Preparation Guidelines

On the Internet usually the CV’s are send via e-mail to respective companies, but it is still
important that you carry a copy along with you during your preliminary interview.

1. Use good quality paper for your CV’s. After all you are describing your years of
hard-earned education and experience. Always value yourself.

2. Never send a badly duplicated photocopy of your CV. Even if you have to send a
photocopy ideally use a good copier and executive bond paper or other similar
quality.

3. Always remember to put your telephone no. If possible give an alternate number
of your pager/mobile or email no

4. The section you should describe most is your work experience. Ideally give your
job responsibilities point wise with sub headings. This would help to describe the
matter briefly as well as to the point.

5. Ideally restrict your CV to not more than three pages. After all you should have
some matter to talk about during your interview.

6. Check for spelling errors and grammatical mistake before you take a final copy of
your CV as even a small error could cause an embarrassing situation for you.

7. Remember to mention any awards / promotion or other recognition earned by you

in your previous work experience.

8. If you are a fresher than stress more on your education section and also mention
other additional qualification in detail. Give a brief description about projects and
extra curricular activities undertaken by you.

9. Include sections like languages known, hobbies and interests, extra curricular
activities, your positive points in brief.

10. Remember to include the exact time spent in each company supported by dates.
Also give dates of completing each degree.

11. Some companies do ask for photographs so carry at least two-passport size
photograph just in case you are asked to submit them.

12. Select a simple font with appropriate font size to give clarity and legibility to your
precious CV.

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Follow These Basic Standards....

Your resume is the first interface you have with your employer. Make the most of this
opportunity............. The employment market is changing all the time and so have
resumes, evolving from a one-size-fits-all standard. Here are our tips to convert your
resume into a catching one.

Follow These Basic Standards....

• Don't overcrowd your resume; allow for plenty of white space.
• Keep your resume to one page whenever possible.
• Keep the number of fonts you use to a minimum -- two at the most.
• Use a font that is easy to read. Times Roman works well.
• Do not justify the lines of type on your resume. Allow the right side of the page to
"rag."
• Do not overuse capitalization, italics, underlines, or other emphasizing features.
• Make sure your name, address, and a phone number appear on your resume and
all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
• Print your resume on white or cream paper using a good-quality printer.
• Second- and third-generation photocopies must be avoided
• Print on one side of the paper only.
Avoid Mistakes:
SPELLING MISTAKES:
To avoid spelling mistakes:
• Don't use words with which you aren't familiar.
• Use a dictionary as you write.
• Perform a spell check on your finished resume.
• Carefully read every word in your resume.
• Have a friend or two proof read your resume for you.
PUNCTUATION MISTAKES:
Things to look for:
• Periods at the end of all full sentences.
• Be consistent in your use of punctuation.
• Always put periods and commas within quotation marks.
• Avoid using exclamation points.
GRAMMATICAL MISTAKES:
Grammar hang-ups to watch for:
• Do not switch tenses within your resume.
• The duties you currently perform should be in present tense (i.e., write reports)
• Duties you may have performed at past jobs should be in past tense (i.e., wrote
reports).
• Capitalize all proper nouns.
• When expressing numbers, write out all numbers between one and nine (i.e., one,
five, seven), but
• use numerals for all numbers 10 and above (i.e., 10, 25, 108).

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 • If you begin a sentence with a numeral, spell out that numeral (e.g. Eleven service
awards won while employed.).
• Make sure your date formats are consistent (i.e.11/22/01 or Nov. 22, 2001, or
11.22.01. Choose one and stick with it.).
• Choose Your Words Carefully:
• Phrase yourself well:
• Be on the lookout for the following easily confused words:
• accept (to receive), except (to exclude)
• all right (correct), alright (this is not a word)
• affect (to bring about change), effect (result)
• personal (private), personnel (staff members)
• role (a character assigned or a function), roll (to revolve).
• Use action words (i.e., wrote reports, increased revenues, directed staff).

REFERENCES:

In most instances it is not necessary to include names and address of references on the
resume. If you include a reference, make it sure that the referenced person knows very
well about you. It is also advisable to add the persons as references, whom the employer
can contact easily. If possible add the phone number and e-mail ID of the reference.
Never add a person as a reference, about whom you know nothing

STICK TO THE POINT

Employers have a busy schedule, so don't expect them to read through a long resume.
Ideally, resumes should be of one page, or of two pages only if absolutely necessary, to
describe relevant work experience.

WORDS COUNT

Use of language is extremely important; you need to sell yourself to an employer quickly
and efficiently. Address your potential employer's needs with a clearly written,
compelling resume. Avoid large paragraphs (five or six lines). If you provide small,
digestible pieces of information, your resume will be read. Use action verbs. Verbs such
as "developed", "managed", and "designed" emphasise your accomplishments. Don't use
declarative sentences like "I developed the ..." or "I assisted in ...", leave out the "I".

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Avoid passive constructions, such as "was responsible for managing". Just say,
"managed": that sounds stronger and more active.

MAKE THE MOST OF YOUR EXPERIENCE

Employers need to know what you have accomplished to have an idea of what you can do
for them. Don't be vague. Telling someone that you "improved the company's efficiency"
doesn't say much. But if you say that you "cut overhead costs by 20 per cent and saved
the company Rs 20 lakh during the last fiscal year", you are more specific.

HONESTY IS A GOOD POLICY

Employers will feel more comfortable hiring you if they can verify your
accomplishments. There is a difference between making the most of your experience and
exaggerating or falsifying it. A falsified resume can cost you the job later.

DOUBLE-CHECK FOR MISTAKES

Check your resume for correct grammar and spelling - evidence of good communication
skills and attention to detail. Nothing can ruin your chances of getting a job faster than
submitting a resume filled with preventable mistakes. Make your resume easy on the eye.
Use normal margins (1" on the top and bottom, 1.25" on the sides) and don't cram your
text on the page. Allow for some space between the different sections. Avoid unusual or
exotic fonts. Preferred fonts: Arial and Times Roman & Verdana

15 Golden Tips

The thought of writing a resume intimidates almost anyone. It's difficult to know where
to start or what to include. It can seem like an insurmountable task. Here are 15 tips to
help you not only tackle the task, but also write a winning resume.

1. Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume. Once you have
determined your objective, you can structure the content of your resume around
that objective. Think of your objective as the bull's-eye to focus your resume on
hitting. If you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it will
likely come across as unfocused to those that read it. Take the time before you
start your resume to form a clear objective.

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2. Think of your resume as a marketing tool. Think of yourself as a product,
potential employers as your customers, and your resume as a brochure about you.
Market yourself through your resume. What are your features and benefits? What
makes you unique? Make sure to convey this information in your resume.

3. Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job. You don't need to go into detail
about every accomplishment. Strive to be clear and concise. The purpose of your
resume is to generate enough interest in you to have an employer contact you for
an interview. Use the interview to provide a more detailed explanation of your
accomplishments and to land a job offer.

4. Use bulleted sentences. In the body of your resume, use bullets with short
sentences rather than lengthy paragraphs. Resumes are read quickly. This bulleted
sentence format makes it easier for someone to quickly scan your resume and still
absorb it.

5. Use action words. Action words cause your resume to pop. To add life to your
resume, use bulleted sentences that begin with action words like prepared,
developed, monitored, and presented.

6. Use #'s, Rs. and %'s. Numbers, dollars, and percentages stand out in the body of a
resume. Use them. Here are two examples:
* Managed a department of 10 with a budget of Rs.1,000,000.
* Increased sales by 25% in a 15-state territory.

7. Lead with your strengths. Since resumes are typically reviewed in 30 seconds,
take the time to determine which bullets most strongly support your job search
objective. Put those strong points first where they are more apt to be read.

8. Play Match Game. Review want ads for positions that interest you. Use the key
words listed in these ads to match them to bullets in your resume. If you have
missed any key words, add them to your resume.

9. Use buzzwords. If there are terms that show your competence in a particular field,
use them in your resume. For marketing people, use "competitive analysis." For
accounting types, use "reconciled accounts."

10. Accent the positive. Leave off negatives and irrelevant points. If you feel your
date of graduation will subject you to age discrimination, leave the date off your
resume. If you do some duties in your current job that don't support your job
search objective, leave them off your resume. Focus on the duties that do support

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 your objective. Leave off irrelevant personal information like your height and
weight.

11. Show what you know. Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume
to highlight your breadth of knowledge. Use an interview to provide more detail.

12. Show who you know. If you have reported to someone important such as a vice
president or department manager, say so in your resume. Having reported to
someone important causes the reader to infer that you are important.

13. Construct your resume to read easily. Leave white space. Use a font size no
smaller than 10 point. Limit the length of your resume to 1-2 pages. Remember,
resumes are reviewed quickly. Help the reader to scan your resume efficiently and
effectively.

14. Have someone else review your resume. Since you are so close to your situation,
it can be difficult for you to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your
accomplishments. Have someone review your job search objective, your resume,
and listings of positions that interest you. Encourage them to ask questions. Their
questions can help you to discover items you inadvertently left off your resume.
Revise your resume to include these items. Their questions can also point to items
on your resume that are confusing to the reader. Clarify your resume based on this
input.

15. Submit your resume to potential employers. Have the courage to submit your
resume. Think of it as a game where your odds of winning increase with every
resume you submit. You really do increase your odds with every resume you
submit. Use a three-tiered approach. Apply for some jobs that appear to be
beneath you. Perhaps they will turn out to be more than they appeared to be once
you interview for them. Or perhaps once you have your foot in the door you can
learn of other opportunities. Apply for jobs that seem to be just at your level. You
will get interviews for some of those jobs. See how each job stacks up. Try for
some jobs that seem like a stretch. That's how you grow -- by taking risks. Don't
rule yourself out. Trust the process. Good luck in your job search!

7 steps can change your future

Step 1 Summarize your Qualifications.

Step 2 Education
Step 3 Work Experience
Step 4 Additional Information

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Step 5 References
Step 6 Power Words
Step 7 The Cover Letter

Step 1 Summarize your Qualifications.

Summarize your qualifications by writing a summary paragraph that highlights your

professional background as it relates to the needs of the company. Hiring managers need
to see immediately that you have the skills and experience they need. If an employer has
to figure out what you can do for him, the odds are you won't get an interview.

Over 15 years of diverse and challenging experience, combined with powerful

presentation skills, a disciplined approach to the task at hand and the innate ability to
anticipate potential obstacles are attributes that contribute to a strong record of excellence
and acknowledgement for "getting the job done."

An accomplished senior executive with outstanding credentials and a proven record of

results……Constantly progressed in an organization that demands a broad business
perspective to achieve accelerated growth in sales and profits.

Fourteen years experience with a major international organization on a career path which
supported increased levels of responsibility in the areas of management, communication
and training.
Over 12 years of technical sales and marketing experience including: electronic
component sales knowledge of Unix, Pascal, Sun work station, Fortran new software
business start-up and market presentation international marketing penetration.

The Objective

There is much debate regarding the inclusion/exclusion of a job objective-use your

judgment. It is usually placed right under the heading. The job objective is a targeted,
brief description of the specific kind of job you are seeking: legal administrator,
bookkeeper, medical transcriber, diesel mechanic, etc. Avoid vagueness here, if you can't
be specific leave it off the resume. It should be specific to the point of repeating what the
advertisement/announcement stated. Since you may need a different resume for each
opening you locate, you may also need to change the job objective. You can always
discuss your objective in the cover letter.

Do not assume that any job objective is better than no job objective. If your objective is
vague or unfocused, you will appear unable to decide what you want to do with the next
part of your life. Target it to the specific kind of job you are seeking, e.g., secretary,
bookkeeper, sales representative, medical transcriber, backhoe operator, etc.

Example: Position teaching science and/or math at the secondary school level. Position
within a financial institution requiring strong analytical and organizational skills. The
profile is an alternative to an objective statement. It gives you the opportunity to present

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your strengths at the very beginning of the résumé.

Example: Profile Marketing...Finance...Management

Eager to contribute to the growth of a progressive company with quality products or

services. Qualified by business education, customer service and administrative
experience. Professional appearance and advanced interpersonal communication. Highly
motivated, strong work ethic; available as needed for training, travel, overtime, etc.
Financed 80% of college tuition and expenses; additional 20% through scholarships. In
writing the major areas of your résumé, it is important to emphasize your abilities and
accomplishments more than past duties. You may also want to indicate how well you
performed. This will help infuse personal qualities such as character and personality into
your résumé.

Step 2 Education

This category is particularly important if you have not had a great deal of work
experience. Remember, your most recent educational experience should be listed first.
Include your degree (A.S., B.S., B.A., etc.), major, institution(s) attended, date of
graduation, minors or concentrations, and any special workshops, seminars, related
coursework or senior projects. A G.P.A. of higher than a 3.0 (either overall G.P.A. or
G.P.A. in major) should also be noted here.

Step 3 Work Experience

If you are a student, recent college graduate or have limited paid work experience, but
have been involved in volunteer, internship, practicum or student teaching work
experiences, be sure to point this out to the employer. This is what your skills are and
what you can do on the job. Be sure to include all significant work experience in reverse
chronological order.

Note to teacher candidates: Be sure to include your student teaching experience on your
résumé.
You should include:

1. The title of your position

2. The name of the organization
3. The location of work (town, state)
4. The dates of jobs held

You should describe your work responsibilities with an emphasis on achievements using
action words to communicate your skills. List the most important and related
responsibilities first. Identify the most relevant work experiences and describe them fully.
Be brief with the irrelevant experiences or omit them. It is sometimes useful to divide
your work experience into two categories: Relevant Experience and Other Experience.

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You may want to add that work was performed to earn a certain percent of college
expenses.

Example: Earned 75% of college expenses through the following part-time jobs

Step 4 Additional Information

This category is useful for displaying information that doesn't fit in any other category.
Although Interests, Computer Knowledge, and Activities can be separate categories,
especially if they are very strong, they can be listed here as well. Languages spoken, or
any extra, relevant bit of information can be placed here as well.

Interests
This is sometimes used to evaluate your suitability to a geographic area or to understand
your "personality type". Include this section if you have available space. Include social or
civic activities, health and fitness or sports activities, or hobbies which indicate how you
spend your leisure time. Computer Knowledge: If using computers is a necessary skill for
the job you are seeking, be sure to highlight your knowledge in this section.

Example:
Databases: Oracle 8.x, SQL Server, Sybase
Client/Server: Power Builder 3.x/4.x/5.x/6.x/7.x, Visual Basic
Oracle Skills: SQL, PL/SQL, Replication, Database Administration, Oracle Web toolkit
Web skills: HTML, XML, Sybase EA Server, Power Dynamo, Power Site, Jaguar
Component Transaction Server, Oracle Application Server Data modeling: Erwin
Object modeling: Rational Rose, BPWin
Hardware: Sun Workstations Operating Systems: Windows NT, UNIX Programming
Languages: Java, C, C++, Perl

Activities, Honors, and Leadership are also important categories to include. If the
activities involved work responsibility, note it in some detail. The employer is interested
in the skills you have developed whether through volunteer or paid experiences. If you
were elected to offices or committees, mention it. Recognition and demonstration of
leadership roles are valuable.

Step 5 References

Be sure to ask individuals if they would be willing to be a reference for you prior to
mentioning their names to prospective employers. Names of individuals are not usually
listed on the résumé (unless there is space available at the end), but you should prepare a
typed list of three references to provide at the interview. This list should include name,
title, employer, address, business and home telephone number. You may also state at the
bottom of your résumé "References furnished upon request."

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Step 6 Power Words

Employers today want to know concrete things about you, and what you can produce.
Most résumés today are filled with empty generalizations, failing to be distinguished in
any way from the crowd of respondents. By beginning sentences with Action or Power
Words, you are showing employers you are capable of tactical strategic thinking and have
proven results. Here are some Power Words to get you started:

• accelerated • mastered
• accomplished • motivated
• achieved • operated
• adapted • ordered
• administered • originated
• analyzed • organized
• approved • participated
• conceived • performed
• conducted • pinpointed
• completed • planned
• controlled • prepared
• coordinated • produced
• created • programmed
• delegated • proposed
• demonstrated • proved
• designed • provided
• developed • proficient in
• directed • purchased
• earned • recommended
• effected • reduced
• eliminated • reinforced
• established • reorganized
• evaluated • revamped
• expanded • reviewed
• expedited • revised
• facilitated • scheduled
• found • simplified
• generated • set up
• implemented • solved
• improved • streamlined
• increased • structured
• influenced • supervised
• initiated • supported
• inspected • surpassed
• instructed • taught
• interpreted • trained
• launched • translated
• led • used

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 • lectured • utilized
• maintained • won

• managed • wrote

Step 7 The Cover Letter

Never send a résumé without a cover letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to express
your interest in an organization and to request an interview. The opening paragraph must
get the reader's attention and interest in your employment potential. This paragraph
should also refer to the specific position sought and areas in your background that make
you an attractive candidate for it.

The development section (usually one or two paragraphs) highlights specific aspects of
your education, training, and experience that relate to the position or organization to
which you are applying. It also refers the reader to your enclosed résumé for further
details.

The concluding paragraph should request action by the reader. You should request an
opportunity to meet with the person to discuss your qualifications and employment
potential in greater detail. Include information on how you can be contacted by providing
both day and evening phone numbers.

Important: If you are expecting a prospective employer to contact you at home and you
have an answering machine, this may be a good time to review your outgoing message.
This is the employers first contact with you. Be sure your outgoing message is
respectable

Most frequent resume mistakes

to be avoided

Please, be original. Don't make these common mistakes.

Mistake: Incorrect Contact Information

Correct: I once worked with a student whose resume seemed incredibly strong, but he
wasn't getting any bites from employers. So one day, I jokingly asked him if
the phone number he'd listed on his resume was correct. It wasn't. Once he
changed it, he started getting the calls he'd been expecting. Moral of the story:
Double-check even the most minute, taken-for-granted details -- sooner rather
than later.

Mistake: Listing a personal web site that contains inappropriate content.

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Correct: See listing your personal web site URL on your resume.

Mistake: Using really small fonts

Correct: Employers are typically reading many resumes, and are taking less than half a
minute to read one. Really small fonts are hard to read and don't photocopy as
well. (That applies to your address block as well.) What's too small?
Generally don't go smaller than a 10 point, but notice that all font styles aren't
sized equally. For example, a 10 point Arial font is smaller than a 10 point
Antique Olive.

Mistake: Really wide margins with content squeezed in the middle.

Correct: Your margins should be at least one half inch. You really don't need more than
one inch. Lots of students ask if their resumes have "enough white space." An
employer isn't reading white space. Employers are reading your content, and
you want it to be easy to see.

Mistake: Long wordy descriptions in your objective and elsewhere.

Correct: You don't need complete sentences in your resume. Concise, understandable
phrases are sufficient. Look at the examples in resume formats and samples.
Ask for a Career Services advisor's assistance in editing your resume through
walk-in advising.

Mistake: Typos.
Correct: You have one chance to make a first impression. In many cases, your resume,
or your resume plus a cover letter, are the only things an employer has to base
an impression of you. The resume is a critical document for presenting
yourself. The view is that if you would make a mistake on your resume, you'll
probably make a lot more mistakes on the job. It's easy to miss your own
typos. Use spellcheck, but remember it won't catch every error. Frightening
example: If you leave the first "l" out of "public relations," spellcheck is not
going to let you know. Get the idea? Ask friends to proofread.

Mistake: Using too complicated a format; getting too creative.

Correct: The employer typically spends about 15 to 30 seconds reading your resume.
Keep the layout simple and clean (like the examples in resume formats and
samples). Avoid too many layers of indentation. Stick with one font size for
the document; only make your name larger. Don't mix font types.

Mistake: Using a unique, creative layout or style to stand out from the crowd.
Correct: The best way to stand out from the crowd is with high quality content and a
clearly written, neat, error-free document. Employers are looking for content,
not fancy or dangerously creative layout. Don't stand out for the wrong
reason.

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Email - Makes it easier .. !!

Email was a differentiator at first (mid 90's). When you emailed your resume, you stood
out from the crowd as "net savvy." By the late 90's, email became the "standard" way to
reach someone.

Now, email is largely a nuisance unless someone is expecting a message from you.

So, what should you do?

1. Follow the employer's directions, if any are given.

If they specify a "receiving" address on the job posting or the Website, send your resume
to that address. If they have specified what goes into the subject line of the message (like
the job posting number), be sure to do that, too.

This isn't limiting your ability to do some "guerilla marketing" in addition to the
following-the-rules process to help you stand out from the crowd. However, it is
demonstrating that you are capable of following directions and have some respect for
their processes. So follow the directions and also use your other approaches, if
appropriate. (See #7 for another idea)

2. Don't use your current work e-mail address (if you are still employed) for sending
your resume to a new employer.

This is a very good way to become unemployed (most employers monitor email traffic,
so they'll see that resume go out)! And, it doesn't show a new employer that you are very
loyal or respectful of your current employer. Doesn't make you a very appealing
applicant.

3. Send a separate message to each potential employer. Even though it may be easy
to do, don't do mass emailing.

Messages with multiple addresseees are a sure way to trip a spam filter's alarm and very
bad 'netiquette to boot. If you're not careful, it can reveal all the other employers you are
courting and demonstrate that you are not willing to spend much effort on any of the
employers listed.

In addition, a cookie-cutter message will not be focused on that specific opportunity (the
requirements of the job, the employer's situation, etc.). So, it may not get through, and if
it does get through, it won't be effective.

4. If possible, send your email on Tuesday or Wednesday.

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The weekends, Mondays, Fridays, and late Thursdays are typically times with a high
volume of spam, and your message may get lost in the junk.

5. Use plain text format.

If your email software lets you choose a font face, do bolding, and add a pretty
background to your outgoing messages, you are using HTML email. Not good.

HTML email can trigger the spam filters and often looks different on someone else's
computer, so use plain text. It's safer from both a technical and a usability perspective.

So, change the format of your email to plain text when you are sending out a resume or
corresponding with an employer.

[With Outlook Express, be sure that the black dot is beside the words "plain text" when
you look at the drop-down list under "Format" in the New Message window's toolbar.]

6. Copy the plain text version of your resume into the body of your email.

Unless directions from the employer specify otherwise, this is the safest way to send a
resume via email. You need to copy the plain text version of your resume - not the Word
(or other word processing software) document. See Job-Hunt's "Converting a Word
Resume into ASCII Text" article for step-by-step directions.

7. Look for alternative ways to reach people.

Use the Internet to reach the employer, and then follow up offline.

For example, if you want to work in the sales department of a company, find the VP of
Sales on the company Website, and then call the company to verify that the person is still
there and still VP of Sales.

Once you know the name of the person in that key position, send a "beautiful resume"
(Joyce Lain Kennedy's term from her latest resume book) via snail mail - NOT email.
Your "beautiful resume" is the one in word processing format, with bullets and bolding
and a fancy layout - designed to showcase you and your capabilities.

Tips on e-mailing - from my Experience

an HR who receives thousands of resumes daily

Today sending resumes through e-mails is the most effective & fastest way of job
hunting. If you notice your resume getting rejected frequently and inadequate responses
to your emails, go through the following ten tips to increase the effectiveness of your
resume.

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1. While applying for a job, as far as possible try to put the company's mailID in the 'TO'
column instead of keeping it in the 'CC' or 'BCC' column.

2. Do not keep any other company's mailID in the 'CC' of the same mail.

3. If necessary you can keep your own mailID in the 'CC' of the same mail.

4. While sending resumes to many E-mail Ids at the same time, keep all the addresses in
the 'BCC' of the mail which will not be visible for the recipients. Also put your own
mailID in the 'TO' column.

5. You can paste your resume in the mail Text or can be attached as a document unless it
is specifically mentioned.

6. While applying for any company's notifications, do follow the instructions word by
word.

7. When you are asked to write any particular 'subject line', write exactly what is being
asked to do. This is Very very important because today all the mail boxes are attacked by
spam & virus mails and the recipient will be filtering your mails automatically/manually
based on the mail subject only.

For eg. When you are asked to write the subject 'Software Engineer-Bangalore", write
exactly that and do not write "I am applying for the post of Software Engineer -
Bangalore"

8. Also try to write the important part of your subject at the beginning because in the
recipient's mail box the longest subjects will be truncated and only the first part will be
displayed.

For eg. Instead of writing 'My Freshersworld.com registration no. is cse12345' try writing
'cse12345 - Freshersworld.com Registration no.'. Please note here that the company will
be looking only for your registration no. and it is better if you write just " cse12345 ".

9. Pls note that all your casual mails with the subject ' Freshers Resume' or 'Registration
details' will be summarily deleted and do not spend time on sending such mails where the
notification asks you to put specific 'subject'.

10. Do not send the mail 3 or 4 times in order to make sure it reaches correctly which
may irritate the recipient. Instead, in the first mail itself put your own mailID in the 'BCC'
and check if the mail is received properly.

ASCII Text mail is more acceptable .. !!

Follow these step-by-step instructions and you'll have a perfectly clean ASCII text
resume.

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Use this version of your resume for e-mail, unless you have received specific directions
from the recruiter/employer to use another format. This is also the version of your resume
that you will use most often to cut-and-paste into the resume forms on Web job sites.

Converting a Word document to ASCII text:

1. Spell check and then re-save your resume in your word processing program (e.g.
Word) before you move to the next step.

2. Open a simple text editor like Notepad (on the PC, under Start > Programs >
Accessories > Notepad) or SimpleText (on the Mac)

3. Start Word (or your word processing program if you're not using Word), if it is not
already open.

4. In Word (or your word processing program), open the file for your resume. If you
make any changes, be sure to double-check your spelling and grammar before you
save the file.

5. Highlight all the text in your Word document by -

o Clicking on Edit > Select All, or

o Using your mouse to run from the top of the file to the bottom, or
o On your PC, holding down the Control and the "a" keys simultaneously.

Highlight -- You will know that the text is highlighted because the
background and letters of highlighted content are in reverse from their
normal state (black background with white letters is the highlighted state
for normal black letters on a white background).

Don't let your mouse "touch down" anywhere in the document's window,
or the highlighting will go away, and you will have to start over again.
o
6. Copy the highlighted text into your computer's temporary storage (the
"Clipboard" in a PC) by -

o Clicking on Edit > Copy, or

o On your PC, press the Control and the "c" keys simultaneously.

7. Move to your simple text editor, most probably Notepad (step 1, above), and paste
the copy of your resume file into this new editor.

o Click inside the Notepad window, and then

o Click on Edit > Paste, or
o On your PC, press the Control and the "v" keys simultaneously.

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 8. Save as plain text.

o Select File > Save As, and then

o Name the file resume.txt (or whatever.txt), with
o in Notepad, Text Documents selected as the "File of Type"

9. You aren't done yet! You need to adjust the text to make it more readable and
interesting

you will notice that your resume, in Notepad, is not as "pretty" as it was before.
That's because it is now plain text. All special formats, like bolding and
italicizing, have been removed, as have any graphics or other non-text elements.
(Now you know why it is called "plain" text!) This is a good thing! At least, for e-
mail, it is. You can, and should, take some steps to improve the way ASCII text
looks. It still won't be beautiful, but it will be more acceptable.

.How To Write a Good Cover Letter

Your resume should always have a good COVER LETTER attached, as a personal
communication between you and the individual who receives the resume.

Many job hunters are intimidated by the task of writing a cover letter, but it's not that
hard if you think of it as just a friendly, simple communication from one person (who's
looking for a good job) to another (who's looking for a good employee). It is in the
interests of both parties to make a good connection!

1. Be sure to address your cover letter --by name and title -- to the person who could
actually hire you. When it's impossible to learn their name, use their functional title,
such as "Dear Manager." You may have to guess ("Dear Selection Committee") but never
say "To whom it may concern" or "Dear Sir or Madam"!

2. Show that you know a little about the company, and that you are aware of their
current problems, interests, or priorities.

3. Express your enthusiasm and interest in this line of work and this company. If you
have a good idea that might help the employer resolve a problem currently facing their
industry, offer to come in and discuss it.

4. Project warmth and friendliness, while still being professional. Avoid any generic
phrases such as "Enclosed please find." This is a letter to a real live person!

5. Make a personal link to a specific individual in that company, if at all possible -- also
called "name dropping." For example, "My neighbor, Phil Lyons, works in your research-

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and-development department, and from what he tells me about the company and its
current directions, I think I could be a good fit for your team."

6. Set yourself apart from the crowd. Identify at least one thing about you that's unique
-- say a special talent for getting along with everybody at work, or some unusual skill that
goes beyond the essential requirements of the position -- something that distinguishes you
AND is relevant to the job. (Then, if several others are equally qualified for the job, your
uniqueness may be the reason to choose YOU.)

7. Be specific about what you are asking for and what you are offering. Make it clear
which position you're applying for and just what experience or skill you have that relates
to that position.

8. Take the initiative about the next step whenever possible, and be specific. "I'll call
your office early next week to see if we could meet soon and discuss this job opening,"
for example. OR -- if you're exploring for UN-announced jobs that my come up -- "I'll
call your office next week to see if we could meet soon, to discuss your company's needs
for help in the near future."

9. Keep it brief -- a few short paragraphs, all on one page.

Five tips for an effective cover letter:

You need an effective cover letter. Your resume can be impressive. But if your cover
letter isn't impressive, it's entirely possible that your resume will never get read. First
impressions are lasting impressions. The cover letter you attach to your resume and send
to an IT company or public sector firm must make the very best impression possible. If
you do it right, your resume will be read and you might get an interview. Do it wrong and
your resume won't be looked at all. That's how important a cover letter is. Most people
spend about thirty seconds reading a cover letter, so it has to make your case clearly and
effectively.

1. Emphasize the skills required. Your cover letter should make very clear that you
have the skills and the experience for the position you are applying for. State this in the
first paragraph.

2. Make no mistake about it The most important caveat in a cover letter? Absolutely no
errors! Your cover letter must be perfection itself. A typo, a poor printing job, a
misspelling - mistakes will make a poor impression because they imply that you don't
care. Never hand write a cover letter. Never!

3. Use a word processor. Prepare your cover letter on a computer using MicroSoft Word.
Don't have a computer? Borrow a friend's or go to a business center and rent one for an
hour or two!

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4. Avoid fancy fonts. You are not creating a flyer or a poster. So use a business font such
as Arial. No colors. Black on white reproduces easily. Use a plain white paper. No
deckled finishes or colors either. Print your cover letter and resume on a laser printer.
DeskJet printer ink smudges.

5. Keep it short. Your cover letter should be one page in length and perfectly centered.
The cover letter and resume are never folded. They are placed in an envelope large
enough to accommodate them unfolded.

Sir/Madam,

I am a B.E/ B.Tech/ MCA/ M.E/ M.Tech in XXXXXXXX-(specify your branch)

with an aggregate of 85%. I will be much pleased (include the core of Cover Letter here).
Here by i do paste/ attach a copy of my resume for your kind reference.

Core part of a Cover Letter.

• To work in a globally competitive environment on challenging assignments that

shall yield the twin benefits of the job satisfaction and a steady-paced professional
growth.

• To work efficiently and effectively as well as grow with a prestigious organization

in field of production, maintenance, and designing. So as to achieve self
realization and accomplishment of organizational goals.

• Seeking a challenging and satisfying career in Web Application Development

environment.

• To work in a creative and challenging environment using cutting edge

technologies where i could constantly learn and successfully deliver solutions to
problems.

• To develop my career as a Software Engineer where I will be a valuable team

member, contributing quality ideas and work for an organization where there is an
ample scope for individual as well as organization growth in Software Design and
Development.

• To be an excellent software professional and move into higher technology areas

which provide an environment to improve my technical and analytical abilities.

• To be in a position in a result oriented company that seeks an ambitious and

career conscious person where acquired skills and education will be utilized
towards continuous growth and advancement.

Expecting a Favorable Reply,

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