Writing A Resume

Centre for Communication Skills

Miss Wati Salamat
 Resume (French) – “summary”
Curriculum Vitae (Latin) – “course of life”
• Who is it for?

• What is its purpose?

 Objective
“The objective… is not to get
you a job or to win you a
contract but to get you an
interview or meeting.”

- Susanne Christian, Building a great CV

 Personal benefits
• Know more clearly who you are
and what you are capable of doing
• Reflect on your achievements
• Provide direction for career plans
• Keep a record which can be
updated easily
• Support your applications
Task: Know yourself – Examine the list below and tick the skills you
possess.
 Task 1
Watch the first video and take notes about
the principles recommended for resume
writing:
https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sWo9VHZChG
0

https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOpkOuIuRxw
 Crafting
Know the your
submission resume
requirements
 Crafting your
Keep it short and sweet
resume
– Bullet points with action words
– Plain language
– Most important information
first
– Clear and consistent layout
List of Action Verbs for Resumes & Professional Profiles
Crafting your resume
http://career.opcd.wfu.edu/files/2011/05/Action-Verbs-for-Resumes.pdf

Top 100 Power Resume Words

https://www.workitdaily.com/top-resume-words/
 Crafting
Revise, edit and your resume
proofread repeatedly
 Organising your Resume

• Chronological – time line

• Functional – skills and
accomplishments
• Combination/hybrid
 Task
• Which type do Hillary Clinton’s and 2
Donald
Trump’s resumes belong to?
• How did the resume creator manage to
squeeze their illustrious careers into one-page
resumes?
 Resume Pointers

Present the key pointers from each of these resources:

A) Myskillsfuture
https://www.myskillsfuture.sg/content/portal/en/career-
resources/career-resources/education-career-personal-
development/dos-and-don-ts-when-writing-a-resume.html

B) Resume Writing Clinic Prework Handout

 Resume Content Overview

Sections and functions

• Personal information
• Career/professional objective
• Education
• Work, internship, volunteer experience
• Computer/technical skills
• Language and other skills
• Co-curricular activities
 Career Objectives

• State career goals you hope to achieve

• Focus on the job you are applying for
• Omit if uncertain
 Career Objectives

To obtain a position in a ________ which uses my ______ and

________.

To obtain a position as a programmer in an SME which uses my

careful attention to detail and keen support for local
entrepreneurship
 Education

• Degrees, diplomas, certificates

• Educational institutions – Secondary, Tertiary
• Subjects/programs (e.g. study-abroad)
applicable to position
• Awards, scholarships, honors, GPAs (if
above 3)
• Capstone thesis
 Work, internship, volunteer
experience

Include the necessary information

• Companies
• Location (for overseas companies)
• Dates
• Job title
• Duties (bullet points)
 Work, internship, volunteer experience

• Describe relevant experiences

• highlight achievements that match job description
• Use strong action verbs to start each description
• Use key words extracted from job description
• Use quantifiable terms
 Using the CAR model to state accomplishments

Challenge or situation you were facing

• Example: No record keeping system for all the sales/orders that came in
from the sales representatives

Action you took to resolve the problem

• Example: Developed an electronic submission form and organized a two-
step process for the sales representatives to use on future orders

Results of your action

• Example: Company orders got processed 40% faster
 Which statements are more informative
and impressive? Why?

A1. Assisted in production line

B1. Solved issues at the shop-floor that may affect product turnaround time
(TAT)

A2. Studied and analyzed the properties of fasteners

B2. Examined the crack distribution patterns on turbine blades to determine
whether they need to be repaired
 Using the CAR model to state
accomplishments – question guide

• Have you ever increased profits or reduced costs for an employer?

• Have you ever created a new procedure or initiated something as a
campus leader?
• Did you prevent a problem or help to fix a problem at your internship?
• How did you go above and beyond what was asked of you according to
your job description?
• What tangible evidence do you have of your accomplishments?
 Using the CAR model to state work
accomplishments

 Worked with manager to provide customers with a feedback

form on the service provided, leading to an 80% increase in
customers’ satisfaction – Service Crew
 Programmed and conducted preliminary trials on a Coordinate
Measuring Machine to enhance automation in the product
inspection process – Intern, Turbine Blades Department
 Using the CAR model to state work
accomplishments

 Supervised up to four crafts workers at all stages of residential

construction projects. Interpreted technical drawings and made
day-to-day tactical decisions – Job Foreman
 Accomplishments achieved during National Service can be
included
 Using the CAR model to state educational
accomplishments (projects)

 Designed, built and tested aluminum front fork for Human

Powered Vehicle
 Designed and built a bicycle for a stilt walker. The bike is 30
inches taller than a standard bicycle. The design consists of two
full suspension frames stacked on top of the other, new front
steer tube, new rear triangle and new drive train
 Using the CAR model to state ECA
accomplishments

1. Led 16 committee members over nine months to coordinate between

university, hotels & students to organise inaugural student-led Dinner &
Dance for 400 EEE graduates

2. Implemented the use of social networking sites (Twitter and Facebook)

which led to an increase in student participation at events by an average of
20 percent

3. Initiated and launched a campus-wide campaign that resulted in the

collection of 2000kg of non-perishable goods for needy families in the Joo
Chiat area
 Competencies

• Use a separate section for a technical position

• Computer/Technical skills, etc
• Languages (if useful)
 Co-curricular/Volunteer/Community activities

• Organizational, management or leadership experiences and

skills
Looking at the
rubrics
 Task:
• The CV by Tan Ah Kow is written in response
to the position of the Graduate Engineer.
• In pairs, identify which aspects of the CV you
think need to be changed.
• Evaluate whether Tan was able to apply the
components of the rubrics well in his resume.
Task: Examining
employers’
expectations in a job
advertisement
Examine the job
advertisement .

What are the

employers’
expectations for new
hires?

Discuss on how many

of these qualities and
experiences suit you.
 Getting Started

Task: Writing your resume

• Go to a search engine.
• Search for
1. a job you are keen on applying for.
2. a CV format/template that you could use.

• Study the job advertisement, connect the job requirements to all

that you have identified about yourself.
Online resources
• 1. Choosing the right resume format
http://www.adecco.com.sg/jobseekers/knowledge-centre/choosing-the-right-resume-format
• 2. Fresh Graduate Resume Sample – Singapore
https://www.resumewriter.sg/blog/fresh-graduate-resume-sample-singapore/
3. How to write a winning resume
http://sg.jobsdb.com/en-sg/articles/write-winning-resume
• 4. Job Advice
http://career-advice.monster.com/
• 5. Resumes
http://www.grad.illinois.edu/careers/resumes
• 6. Resume Writing Tips
http://pkyonge.ufl.edu/modules/groups/homepagefiles/cms/1506775/File/How2_OptimalResu
me.pdf
• 7. Sandbox Advisors’ An excellent entry level resume template, with important best practices
built_x0002_in http://www.sandboxadvisors.com/find-jobs-singapore/entry-level-resume-
template
Books in the SIT library
• 1. Bolles, R. N. (2015). What color is your parachute?: A practical manual for job-hunters
and
career-changers. Berkeley: Ten Speed Press.
• 2. Bright, J., Earl, J., & Winter, D. (2015). How to write a brilliant CV. Edinburgh: Pearson
Education Limited.
• 3. Gilbert. R. (Ed.). (2015). The careers handbook: The graphic guide to finding the perfect
job for
you. London: Dorling Kindersley Limited.
• 4. Quillen, W. D. (2014). The perfect resume: Resumes that work in the new economy!
Colorado:
Cold Spring Press.
• 5. Segal, G. Z. (2015). Getting there: A book of mentors. New York: Abrams Image.
• 6. Yate, M. J. (2015). Ultimate Cover Letters: The Definitive Guide to Job Search Letters and
Follow-Up Strategies. London: Kogan Page.