All about your CV/Resume !!!!!!!!

marialee

To start with, let's have a short resume quiz:em01: :em01:

State T or F of the following statements:

1) Using a resume with some dramatic touch (brightly coloured paper, or a fancy border) increases your chances of getting an interview.

2) A career objective should only be included in your resume if you have extensive work experience.

3) It is a good idea to attach as many written references to your resume as possible.

4) Most job advertisements give comprehensive information about the job role and the organisation.

5) Talking to friends and family about their knowledge of the organisation is one way of researching a job role.

6) Once you have created a great resume you can use it for many different jobs.

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Module 1: Why you need a resume

Why do I need a resume?
"because employers ask for one", is the obvious answer.

But why have resumes become such a crucial first part of the job application process?
If you consider that the job application process is like an obstacle race, the resume is the first obstacle on the track that an applicant must overcome. The successful person presents themselves best, at each obstacle in the application process.

So how do you get to be a successful applicant?
This tutorial will show you that a targeted professional resume can definitely help your chances of being selected. Also, the more resumes you write (or update), the better you get at writing them.

Why might I be successful with one resume and not another?
Sometimes it may be clear why you were not short-listed or didn't get the job interview, and other times it is less so. It may be because you underestimated yourself and therefore, undersold your abilities. But more often than not, it is because you didn't target your resume and/or communicate your skills and abilities in a clear way.

How do I communicate in a targeted way?
Sometimes it is a simple case of making sure your resume addresses the requirements of the job. Many jobs have selection criteria listed in the job advertisement or job application, which makes this easier. But often, the advertisement may have limited information about the requirements of the role. Some employers deliberately keep this open and ambiguous, so that the quality and expertise of the applicants decide to some degree what the role will be. They may have a rough idea of the kind of person or skills they are looking for, but they look at the skills and expertise of the applicants to guide their final decision. '

How do I target my resume if there is limited information?
Three words - Research, Research, Research. There is further information about how to research organisations and the job, role or position in Module 3 . But it is also important to highlight your transferable skills in your resume. Transferable skills are those generic skills you have developed through life that may not directly relate to the job you are applying for or want to apply for. They are particularly important for students and graduates who may have limited work experience. Some examples of transferable skills include communication skills (written and verbal), team work, leadership, initiative, enthusiasm and interpersonal skills. Although you may not have direct experience in a particular area, you can target your resume to a job by highlighting your transferable skills. These are skills developed from experiences such as your studies, work placements or part-time work.

What if I have limited work experience?
It's important to see yourself as a whole package. While you may have limited work experience in the field you wish to work, an employer may look for your potential skills through your resume. Most graduate employers will look at what you have done in your studies and even outside your studies, such as extra curricular activities, projects, vacation work, professional memberships to ascertain whether you have the transferable skills to do the job. The challenge for any applicant is to have an awareness of how you are perceived by employers through your resume (the first hurdle). So regardless of what the employer is looking for, you can confidently put your best foot forward.

The difference between a resume and c.v.

There is no difference between a resume and curriculum vitae. Most current employers use these terms interchangeably. If you are asked to supply a C.V. (stands for Curriculum Vitae) this is the equivalent to a resume.
In the past, a CV was completed by executive level staff who had a long work history and was usually highly detailed and much longer than a resume.

Whereas a resume was shorter and often tailored to specific purposes, which suited applicants with a shorter work history. But these differences no longer exist. A resume is a C.V and a C.V is a resume.


How employers use resumes

Think of yourself as an employer for a moment -  What would you look for in a resume when selecting an applicant for interview?

Here are some suggestions ( in priority order):

1. Your skills or experience match the skills required for the job. These are clearly communicated and you have given examples of when you have demonstrated these skills in other situations

2. Other people have enjoyed working with you and speak highly about your skills and abilities (usually found through referee checks).

3. You have a unique twist - an interesting combination of skills, or interests, strengths or achievements. What have you done that is different? Travelled overseas, community work, introduced improvements to your workplace, managed people, started your own business, played an instrument for 10 years etc.

4. Evidence of your written communication skills. Spelling and grammatical errors show poor attention to detail, or suggest laziness or apathy - you didn't spend the time checking your application, because you are not really interested in the role.

5. A professional and positive first impression. If the style and layout are clear, employers can see that you have strong presentation skills and can bring things together.

6. A way for an employer to structure an interview. Your resume can direct the interviewer's attention to specific strengths and achievements. Make sure these fit the job requirements and you should do well.


Preparing your resume is also good preparation for you when preparing for an interview. The process of researching yourself, the role and the organisation ensures that you have material prepared to better cope with the interview. So make sure you read over it, before you go for your interview.

How employers shortlist using resumes

On average, Human Resources (HR) managers spend 30 seconds to 4 minutes reading each resume, so you need to make sure that you promote yourself in the most succinct way possible.

      Reasons for short-listing graduate resumes:

• Appropriate tertiary qualifications.

• Careers objectives that are consistent with the applicant’s experience and the role (i.e. realistic expectations).

• Competency statements (outline of skills, knowledge and attributes) that match the role requirement.

      Top three rejection reasons:

• Not having relevant qualifications.

• Insufficient information given in resume.

• A failure of applicants to promote themselves.

What employers look for in graduate resumes - Transferable skills & personal attributes

What an employer looks for in an applicant may vary depending on the job they are trying to fill.
However, usually there are common skills or competencies in all jobs. This is especially true in graduate recruitment, where an employer may look to recruit a graduate with generic skills or competencies which can be developed.

While it is important that an applicant's skills match the requirements of the job, often employers (particularly those recruiting graduates) are interested in the potential of their candidates. Graduates may have limited work experience, but they have developed skills and personal attributes through other interests - extra curricular activities or community involvement. This is why it is important that you include a range of examples and situations where you have demonstrated these required skills, in your resume.

Transferable skills are those you may have developed outside of your specific discipline of study e.g. teamwork and communication. Personal qualities differ from skills, but are just as important e.g. enthusiasm, positive attitude and motivation.

Employers are interested in these, because they show potential. Employers often want graduates who are broadly competent and flexibly skilled, so they can work around the organisation and in different roles if required.

These skills are often difficult to assess through a resume or online application, so many employers will use additional selection tools like behavioural interviews and/or assessment centres to really find out what skills you have.

Referees are also a good source of feedback about your transferable skills.

More information about how to identify your own transferable skills is available in Module 2

Some of these transferable skills and personal qualities include:

Strong verbal and interpersonal skills: Able to communicate clearly and effectively and at the appropriate level with various types of people (i.e. to senior managers, colleagues and the public).

Leadership/Influencing others: Can articulate a common vision and provide others with a sense of direction. Able to persuade, convince, influence or impress in order to gain support or to have a specific impact on others.

Problem solving skills: Identifies the root causes and breaks the problem down into the key issues. Grasps new concepts and can see the problem in relation to the bigger picture. Generates mutiple explanations and solutions.

Self-motivated/Self-managed/Self-starter: Has an underlying concern for doing things better. Is self driven, self-motivated and enthusiastic.

Analytical and conceptual thinking: Able to analyse and synthesise experience, observations and information to evaluate options and indentify patterns and furture possibilities.

Flexible/Adaptive/Resilient: Able to shift strategies and accept other viewpoints. Adapts quickly and effectively to changing situations. Able to overcome disappointments and learn from the setbacks to bounce back. Able to adjust to unexpected change.

Team player: Able to work effectively with others to achieve an optimal outcome. Able to interpret the feelings, unspoken concerns, desired, strengths and weaknesses of others.

Strong written communication skills: Able to express in a written from the key information in a succinct and professional manner.

Energy and enthusiasm: Excited, positive and motivated to be involved and get started.

Creative/innovate/initiative: Able to go beyond what the situtation required and act before being asked. Brings new approaches to problems.

Customer focus: Able to set priorities and evaluate options on a business and community basis.

How to find referees

Find someone you trust and ask them permission to include them on your resume. You would then include their contact details in the resume or you could give your prospective employer their contact details at the interview. On your resume you may say 'Referees details are available on request'. Some applicants don't like to give out their referees' details until they know they have been short-listed, especially if they are working and the referee is their boss.


Referees are a great source of valuable feedback about your skills and abilities. Find out from your referees what they see as your key strengths and areas for development. This will help you to tailor your resume and give you confidence about what sort of things they will say about you to your prospective employer. If you are worried that a referee will be negative, you don’t have to include them on your resume.

Use a multi-layered approach when listing referees. List people you have worked with or worked for first and then tutors, university lecturers, people in professional associations and good personal contacts last. Include a list of what their relationship is to you (ie Manager, Professional Contact, Coach, University Tutor or Lecturer).

Consider all referees as networking contacts. Ask permission to use their name and notify them in advance when they might receive a call from the employer. Send a copy of your resume to your referees and the job advertisement or documentation so they know what skills to highlight when they are called.

If you name has changed for any reason, make sure your referee knows you new name.

Construct you list of referees with your career objective in mind. Brief your referees on the certain skills and/or projects that you want them to highlight to the employer.

Ask your referees to call you once they have spoken to your employer, as this is a great source of valuable feedback.


:em01: :em01: Now, take this short quiz to test your knowledge about Module 1.

1.A resume is a:
a) Way of preparing for an interview
b) Way of demonstrating your written communication skills
c) Sales brochure
d) Way for an employer to structure an interview
e) All of the above

2. There is no difference between a resume and curriculum vitae. Current employers use these terms interchangeably.

3. Employers spend on average 5 minutes looking at your resume.

4. Employers always shortlist applications based on a structured set of key selection criteria.

5. One of the top reasons why employers will not shortlist you based on your resume is because you haven't given enough details about yourself.

6. There are common skills or competencies that employers look for from all applicants.

7. You shouldn't include your current boss or manager as your referee on your resume.

游客，如果您要查看本帖隐藏内容请回复

这个不错

最近觉得我resume肯定有问题所以找不到工作啊

谢谢marialee, 好详细哦！！！

谢谢,谢谢!真的很有用!

{:4_172:}{:7_324:}这年头找工作难啊

这个要支持~~~~~~回复！！！