THE RIGHT START

First impression counts and you can’t underestimate the importance of writing a correct resume presented aptly to your prospective employer. To ensure that your resume stands out among countless others these are the steps you need to follow, says Dr OP Singh

Resume writing is one of the major problems of unemployment in our country where the candidate doesn’t know how to give the correct information about himself in the resume while applying for any job. Candidates are not focused while studying for job-oriented courses or towards presenting themselves properly. It has been found that one candidate applies for the post of a bank officer and a clerical post as the same time. This is due to lack of confidence and focused thought process.

It is resume writing which is the first step towards exploring the employment in any organisation. Our education system is such that it doesn’t teach students about the resume writing and interview skills etc therefore it is only after one’s education is over that the student starts to think of employment and explores the ways to get in the trade of presenting himself to the prospective employer.

Importance

Resume writing is important because one will be presenting oneself in front of interview board. It is considered to be your mirror. It shows your accomplishments and the way you perform in your professional life. It acts as a bridge between you and your prospective employer. It is your communicator about yourself. It is an important medium which gives you a chance to showcase and sell yourself. Your focused resume ensures that you catch the employer’s attention and keeps their interest in you in wanting to  know more about you.

In other words, this means that you need to create an interest in your resume reviewer to the extent that he or she wishes to know about you in more details. Half the job is done if you are able to create an interest by proving that you are a genuine person.

One has to be very clear about job description of required vacancy before drafting the resume.The key words to be highlighted which indicate required skills, abilities, attributes and qualification. Do use the desired language for such words like, innovation, punctual, or attentive and alike words.

No one has time to see you in lengthy paragraphs. Therefore, it is advisable to complete your story in one page with concise information’s without any error. Giving too much information and mixing it will not help. Generally reviewer goes to next page if first page of your details influence him of your positives. lengthy resume are considered only for consultant kind of jobs where it is necessary to show the list of publications, assignments, clients etc. So what information should your resume haveIJ Here is a list.

Information required

• Identifying data such as your introduction with name and photograph with full address.
• Your highest qualification like as MBA from Harvard. There is no need to write all qualifications earned except any job-related higher certification.
• Your experience and profile in particular segment along with employer details with key accomplishments. list your experience in chronological order from most recent.
• Actual work history to be summarised in a brief section at the bottom of the page.
• Job objective one line description of the type of position you want.
• Supplementary and important qualifications if job description indicate as per vacancy requirement.
• Honours, research, publications and projects consultancy etc.
• References

Dos

• Tailor your objective to include elements of the job description for each position you are applying for.
• Focus on the specific results of your work, highlight significant achievement in brief.
• Use action verb like created or coordinated to describe your experience.
• Get a feedback from career counselor.
• Tailor your resume to each specific position.
• Have somebody whose writing skills you trust proof read your resume for spelling and grammatical errors.
• Remember to describe both your paid and unpaid positions and volunteer experience.
• Exercise restraint rather than cramming too much information’s on to a resume.
• Your resume should appear pleasing to the eyes with an easy to read font and good layout by which employer may learn about you at a glance.
• Check spelling of every word and make sure the grammar and punctuations are correct.

Don’ts

• se phrases like responsibilities included.
• Use resume templates included in word processing software.
• Manipulate margins or font size to accommodate information in place of proper editing.
• Include routine job like making copies.
• Use long sentences or paragraphs.
• Submit the same resume to every employer, regardless of the position.
• Write long objectives like to find a sales position at a medium sized corporation where I can grow and develop my management skills.

(The writer is Deputy Registrar, Asia Pacific Institute of Management)