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Resume Tips
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| The sole purpose of a Resume is to show the reader what you are |
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Many applicants believe that the purpose of a resume is to help them get a job. This is not true. The purpose of a resume is to help you get an interview. You will never be hired solely on the basis of your resume.
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Resume is your selling document. It needs to be able to show your prospective employer that you are the person they are looking for. This goes beyond knowledge, training and skills. It needs to demonstrate your personal strengths, capabilities and the type of person you are. The key to resume writing excellence is in presenting it the right way. Most people make the error of just listing their experience and qualifications and this ends up being a rather boring document. A good resume should not only demonstrate your skills and knowledge, but should also give the reader a good indication of the type of person you are. It needs to have personality.
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If you are a new entrant in the job market, you need to perfect your resume before applying for your first job. |
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Since you are fresh out of college, use your education as your strong point. Aggregate %, CGPA, accolades, club participation, etc. will be your focus.
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"Do I really need a resume? What should I write in my resume?" |
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These are questions which worry every college graduate looking for his/her first job. Welcome to the real world! Yes you really need to make your resume and how you present yourself in that resume will aid you in getting you your first job.
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It is a myth that resumes of entry-level graduates are unimportant because they lack the 'pull' of experience. Nothing could be further from the truth. Not only is a well-made resume important for every job seeker, it is more critical for entry level graduates. A resume is a mirror of your professional identity. A well-defined resume impresses a recruiter. A sloppy resume immediately proclaims the candidate to be sloppy.
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The resume should be divided into the following section:
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The objective within the resume should be clear, well-defined and short. It should be aimed towards getting a particular position in a specific industry. Thus your objective should talk about the following: Position wanted; Functional area; Industry wanted.
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The summary within the resume should sum up your resume in a nutshell and should be an opportunity to highlight your strengths. It invites the recruiter to read your detailed resume. Sample can be in eye catching format. Sample
"Masters in Computer Application with specialization in J2EE/Web Technologies. Great operational, communication and computer skills. Good academic record throughout. Among the top three students out of a batch of 120 students. Undergone Industrial training in a top petrochemical Company.
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It is a good idea to include only those educational and professional qualifications which are relevant. Put your qualifications in a reverse chronological order i.e. the recent ones first followed by earlier ones. Entry level resume should also mention the names of their school and college, years in which they passed their board examinations. However, include your marks only you have shown a good academic performance.
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Work experience - An entry- level resume cannot compete with resumes of experienced workers in the area of work experience, it is not required either. Do not forget to list internships, voluntary work and summer training that you have undertaken. How you present these is very important. Make sure you clearly define your duty and responsibilities during this training.
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Read and re-read your resume for mistakes. Check the facts, grammar, spellings. |
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Ideally restrict your CV to not more than three pages. |
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Make sure your name, address and a valid contact number appear on your resume for all correspondence, preferably at the top of the page.
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Never send a résumé without a covering letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to express your interest in an organization and to request an interview. The opening paragraph must get the reader's attention and consider you for potential employment. This paragraph should also refer to the specific position sought and areas in your background that make you an attractive candidate for it.
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The development section (usually one or two paragraphs) highlights specific aspects of your education, training, and experience that relate to the position or organization to which you are applying.
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The concluding paragraph should request action by the reader. You should request an opportunity to meet with the person to discuss your qualifications and employment potential in greater detail. Include information on how you can be contacted by providing both day and evening phone numbers.
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It also needs to be a concise document. Most employers will skim through all the resumes and put aside only 5-10 that might be worth reading. On an average, an employer will only spend around 1-3 minutes on each resume. In other words your resume has to stand out from the others. This does not mean that the resume should be full of graphics, colors or printed on colored paper. Employers feel that if you have to use gimmicks to impress them, then you probably don't have anything to offer. The resume needs to have a clean, professional look about it. It needs to be easy to read and should look balanced.
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The format or style you choose depends on the type of resume that you require, but no matter which one, the resume should always be easy to follow and read. It is true that we are selling ourselves through our resume; we have to explain what we have mentioned in our resume.
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To create an impressive resume, you need to pay attention to content, format and writing style. Remember, this document is often the first glimpse get of you. What do you want company to know? What can you offer that makes you unique and perfect for the job? Resume writing seems to be the part that gives people the most trouble. It isn't that hard if you follow some guidelines:
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Keep the words ‘current’ and ‘relevant’ in mind when you compose your resume. Company is looking for up-to-date resumes that clearly describe why you are right for the job in question. Keep your writing crisp, using bullet points wherever possible
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Format your resume such that it is easy to read and scan. If you are submitting your resume online, use plain text.
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Start talking about your major achievements early on. Be detailed, specific and quantify your work where you can e.g. managed a team of 10 members. This will allow you to stand out from the crowd and help them understand your level of expertise.
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List a few of your interests outside of work. They appreciate well-balanced people who can add spice to their work environment.
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Be honest. If inaccurate information comes to light later on in the recruitment process, you could lose your chance to join.
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Write simply and clearly. Jargon may confuse and bad grammar or spelling will only create a bad impression.
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Be sure your contact information is accurate, so that company can reach you if you have been short listed.
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Provide two referees - tell how (and how long) you’ve known them. Ideally, you would list your most recent managers so that company can understand the current information related to you
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Resume Tips
