1. 1 WRITING AN EXCELLENT RESUME

2. 2 LEARNING OBJECTIVES  Purpose of a resume  Content –Collecting the basic information  Presentation –Ordering & layout –Length –Style –Production

3. 3 TARGET AUDIENCE  Know yourself  Know your potential employer

4. 4 RESUME USES  Illustrate that your background matches a company’s requirements  Prompt a company into recruiting for a position  Obtain an interview with a search firm who can then recommend you to employers  Sell your services as a consultant  Apply for a job

5. 5 ONE CHANCE TO MAKE A FIRST IMPRESSION A high proportion of initial screening decisions is made on the basis of rejection rather than selection - often using quite arbitrary criteria. Do not provide an excuse (e.g. typos)!

6. 6 PLANNING  Self-assessment (competencies)  Customers (reader versus writer focus)  Content  Competitors

7. 7 ROI  Readable  Other-focused  Impact-oriented Source: Britton & Kendall, e-Resumes, 2002

8. 8 CONTENT  Biographical details  Educational details  Details of work experience  Additional information: achievements, interests and hobbies  Names & addresses of references

9. 9 BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS  Full name  Contact address  E-mail  Telephone number  No date of birth or age information-

10. 10 EDUCATIONAL DETAILS  Names of all institutions of higher education attended –Include the location and dates  Name of qualification gained –Include any level awarded (e.g. GPA 3.5)  Details of any awards or scholarships  Details of any professional qualifications –Include indications of performance

11. 11 WORK EXPERIENCE  Names of all employers with dates/location details  Titles of positions held, with dates –Include promotions  List main areas of responsibility for each role –Include factual and quantitative details of reporting relationships, numbers of subordinates, budgetary responsibility, day to day duties and less regular tasks –List all significant achievements in each role

12. 12 ACHIEVEMENTS, INTERESTS AND HOBBIES  Highlight your achievements –Be up front in this area (do not be modest) –Indicate levels of achievement Indicate positions of responsibility  Select a variety of types of interest: –Individual interests –Group-based interests –Language skills

13. 13 “DO”s & “DON’T”s  Use numbers where appropriate  Use basic clear format to ensure content focus  Be honest  Use active voice and verbs  No vague subjectivity (e.g. large)  No graphics, coloured paper, etc.  No fabrication of facts  No passivity

14. 14 LAYOUT & STYLE  Resumes should be: –Typed –On no more than two pages –Easy to read –Well spaced and laid out –In sections that group all similar information together –Laid out using headings and fonts to produce natural structure to the document

15. 15 GETTING A SECOND OPINION You are probably far too close to your own resume to be completely impartial in your appraisal of its relative merits: Ask a friend or family member for an opinion or suggestions

16. 16 AIM: FACTUAL, INFORMATIVE AND CONCISE  Use bullet points rather than sentences –Make sure that the phrase makes sense –Write in the 3rd person (not “I”)  Use as many action words as possible –Try to use the same tense i.e. organizing, coordinating, managing (issue: present or past?).  Use bold and italics to emphasise sections and reduce the need for blank space (do not over do it!)  Leave out information that is too detailed –Long descriptions of the division of the company you worked in –Words that do not add much to the sentence (e.g. “then”)