Lesson 7: Writing Your

Resumé

Instructor:
Ma. Lourdes G. Olegario
At the end of Lesson 7, you will be able to:

1 2 3
Discuss the Identify the Write an
purpose of a parts of a effective
resumé resumé resumé
 What is a resumé?
• a structured summary of a person's
education, employment background, and job
qualifications

• it is a persuasive business message

intended to stimulate an employer's interest in
meeting you and learning more about you

• the purpose of a resumé is not to get you a

job but rather to get you an interview
 Fallacies and Facts about Resumés
FALLACY
The purpose of a resumé is
to list all your skills and
abilities.
A good resumé will get you
the job you want.
Your résumé will always be
read carefully and
thoroughly.
FACT
The purpose of a resumé is
to kindle employer interest
and generate an interview.
All a resumé can do is get
you in the door.
In most cases, your résumé
needs to make a positive
impression within
30 or 45 seconds; only then
will someone read it in detail.
 FALLACY
The more good information
you present about yourself
in your résumé, the better,
so stuff your résumé with
every positive detail you
can think of.
If you want a really good
résumé, have it prepared
by a résumé service.
FACT
Recruiters don’t need that
much information about you
at the initial screening
stage, and they probably
won’t read it.
You have the skills needed
to prepare an effective
résumé, so prepare it
yourself—unless the
position is especially high
level or specialized. Even
then, you should check
carefully before using a
service.
 Areas of Concern
• FREQUENT JOB CHANGES - If you’ve had a number
of short-term jobs of a similar type, such as
independent contracting and temporary assignments,
try to group them under a single heading.

• GAPS IN WORK HISTORY - Mention relevant

experience and education you gained during
employment gaps, such as volunteer or community
work.

• INEXPERIENCE - Mention related volunteer work and

membership in professional groups. List relevant
course work and internships.
• OVERQUALIFICATION - Tone down your resumé, focusing
exclusively on the experience and skills that relate to the
position.

• LONG TERM EMPLOYMENT WITH ONE COMPANY - Itemize

each position held at the firm to show both professional growth
and career growth within the organization and increasing
responsibilities along the way.

• JOB TERMINATION FOR CAUSE - Be honest with interviewers

and address their concerns with proof, such as
recommendations and examples of completed projects.

• CRIMINAL RECORD - You don’t necessarily need to disclose a

criminal record or time spent incarcerated on your résumé, but
you may be asked about it on job application forms.
 Name and contact information

Your name and contact information constitute the

heading of your résumé; include the following:
• Name
• Physical address
• Phone number(s) – landline and mobile number
• Email address
• The URL of your personal webpage, e-portfolio, or
social media résumé (if you have one)
 Introductory Statement

In your introductory statement, you can put one of

these three:

1. CAREER OBJECTIVE: A career objective

identifies either a specific job you want to land
or a general career track you would like to
pursue. Your career objective must relate your
qualifications to employer needs. Avoid such
self-absorbed statements as “A fulfilling position
that provides ample opportunity for career
growth and personal satisfaction.”
Examples of Career Objectives:

▪To give my best in my professional pursuit

for overall benefit and growth of the
company that I serve by facing the
challenges.
▪To be part of reputed organization which
provides a steady career growth along
with job satisfaction, challenges and give
value contribution in the success of
organization.
2. QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY: A
qualifications summary offers a brief view
of your key qualifications. The goal is to
let a reader know within a few seconds
what you can deliver.

Example:
Strong leadership skills; able to
prioritize, delegate tasks, and make
sound decisions quickly while
maintaining a focus on the bottom line.
3. CAREER SUMMARY: A career summary offers
a brief recap of your career, with the goal of
presenting increasing levels of responsibility and
performance.

Example:
Respected leader, able to build highly
motivated management teams focused on
achieving revenue goals. Keep up-to-date with
changes in the industry through continuing
professional development (earned an MBA in
finance/real estate and master of corporate
real estate designation).
 EDUCATION

• Give this section a heading such as “Education,”

“Technical Training,” or “Academic Preparation,”
as appropriate.
• Then, starting with the most recent, list the name
and location of each school you have attended,
the month and year of your graduation (say
“anticipated graduation in ______ ” if you haven’t
graduated yet), your major and minor fields of
study, significant skills and abilities you’ve
developed in your course work, and the degrees
or certificates you’ve earned.
• If you’re still working toward a degree,
include in parentheses the expected date
of completion.

• Showcase your qualifications by listing

courses that have directly equipped you
for the job you are seeking and indicate
any scholarships, awards, or academic
honors you’ve received.
 Work Experience, skills, and
accomplishments

• List your jobs in reverse chronological

order, starting with the most recent.
• Devote the most space to the jobs that are
related to your target position. If you were
personally responsible for something
significant, be sure to mention it.
 Activities and achievements

• Include activities and achievements outside of a

work context only if they make you a more
attractive job candidate. For example, traveling,
studying, or working abroad and fluency in multiple
languages could weigh heavily in your favor with
employers who do business internationally.

• Consider including community service activities that

suggest leadership, teamwork, communication
skills, technical aptitude, or other valuable
attributes.
• Avoid indicating membership or
significant activity in religious or political
organizations (unless, of course, you’re
applying to such an organization)
because doing so might raise concerns
for people with differing beliefs or
affiliations.
• If you have little or no job experience and not
much to discuss outside of your education,
indicating involvement in athletics or other
organized student activities lets employers
know that you don’t spend all your free time
hanging around your house playing video
games.

• Consider mentioning publications, projects,

and other accomplishments that required
relevant business skills.
 Personal data and references

In nearly all instances, your résumé should not include

any personal data beyond the information described in
the previous sections.
Never include any of the following:
• physical characteristics
• age
• gender
• marital status
• sexual orientation
• religious or political affiliations
• race
• national origin
• salary history
• reasons for leaving jobs
• names of previous supervisors
• Social Security number
• Passport number or student ID
number.
• List three people who have agreed to serve
as references.

• Include each person’s name, job title,

organization, address, telephone number,
email address (if the reference prefers to be
contacted by email), and the nature of your
relationship.
 Writing the
Cover Letter
 What is a Cover Letter?
• A cover letter is a sales letter.
• It is a persuasive letter that sells you as the
product or service.
• A cover letter is composed of an opening
(an attention-getter or a hook), a summary
of qualifications (the proof), and a request
for an interview (motivation to action).
The cover letter will:
•Introduce you as a candidate.
•Clarify the position for which you are
applying for.
•Enable you to highlight your
strengths.
•Ask an employer to take action.
 Cover Letter Writing Tips
• Your cover letter should be job-centered,
not self-centered.
• The cover letter should be 1 - 2 pages
maximum.
• Use regular business letter format.
• Always address the letter to a specific
person, not “To Whom It May Concern.”
•Research the name of the contact
person or hiring manager.
•You may use, “To the Hiring
Manager” or “To the Selection
Committee Chairperson” if needed.
•Proofread and check your letter for
proper grammar.
 First Paragraph - Introduction
1. State your interest in the job
2. Describe your qualifications in a way
that sets you apart from other
applicants
3. Explain how you found out about the
job
4. Quickly summarize your major
qualifications for the job
First paragraph sample:
When I learned about the opening for
marketing internship at XYZ Company on
JobStreet.com, I was excited for the
opportunity to complement my coursework
with practical experience. As a junior
majoring in Marketing at National University,
I am passionate about innovative marketing
materials that communicate a company’s
message. My leadership involvement,
coursework, and professional experience
make me a well qualified applicant for this
position.
 Middle Paragraph/s - Body
1. Present your work experience,
academic qualifications, trainings,
some personal qualities with specific
evidence.
2. Tell the prospective employer the
benefits of hiring you. Don't just give
facts; explain how these facts will
benefit the company.
3. Refer the reader to a specific part of
the resume that suggests your
strongest credentials.
 Middle Paragraph/s Sample:

• Leadership involvement. As the Marketing Chair of the

Aspiring Minority Business Leaders Organization at National
University, I coordinate recruitment and social media
campaigns.
• Coursework. After taking Marketing Research, Marketing
Strategy, Advertising, Promotion, and Product Development,
I have a Major GWA of 3.5.
• Professional experience. As a part-time barista for a local
coffee shop, I coordinate social media efforts and marketing
campaigns through Instagram and Twitter.
I am excited by the chance to contribute to your
organization and am prepared to engage in
continuous learning. As outlined in the internship
description, this position involves the creation of
internal and external publications. This is something I
would thoroughly enjoy doing with XYZ Company.
 Final Paragraph - Conclusion

1. Indicate your interest for an interview at

a time most convenient to the
employer.
2. Indicate how the interviewer can
contact you.
3. Anticipate a positive response from the
employer.
4. Say thank you.
 Final Paragraph Sample

As I prepare for a marketing

career, I am eager to gain a more
detailed understanding of the field by
collaborating with an experienced
team. I will be delighted to come for an
interview at your most convenient time.
You may contact me at 0919 1234567.
Thank you for your time and
consideration. I look forward to hearing
from you soon.
 Format and Mechanics:

• Use A4-sized bond paper

• Limit the letter to one or two pages
• Never miss the signature
• Use a letterhead, include your full name,
address, phone number, and e-mail
address
• Use the business letter format
• Use 1 to 1.5-inch margin on all
sides.
• Use Times New Roman font size 10
or 12
End of Lesson 7