The document provides guidance on writing resumes and CVs for both Chinese and Western styles. It discusses appropriate content including personal information, objective statements, education history, work experience, skills, and references. For resumes, it recommends focusing on key responsibilities and accomplishments using action verbs. CVs contain more comprehensive histories and personal details. Proper formatting, such as font size and avoiding clutter, is also advised. The overall message is that resumes and CVs are used to impress employers and secure interviews, so candidates should highlight strengths and qualifications tailored for specific roles.

1. Introduction to Business English
Resume’s and CV

2. Ethical Question
A worker reported to her manager that a fellow co-worker
had sent a company-wide e-mail, during company time, to
all he knew in the company, advertising a new herbal tea he
was selling on the side. He also was e-mailing and telling
them that he would give them all a discount if they would e-
mail back to him that they would buy tea from him.
Is this ok?
Is there another way he can sell things in the office?

3. Resume Writing
Why do I need this “resume”?
Resume is an opportunity to sell yourself to
people.
A resume gives an employer a general idea of
who you are and what you have to offer
They are essential as most upper level jobs
require one before allowing for an interview
 Used as a reference for questions when in the
interview

4. Resume Writing
Things to remember for both Chinese and Western
Resumes
Too much information can lead to the trash can
Make sure your resume is clear of any grammar issues
and spelling mistakes
All resumes should be in a .doc or .pdf format
Make sure to have them reviewed by others
NEVER LIE ON YOUR RESUME!!!
Resumes should be one to two pages depending on
experience

5. Parts of a Chinese Resume
Profile ( 个人资料 )
Name ( 姓名 )
Health ( 健康状况 )
Good ( 良好 )
Gender ( 性别 )
Political Member ( 政治
面貌 )
Nationality ( 民族 )
Age ( 年龄 )
School ( 毕业院校 ) and
degree ( 学历 )
Address ( 通讯地址 )
Telephone ( 固定电话 )
Mobile is ok
Email ( 电子邮件 )
Photo ( 照片 )

6. Parts of a Chinese Resume
Objective Statement ( 求职 意向 )
Objective Statement is a short one to two
sentence description of what you want to
become in your business life either now or the
future.
What do you want to be?
How will you do it?
What is your career path?
What needs can I fulfill?

7. Parts of a Chinese Resume
Education ( 教育经历 )
Name of school
Where
What you studied
When you went
Degrees or experience received
Awards

8. School Information
Make sure to add any extracurricular activities
you did at school
Clubs
Sport teams
Awards
Group work
Additional items of interest

9. Parts of a Chinese Resume
Work Experience ( 工作经验 )
Name of the company
Job title
Time Spent in the company
Location
The tasks you were responsible for
Big accomplishments/awards during your
work
Skills gained at work

10. Job Experience
Make sure to use active verbs (verbs used to show
action)
Describe the most often done things first and only the
responsibilities that you feel can be either transferred to
a new job or are unique
Describe no more than four – five responsibilities you
did at the company
Try using key words that employers are looking for in
your field
Place a positive spin on your job responsibilities

11. Job Responsibilities
Secretary
Before: Answered phones, made copies, filed, sorted
incoming mail.
After: Coordinated communication between outside
clients, vendors and partners with department staff;
created and managed system to prioritize and improve
information flow resulting in improved department
efficiency and employee satisfaction.

12. Job Responsibilities
Mailroom Assistant
Before: Received and sorted mail from mailman for
company employees.
After: Efficiently processed incoming correspondence for
entire company; met regularly with manager for customer
service assignments; worked directly with outside
corporate partners; improved overall efficiency of
corporate mailroom.

13. Job Responsibilities
Daycare Provider
Before: Watched six children ages seven months to 2 years old.
After: Performed a wide variety of tasks to promote healthy child
development and ensure child safety and security; monitored
children's play and provided wide variety of age-appropriate
activities; prepared healthy food and refreshments on regular
schedule; maintained accurate records of children's personal habits
and activities; reported daily routines, incidents and activities to
parents; wrote contracts and managed monthly client billing.

14. Parts of a Chinese Resume
Computer Skills ( 计算机能力 )
Any skills that you feel makes you unique
Software that isn’t common (NO MS Word!!!)
Foreign Language Skills ( 外语能力 )
Include all languages not common to your location
Include any CELTA certificate copies if you can
Any Groups that you were involved in with foreign
languages or awards won.

15. Parts of a Chinese resumes
Awards ( 获得奖励 )
Awards won outside school or business
Skills ( 技能 )
Any additional skills that you find useful not intended
for computer or business
Personality( 人格 )
Who you are and what you are great at
Interests ( 权益 )
What things do you do outside work and school

16. Western Resumes
Profile ( 个人资料 )
Name ( 姓名 )
Health ( 健康状况 )
Good ( 良好 )
Gender ( 性别 )
Political Member ( 政治面
貌 )
Nationality ( 民族 )
– Age ( 年龄 )
– School ( 毕业院校 ) and
degree ( 学历 )
– Address ( 通讯地址 )
– Telephone ( 固定电话 )
• Mobile is ok
– Email ( 电子邮件 )
– Photo ( 照片 )

17. Western Resumes
Objective Statement
Same as the Chinese objective statement
Make sure it correlates with the job
Personal Profile
Profile who you are as a worker
Usually talks about your skills that are
transferable to the new job
Usually used by CEO’s and upper level
people.

18. Western Resume
Four types of resume formats:
1. Chronological
 Start with your most recent job and move backwards from there
1. Targeted
 Talk about the most appropriate jobs you have had for the job
you are applying for.
1. Skills
 Start with your skill set prior to your job history. For those who
have a lot of skills or unique skills.
1. Functional
 Discuss the how you use your skills with very little (or no)
discussion about prior job history. For Job-hoppers or 1st
timers

19. Job History
Name of the company
Time you worked there
Location
Job Title
Responsibilities on the job
Awards/Accomplishments
Use bullet pointing instead of paragraphing!

20. Western Resume
Education
Only Colleges if you are awarded a degree
Name of School
Address
Time of Graduation
Degree (including what discipline)
Any activities outside studies
Certificates awarded to you
Name of School
Address
Time of Graduation
Skills awarded or thing you are certified to be able to do

21. Western Resume
Skills
Skills you feel make you different than others or are
needed for the job
Interests
Hobbies
Sports
Community activity (may be it’s own group)
Travel
Etc.

22. CV’s
CV stands for Curriculum Vitae
Like a resume but with different formatting.
(Usually longer)
Usually has more information about international
and family status
More interested in your entire job and school
history
Should be 2 to 5 pages depending on experience.

23. CV Design
Personal information
Photo
Objective Statement /
Personal Profile
More personal information
Nationality
Age
Visa Status
Gender
Spouse and dependents
Work Experience
Education
Skills
Languages
Hobbies & Interests
References

24. Referrals/References
Some companies may ask for referrals to show that you
are truly as good as you say you are
Some good ones are:
Former boss
Teachers
People in the industry
Co-workers
Church authority
Respected people in community
Family member and friends are not good referrals. Use
them sparingly.

25. Style
Try to use fonts that are appropriate for a
business:
This is fine
This is not appropriate
Font is 10 to 12 ppt
Try to have Western resumes be clean.
Choose a paper that isn’t standard white
Fill the entire page with information

26. Final Tips
This is your only chance to get an employer to
know who you are
Learn what they want and apply it to the resume.
Have more then one resume
Place Education first if you have zero or little job
experience.