Sell Yourself Through Your Resume

Do's and Don'ts for an effective resume

by Pn Elia Talib

There's a whole publishing industry dedicated to writing resumes, on

the Net and in print. Even a short surf will reveal many sites. Some of
them say the same old thing.

For sure, there is only so much you can do with your resume at the end of
the day. However, you can certainly make it look better than just ok.
Creating an outstanding resume isn't difficult, but it does require some
careful thought. It requires analysis of your strengths, some organization
and definitely some creativity.

First things first, though. Below we highlight some key points to help you
understand what goes into a resume and how it should look.

What's the difference between a resume and a CV?

There is no real difference, except the first is a French word used commonly
today in companies that use American English. The CV is originally a Latin
word, and is used more frequently in British companies.

Today however, internationalisation and globalisation have made the word

resume the most commonly used term. Most companies tell us they don't
particularly care what word you use. What's more important is the
information it reveals about you.

It's not to get you the job

Remember this: the resume is not supposed to get you the job; it's only to
get you the face-to-face interview. Experienced recruiters - when they see a
resume for the first time - will scan it in less than one minute UNLESS
something in it makes them want to read further.

So, here are some pointers that highlight skills (compiled from our own
experience as well conversations with CEOs, MDs and HR Directors - to
help make your resume stand out. Take note that these skills go beyond the
academic qualification.

Highlight Key skills

Most employers look for evidence of leadership, teamwork, commitment,
innovation and communication skills. They also want a positive attitude,
and someone who shows they are willing to learn and not disdainful of
doing menial tasks.
Not your life story, please!
A resume is a summary of your education and experience, not your entire
life story. It is meant to highlight your potential as a valuable employee.
Obviously, as a fresh graduate you may not have as much to say compared
to an experienced person. But that doesn't mean you exaggerate your
abilities.

Length does matter

Some companies prefer one-page resumes, and more conventional formats.
Others look for resumes that look and sound different. It really depends on
the company and the industry, so do your homework. In general, however,
they all like it short and easy to scan. For a fresh graduate, keep it to a
maximum of two pages.

Use action verbs

These are action words like initiated, implemented, planned, managed,
organised, analysed, participated, performed, assisted and prepared. They
are very effective. Avoid saying you were 'involved' in something as it is a
vague word and suggests you did not play a significant role in the activity -
and therefore did not learn much from the experience.

Get the language right

All the enthusiasm in the world won't help, if you letter is full of spelling
mistakes and bad grammar. Unfortunately, an astonishing number of
resume's received by the private sector today are full of them. If you are not
confident about your English, get someone to help you. Even if at the
interview, the interviewer notices your lack of fluency in English, he/she
will be impressed that you took the effort to ensure your written resume was
impeccable. It reveals that you are willing to ask for help and want to
improve, two great attitudes to have!

Use numbers to your advantage

Numbers are powerful and here are some examples you can use: *Recruited
20 volunteers to help in the Annual Inter-Varsity Ball *Managed 5
committees to plan for the National Debate Competition *Interviewed 10
companies to write a 3,000-word article on the impact of the SARS
epidemic on tourism for the college magazine *Presented the weekly 30-
minute campus radio call-in show that has an audience of 1,000 students

Education
Your education is the first criteria of consideration for a potential employer,
but it's not the only decisive factor. Your primary school does not need to be
included. As a fresh graduate, you probably will need to list your secondary
school information - keep it short though, highlighting any special prizes or
achievements.
Listing of courses
There is no need to list every single course you have studied at
university/college. Just highlight the ones relevant to the job you're applying
for. Remember to include courses that are also not directly related to your
major area of study, but show that you are multi-disciplinary skills. For
example, if you have a degree in engineering, it would be good to show that
you have taken subjects in Finance, Marketing, or Mass Communications.

Listing extra-curricular activities

Extra-curricular activities are an important reflection of how well-rounded a
person you are. This shows that you have interests beyond just studying.
Extra-curricular activities are excellent to show teamwork, leadership,
competitiveness and communication skills - which are valued by employers.
Extra-curricular activities would include any activity outside of
university/college hours. ('Lepak', however, is not such an activity!").

Highlighting achievements
If you won 1st place in a Talent Competition, or were Captain of the
Football Team, these should definitely go on your resume under the heading
Achievements. Even if you weren't in a leadership position, but were on a
winning team, that's important information. Also, if you didn't win a talent
competition, your participation shows initiative and courage and a fun
personality. Do not underestimate the value a prospective employer sees in
such activities.

Special skills
These would include additional skills you have such as being able to speak
more than one language, fluency in sign language, or any other specific
technical skills.

Look Alive!
It is common practice in Malaysia for employers to ask job applicants to
send photographs. This is not necessarily the practice in other countries. If
asked for a photograph, it means the way you look is an important criteria
for employment. Get a good photograph taken - not one that makes you
look like a suspect in a police line-up!

Many photographs we see show people who look bored, listless or half-
dead! Make the effort to look alive and intelligent! And don't forget to
Smile!

Personal information
In Malaysia, it is common for prospective employers to ask for personal
information like your weight, height, race, religion and marital status. This,
however, is slowly going out of style. Also, just because most people
include it in their resume's, it doesn't mean you have to. This is something
you have to decide for yourself.

Salary
Many job vacancy postings give you no idea of the salary; instead it asks
the applicant to state the expected salary. The best thing is to ask around.
Do some research and find out what companies are generally offering fresh
graduates.

References
Always include references. Don't say Available Upon Request. If you want
the job, then make every effort to ensure your resume is as complete as
possible. Provide copies of important certificates, references,
recommendations and samples of your work. For references, always include
their full name, title and contact telephone numbers. Also, make sure you
have their permission to use them as a referee.

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