A

rsum is a structured, written summary of a persons education, employment background, and job qualifications. It is a form of advertising- intended to stimulate an employers interest in meeting you and learning more about you. A rsum is a communication tool that highlights what you can bring to the table. It shows what you have to offer a prospective employer.

 The

term CV means course of ones life The document is a detailed overview of the academic & professional course of your life It is longer & more detailed than a rsum CVs are preferred for following types of positions:

Admission to graduate schools Grant proposals Teaching & higher level admin. Positions Research & consulting positions

FALLACY The purpose of a rsum is to list all your skills and abilities. A good rsum will get you the job you want. Your rsum will be read carefully and thoroughly by an interested employer. The more good information you present about yourself in your rsum, the better. If you want a really good rsum, have it prepared by a rsum service.

FACTS The purpose of a rsum is to kindle employer interest and generate an interview. All a rsum can do is get you in the door. Your rsum probably has less than 45 seconds to make an impression. Too much information on a rsum may actually kill the readers appetite to know more. Prepare your own rsumunless the position is high-level or specialized.

Choosing the format Selecting the Background Facts Arranging the Facts into Groups

Constructing the Headings

Including a Statement of Objective Presenting The Information Revise your rsum

 Printed

Rsum

Use a clean typeface on a high-grade, letter-size bond paper Leave ample margins all around Avoid italic typefaces Use a quality printer Breakup text with headings that call attention Underline or Capitalize key points Use lists to itemize important qualifications

 Electronic

Rsum

Use scannable typefaces between 10 and 14 points Eliminate graphics, boldface, underlines, italics, small print, tabs and all format codes Save the file in plain-text (ASCII) format Add blank spaces, align text, and use asterisk for bullets Add a Keyword Summary, listing nouns to define skills, experience, education, and professional attributes

KEYWORDS Executive, Manager, Business, Operations, Vice-President, Marketing, Sales, International, National, OEM, Distribution, Product, Development, Research, Logistics, Strategic, Market, P&L, Contracts, Negotiation, Diversification, Policies, Procedures, Standards, Merchandizing, Reporting, Finance, Accounting, Consultant, MBA

 Online

Rsum

Provide your URL and e-mail address Use a keyword hyperlink to an ASCII version so that employers can download it Use a keyword hyperlink to a fully formatted rsum that can be read online and printed

 Gather

every piece of relevant information that adds to your qualifications

Formal degrees Skills certificates Academic awards Scholarships etc.

Tailor

your rsum to fit diverse situations and employers

 Select

an organizational pattern that focuses attention on your strengthsCHRONOLOGICAL: List your jobs sequentially in reverse order, beginning with the most recent; Use it unless you have a weak employment history FUNCTIONAL: Focus attention on your areas of competence; useful if you are new to job market or want to redirect your career COMBINATION: Include the best features of both

NAME Street Address City, State ZIP Telephone Number E-mail Address Objective (optional) Professional Summary (optional) EXPERIENCE Job Title, City

(Month/Year-Month/Year)
Previous Job Title, City (month/Year-Month/Year) Earlier Job Title, City (Month/Year-Month/Year) EDUCATION Degree, University, City Next Degree SKILLS/QUALIFICATIONS

MEMBERSHIP/AFFILIATIONS

NAME Street Address City, State ZIP Telephone Number E-mail Address Objective (optional) AREAS OF EXPERTISE EMPLOYMENT COMPANY NAME, City, State Start & End Date

Job Title
Accomplishments FUNCTIONAL SKILLS PERSONAL SKILLS EDUCATION INSTITUTION NAME, City, State Start and End Date Degree/Diploma/Certification/Specialization, Majors ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENTS

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 Your

name is usually the main heading Include Contact Information prominently under the main head Distinguish the headings from the other information by font selection Use talking heads instead of topic heads wherever suitable For example, instead of topic head, Education, a talking head might read Specialized Training in Accounting

Helps the recruiter to see quickly where the applicant might fit in

Make it Strong, Concise & Convincing Make it effective by being as specific as

possible:
A software sales position in a growing company requiring international experience.

You can also summarize qualifications in a brief statement highlighting strongest points:
Ten years of experience in commission selling with track record of generating new customer leads through creative advertising and community leadership positions.

 Education

Give this section a heading such as Education. Professional College Training, or Academic Preparation List the name & location of each School by starting with the most recently attended, the term of enrollment, major & minor fields of study, significant skills & abilities developed in the course work, and the degree & certificates obtained

Format on how to present education in the resume

Work Experience, Skills, and Accomplishments

List all relevant work experience (paid employment, volunteer work, internships) List full-time & part-time jobs Provide name & location of each employer with dates of employment List job title and describe responsibilities. Note on-the-job accomplishments and skills; quantify them wherever possible Devised a new collection system that accelerated payment of overdue receivables

Format on how to present work exp. and accomplishments in the resume

 Activities

and Achievements

Emphasize career-related activities- member of the Student Marketing Association List all relevant offices & leadership positions. Show abilities such as writing or speaking (language proficiency) , and list publications and community service. In case of extensive activities group them into College Activities, Community Service, Professional Associations, Seminars and Workshops OR Divide them into Service Activities and Achievements, Awards, and Honors.

 Personal

Data

Omit personal details (on race, religion, sex, and marital status) that might be seen as negative or used to discriminate against you Leave personal interests off unless they are relevant to the position being sought List a reference only with permission to do so use a separate sheet for reference If you choose not to list them explain their absence with an explanation, such as
References will be furnished on request.

 Make

Sure Your Rsum is NOT:

Too Long Too Short or Sketchy Hard to read Wordy Too slick Amateurish Poorly reproduced Misspelled and ungrammatical throughout Dishonest

DO
Tell the Truth

DONT
Fabricate

Make Your Story Positive

Make Blatant Omissions

Sanitize Your Record

Exaggerate Successes

Think Small

Go Overboard

Case Study

Marketing Tool: Product = YOU Present yourself in a way a sales representative would present the features of his service. Purpose: Get employers interested enough to read your resume. Let readers know: what youre sending, why youre sending and how will the reader benefit from it Targeted Responsenot generic

Planning

Writing

Completing

 You

must start with conducting an extensive research on the organization and the job you are applying to. Eg. Try to find out the name , title and department of the person you are writing to. Avoid phrases like To whom it may concern and use Dear Hiring Manager

Always send your rsum & application letter together. Be specific- Be clear about the kind of opportunity & industry youre looking for. Never volunteer salary information- Even if asked, do not mention specific number at this stage. Make email covers even shorter- Email readers want the gist more quickly, respect their time. Aim for high quality- Check for grammatical errors, spellings & mechanics.

 Getting

attention- Follow the AIDA approach. Attention, Interest, Desire & Action.
Open the letter by capturing the readers attention in a businesslike way. Use a summary, name, source, question, news, personalized, or creative opening. State that you are applying for a job, and identify the position or the type of work you seek. The opening paragraph must state-the reason for writing and a reason to the recipient to keep reading.

 If

you need a sales specialist who consistently meets sales targets while fostering strong customer relationships. Todays issue of The Hindu reports that you may need the expertise of computer programmers versed in robotics. Your annual report stated that improving manufacturing efficiency is one of companys top priorities for next year.

 Show

your strongest skill

Because of my specialized training in accounting at E&Y and my practical experience in cost-based accounting, I believe I have the qualifications you described in your advertisement.
Use

a topic that shows understanding of the readers operation.

Now that Taggart, Inc., has expanded operations to Central America, can you use a broadly trained international business major who knows the language and culture of the region?

Alternatively, use a question to demonstrate your understanding of the organizations needs

When was the last time you interviewed a young college graduate who wanted to sell and had a successful sales experience?

Use a catchphrase opening if the job requires ingenuity and imagination Building Interest & Increasing Desire

Present key qualifications for the job Adopt a mature, businesslike tone Eliminate boasting and exaggeration Back up your claims by citing specific achievements Demonstrate knowledge of the organization Logically group and link your education, experience and personal qualities to the job requirements If asked to state salary requirements, state current salary or desired salary range

 Motivating

Action- Ask the reader for a specific action and make reply easy.
Request an interview at the readers convenience Make it easy to comply with your request by providing your phone number and stating the best time to reach you Express your appreciation for an opportunity to have an interview Repeat your strongest qualification, to reinforce your claim that you can contribute to the organization
After you have reviewed my qualifications, could we discuss the possibility of putting my marketing skills to work for your company?

Your Personal Information Date Employer Contact Information Salutation Dear Mr./Ms. Last Name or Dear Hiring Manager: Application Letter Content Your application letter will the employer know what position you are applying for, why the employer should select you for an interview, and how you will follow-up. Explained in the coming slides. Complimentary Close Sincerely Signature

Dear Ms. Mellon:

I am applying for the position of systems analyst advertised Oct 10 with the placement service. The position fits my qualification, experience, career interests and expertise.
According to the advertisement, the position requires experience in computer systems, financial applications software, and end-user consulting. I am a major in management information systems and have training on mainframes, minicomputers, and microcomputers. I also have experience with a number of software programs and applications. I have 5 years of practical experience as a programmer. During this job, I got exposure to complex computer programming and operations. Additionally, I worked in ABC company assisting in computing operations where I gained some practical knowledge. My background and career goals perfectly match your job requirements. Furthermore, I have read and heard about your company and have strong desire to work with your company.

I request you to please consider me for a personal interview to discuss my qualifications and the job opportunity. Please give me a call at 555-6344. The best times to reach me are before 10 a.m. or after 4 p.m. Thank you for your consideration. I look forward to talking with you. Sincerely, Ray Prasad

 Use

a job-inquiry letter to request an application form, which is a standardized data sheet that simplifies, comparison of applicants credentials. Application forms rarely give you enough space to reflect your skills or abilities accurately. If you get an opportunity, you can fill gaps. You might also ask to submit a rsum and an application letter along with the application.

If your application letter & rsum fail to bring a response within a month or so, follow up with a second letter to keep your file active. Dont hesitate to send a follow-up letter three months later to show that youre still interested. Unless you state otherwise, the HR office is likely to assume that youve already found a job and are no longer interested in the organization. E.g.: Please keep my application in your active file, and let me know when a position opens for a capable underwriter.