RESUME/CV Writing
Lecture-9
RESUME
➢ A resume is a concise and structured document that provides a
summary of a person's education, work experience, skills,
accomplishments, and qualifications.
➢ Resumes are typically used as part of the job application process and
are often required by employers when individuals apply for a job.
➢ Its primary purpose is to give potential employers a quick overview of
an individual's background and suitability for a particular job or
position.
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RESUME
➢ The resume’s physical appearance and more importantly, what you
say and how you say it, will affect employers decision to interview
you.
➢ Your resume prepared for one position might leave out information
that would be included in a resume for another position.
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RESUME
➢ Keep your resume updated to ensure that it consistently reflects your
latest achievements and qualifications.
➢ Keep your resume relevant, concise, and consistent in layout.
➢ Always remember, resumes get interviews, not jobs.
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Essentials For Writing a Good Resume
➢ A well-written resume should indeed have short and simple
sentences.
➢ Use of jargons should be avoided.
➢ It should be typewritten and provide all necessary information related
to applicant’s education, experience and skills.
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Essentials For Writing Good Resume
➢ Any personal information which is not directly related to the job target
should not be included.
➢ It should be complete in all respect.
➢ Prepare your resume according to the job profile.
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Basic Elements of a Resume
★ Contact Information
★ Objective
★ Education
★ Experience
★ Skills
★ Honours and Awards
★ References
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Contact Information
➢ At the top of the page, this section includes the applicant's name,
phone number, email address, and a mailing address (optional).
➢ Your name should be in size 14 font in bold to make it stand out.
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Sample
DEEPA SANKAR Rajesh Krishnan
409-b, Cross Road
South Extn-I 580 Church Road Phone: 022-2354698
New Delhi-11 Worli, Bombay-69 Mob: 09747123333
Mob: 09995595959
[email protected][email protected] Rajesh Krishnan
Deepa sankar
409-b, cross Road,
South Extn-I
New-Delhi-11 580 Church Road Phone: 022-2354698
Mob: 09995595959
Worli, Bombay-69 Mob: 09747123333
coolguy@rediffmail.com
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Contact Information
➢ The rest of your resume should preferably be in a size of 12 font,
using Times New Roman, Arial.
➢ Use a professional email address.
➢ Make it as easy as possible for employees to contact you.
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Do I Need An Objective?
➢ Put the objective after the contact information.
➢ For the objective to be effective, it needs to include:
❏ The specific type of work you are seeking.
❏ The industry or field in which you want to work.
❏ The benefit you bring to the employer or what you aim to achieve
in the role.
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Do I Need An Objective?
For example
➢ Seeking a Software Engineering position in the technology
industry, where I can utilize my expertise in full-stack
development to create innovative solutions and drive company
growth.
➢ Your objective addresses what you can do for the employer, not what
the employer can do for you.
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Education
➢ Details about the applicant's educational background, including the
names of schools attended, degrees earned, graduation dates, city,
state.
➢ Summarise education in reverse order.
➢ Starting with your last degree or the one you are working on now.
➢ Do not list your high school unless it is of importance to the employer
that you are applying to.
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Education
➢ Write percentage only if it is first class.
➢ Include academic honours.
➢ To tailor your resume to a specific job, you may include a list of
relevant courses.
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Sample
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Relevant Coursework (Optional)
➢ Relevant coursework is an optional entry-level resume section that
includes coursework you've completed related to the job you're
applying for.
➢ For instance, if you are applying for the Software Engineering position
in the technology industry, you can mention relevant courses on your
resume like: Cloud Computing, Operating Systems, Data
Structures and Algorithms etc.
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Relevant Coursework (Optional)
➢ Including relevant coursework on a resume allows recent graduates to
showcase to potential employers that, despite limited professional
experience, they possess the necessary knowledge and skills to be a
valuable fit for the company.
➢ Do not list every course, only relevant courses to specific skills.
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Experience
➢ This section lists the applicant's previous employment history in
reverse chronological order (starting with the most recent job).
➢ It includes the names of employers, job titles, dates of employment,
and descriptions of job responsibilities and accomplishments.
➢ This section should address the question "why should we hire
you?" by showcasing your achievements rather than merely listing
your duties and responsibilities.
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Experience
➢ Instead of highlighting what kind of work you did, demonstrate how
well you handled it.
➢ Use action verbs to describe your duties and accomplishments
(created, managed, solved, assisted).
➢ Describe each position, emphasizing significant accomplishments
and responsibilities that showcase your competency, preferably
using bullet points.
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Experience
➢ When detailing your experience, provide specific descriptions that
give the reader a picture of your individual contributions rather than
using generic language that blends in with others.
Example
★ Built a website for online customer support using HTML and CSS.
★ Developed a robust web-based point-of-sale application utilizing C++.
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Experience
➢ Quantify accomplishments by citing numbers percentages etc.
wherever appropriate.
★ Increased employee productivity by 20% through the implementation
of new training programs.
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Skills
➢ Employers are highly interested in skills because when listed on your
resume, they showcase your proficiency in areas essential for the
role.
➢ For example, if you're applying for a software development position,
listing programming languages like Python, Java, or JavaScript
demonstrates your technical expertise in software development.
➢ Similarly, for a customer service role, highlighting skills like
communication, problem-solving, and conflict resolution demonstrates
your aptitude for interpersonal tasks essential to the job.
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Skills
➢ Showcasing how you've applied a skill is more convincing than just
claiming to have it.
Examples:
❏ Developed web applications using Python, Java, and JavaScript,
demonstrating proficiency in full-stack development.
❏ Implemented new features and functionalities in existing software
systems using Python scripting.
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Honours And Awards
➢ This section highlights specific accomplishments, awards, or
recognitions that demonstrate the applicant's contributions and
capabilities.
➢ Make sure to include the date you received the honour or award.
➢ Only include scholarships that are based on merit, not financial need.
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References
➢ Many employers want to check your references by phone and
increasingly these days by email.
➢ Request references from 2-3 individuals who are familiar with your
professional background.
➢ Always take permission from these individuals before putting them on
the list and prepare them for potential calls from employers.
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Phone/ Email References
➢ Include their full name, the title, organisation, address, phone number
and email ID.
John Smith
Senior Manager
ABC Corporation
Phone: (123) 456-7890
Email: [email protected]
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Types of Resume
➢ Chronological Resume
➢ Functional Resume
➢ Combination Resume
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Chronological/Performance Resume
➢ A chronological resume, also called a performance resume, is a
traditional format listing work experience in reverse order, starting with
the most recent job and moving backward.
➢ This format is best for applying to jobs in the same industry or roles
where your recent experience is highly relevant.
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Advantages of Chronological/Performance Resume
➢ Easy to Follow: Chronological resumes are clear and easy for
employers to follow, presenting a logical timeline of your work history
for recruiters to observe your career progression easily.
➢ Showcases Career Growth: This format highlights career growth,
ideal if you've steadily advanced or have a consistent work history.
➢ Demonstrates Stability:It can convey stability and commitment to
previous employers, seen as positive traits.
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Advantages of Chronological/Performance Resume
➢ Highlights Recent Experience: The most relevant recent work
experiences are prominently displayed at the top of the resume,
catching the hiring manager's attention.
➢ Preferred by Many Employers: Recruiters prefer chronological
resumes for their structured format, which makes it simple for
employers to identify relevant experience quickly, crucial for assessing
your suitability for the job.
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Disadvantages of Chronological/Performance Resume
➢ Emphasizes Gaps: For employment gaps or frequent job changes, a
chronological resume can highlight these issues.
➢ May Not Suit Career Changers: For frequent career changes, this
format may not effectively showcase your qualifications.
➢ Downplays Skills and Achievements: If skills and achievements are
more relevant than work history for the job, consider a different
resume format, as chronological resumes prioritize work history.
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Functional/Skill Based Resume
➢ A functional resume, also called a skill-based resume, emphasizes
skills and qualifications over chronological work history.
➢ This format is useful for highlighting skills and capabilities, especially
when work history doesn't directly align with the job applied for.
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Advantages of Functional/Skill Based Resume
➢ Emphasizes Relevant Skills: A functional resume highlights relevant
skills and qualifications, aiding employers to see how your abilities
match their needs.
➢ Hides Employment Gaps: A functional resume can downplay gaps in
work history by focusing on skills rather than chronological
experience.
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Advantages of Functional/Skill Based Resume
➢ Ideal for Career Changers: If you are changing careers and your
previous experience isn't directly related, a functional resume
highlights transferable skills and relevant accomplishments.
➢ Showcases Accomplishments: The skills section often includes
bullet points highlighting achievements and contributions for each
skill, making accomplishments more prominent.
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Disadvantages of Functional/Skill Based Resume
➢ Lack of Chronological Context: A functional resume lacks a
chronological work history, potentially confusing employers about your
career progression and experience context.
➢ Raises Questions About Work History: Employers in industries
valuing linear work history may doubt functional resumes, as they
could question the relevance and consistency of your professional
background.
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Chrono-functional/Combination Resume
➢ A chrono-functional or combination resume combines aspects of both
chronological and functional formats.
➢ It showcases skills, qualifications, and accomplishments alongside a
chronological work history.
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Advantages of Chrono-functional/Combination Resume
➢ Balances Skills and Work History: A chrono-functional resume
balances skill highlights with a chronological work history, ideal for
emphasizing qualifications and career progression.
➢ Showcases Skills: The skills section at the beginning of the resume
highlights relevant skills and qualifications, leaving a strong first
impression on the employer.
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Advantages of Chrono-functional/Combination Resume
➢ Context for Experience: Including a chronological work history
section provides employers with the context to understand your career
trajectory and how you've grown and adapted in your roles over time.
➢ Effective for Career Changes: For career changers highlighting
transferable skills and work history, a chrono-functional resume is
useful.
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Disadvantages of Chrono-functional/Combination Resume
➢ Potential for Lengthiness: Depending on content length, a
chrono-functional resume can extend over multiple pages, which may
not be ideal in some cases.
➢ Not Ideal for All Industries: Some industries may prefer traditional
resume formats, so it's crucial to consider industry norms and
employer expectations.
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Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s Don’ts
➢ Include your complete ➢ Avoid gender, religion, caste
address, contact numbers etc in personal details.
and email ID.
➢ Make your objective specific ➢ Avoid general objectives.
to the job you are applying
for.
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Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s Don’ts
➢ Include projects, courses ➢ Avoid elaborate details of the
relevant to the position you project or the courses.
are applying for; give all
necessary details.
➢ Include additional training/ ➢ Avoid details of additional
computer programming skills training irrelevant to the job.
that you have gone through.
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Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s Don’ts
➢ Keep your resume crisp and ➢ Avoid using all capitals in
readable; use bullet points your resume.
for courses, projects etc.
➢ Include references. ➢ Don't give the referee’s name
if you have not sought
➢ Keep at least two of them permission from them.
ready.
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Can You Type This For Me?
➢ Absolutely not.
➢ You should not waste your money on a professional resume typing
service.
➢ Also, avoid using a resume template.
➢ Update your resume and tailor it to a specific job.
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What Color Paper Should I Use?
➢ Use white paper.
➢ Plain paper is more professional than paper with colourful borders.
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Resume Tips
Resume language should be:
★ Specific rather than general.
★ Use active voice rather than passive voice.
★ Fact-based.
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Top 5 Resume Mistakes
➢ Spelling and grammar errors.
➢ Missing email and phone information.
➢ Using passive language instead of action words.
➢ Not well organised, concise, and easy to skim.
➢ Too long.
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How do I Make my Resume Look Professional?
Do Not Include Personal Information:
★ Age
★ Marital status
★ Height
★ Weight
★ Religion
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How do I Make my Resume Look Professional?
➢ Never use the first person “I”.
➢ Do not use full sentences.
➢ Eliminate all unnecessary words.
➢ Never lie or exaggerate.
➢ Add to the eye appeal of your resume by varying the typeface for
emphasis: bold, underline, Italic, uppercase etc.
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How do I Make my Resume Look Professional?
➢ Avoid the word "Resume" or “Curriculum Vitae”at the top.
➢ Use an attractive legible typeface such as Times or Arial not an old fashion font
such as Courier.
➢ Use bullets for listing items under a heading description, such as
experience.
➢ Proofread carefully.
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How do I Make my Resume Look Professional?
➢ Don’t include irrelevant information–previous salary, unproved
awards, prizes and publications etc.
➢ Grammar, content and typographical errors may eliminate you
immediately from consideration for an interview.
➢ The successful resume is the one that results in interviews.
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THANK YOU
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