RESUME WRITING

Objectives
By the end of this unit, students are expected to
be able to:
•Understand the genre of writing CVs and job
applications.
•Identify different types of CVs.
•Write an effective CV.
•Write a job application to match their CV and a
job requirement
CV Writing
 A CV is a short document that gives you a
chance to show a prospective employer the
best of what you’ve got. It sells your skills,
experience, and shows them you’re the right
person for the job.
CV/Resume writing
are first steps in your job search
•Curriculum vitae

CV
• Biography
• Written
• BRIT

• Spoken or written
• Biography
Resume • AM
Difference between CV and Resume

 A resume is a one page summary of your work

experience and background relevant to the job
you are applying to.

 A CV is a longer academic diary that includes all

your experience, certificates, achievements and
publications.
Why do you need a resume?
 A marketing tool
 To obtain an interview, not a job
 Requirement of many organizations
Resume- hidden messages

Resume You
 Neat  Neat
 Well-organized  Well-organized
 Error free  Attention to detail
 Professional  Careful & Competent
appearance
Sections of a Resume
The Header
 What should be included?
 Name
 Permanent and present address
 E-mail address
 Telephone number

 Where should contact information go?

 Top of the page
 Objective Statement
 Purpose
 Communicate the type of position you are interested in
 Examples
 Management trainee position with a specialty retailer.
 Technical sales with an energy related industry in the
Southwest. Long range goals of regional sales
management.
 To obtain a position as field service representative
with XYZ Software Corporation.
Education
 Name of Institution
 Include city and state if not part of the title
 Name of your degree and major
 Bachelor of _________ in ___________
 Bachelor of Science in Business Administration:
Accounting
 List degrees in reverse chronological order
 Most recent degree is listed first
Education
 Date or expected date of graduation
 GraduationDate: May 2014
 Expected Graduation Date: May 2015

 GPA
 Majoror overall at least 3.0
 Round down to the nearest tenth
 3.0
not 3.062
 GPA: 4.0, Summa Cum Laude

 High School Information

 Do not include after Sophomore year
Experience
 Use the term "experience"
 What is considered experience?
 Full and part-time jobs
 Self-employment
 Volunteer work
 Practicum, field, and cooperative education
 Information to include
 Job Title
 Dates of employment
 Company name
 City & State
Listing Responsibilities
 Use bullet points
 Start of each line with an action verb
 Present tense if currently employed
 Past tense if no longer employed
 Vary your choice of verbs

 Tailor skills and experiences to the position for

which you are applying
 Be concise while providing enough detail
Honors & Awards
 Order by dates
 Reverse chronological

 Rank order by importance to the career objective

Professional Affiliations & Activities

 Order by date
 Reverse chronological

 Rank order by importance to the career objective

 Do not say Member of …
 Emphasize your leadership roles
 Spell out the organization’s name:
 Do not use abbreviations or acronyms
Resume Dos
 Use action verbs
 Use short, concise sentences
 Keep resume easy to read
 Keep resume about one page
Resume Don’ts
 Do not use the pronouns such as I, me, my, etc.
 Do not include references
 Do not clutter your resume with nonessential information
 Do not make any misrepresentations
 Do not include personal information
 age, sex, height, weight, marital status, photograph, etc.
Types of resume
 Chronological
 Functional
 Combination
chronological Resume

 A chronological resume starts by listing your work history, with the most recent
position listed first. Below your most recent job, you list your other jobs in reverse
chronological order. Employers typically prefer this type of resume because it's
easy to see what jobs you have held and when you have worked at them. This is
the most common resume type.
 This type of resume works well for job seekers with a strong, solid work history. If
you are starting your career, or if you are changing career fields, you might
consider a different resume type.​
When should you use a chronological resume?

 A chronological resume format is the most

common resume type, which suits those people
who have an extensive work history that is in the
same line of work as the job for which they are
applying. It’s a safe choice for virtually all job
seekers.
Chronological resume structure

 A chronological resume often includes an eye-catching career summary at

the top. Then you should define chronology of your previous work
experience and make it as clear as possible - it’s the main part of such
resumes. Education, certifications, and special skills are also included in
this type of resume but are listed after your work experience section.
 Have a look at a chronological resume example to get a clearer visual
understanding.
A proper reverse chronological resume order should be as follows:

 Contact information
 Resume summary or resume objective
 Work experience
 Education
 Skills
 Additional Sections
Functional Resume

 What is a functional resume?

 The functional resume format allows you to take the pressure off your work history
and focus more on your skills and abilities. That’s why it’s also called the skills-
based resume format. The focus is shifted from job titles and dates to your actual
relevant skill set.
When should you use a functional resume?

 It is typically used by job seekers who are changing careers,

who have gaps in their employment history, students with less
working experience or people, whose work history is not
directly related to the job. If you are looking for a job in
creative industries, where your portfolio matters more than
your resume, go ahead and use creative functional resumes.
Functional resume structure

 No worry, if you don’t have a perfect work experience with a treasure trove of
relevant skills and competencies. You’re not the only one and there are numbers of
strategies you can employ to cover up gaps on your resume. To get an idea of how
a functional resume can conceal your work gaps, you must understand the structure
of current resume format.

 Take a look at the functional resume example and let it become clear to you.
Functional resume…
 The resume introduction and skills section are
more substantial than usual

 Work experience is de-emphasized

 https://resumegenius.com/blog/resume-help/functio
nal-resume
Keep in mind the correct functional resume order:

 Contact information
 Resume objective
 Skills Summary
 Additional Skills
 Work Experience
 Education
 Remember, even if you don’t have much work experience, you should still
link your skills with either your academic achievements or part-time jobs
and volunteer experience. The functional resume can be an ideal resume
format for fresher as its ultimate goal is to make the hiring manager see
your potential and desire to work.

Combination Resume

 The combination resume format (or hybrid resume) is a middle ground between
the reverse chronological resume and functional one. As the name suggests, it
combines the aspects of the other two resume types. The combination style focuses
more on skills but leaves plenty of room to provide details on your past work.

 Shortly, it focuses on skills without throwing off the work experience section.
When should you use a combination resume?

 Combination resumes were designed for job seekers who already have a relevant work
experience or even looking to jump into a new industry.
 Moreover, if you’re applying for a position that requires a lot of technical skills and
expertise, using a combination format is the best way to showcase these abilities to the hiring
manager.
 If you had an impressive set of accomplishments and job duties in previous positions and
want to highlight the skills you’ve developed over the years this style is perfect to help you
succeed in a career path.
A proper combination resume order should be as follows:

 Contact information
 Skills Summary
 Additional Skills
 Work Experience
 Education