How to write a successful resume After9 Program

How should I lay out my resume? You can use a template that we have sent you or a template from the MICROSOFT WORD templates section. We don’t want them all to look the same! Note: check any colour changes to ensure that it still looks professional. What is Open Punctuation and When is it Acceptable? Open punctuation is quite a recent innovation and is a direct result of the electronic age in which we now live. Open punctuation is a very minimal level of punctuation and is now acceptable because of the increased use of electronic mail and also word processing. In open punctuation the use of full stops and commas is quite limited.  In former times, by tradition, letters would always have been started, ‘Dear Mr. Jones (or whoever), but now it is viewed as acceptable to write, ‘Dear Mr Jones’ (the full stop or punctuation mark after ‘Mr’ has been omitted).  One of the major aspects of open punctuation is that instead of using paragraph indents, double line spaces are now used to denote a new paragraph. Generally, open punctuation is acceptable within more informal letters and items that are not used within the business context. However, if you are writing business English then it is always better to revert to standard punctuation, since it helps the message look formal and professional. If the reader thinks that you have omitted commas and full stops due to you not knowing when they should be used, then they may not feel that your service is professional. So for writing formal business English always use proper ‘closed’ punctuation and ensure that you use some kind of punctuation or grammar checker to double check your work. This gives it a more professional edge and will really help to make any documents you write look polished, professional and of excellent quality. Google Search for resume templates …

Purpose of Resume Highlights character streets and characteristics Provides detail regarding your skills and abilities Outlines your qualifications Demonstrates how you might be an asset to the company Provides references

!!NO SWEEPING / GENERAL STATEMENTS!! The Resume… Be honest Think about activities/clubs/memberships that you have which may be relevant to the job you are applying for Try to tailor your resume to the job – if the job asks for customer service experience, and you have had experience, emphasise this aspect on the resume Do not include information that is not relevant – eg. That you enjoy shopping is not relevant for a job at McDonalds, but for Sportsgirl it could be relevant !!NO SWEEPING / GENERAL STATEMENTS!!

Name & (DOB-optional) & Personal Details: Provide your full name (or the name you like to be called), not just your initials: Ms Alisa TAYLOR DOB: XX/XX/19XX You don’t legally have to include your date of birth - it’s up to you whether you want to – its important if applying for jobs with a specific age requirement.

Perhaps include a professional footer:

Career Objective: A career objective explains what you’re looking for and what you can offer, and shows that you’ve thought about what kind of work you want to do You can use your career objective to demonstrate how your work experience has shaped your future career or job goals Keep it brief (one or two sentences)- it can be written specifically to suit each job you apply for or it can be more general to suit your overall career or job goals

Skills & Abilities: A great way to show your suitability for the job you’re applying for is to list your skills under the same sub-headings used in the job advertisement or position description (e.g. if the job ad states the successful applicant must have strong communication skills you should include a ‘Communication Skills’ heading in this section) Don’t forget that work is not the only place you can develop skills and abilities. Think about what you’ve learned from clubs or interest groups or from helping out at home or in your community For example: (write subheadings that you think necessary and apply to you): Communication skills: ……………………….. Technical skills: I am capable of using computer systems, I know how to work quick and effectively…… Administration skills: …. People person ability’s: ……

Employment History: List the position, workplace and period of employment for any jobs you’ve had, including volunteer positions or holiday jobs. Start with the most recent and work back from there Include a brief list of work skills and achievements for each job - this is a useful way of promoting your abilities and achievements

Education/Training: Provide a summary of your education Don’t forget to include any additional relevant training you’ve completed (at school or otherwise) e.g. short courses, first aid certificates Academic Achievements: (Its optional to include academic achievements but It is a good opportunity so show your ability) Skills Developed: (optional to include but a great place to include your language abilities)

Interests: Writing a bit about what you do in your spare time helps an employer get to know you. It’s another chance to draw attention to your abilities and achievements Include things like team memberships, long-term interests

NEVER BLINDSIDE A REFEREE!!!!!!!!! Referees: Who can be a referee? Someone who knows you well, like a colleague, team-mate, coach, mentor, teacher or another member of the community you’ve worked with or helped out Make sure you provide up-to-date contact details for your referees and always check that it's okay with referees before including them in a resume. It also helps to tell referees a bit about the job you’re applying for so they can think about how your skills and abilities are relevant to the job. NEVER BLINDSIDE A REFEREE!!!!!!!!!

Good luck with your resume.