What is a Resume?
Your resume is a very important tool for you to sell yourself to potential employees. It is the first impression which you will be providing to your prospective bosses. Do not be shy to advertise yourself and be brave to tell your employer how you can contribute to the firm and the benefits you will bring with you should the firm decide to hire you!
How to write a good resume?
Planning is the key here. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. You need to know what to write and how to write your resume. Be concise and go straight to the point. As you read on, SG Course Guide will lead you through this planning process.
How to prepare to write your resume?
1. Write down all your previous job experiences, education background, strengths and weaknesses that you possess. If you are unsure of your strengths and weaknesses, get a few close friends to evaluate for you.
2. Decide how you can use your previous work experiences, education qualifications, strengths and weaknesses to your advantage in your resume writing.
a. I am a people’s person, all my friends around me enjoy my companionship. By stating this strength, you are likely to be assessed as someone capable to work in a team with a likeable personality and strong sales skills.
b. I ask for perfection in everything I do and so, some of my colleagues might think that I am being too fussy. By stating this strength, you are likely to be assessed as someone who is meticulous in your work.
3. Use Microsoft word to write your resume and make sure that there are no grammatical errors. Also, ensure that the dates you had provided in your resume are correct. Save it in PDF file to show your professionalism.
4. If possible, get someone who has experience in your field to review your resume, and ask for opinions on the content of your resume.
5. Always be truthful in your resume.
What are the different types of resume and which one should I be writing?
Generally, there are 2 types of resume: Chronological and functional. Before I continue please answer the question below to find out what is the type of resume that best suit you. Click on the box which describes you better.
Functional resume allows you to emphasise on the skills that are specific to the position which you are applying for. This format will focus on your specific professional capabilities and you should use experience summaries to demonstrate your suitability to the position.
The general format for such a resume is:
1. Name, Address and contact details
2. Objective
a. Your purpose of applying for that particular position
3. Summary of Qualifications
a. In this category, you can write a short description about your qualifications. It is better to keep this section short by putting the year you enter a particular school and the year you graduate
4. Professional Skills / Experience highlights
a. You are providing evidence /proof to what you have said in the qualification summary
b. You could also add more on the professional skills you have acquired such as programming experience and management experience
5. Employment History
a. To keep your resume short and precise, it will be advisable for you to include the name of company that you had worked previously for, your position held, a short description about your job function and the period of employment
6. Community Involvement / Co-Curriculum Activity Achievements
a. By adding this category to your resume, you will show your future employees that you can multi-task and would like to contribute more than your fair share of work
b. Focus on your leadership positions
7. Skills and others
a. In this category, you can include the languages that you know how to speak and write as well as other technical software that you know how to use.
8. Referees ( at least two)
a. It is not advisable for you to put your friends or classmates
b. It is advisable for you to put your previous boss or colleagues who were your superiors
c. You should include their name, position held, company that they are working for and their contact number
Chronological resume is the most common format used in resume writing and is presented as a timeline of your career experiences with the most recent position listed first. This resume highlights your working experience whilst demonstrating to your potential employer your career development path.
The general format for such a resume is:
1. Name, Address and contact details
2. Objective
a. Your purpose of applying for that particular position
3. Summary of Qualifications
a. In this category, you can write a short description about your qualifications. It is better to keep this section short by putting the year you enter a particular school and the year you graduate
4. Professional Skills / Experience highlights
a. You are providing evidence /proof to what you have said in the qualification summary
b. You could also add more on the professional skills you have acquired such as programming experience and management experience
5. Employment History
a. The focus of this resume will be in this section. Give concise information about the name of company that you had previously worked for, your position held, your previous job functions, period of employment. Remember to list your most recent position first.
6. Publications, Professional Affiliations and Achievements
a. Include your personal achievements in this section to demonstrate your professional competency to potential employers
b. Focus on your leadership positions and management experiences
7. Skills and others
a. In this category, you can include the languages that you know how to speak and write as well as other technical software that you know how to use.
8. Referees ( at least two)
a. It is not advisable for you to put your friends or classmates
b. It is advisable for you to put your previous boss or colleagues who were your superiors
c. You should include their name, position held, company that they are working for and their contact number
What is a Cover Letter and what information should I include?
A Cover Letter is sent to the company together with the resume. Information which should be included in the Cover Letter include:
a. Short introduction on yourself
b. Brief explanation on your experiences / credentials
c. Reasons for applying for the job
d. Reasons for your suitability to the job
Like the resume, it is very important that the Cover Letter should be typed (and not hand written) and checked for mistakes before it is being sent to prospective employers.
What should I do after I have attended an interview?
After attending an interview, you should write a Thank You letter to your interviewers. By sending a Thank You letter, you are:
a. Telling your interviewer that you appreciate the time he/she spent interviewing you
b. Showing that you took the job interview seriously
c. Demonstrating that you are a person who is likely to build good interpersonal relationships
d. Reminding the interviewer on the positives of your interview
e. Giving yourself a second chance to tackle the questions which you feel you did not answer well during the interview.
SG Course Guide Special Tips
Your resume should be Customized!
1. Every resume must be customized to suit the requirements of the job you are applying for. Employers do know whether you make the extra effort to write a customized resume or you are just submitting a ‘one size fits all’ resume.
2. Moreover, by customizing your resume you show them that you are THE ONE by writing down all the attributes they are looking for. Hence increasing your chance of landing an interview.
Some people will freak at the idea of an interview. The truth is with preparation and practice; you will find that doing well for an interview is not that difficult. You only need to tailor your interview script to align to what the interviewer wants to hear. Sounds difficult? This article is prepared to provide you with interview questions and sample answers which will enhance your chances of “acing the interview”.
Career Tips