Resume Assistance

How to write the perfect resume

Preparing your resume can be a daunting prospect. This is a document that will give a potential employer their first impression of you – and remember that first impressions count! We hope you find the following tips helpful:

• A good resume is vital - make sure it is a professional marketing and sales document that is all about you.
  
  
• Ensure your information is current, honest and correct.
  
  
• Electronic submission is now expected, so create your resume in a common programme such as MS Word. Save your document in a version that can be opened by most receivers.
  
  
• Always include your name, contact details including e-mail and mobile.
  
  
• Use a professional, proper e-mail address. Having a silly or suggestive e-mail address like "sxybunny_[at]_hotmail.com" or "hotdude007_[at]_gmail.com" isn't likely to inspire confidence in your future employer.
  
  
• If you decide to include a photo of yourself in your resume, have it professionally taken at a photo studio. Do not use a photo of yourself on holiday, posing with other people or in casual clothes. Make sure that your appearance is neat and groomed and that you are dressed appropriately in a business suit or office attire. Smile! Employers want to hire happy people.
  
  
• Include a brief summary of your career objectives.
  
  
• Do not just list down your various duties and job responsibilities in each of the positions you have held. Highlight your achievements and accomplishments. If possible, provide specific figures, eg. "Increased sales by 12% during my first year of employment".
  
  
• Use bullet points for ease of reading. Do not write in long, endless sentences.
  
  
• Include a section on awards or honours if relevant.
  
  
• List your work experience in chronological order. Include company:
  - Company name
  - City location
  - Job title
  - From and to dates, including month and year
  - A brief summary of key responsibilities
  - Highlight your tangible results or achievements
  
  
• Don’t leave any time gaps in your resume. If you do have gaps, be prepared to give an explanation during you job interview.
  
  
• Include details of at least 2 referees, ideally former employers that you reported to. If you are a fresh graduate, you can ask your teachers or professors to act as your character references. As a common courtesy, you should contact your referees beforehand and ask if they would be willing to act as your referee. Do not use your own relatives or personal friends as your referees!
  
  
• Display perfect spelling and grammar - spell check, spell check, spell check!
  
  
• Keep it succinct, no more than 3-4 pages. A 10 page resume has great potential for turning off the reader's interest!
  
  
• Stick to a plain, formal font like Arial or Times Roman. Do not use fancy or cursive fonts. Make sure the font size is not so small as to make reading difficult.
  
  
• Keep the layout of your resume simple. Bear in mind that hiring managers and recruiters have to go through hundreds of resumes on a daily basis. Your job is to make it easy for them to pick yours!