Effective CV / Resume Writing

Effective CV / Résumé Writing for Job Search Presented by The CV Workshop www.thecvworkshop.com

Writing CV / Résumé
A chance to write for your future
Be grateful for it
Employment is nature's physician
Essential to human happiness
Everyone, a success story
For for his "boss-to-be"
So let's master the art
of Résumé Writing
The art of Branding and Persuasion

Learner's Outcome Upon completion of the presentation you should be able to:
Understand what a CV or Résumé is for from a recruiter's and a job-seeker's perspective
Determine when you will need to use a CV or a Résumé and know the differences between them
Improve the odds of CV or Résumé success through presenting the document in a manner that will more likely to get the recruiter's attention and consideration
Know more about the strengths and weaknesses of different Résumé formats
Select an appropriate Résumé format for your unique employment situation
Be familiar with the sections that constitute an effective CV or Résumé
Construct or improve on your own CV or Résumé based on the information and guidelines learned
Understand current trends in CV / Résumé presentation

Definition of Curriculum Vitae (CV) & Résumé
Curriculum Vitae or CV
British definition - a document giving details of the qualifications and the jobs you have had in the past that you send to someone when you are applying for a job
Résumé
British definition - a summary of something (from MacMillan English Dictionary for Advanced Learners)
A CV or Résumé is your essential marketing material. It tells prospective employers why you are a good fit for the job and the organization

Unemployment Data
USA unemployment rate as of December 2008 was 7.2% or 11.1 million people and July 2010, 9.5%
(source: Bureau of Labour Statistics - www.bls.gov)
Hong Kong unemployment rate was about 4-5% in 2009,
November 2008: 3.8% or 136,400 people, and Apr - July 2010 was 4.6%
(source: Census and Statistics Department - Key Economic and Social Indicators)
* Be attentive to trends and changes affecting your profession *

What is a CV or Résumé For? Employers and candidates view CV's and Resumes as having different purposes
Recruiter's / Employer's Perspective
* Screening Device*
It provides --
employment / educational history of applicant
track record of job performance
a summary of work experience
information to screen out unqualified applicants
tool for interviewing if candidate is shortlisted
document for personnel records if the candidate is offered a job
a promise of professionalism
Job applicant's Perspective
* Getting An Interview*
to introduce oneself to prospective employer with the hope of getting an interview
to get you considered for a job

Curriculum Vitae - CV vs. Résumé
Similarities : Both
are protocols for job search & serve the same purpose
are standard formats for job applications
give a summary of your credentials & suitability for the post
help in positioning
are organized in distinct sections
Differences :
Résumé format for America & CV format for the rest of the world
CV format is used in applications in the academia
CV is detailed, complete & in reverse chronological order record of your professional history, Résumé is shorter, more focused and targeted list of relevant transferable skills & accomplishments
CV ( 2-3 pages long), Résumé (1-2 pages long)
CV (more formal), Résumé may contain promotional language

When to use CV or Résumé?
Use a CV when :
- a CV is asked for in the job advertisement
- the company is NOT an American company
- applying for a job NOT in America
- applying for jobs in the academia (e.g. research, education, scientific fields)
- applying for educational scholarships, grants & fundings, fellowship, further education, academic training in institutes of higher learning
- securing a tenure or promotion within the same organization
- applying for membership with a professional association
Use a Résumé when :
- a Résumé is asked for in the job advertisement
- the company is an American company
- applying for a job in America in the commercial sector

Your Goal is to Produce a Winning Résumé , one that catches the attention of the reader and goes in the pile "to be considered" and stays on top of it.
To do that, follow a logical sequence of right moves to get you there.
Explore the details of your own education / work life for names, dates, places, skills and accomplishments.
Translate your skills and accomplishments into the language of the job you are seeking or the industry that interests you.
Present the material in a way that holds the attention of the reader and reveals the very best about you.
* Focused + Powerful + Concise *

Focusing Carefully on Items Within Your Control
Creating an error-free, clear, focused, targeted resume and cover letter is something you can control, so do the following well:
organize data and thoughts in most effective manner
present complex information concisely
pay attention to detail
communicate in a clear and focused way
show enthusiasm in your writing
show you have useful skills and can add value to the organization
Paper, Ink, Margins, Spacing

Understanding the Recruiter Increase your chances of success
- Reality (recruiter gets many applications) - your Résumé must stand out to be selected
- Time factor (screening exercise) - your Résumé must sell you as the strongest candidate in the shortest time
- Visual input (usually employed in screening) - first impression counts, if Résumé looks attractive, it's more likely to get a second chance when details are scrutinized
- Relevance (this makes or breaks your chance) - important to tailor your CV / Résumé to job requirements
- What / Who screens your CV or Résumé? (support person / computer programme) - terminology, format and presentation matters

What makes a CV or Résumé Outstanding ?
How your Résumé looks matters!
First point of contact with prospective employers
Impress them with your Professionalism
Employer has a need
How do you fit in?
Firstly, answer these questions:
Why should we hire you?
What can you value-add to our organization?
How can you best contribute to our company?
Focused : focus on competencies desired by employers
Powerful : using effective action words
Concise : making a point clear through precision wording

How to Improve CV or Résumé Success Rate?
1. Think: Job Application as Sales Process
Needs Identification
Find out what employers need &
study job requirements carefully
Research the company
Prepare Sales Proposal - Outline Features & Benefits
Features: Describe your qualification / skills / experience / training
Benefits : Convince employers how those expertise you possess will help the organization fulfill its objectives

How to Improve CV or Résumé Success Rate?
2. Grab and maintain interest of recruiters
attractive unique / layout
effective organization of information
good writing skills free from spelling mistakes
start with most recent position on page one
words backed up by examples
3. Guide recruiters to see what they need
put relevant data at the top
use persuasive language
understand an employer's view point
4. Match your CV / Résumé content to the job specification
use keywords specified in job specification
identify & address employer's needs & concerns based on your potential value

Résumé Formats
Chronological CV / Résumé
Traditional: listing previous employers & jobs roles in detail
- suitable for professionals with a formal history of experience
- effective with traditional companies
Functional / Skills or Competency-based CV / Résumé
Descriptive and focus more on skills and direct experience
- suitable for graduates, contractors, complete career changers, people who moved around different jobs often, returning to the workplace after a long hiatus
Combination CV / Résumé
Highlights key strength of Chronological & Functional formats
Emphasize both a steady work history & diverse skill sets
- suitable for consultants, people who have strong skills as well as steady employment records, for those intending to apply to a broader range of jobs

Chronological Résumé Format
This format emphasizes the most recent and relevant information in your career .
Use this format if : you
have steady work history
have shown upward mobility or promotions with one or more companies following a single career path
are applying for a job similar to your present or last one
are applying for a job in a more traditional organization
have worked with well known companies
are working with a recruiter or staffing agency
Strengths: Emphasizes stable work history & employers with strong name recognition / shows promotion / favoured by employers for making comparisons
Weaknesses: Strong emphasis on work history is not ideal for some people / your most recent experience must be relevant to job you are applying for

Functional / Skills Résumé Format
This format highlights specific skills, responsibilities, & accomplishments - also shifting emphasis of the Résumé away from recent appointment . Keeps skills and work history separate.
Use this format if: you
are changing careers / fields
have interruptions in work history, demoted
returning to the workforce after a hiatus
you are a consultant, selling a service to customers
Strengths: showcases your strengths & transferable skills from many sources - even unpaid work / can highlight experiences that have no direct relationship with recent jobs / flexible to prioritize sub-headings to tailor the Résumé to your needs, future oriented
Weaknesses: not preferred by some traditional employers who may expect to see traditional lists of responsibilities & accomplishments linked to specific positions / should not be used if applying for position in same field as current position - do not emphasize career path

Combination Résumé Format
This format emphasizes a consistent work history & diverse skill sets . Demonstrates how skills contributed to accomplishments.
Use this format if : you
want to apply for a broader range of jobs
Strengths : showcases steady work history & diverse skill sets / allows broader range of professional objectives / ideal for consultants as it specifies how their skills influence the company's success
Weakness : skills and accomplishments may need to be adjusted when one is applying for positions in multiple industries / conservative employer may still desire chronological Résumé

Competency-based Résumé Format
This format always considers the needs of the employers first. It is "employer-focused" .
Use this format if:
you already have an idea about the company, job or industry you will be applying for
you are applying to a competency-based organization
you are seeking promotions or transfers within the company
you want to showcase your accomplishments in each competency requirements
Several Styles based on this format
Direct Competency-based format
Competency-based Chronological format
Competency-based Functional format

Sections of a CV or Résumé
Chronological Format
- Contact Information
- Headline
- Summary of Qualifications
- Professional Experience
- Education, Professional
Development, Training &
Certifications
Functional Format
- Contact Information
- Headline
- Summary of Qualifications
- Skills and Achievements
- Experience History
- Education & Professional
Development, Training &
Certifications
Combination Format - Contact Information - Headline - Summary of Qualifications - Career Highlights (list out skill sets) - Professional Experience - Education & Professional Development, Training and Certifications ++ Awards and Recognition ++ Professional Affiliations ++ Publications, Presentations, Patents ++ Endorsements ++ Other Skills

1. Contact Information
Make yourself accessible, if you can't be reached, someone else would get your chance!
Name
Street Address
Residence / Business / Mobile telephone number
Fax number
Personal email address
Personal web page URL / Blog
Strategy : Name should be in bold, on first line. Separate all other items with a symbol. Choose a layout for best visual interest and clarity.

2. Headline
Impress your reader with a strong headline that incorporates your:
- professional objective & goal (what you're looking for and what you can offer)
- key expertise & experience
- key achievements
Strategy :
Tailor the statement to the position you are looking for.
Bold, centre, italicize, and place below contact information

3. Summary of Qualifications
10-second rule: Your Résumé only has 10 seconds to impress or be rejected. "Summary of Qualifications" maximizes the success of your Résumé within this tight time-frame - summarizing your professional worth.
Strategy :
- highlight your best selling points (don't be modest!)
- include 5 - 8 components
- years of experience / areas of expertise
- awards or recognition
- industry specific certification or professional training
- soft skills

4. Professional Experience
Describe an overview of your professional career in a concise manner.
Details to include:
- company worked for
- dates / location / company synopsis
- position
- job responsibilities or duties
- accomplishment statement
Strategy :
- prioritize your accomplishment statements to emphasize your greatest attributes and contributions
- write in correct tense

5. Skills & Accomplishments
This section is for Functional Résumé format where one uses a skills-based presentation of your qualifications.
Strategies :
a) List 3 to 5 subsections, highlighting key skills & abilities
b) Under each subsection, list achievements, duties, & successes
c) Each subsection should be relevant to the position for which you are applying - target & focus
d) Demonstrate how you've applied your talents to get results

6. Education & Professional Development, Training & Certifications
Very important section - employers scrutinize this section when making decisions on two equally qualified candidates. Comes immediately after work history section.
Strategies :
- Provide these information (place you receive education , major or course of study, degrees you obtained)
- Provide GPA if more than 3.0
- List special honors (e.g. summa cum laude)
- Recent graduate can go heavy on this section
- Relevant & recent information to be emphasized
- Do not list irrelevant information

8. Other sections
++ Awards and Recognition
- related to career accomplishments, community volunteerism, academic accolades
++ Professional Affiliations
- career (organizations dedicated to professions / industry / functional specialty) & civic (community, nonprofit, for-fun groups)
++ Publications, Presentations, Patents
- books & articles published, master's or doctoral thesis- primary or co-presenter at professional conferences, business symposium
++ Endorsements
- letters of recommendations & reference / performance evaluations / letters of appreciation
++ Other Skills
- computer skills

Career Life: Tips
Anticipate & Embrace Change
Embrace digital age and challenge yourself to think differently
Think of your job from an owner's viewpoint ~ must NOT think like a job is something owed to you but as an opportunity to contribute
Stop living career life in crisis management mode ~ think achievement mode

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Effective CV / Resume Writing

by The CV Workshop on Sep 10, 2010

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