to 2 page resume is ideal 10-12 font size. Times New Roman, Arial, Bookman, Lucida Sans,Garamond, Verdana etc. Be consistent with fonts/size/bold/italics etc. Spread out information. Indented or bulleted statements.
66. 66. DOs Bolding, different size fonts. Your name should be in the largest font on page. Prepare CVs for individual companies Customize (modify) your resume for your jobtarget Use action verbs/ positive words it will createstrong impact. eg. motivated, monitored,created, analyzed, coordinated etc.
67. 67. DONTS1. Avoid folding your CV2. Dont include irrelevant information previous salary, unproved awards, prizesand publications etc.3. Say what you did, not what you think4. Personal information marital status,religion, health, native place etc.5. Avoid unusual font size, stylish letters,graphics, underlining and unusual spacingetc.6. Avoid repeating information7. Avoid personal pronouns (I, my, me)8. Dont outsource, do it yourself.
68. 68. DONTS Height, weight, place of birth, marital status, race, caste,religion and health. Fancy Fonts or non-traditional paper. Dont go for bordered paper. Dont fold resume, dont stuff into envelope, dontcrumple. The word "Resume" at the top! Avoid Details of Travels.' Any statement that begins with "I" or "My.
69. 69. DONTS Reasons for leaving previous job(s). Picture of yourself. Salary Information Religion or political affiliations.
70. 70. CV Writing Tips Focus on the job you want Emphasize on achievements Easy to read design and language Spelling mistakes are unforgivable Education or experience first
71. 71. Covering LetterThe cover letter reflects your communicationskills and to some extent your personality1. Name and address - Left side topDate and Place -Left side2. Head the Letter - Subject and Reference3. The middle paragraph Brief description ofyour education and experiences4. Closing - The closing in which you proposestep for further action. Dont end with hit themark, use sentence with gentle and politemanner .
72. 72. Model Covering Letter CCooiimmbbaattoorree1188--1111--22000055FFrroommDDeeeeppaa,,MM118800,,KKaammaarraajj NNaaggaarrCCooiimmbbaattoorree 22TTooTThhee AAddvveerrttiisseerrPPOO BBooxx 11111166TTiimmeess ooff IInnddiiaa,, DDeellhhii..SSiirr,,SSuubb:: AApppplliiccaattiioonn ffoorr tthhee ppoosstt ooff JJuunniioorr AAccccoouunnttaannttRReeff:: TThhee HHiinndduu ddaatteedd 1166..1111..22000055TThhiiss iiss wwiitthh rreeffeerreennccee ttoo yyoouurr aabboovvee aaddvveerrttiisseemmeenntt iinn tthhee WWeeddnneessddaayy ((1166..0033..22001133)) eeddiittiioonn ooff TThhee HHiinndduu ffoorr tthheeppoosstt ooff JJuunniioorr AAccccoouunnttaanntt ffoorr wwhhiicchh II wwoouulldd lliikkee ttoo ssuubbmmiitt mmyy aapppplliiccaattiioonn..AAss ppeerr yyoouurr rreeqquuiirreemmeennttss,, II aamm aa ggrraadduuaattee wwiitthh aa CCoommmmeerrccee bbaacckkggrroouunndd aanndd wwiitthh AAccccoouunnttaannccyy aass mmyy ssppeecciiaallttyyssuubbjjeecctt.. FFoorr tthhee ppaasstt oonnee yyeeaarr,, II hhaavvee bbeeeenn wwoorrkkiinngg aass aassssiissttaanntt ttoo aa sseenniioorr AAccccoouunnttaanntt eemmppllooyyeedd aa rreeppuutteedd ffiirrmm aanndd ggaavveeggaaiinneedd aa ffaaiirr aammoouunntt ooff eexxppeerriieennccee iinn tthhee aabboovvee mmeennttiioonneedd ffiieelldd..IIff yyoouu ccoonnssiiddeerr tthhaatt mmyy aapppplliiccaattiioonn iiss wwoorrtthh ccoonnssiiddeerriinngg,, II ccaann bbee aavvaaiillaabbllee ffoorr iinntteerrvviieeww aatt aannyy ttiimmee ttoo ssuuiitt yyoouurrccoonnvveenniieennccee,, eevveenn aatt aa sshhoorrtt nnoottiiccee..TThhaannkkiinngg YYoouuYYoouurrss SSiinncceerreellyyDDeeeeppaa((DDeeeeppaa,,MM))
73. 73. The Final TestDoes your resume answer these questions: Does it clearly and quickly communicate to employerthat you can do the job? Do your strengths come across? Does everything support the job you are targeting? Should anything be removed? Does it really sell your skills?
74. 74. Curriculum-Vitae The primary differences between a resumeand a curriculum vitae (CV) are the length,what is included and what each is used for. A resume is a one or two page summary ofyour skills, experience and education.
75. 75. Curriculum-Vitae A curriculum vitae includes a summary of youreducational and academic backgrounds aswell as teaching and research experience,publications, presentations, awards, honors,affiliations and other details.
76. 76. Resume A resume is brief and concise. A resume is a one or two page summary ofyour skills, experience and education. Generally no more longer than a page or two.
77. 77. Bio-Data Bio-Data concentrates more on the individualand his attributes like height, weight, colour,skin complexion etc. Biodata is mainly termed when you have tosubmit your document where informationabout physique along with education andfamily background is necessary.
78. 78. Bio-Data A Bio-data will contain more of personalinformation than professional. This document is usually circulated formarriage purpose.