Is a “Curriculum Vitae” different from a Resume?
While preparing to write a resume one must have often come across the term “Curriculum Vitae”. Just another synonym for resume? Not really. At least not when it comes to the U.S. of A. In America the resume and the C.V (as it is commonly known), are rather different from one another. Well, then what exactly is a “C.V” in the American sense of it? The term "curriculum vitae" translates as something close to "course of life"-- a detailed, lengthy and structured listing of education, publications, projects, awards and work history. Curriculum vitae can sometimes run into ten or more pages. Remember, it is “detailed” information.
Who needs a "C.V."?
A C.V is required for certain positions, most common of them being educators, scientists and other academia related specialists. Job seekers with extensive academic and professional credentials applying for positions in education or research need to possess a C.V. .A CV is appropriate for PhD's, M.Phil’s, MFA's, and MA's seeking teaching or research positions. Colleges, universities, and research institutions generally require a CV. It is essential for academic as well as administrative positions in education-related careers. In applying for positions in higher education, the CV generally takes the place of the printed application form. Typically, one is expected to submit a letter of application(detailed), a CV, a writing sample and other supporting documents.
Where is a “C.V” not needed?
Be sure that you give a “C.V” only where it is neccesary to do so. It may work against you if a resume was actually expected. Most employers –private business, government and the like, anyday look for a brief one-page account of your proof-of-worthiness.
What should be included in a “C.V”?
• Name, address(es), phone number(s), e-mail address
• Objective: What postion exactly are you applying for?
• Educational background: Academic preparation - College degrees with details
• Relevant work experience : position-related
• Specific skills: Computer programs, lab techniques, etc.
• Publications/ exhibitions/ performances papers etc. submitted for publication
• Current research interests
• Paper/ posters presented at conferences
• Grants received
• Honours, awards and fellowships• Professional organisation memberships• Professional services
• Travel
• Languages known and/or other skills
• Personal interests
• References
What to exclude?
Personal details must be strictly excluded from a C.V. Such as age, sex, marital status, race, ethnic background and religion, personal preferences, biases and political leanings etc.
Condensed version
“C.V” is nothing but a “Condensed Version” of you and your achievments.So it must effectively summarise all of this information.However, unlike a resume your “C.V” can be much longer. The CV generally ranges from two to dozens of pages in length, depending upon factors such as the extent of one's research record or the stage of one's career.
Outside the U.S, resume and C.V are synonymous the world over.So use your discretion and prepare a resume or a C.V accordingly, depending on the position and the location you are applying to.
Happy job-hunting !
Resume Tips::
The Art Of Resume
resume has to be compact in style and organised in presentation; It is not an autobiography. Therefore, it is important to identify relevant details from the heap of information. Academic qualification, professional experience and current job description are of primary importance.Resume has to be simple and lucid in appearance. Avoid high-sounding and formal language. Do not fill it with ins and outs of work life. Give a chronological pattern in case of a continuous career. Go as per skill-sets, if otherwise.
Here are a few pointers to drafting a resume:
Name and address: Write the first and the last names without indicating marital status. The contact address must have residence telephone, fax and e-mail and not office numbers. Specify if somebody else's facilities are being used.
Work experience: List the assignments beginning with the latest. The challenges faced must reveal your forte. Divide the experience in each organisation in to tenures and list the accomplishments in a way that brings out the managerial expertise picked up by you while on the job.
Education: Give the academic qualifications especially if you are from prestigious institutions and have had an exemplary academic record. Briefly mention scholarships and medals. This is at the junior level. At the senior level, give the details of professional qualifications attained.
Personal information: This is optional. Do not go over board on hobbies. This gives an impression that personal interests supersede the professional ones.Additional information: Details that might be relevant to employment objectives but do not fit in any category are to be given in this.
Focus on the following :
• Depth and range of work experience
• Variety of projects undertaken
• Proven skills
• Type of companies worked for
• Current job profile
Strictly avoid :
• Reasons for leaving the current job -you can talk about it in the interview only when asked.
• False information on the resume, you are likely to get caught.
• Personal beliefs on communal and political, racial and gender issues.
• Present and expected salary details
• Spelling and grammar mistakes
.Verbose style
Program Your Resume
The good old paper resume is a trustworthy ally in any job search process. You can check its contents over and over again to ensure that everything is all right. You are certain that it will reach the employer with the same contents.
With electronic resumes, however, you cannot be so certain, for they are quite unpredictable. For all you know, they may end up on the employer's system as a tangled web of pictures, graphics, and undecipherable characters. You are blissfully unaware of what has happened, and are pleased with your neatly formatted work of art.What can you do to minimise such mishaps? Just minimise the beautification. Those of you who have spent a lot of time in doing exactly this, worry not! You can use this formatting for the paper version. The beautified resume can be sent as a word attachment to employers who accept them in such a form. However, when pasting into your e-mail or into a form on the company's website, formatting is out!
Some Tips on Formatting :
• Don't use tabs, as they don't appear properly on e-mail. Your resume ends up looking scrambled and the alignment disappears.
• Left alignment is perhaps the best and simple solution to your formatting problems. Your resume appears professional and neat.
• There is no need to use special fonts or font size. Irrespective of how you format your file, the font is likely to be the same for all of the text. The reason is that text font is generally determined by the employer's e-mail reader.
How do you differentiate different sections in your file? You can use capital letters or hard returns ("enter" key on your keyboard). Capitals are easily translated in e-mail, while hard returns provide spacing between paragraphs. You can use capitals to indicate the titles and sub-headings.
"Pop" Up
A multitude of companies advertise openings on the net. The jobseeker may feel that there are several companies, which accept resumes by e-mail. In reality, however, the response rate for such applications is dismal.
You can however, beat the system to some extent by using the right keywords. With the right arsenal of keywords, your resume can pop up on the employer's screen. How does this happen? Most of the job sites allow employer to search for resumes based on their requirements. Based on the search word used, a list of resumes is displayed, as in any other search process. For your resume to appear in such a list, it must contain the keyword used.
Keywords are the common words, which may be used by an employer to search for resumes. How do you identify the keywords? The best answer would be the advertisement. Include as many words from the advertisement in your resume as you can, blending them meaningfully with the body of the resume.More importantly, be honest to yourself. Do not include terms and words, which are not true to you! With the right combination of keywords, you may just grab the employer's attention. So, just go ahead and put in the magical word!
A Résumé that Talks Turkey
Whenever you see good potential opportunities what do you do? Incorporate subtle changes to your existing resumé and send it to the employer? Its time we got out of the conventional way of writing a resumé. A brief, concise resumé that is not contradictory is what is needed. A resumé reflects what you have accomplished so far. Make your resumé in accordance with the job profile you are applying for. Companies invest quite an amount in recruiting people and would expect a detailed resumé profiling all that they are looking for.
It is not very interesting to go through a four-page resumé no matter how many achievements you have to your credit. Nobody will tolerate a CV more than three pages long!
Tips for an effective resume::
• 'Resumé or 'Curriculum Vitae' nicely centred at the top of the first page. (What else can it be!)
• Do not begin any statement with the word 'I'
• Avoid using bright, eye-catching paper - red, pink, yellow, or green or a quaint font to print your resumé. It does not look attractive!
• Do not tape or staple the resumé to the inside of the envelope so that it won't `fall out.' It can be very irritating!
• Ensure the inclusion of address and telephone number on your resumé, and in case of a change of address do mention so but not by writing on the resumé or on the back of the envelope.
• A clear, descriptive resumé puts you across as a good communicator. Be specific in what you need to tell to your potential employer.
• A resumé is not just a document of credentials, it is the most powerful channel between you and your potential employer.
• It should tell him everything that you want him to know about you without making it sound dull.
• A resumé should cover everything about yourself that is relevant to the job on offer and just touch upon your skills in other areas.As a professional you will be responsible for strategic decisions and activities, and it is imperative that your resume reflects this. Ensure that your resumé has the readability factor and is information packed.Congratulations, you've just been offered the job!
Your Resume - 5 Minutes and 5 Minutes
If you spend 5 minutes building a resume, the chance of it being rejected within 5 minutes by the employer is very high. Thus, the time you spend to build OR create your resume is directly proportional to the time the employer would take to reject the resume
You must view your resume more as a marketing tool, where you have to sell your skills to a person who has no clue about who you are. Remember he has to go through thousands of resumes, so what is it that you can do which will catch his attention? To find out how you can make your mark, stay with us. Our panel of in-house experts will guide you at every step of the way. This section will feature articles, opinions and interviews from the top management circle. Not only do we cover general resume concerns, but focus on functions and designation resumes. For instance how to write marketing or a finance resume or how to write a resume of a brand executive or general manager of HR.
The best resumes are those, which can capture and present your strongest skill sets. Our resume builder has been specially designed for this purpose of being able to grab all your skills, including soft skills. I would recommend that you use our resume builder to create your CV because it is specially designed keeping employers and their needs in mind. As a result your CV is created in a way that would appeal to them.Look out for articles tailored to meet the needs of the Indian professionals working in various industries.
Resume Writing Tips
• A resume is as good as an advertisement for oneself. Ensure that you market yourself well
• It's your resume, so make it as professional as you can
• The sole purpose of your resume is to ensure that you are short-listed for that much-wanted interview
• It is advisable to hand over your resume directly to the person who will be doing the hiring
• Avoid making a flashy resume. Keep it simple and precise.
• Avoid using coloured envelopes or papers
• Get your resume proof-read! There should be NO mistakes! It reflects carelessness
• There should be no misspelled words or incorrect grammar.
• Print your resume on quality bond paper. Do not use dot matrix, it is not only outdated, but does not appeal to read either. Instead, use a laser print
Use clean paper devoid of smudges, marks, or creases
• Your resume should be easy to read. Using "bulleted points" is helpful.
• Keep sentences short and concise. Use action verbs.
• Avoid the usage of: I, me, my, and "Resume of."
• Use text formatting utilities like bold, underline, or italic to emphasise relevant sections in the resume.
Possible sections on a resume include:
Objective
Summary of Qualifications
Education
Education & Training
Work Experience
Other Experience
Related Experience
Skills
Computer Skills
Awards and Merits Publications
Additional Information
References
• Left and right margins should be no smaller than one inch
• Make sure that the document looks balanced and attractive
• Use a conservative, pleasant, and readable font
Highlight your skills and characteristics on the resume and cover letter.
Examples:
• Honest Dependable Excellent interpersonal skills
• Team oriented Organised Manage time well
• Work well under pressure Flexible Quick learner
• Leadership skills Enthusiastic Assertive
• Friendly Presentation skills Sincere
• Thorough Tactful
Remember, it takes time to draft a great resume. Good luck!
BASIC RESUME FORMATS
There are three basic types of resumes: Chronological, Functional, and"combined"
CHRONOLOGICAL:The chronological resume is the more traditional structure for a resume. The Experience section is the focus of the resume; each job (or the last several jobs) is described in some detail, and there is no major section of skills or accomplishments at the beginning of the resume. This structure is primarily used when you are staying in the same profession, in the same type of work, particularly in very conservative fields. It is also used in certain fields such as law and academia. It is recommended that the chronological resume always have an "Objective" or "Summary," to focus the reader.
The advantages: May appeal to older, more traditional readers and be best in very conservative fields. Makes it easier to understand what you did in what job. May help the name of the employer stand out more, if this is impressive. The disadvantage is that it is much more difficult to highlight what you do best. This format is rarely appropriate for someone making a career change.
FUNCTIONAL:The functional resume highlights your major skills and accomplishments from the very beginning. It helps the reader see clearly what you can do for them, rather than having to read through the job descriptions to find out. It helps target the resume into a new direction or field, by lifting up from all past jobs the key skills and qualifications to help prove you will be successful in this new direction or field. Actual company names and positions are in a subordinate position, with no description under each. There are many different types of formats for functional resumes. The functional resume is a must for career changers, but is very appropriate for generalists, for those with spotty or divergent careers, for those with a wide range of skills in their given profession, for students, for military officers, for homemakers returning to the job market, and for those who want to make slight shifts in their career direction.
Advantages: It will help you most in reaching for a new goal or direction. It is a very effective type of resume, and is highly recommended. The disadvantage is that it is hard for the employer to know exactly what you did in which job, which may be a problem for some conservative interviewers.
COMBINED:A combined resume includes elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It may be a shorter chronology of job descriptions preceded by a short "Skills and Accomplishments" section (or with a longer Summary including a skills list or a list of "qualifications"); or, it may be a standard functional resume with the accomplishments under headings of different jobs held.
There are obvious advantages to this combined approach: It maximizes the advantages of both kinds of resumes, avoiding potential negative effects of either type. One disadvantage is that it tends to be a longer resume. Another is that it can be repetitious: Accomplishments and skills may have to be repeated in both the "functional" section and the "chronological" job descriptions.
Whenever you send a CV to a potential employer you should always include a Covering Letter. There are no strict set rules of what to include, however there is a general formula, which you should always follow.
Avoid "writing" a cover letter
A cover letter has to be word-processed and not hand written. Make sure that it is printed on the same stationery as your resume. This reflects professionalism. Ensure that you include a header on your stationery with your name and address, preferably centered at the top of the page. You can also send a handwritten covering letter only if the company asks for it. Ensure that the handwriting is clear and legible.
Adress it to the right addressee!
When drafting the cover letter, it should begin with the name of the recipient, title/designation, name and address. If you are unsure about the person's name or designation then it would be advisable to address the letter to the "Human Resources Department" or the department equivalent to it. If you are aware of the name of the person, then ensure that you have spelt the name right. If necessary, you may contact the organization to establish their credentials. This is particularly important for speculative inquires when the job hasn't been advertised and you are not sure who is in charge of recruitment.
Mention clearly the position you are applying
The opening paragraph of the covering letter should clearly state what position you are applying for. It should reflect your interest and keenness in working with the organization you have applied to. If you have applied with reference to an advertisement in a publication then make a mention of it. If you are using the reference of a particular person then mention the name of the person who referred you. State a line or two as to why you are interested in working with the organization.
Highlight relevant skills
The second paragraph should include your skill sets and work experience in brief. Highlight skills that are relevant to the post you are applying for. However, avoid duplicating your resume. You can make a mention of any additional experiences and responsibilities pertinent to the job.
End on a positive note
End the cover letter on a positive note. Mention that you look forward to hearing from them and sign off on a formal note. Use words like "Sincerely, faithfully," etc. to sign off. Type your name below the subscription, but leave enough space between the two to accommodate your signature.
Most resumes are not much more than a collection of "evidence," various facts about your past. By evidence, we mean all the mandatory information you must include on your resume: work history with descriptions, dates, education, affiliations, list of software mastered, etc. If you put this toward the top of your resume, anyone reading it will feel like they are reading an income tax form. Let's face it, this stuff is boring no matter how extraordinary you are. All this evidence is best placed in the second half of the resume. Put the hot stuff in the beginning, and all this less exciting information afterward.
A great resume is all one big assertions section. In other words, every single word, even the basic facts about your history, are crafted to have the desired effect, to get them to pick up the phone and call you. The decisions you make on what information to emphasize and what to de-emphasize should be based on considering every word of your resume to be an important part of the assertions section. The evidence includes some or all of the following:
EXPERIENCE
* List jobs in reverse chronological order. Don't go into detail on the jobs early in your career; focus on the most recent and/or relevant jobs. (Summarize a number of the earliest jobs in one line or very short paragraph, or list only the bare facts with no position description.) Decide which is, overall, more impressive - your job titles or the names of the firms you worked for - then consistently begin with the more impressive of the two, perhaps using boldface type.
* You may want to describe the firm in a phrase in parentheses if this will impress the reader. Put dates in italics at the end of the job, to de-emphasize them; don't include months, unless the job was held less than a year. Include military service, internships, and major volunteer roles if desired; because the section is labeled "Experience." It does not mean that you were paid.
* Other headings: "Professional History," "Professional Experience"--not "Employment" or "Work History," both of which sound more lower-level.
EDUCATION
*List education in reverse chronological order, degrees or licenses first, followed by certificates and advanced training. Set degrees apart so they are easily seen. Put in boldface whatever will be most impressive. Don't include any details about college except your major and distinctions or awards you have won, unless you are still in college or just recently graduated. Include grade-point average only if over 3.4. List selected course work if this will help convince the reader of your qualifications for the targeted job.
* Do include advanced training, but be selective with the information, summarizing the information and including only what will be impressive for the reader
*No degree received yet? If you are working on an uncompleted degree, include the degree and afterwards, in parentheses, the expected date of completion: B.S. (expected 200_).
* If you didn't finish college, start with a phrase describing the field studied, then the school, then the dates (the fact that there was no degree may be missed).
* Other headings might be "Education and Training," "Education and Licenses," "Legal Education / Undergraduate Education" (for attorneys).
AWARDS
If the only awards received were in school, put these under the Education section. Mention what the award was for if you can (or just "for outstanding accomplishment" or "outstanding performance"). This section is almost a must, if you have received awards. If you have received commendations or praise from some very senior source, you could call this section, "Awards and Commendations." In that case, go ahead and quote the source.
PROFESSIONAL
Include only those that are current, relevant and impressive. Include leadership roles if appropriate. This is a good section for communicating your status as a member of a minority targeted for special consideration by employers, or for showing your membership in an association that would enhance your appeal as a prospective employee.This section can be combined with "Civic / Community Leadership" as "Professional and Community Memberships.
"CIVIC / COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP
This is good to include if the leadership roles or accomplishments are related to the job target and can show skills acquired, for example, a loan officer hoping to become a financial investment counselor who was Financial Manager of a community organization charged with investing its funds. Any Board of Directors membership or "chairmanship" would be good to include. Be careful with political affiliations, as they could be a plus or minus with an employer or company.
PUBLICATIONS
Include only if published. Summarize if there are many.
COMMENTS FROM SUPERVISORS
Include only if very exceptional. Heavily edit for key phrases.
PERSONAL INTERESTS
Advantages: Personal interests can indicate a skill or area or knowledge that is related to the goal, such as photography for someone in public relations, or carpentry and woodworking for someone in construction management. This section can show well-roundedness, good physical health, or knowledge of a subject related to the goal. It can also create common ground or spark conversation in an interview.
Disadvantages: Personal interests are usually irrelevant to the job goal and purpose of the resume, and they may be meaningless or an interview turn-off ("TV and Reading," "Fund raising for the Hell's Angels").You probably should not include a personal interests section. Your reason for including it is most likely that you want to tell them about you. But, as you know, this is an ad. If this section would powerfully move the employer to understand why you would be the best candidate, include it; otherwise, forget about it.
May also be called "Interests and Hobbies," or just "Interests."
REFERENCES
You may put "References available upon request" at the end of your resume, if you wish. This is a standard close (centered at bottom in italics), but is not necessary: It is usually assumed. Do not include actual names of references. You can bring a separate sheet of references to the interview, to be given to the employer upon request. The resume is visually enticing, a work of art. Simple clean structure. Very easy to read. Symmetrical. Balanced. Uncrowded. As much white space between sections of writing as possible; sections of writing that are no longer than six lines, and shorter if possible.
General Tips
* There are absolutely no errors. No typographical errors. No spelling errors. No grammar, syntax, or punctuation errors. No errors of fact.
* All the basic, expected information is included. A resume must have the following key information: your name, address, phone number, and your e-mail address at the top of the first page, a listing of jobs held, in reverse chronological order, educational degrees including the highest degree received, in reverse chronological order. Additional, targeted information will of course accompany this. Much of the information people commonly put on a resume can be omitted, but these basics are mandatory.
* Jobs listed include a title, the name of the firm, the city and state of the firm, and the years. Jobs earlier in a career can be summarized, or omitted if prior to the highest degree, and extra part-time jobs can be omitted. If no educational degrees have been completed, it is still expected to include some mention of education (professional study or training, partial study toward a degree, etc.) acquired after high school.
* It is targeted. A resume should be targeted to your goal, to the ideal next step in your career. First you should get clear what your job goal is, what the ideal position or positions would be. Then you should figure out what key skills, areas of expertise or body of experience the employer will be looking for in the candidate. Gear the resume structure and content around this target, proving these key qualifications. If you have no clear goal, take the skills (or knowledge) you most enjoy or would like to use or develop in your next career step and build the resume around those.
* Strengths are highlighted / weaknesses de-emphasized. Focus on whatever is strongest and most impressive. Make careful and strategic choices as to how to organize, order, and convey your skills and background. Consider: whether to include the information at all, placement in overall structure of the resume, location on the page itself or within a section, ordering of information, more impressive ways of phrasing the information, use of design elements (such as boldface to highlight, italics to minimize, ample surrounding space to draw the eye to certain things).
* It has focus. A resume needs an initial focus to help the reader understand immediately. Don't make the reader go through through the whole resume to figure out what your profession is and what you can do. Think of the resume as an essay with a title and a summative opening sentence. An initial focus may be as simple as the name of your profession ("Commercial Real Estate Agent," "Resume Writer") centered under the name and address; it may be in the form of an Objective; it may be in the form of a Summary Statement or, better, a Summary Statement beginning with a phrase identifying your profession.
* Use power words. For every skill, accomplishment, or job described, use the most active impressive verb you can think of (which is also accurate). Begin the sentence with this verb, except when you must vary the sentence structure to avoid repetitious writing.
* Show you are results-oriented. Wherever possible, prove that you have the desired qualifications through clear strong statement of accomplishments, rather than a statement of potentials, talents, or responsibilities. Indicate results of work done, and quantify these accomplishment whenever appropriate. For example: "Initiated and directed complete automation of the Personnel Department, resulting in time-cost savings of over 25%." Additionally, preface skill and experience statements with the adjectives "proven" and "demonstrated" to create this results-orientation.
* Writing is concise and to the point. Keep sentences as short and direct as possible. Eliminate any extraneous information and any repetitions. Don't use three examples when one will suffice. Say what you want to say in the most direct way possible, rather than trying to impress with bigger words or more complex sentences. For example: "coordinated eight city-wide fund-raising events, raising 250% more than expected goal" rather than "was involved in the coordination of six fund- raising dinners and two fund-raising walkathons which attracted participants throughout St. Louis and were so extremely successful that they raised $5,000 (well beyond the $2,000 goal)."
* Vary long sentences (if these are really necessary) with short punchy sentences. Use phrases rather than full sentences when phrases are possible, and start sentences with verbs, eliminating pronouns ("I", "he" or "she"). Vary words: Don't repeat a "power" verb or adjective in the same paragraph. Use commas to clarify meaning and make reading easier. Remain consistent in writing decisions such as use of abbreviations and capitalizations.
* Make it look great. Use a laser printer or an ink jet printer that produces high- quality results. A laser is best because the ink won't run if it gets wet. It should look typeset. Do not compromise. If you do, your resume will look pathetic next to ones that have a perfect appearance. Use a standard conservative typeface (font) in 11 or 12 point. Don't make them squint to read it. Use off-white, ivory or bright white 8 1/2 x 11-inch paper, in the highest quality affordable. If you are applying for a senior-level position, use Crane's 100% rag paper and make sure the water-mark is facing the right way. Use absolutely clean paper without smudges, without staples and with a generous border. Don't have your resume look like you squeezed too much on the page.
* Shorter is ususally better. Everyone freely gives advice on resume length. Most of these self-declared experts say a resume should always be one page. That makes no more sense than it does to say an ad or a poem should automatically be one page. Your resume can be 500 pages long if you can keep the reader's undivided attention and interest that long, and at the same time create a psychological excitement that leads prospective employers to pick up the phone and call you when they finish your weighty tome. Don't blindly follow rules! Do what works. Sometimes it is appropriate to have a three pager. But unless your life has been filled with a wide assortment of extraordinary achievements, make it shorter. One page is best if you can cram it all into one page. Most Fortune 500 C.E.O.s have a one- or two-page resume. It could be said that, the larger your accomplishments, the easier to communicate them in few words. Look to others in your profession to see if there is an established agreement about resume length in your field. The only useful rule is to not write one more word than you need to get them to pick up the phone and call you. Don't bore them with the details. Leave them wanting more. Remember, this is an ad to market you, not your life history.
* Length of consulting resumes. In a consulting resume, you are expected to shovel it as deep as you possibly can. If you are selling your own consulting services, make it sizzle, just like any other resume, but include a little more detail, such as a list of well-known clients, powerful quotes from former clients about how fantastic you are, etc. If you are seeking a job with a consulting firm that will be packaging you along with others as part of a proposal, get out your biggest shovel and go to town. Include everything except the name of your goldfish: A full list of publications, skills, assignments, other experience, and every bit of educational crapola that you can manage to make sound related to your work. The philosophy here is: more is better.
* Watch your verb tense. Use either the first person ("I") or the third person (''he," "she") point of view,but use whichever you choose consistently. Verb tenses are based on accurate reporting: If the accomplishment is completed, it should be past tense. If the task is still underway, it should be present tense. If the skill has been used in the past and will continue to be used, use present tense ("conduct presentations on member recruitment to professional and trade associations"). A way of "smoothing out" transitions is to use the past continuous ("have conducted more than 20 presentations...").
* Break it up. A good rule is to have no more than six lines of writing in any one writing "block" or paragraph (summary, skill section, accomplishment statement, job description, etc.). If any more than this is necessary, start a new section or a new paragraph.
* Experience before education...usually. Experience sections should come first, before education, in most every case. This is because you have more qualifications developed from your experience than from your education.
The exceptions would be 1) if you have just received or are completing a degree in a new professional field, if this new degree study proves stronger qualifications than does your work experience, 2) if you are a lawyer, with the peculiar professional tradition of listing your law degrees first, 3) if you are an undergraduate student, or 4) if you have just completed a particularly impressive degree from a particularly impressive school, even if you are staying in the same field, for example, an MBA from Harvard.* Telephone number that will be answered. Be sure the phone number on the resume will, without exception, be answered by a person or an answering machine Monday through Friday 8-5pm. You do not want to lose the prize interview merely because there was no answer to your phone, and the caller gave up. Include the area code of the telephone number. If you don't have an answering machine, get one. Include e-mail and fax numbers, if you have them.
* Try not to include anything on the resume that could turn the employer off, anything that is controversial (political, etc.) or could be taken in a negative light.Put the most important information on the first line of a writing "block" or paragraph. The first line is read the most.* Use bold caps for your name on page one. Put your name at the top of page two on a two-page resume. Put section headings, skill headings, titles or companies (if impressive), degrees, and school name (if impressive), in boldface.
* Spell out numbers under and including ten; use the numerical form for numbers over and including 11 (as a general rule), unless they are the first words in a sentence. Spell out abbreviations unless they are unquestionably obvious.
* If you are not sure what sort of job you are looking for, you will most likely wind up in something that turns out to be just a "job." In a "job" you exchange your life for money. It is possible to choose a career that will fit you so well that you do it because you like to go to work.
WHAT NOT TO PUT ON A RESUME
* The word "Resume" at the top of the resume
* Fluffy rambling "objective" statements
* Salary information
* Full addresses of former employers
* Reasons for leaving jobs
* A "Personal" section, or personal statistics (except in special cases)
* Names of supervisors
* References
QUESTIONS A PRO WOULD ASK YOU
* What key qualifications will the employer be looking for?
* What qualifications will be most important to them that you possess?
* Which of these are your greatest strengths?
* What are the highlights of your career to date that should be emphasized?
* What should be de-emphasized?
* What things about you and your background make you stand out?
* What are your strongest areas of skill and expertise? Knowledge? Experience?
* What are some other skills you possess--perhaps more auxiliary skills?
* What are characteristics you possess that make you a strong candidate? (Things like "innovative, hard-working, strong interpersonal skills, ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines")
* What are the three or four things you feel have been your greatest accomplishments?
* What was produced as a result of your greatest accomplishments?
* Can you quantify the results you produced in numerical or other specific terms?
* What were the two or three accomplishments of that particular job?
* What were the key skills you used in that job? What did you do in each of those skill areas?
* What sorts of results are particularly impressive to people in your field?
* What results have you produced in these areas?
* What are the "buzz words" that people in your field expect you to use in lieu of a secret club handshake, which should be included in your resume?Superb Cover Letter Writing Tips
* Research the organization and the job to understand the firm's needs and priorities. This helps a lot in deciding the main points for the cover letter.
* The approach should be simple, avoiding jargons and technical terms. Avoid dramatic style or flowery language.
* Use a white executive bond paper of A4 size and use word processor with eligible font.
* Don't confuse the reader with your covering letter. Keep the letter clear, simple and concise. Limit your letter to not more than one page. Be assertive and adopt a confident tone throughout the covering letter
Direct your letter to a specific person; try your best to research the contact person in charge, and address the person in a polite manner by last name preceded by Mr. or Ms. (Dear Mr/Ms.X). This is particularly important for speculative inquires when the job hasn't been advertised and you are not sure who is in charge of recruitment. If all your attempts fail, top your letter with "to the HR Manager/Personnel Manager" or equivalent, and address the person as 'Dear Sir or Madam'. Avoid using "To whom it may concern".
* Be brief and to the point, keeping a professional business tone to your letter. Briefly mention why you are interested in this company in specific. Research some information about the company and its activities.
* Limit your paragraphs to a maximum of four to five lines. Use the covering letter to show your suitability for the post; how you match the skills and experience the employer is looking for.If you are applying to a specific job advertisement make sure this is clear in the letter, most commonly this should form part of the opening paragraph. Avoid repeating what is in your resume but rather refer to it for more details.
* If you are making a speculative application, you need to research the company beforehand to make sure that they have jobs that will suit you. Make sure that your letter is clear about what you want - a full-time job, a part time job, or work experience.
* Always use Action verbs and end in a positive note. Instead of writing "I hope you will find", say "I am confident that my experience will add"
* Sign your letter. You signature is very important at the bottom of the letter. Never forget to put your signature.
* Make sure of the correct spelling of name and title of the recipient. And check the spellings and grammar. You may also have a friend or colleague proof-read your letter for possible errors. Be aware, one single mistake could prove to be brutal.
* Tailor your letter to the recipient. Do not have a ready-made cover letter for all potential employers.
* As funny as it may sound, ensure that you do not put an ABC's cover letter in an XYZ's envelope!
* If you are sending your resume and covering letter through e-mail, check your letter and attachment for viruses.
* Follow up on your letter and call your recipient on the day you specified.
* Keep in mind that a well-written cover letter not only enhances, but also augments your resume. It gives you an edge over others. The interview call and offer letter will not be far behind!
Walking tall and standing apart
Curriculum Vitaes are a cinch!
EVERYBODY tells you to write a fresh Curriculum Vitae every time you apply for a job and to update it every couple of months, perhaps assuming that you will whip it out the moment a likely employer heaves to on the horizon. I can think of nothing more tedious than composing paeans about oneself month in and month out! However, over the years I have managed to develop a method that is nearly painless. One essential factor needs to be fixated in your mind. To make a CV readable and interesting, it must stand out from a crowd of CVs churned out by hundreds of other applicants. I’m not one for the Mission/ Vision/ Objective statements at the beginning. Everybody does that and it sounds so incredibly fatuous that as an avid CV scanner myself I find myself zipping through the rest with a cursory glance. You need to be clear, concise, and businesslike and put all that down in an attractive format that doesn’t jar the delicate sensibilities of the hiring authorities! To do this and to ensure getting your CV to the top of the heap you need to make certain you follow these pointers:
Getting it right
There are two types of CVs. One is ideal for professional butterflies who leap about from career to career with the occasional employment break. Hirers are, at least in India, not overwhelmed with long breaks in employment and the best way to downplay such breaks is to create a functional CV. In such CVs, you describe your skills in categories [Automobile engineer, institutional manager, finance professional] and list the designations you have had lower down. This provides a clear, unequivocal overview of what you are good at and how former employers valued your services. For those of you with steadier career paths, and whose employment gaps have been insignificant or non-existent a chronological CV is the best bet. In these, you list your jobs and the designation you held in reverse chronological order. The same format can be followed when you mention your educational/training background. This is the way dyed-in-the-wool HR functionaries like to see things, as they tend to be sticklers for form and tradition.
Types
When you construct the chronological CV do make certain you describe your experience, education and skills telling the reader what it is that you have achieved thus far. Please remember that the functionaries that sift through the mounds of CVs that cross their desk like to make very light work of them. Therefore if they cannot immediately understand what you have to offer, they’ll summarily shred your CV. On the other hand if they are able to instantly see what they are looking for, the CV will make its way up the corporate ladder! You must understand that the average time for reading a CV is about a minute and a half, so if you fit the job, say so at the outset, or indicate it right upfront! While work experience precedes education, in the event you are applying for your first job, your education should be showcased first. Work experience or education; list them down in reverse order of chronology. Do not clutter a CV with details of your consuming interest in bee-keeping and the like, save it for when they ask you at the interview about your interests! I am often asked if CVs should talk about the division or class of educational qualifications. There is no hard and fast rule about this but if your scraped through, waxing eloquent about your division may not further your case too far, on the other hand, you might like to mention the fact that you received a gold medal or a merit scholarship if in fact you actually did. A top performer can usually be depended upon to be consistent and is generally a safe bet with any employer. If you haven’t been formally employed as yet, it may not be a bad idea to list down any relevant experience you may have in the functional area required. This could be in social service you may have undertaken at sometime during school or college. Computer skills are another nice thing you might like to include, and if you have written articles for a paper or anchored a TV show, do mention it. Language skills are a major draw, so you may like to mention them too.
The Look and Feel
We have talked above of the way a good CV needs to be organised to be noticed, but if it even looks tatty, the busy HR executive will not give it the time of day! Bottom line? It has to be attractive and spending time on formatting will pay dividends.
The Format: Lotus SmartSuite and MSWord have CV templates. While they are attractive and do present the material well, please remember that hordes of other applicants will have thought of that too, and in using them reduced your CV to the boring sameness that will tire the person who looks at it. It is normal human tendency to assume that a similar looking document has the same contents, so if the screening executive sees a dozen similar formats, he is likely to give yours a cursory glance instead of the attention it deserves. This does not mean that you embellish your CV with fancy fonts and colourful pictures and graphics! Simple and easy-to-read should be the effect to strive for. Do not be too lavish with bold print and avoid italics as far as possible. Bulleting is a good way to make a list but keep it simple and do not fall into the trap of having a varied series of them. Pointing fingers, graphic arrows and check marks are best avoided.
The Paper: This is important if you need hard copies of your CV. Today, despite many Indian corporations going electronic, HR departments still prefer having their records on paper. To be noticed, your CV needs to be ‘good-to-the-touch’. This does not mean that you etch your CV on beaten silver but the quality of paper matters. Go in for thickish executive bond paper (75 gauge) or, better still, royal executive bond (100 gauge) that looks great and takes computer printing excellently. Avoid writing your CV or typing it out on a manual typewriter. This is passé and will not get a second glance. Please remember that your CV, cover letter and the envelope should match, since these are often clipped together when ‘moved up’ the HR ladder. I have always felt that paper that is not pure white attracts more attention, so using ivory or cream textured paper will at least cause your CV to stand out from the motley pile. Besides, print stands out well on ivory and cream.
Fonts: If your CV needs to go in soft copy form, remember that some e-mail packages may not recognise your choice of font. They may even insist on text font CVs that will play havoc with all your careful planning. The font must necessarily be plain and easy to read. The size should not be larger than 12 points except for the header, which includes your name. These can be bold as well. The best read fonts are Arial, Tahoma or any other uncomplicated sans serif font that will come out much better if they are scanned or faxed as they are likely to be when your CV moves up to the next level. Avoid Times New Roman or Lucida Handwriting. Even sans serif fonts like Comic Sans are not recommended.
The Meat of the Matter
Having ensured that your CV looks good and is well organised we come to the meat of the matter – what to put in it so that it holds the attention of the people who will read it.
The Long and Short of it: If you are a fresher or a person with about 5-10 years of experience, keep your CV down to a single page. On the other hand, if you are a seasoned professional with 15+ years of service some of them in senior positions keep it to two pages at the outside. For one thing it is quick to read and if the salient points are clear, it is all that is required. It is not a bad idea to have a detailed CV saved on your system from which you can cut and paste as required to suit the job profile for which you are applying.
Proactive Prose: Grammar sometimes needs to be modified to suit the need. Start descriptive sentences with active verbs like ‘Advised the Managing Director’ or ‘Supervised the conduct of the session’ or ‘Trained new entrants’ etc., This gives an impression of activity and high energy. Even something like ‘Exclusively responsible’ will catch the eye. This advice may not thrill grammarians, but hey, you’ve got to get that tired HR executive to take notice, right?
Figure it right: If you need to quote numbers or percentages or statistics, do so. Nothing catches the attention like a series of figures. There seems to be a magic associated with numbers that fascinates often even if the numbers are not substantiated in the text. For some reason, people generally feel that numbers cannot lie so by association the text that accompanies the numbers must be worth reading too!
If you have managed to incorporate all the suggestions above, your CV must be really something that will aid your immediate employment! You can be reasonably certain that it will be read and with interest that may prompt them to call you for an interview. Once there, you will have the task of living upto the standard of your CV, so stick to the truth and memorise everything so that you aren’t caught off guard when they ask you about an entry in the CV. Never forget to carry an extra hard copy of the CV when you go for the interview.
Killer Resume Mistakes You Must Avoid
Resume Mistake # 1
Failure to state your objective clearly and succinctly.All too often resumes are submitted in many cases without the use of an objective and a clear statement of the role for which the candidate is applying. And on the occasions that objectives are used they can be nonspecific or worse, too wordy while failing to clearly state the candidates desired role.Take for example a large organization, which may be recruiting for up to, and including 30 positions at a time. A recruiter will not sift through hundreds of resumes and spend valuable time attempting to discern which role a candidate is applying for when they have failed to state it clearly at the outset of their resume.An example of an effective objective statement is as follows:
* A highly experienced sales and marketing professional with comprehensive skills in strategic planning and implementation seeking a position as a Sales Manager where these skills will add value.A statement such as this gives a brief overview of the candidates experience and immediately generates interest on behalf of the recruiter/employer.Failure to create a strong but concise objective will ensure that your application is relegated to the bottom of the pile.
Resume Mistake # 2
Focusing on duties and responsibilities rather than achievements and successes
Let’s face it employers want to see what you can do for them quickly and effectively. They hate hiring and they like it to be as quick and painless as possible. No Manger/Recruiter wants to sit down and read a resume that is simply a comprehensive listing of every work task a candidate has performed throughout their career.
Imagine reading a resume that contains the following:
* Completed filing and archiving.
* Performed word processing duties.
* Answered the telephone to clients.
* Completed the accounts payable transactions.
* Managed the invoicing system.
* Looked after the office equipment.
This is a complete and frankly uninteresting way to detail daily responsibilities. An effective resume should focus on successes and achievements. An employer/recruiter will assume that an Administrative Assistant can type, use Word, archive etc. in the same way as they will expect that a Sales Manager can manage employees, prepare forecasts, market products etc.
Resume Mistake # 3
Resume length and use of big words!
Even now candidates fail to understand that a three and four page resume holds no attraction for a recruiter/hiring manager. With the volume of applications received for each job advertisement it is little wonder that mangers become frustrated by the length of resumes and the abundance of large words used within the resume itself.
Resumes should ideally be a one to two page document depending entirely on each candidates level of experience, expertise and their profession.
A professional resume should be long on facts but short on words!
Resume Mistake # 4
Poor Resume formatting and visual layoutThe two most widely used resume formats are:
* The Chronological Resume
* The Functional Resume
Visual Impact
Poor layout will have a detrimental effect on the success of your resume. All too often candidates create resumes that are a mishmash of fonts, bullet points, underlines and italics.
A resume should be where possible uniform with bullet points used to highlight specific accomplishments or achievements and not every sentence or they lose their effectiveness. Think of your resume as packaging for you as the candidate of choice. Create a professional resume by choosing the format that suits you, keeping the layout clear and easy to read and using white space effectively.
Resume Mistake # 5
Spelling and Punctuation
It really goes without saying that this is the faux pas of all faux pas! It will not matter that you have created the perfect layout, written the most effective text and the used the format that suits your career perfectly if you submit a resume that contains poor punctuation or spelling mistakes.
The first thing an employer/recruiter will think when they see a spelling mistake included in a resume is that you are careless and lack attention to detail, neither of which are attributes that will endear you as a candidate.
Spell-checking your resume simply won’t do. Computers are not infallible. Get your resume proofread by several people both friends and colleagues who are au fait with the terminology used within the resume.
Make sure that sentences are written in the correct context. Ensure that punctuation is accurate and that all spelling is correct. Sentence structure should be easy to read and professional in manner.
Don’t create an otherwise well-written resume only to have it discarded because you failed to cross your T’s and dot your I’ s!
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