Crafting an Effective Resume

Resume

• A resume is a formal document job applicants create to outline qualifications for a position.
• It's a concise way for job seekers to introduce themselves to potential employers.
• It includes:
  • Contact Information (name, address, phone number, email)
  • Objective/Summary (brief statement of career goals and aspirations for the position)
  • Work Experience (list of previous jobs, titles, company names, dates, key responsibilities, and achievements)
  • Education (details of academic background, degrees earned, institutions attended, and graduation dates)
  • Skills (relevant skills, technical skills, languages spoken, and other competencies)
  • Certifications & Licenses (any relevant professional certifications or licenses)
  • Volunteer Activities (relevant volunteer work or extracurricular activities)
  • Awards & Honors (recognition or awards received)
  • Professional Affiliations (membership in professional organizations or associations)

Resume Structure and Tips

• Font Style: Avoid cartoon fonts; use serif fonts (like Times New Roman, Bodoni MT, Cambria, Calibri, Georgia) for a professional, reliable tone. San-serif fonts (like Helvetica, Arial, Verdana, Trebuchet MS, Tahoma, Century Gothic) are suitable for a clean, modern look.
• Font Size: Keep font size between 10-12 points – except for the name, which can be larger.
• Margins: Use margins of 1/2 to 1 inch on all sides.
• Spacing: Generally, single-space the text, but place a blank line between sections.
• Paper: Use high-quality off-white, ivory, or bright paper; standard 8.5 x 11 size.
• Resume Parts (example):
  • Header (name, address, phone, email)
  • Objective
  • Education (Tertiary, Secondary, Primary)
  • Personal Information (Birthday, Place of birth, Weight, Height, Status, Nationality, Religion)
  • Affiliation (Workshops, Seminars, Skills, Values, Character References, Signature)
• Key Features of a strong resume:
  • Your resume should show your talents, skills, and accomplishments, and how they are relevant to the employer.
  • It should accurately reflect your experiences, skills, and goals.
  • It should be tailored to the specific job you are applying for.
  • Your resume should show your personality with honesty and authenticity.
  • Your resume should be correctly formatted, and free of typos.

Cover Letter

• A cover letter, also known as an application letter, is a three-to-four-paragraph memo to employers explaining your interest in a job or company and your suitability for the role.
• It highlights skills, experience, and achievements relevant to the specific position applied for.
• What to consider before writing a cover letter:
  • Reflect on past experiences, tailoring skills and accomplishments to the job.
  • Consider how you learned about the opportunity (personal connection, ad, job board). Detail specific information and instructions.
  • Research the company: review its culture, brand, mission, and vision.
  • Determine who to address the letter to (specific person or "Dear Hiring Manager/Human Resources.")
• Parts of a cover letter:
  • Heading (Contact information. Employer contact details, and date)
  • Inside Address (Recipient's address. Company, and Street address)
  • Salutation (greeting to the recipient - "Dear Dr. [Last Name]")
  • Body (introduction, summary of qualifications, closing statement)
  • Complimentary Close (expression of respect, "Sincerely")
  • Signature and Typed Name (writer's name and signature)
• Structure of a Cover Letter:
  • The first line is a heading with writer/application information.
  • The second is the recipient's full address.
  • The third is the opening greeting (Dear Mr./Ms. [Last Name], and title).
  • The body section details relevant experiences, skills, accomplishments, values, and interest.
  • The closing section contains a closing thought (e.g., looking forward to hearing from you, etc.), recipient's respect, closing, and signature.