Keep it brief and concise
Do not turn your resume into a tedious list of key
responsibility areas. Many people even use their company
jargon in writing a resume. Instead tell the prospective
employer how you made a difference to your job. Provide
specific examples of how the company you work for
gained from your performance. Highlight any goals
which you achieved ahead of time, or any special cost-cutting
measures spearheaded by your department.
Your resume should answer the following questions:
• What special expertise did you bring to your
current job?
• Attach any special praise, certificates of
achievement presented to you or your department.
• What were the problems or challenges that
you or the organisation faced?
• What did you do to overcome the problems?
In all, the complete length of your CV should not
be more than 2 pages.
Do not use long-winded sentences and old-fashioned
language.
“Sir, I would hereby draw your esteemed attention
to the way my talents are in tandem with your company’s
long-term goals” is a sentence most employers
do not have time to read. Be specific, be direct.
Which goals will you help the company to achieve better
sales revenue, a new strategy to cut costs, better
management of inter-department communication. Explain
in a few crisp sentences what you do now, and what
you aim to do in your new job.
Do not sprinkle your CV with personal pronouns.
It is your CV and is bound to be about you.
However, try to avoid using I, me, my in the CV.
The statement: I overshot my sales target by 20 percent
and I was given a special increment by the marketing
director.
Is better written as: Overshot my sales target by
20 percent, and was given a special increment by the
marketing director.
Connect your skills to your job history .
Your resume should record your career progression.
That is, do link new skills to jobs done. Also the
skills that you now have to the job you are applying
for. Here is the basic resume layout:
• Lead with a strong profile section (detailing
the scope of your experience, skill sets, key responsibility
areas)
• Reverse chronological employment history (emphasising
achievements in the past 10-15 years)
• Education (this might be moved to the top
for fresh graduates)
• Other related topics include professional
affiliations, community activities, technical expertise,
and languages spoken.
• Personal details.
Include industry keywords in your CV
With the majority of large- and medium-size companies
using technology to store resumes, the only hope a
job seeker has of being found in an applicant search
is the inclusion of relevant industry keywords. These
do not have to be a separate section; rather, they
can be sprinkled throughout the resume. A good way
to determine keywords is to read job descriptions
for positions that interest you. If you see industry
buzzwords, incorporate them into your resume.
Keep references ready but provide only if asked for
Referees (people in responsible positions who refer
you for the job) are the key to get a good job. Keep
at least two good referees lined up but do not list
them unless you are asked for them.
Check your resume for proper grammar &
correct spelling!
This cannot be emphasized enough. Poor grammar
and misspelled words cause a potential employer to
question your attention to detail and the quality
of your work. With a sea of applicants to select from
why should they bother with an individual with a poor
resume? Remember your resume is your personal promotional
brochure. After checking your resume for grammar and
spelling have some friends or colleagues look it over,
the more the better.
With each viewing and edit your resume becomes more
polished and will be more successful at its purpose-
bringing you to employers' attention.
Eliminate unnecessary resume details
Hobbies and other personal interests should
only be included if they relate to the positions you’re
interested in.
