This month Turkish IT consultancy Netron share some top tips.

Check out their

website at http://www.netron.com.tr/netronenglishsite

WRITING A RESUME

What is a resume?

A resume is a summary of your work experience, often arranged in reverse chronological

order. It should also include brief details of your relevant skills and qualifications, plus your
personal and contact details.

The purpose of a resume is to represent an applicant in the best way possible in order to
obtain an interview.

A resume can open doors and introduce you to employers. Although a carefully written
resume will not guarantee an invitation to an interview, one that is carelessly prepared almost
guarantees you will fall at the first hurdle.

How to create a good resume

• Stress your strengths

• Emphasize your most recent achievements

If you have just graduated from a school, highlight your education over any work
experience you might have.

• Be straightforward and organized

And clean. Think of your resume as an official document. Coffee spills and spelling errors
will not put you in the best light.

• Keep it short
Employers do not have time to read an extended story of your life. Include only those
details you think will be relevant to the position and keep them brief. A resume should be
no longer than two sides of paper.

• Write the resume yourself

Because you know yourself better than anybody else.
• Should it contain a photo?
A photo may not be necessary. If you are required to attach one, make sure you choose a
shot that reflects the real you.

• Giving your resume impact

o Write the information you want to highlight using CAPITALS or bold format.
o Keep paragraphs short and leave spaces in between.
o Use active, positive and dynamic language where possible.
o Avoid using first-person pronouns, eg “Passed CCNA1” not “I passed
CCNA1”.

Formatting your resume

• Write your name on top. Write your address on a separate line.

• Avoid using tables and formatting lines.
• Use a simple font (like Arial, Times or New Roman).
• Use a single font throughout your resume.
• Make sure that your resume is legible by using a font size of 11 or 12 points.
• Space information evenly on each side of paper, where possible.

Content
Make sure that you supply information that relates to the skills and experiences which the
employer will be looking for. Avoid using personal information which the employer will not
need like your religion, or favorite football team.

I’m a recent graduate with no experience

If this is the case, think of everything you have done up to then as work experience (your
school and other activities). Mention knowledge and skills you have acquired through courses,
training and internships you have followed, in relation to the position you are applying for.

References
If references are not specifically required in the application, you do not need to supply them.
References are often requested at later stages of the process.

If the references you have are not relevant to the position you are applying for, do not include
them. Generally speaking, references from your former workplace or the place where you
have completed your internship are the most effective.

Your resume by section

1. Contact details
Think of the contact details section as a business card positioned at top of your resume, and
write them accordingly. You don’t have to use headings like “Name:, Surname:, Address:,
Tel:” Remember to include your e-mail address.

2. Education
In the education section, you can detail your school education, courses, seminars, dissertation
and project studies, scholarships or awards.

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Note: Information about education and work experience are written in reverse
chronological order, with the most recent activity first.

Include the following detail with respect to your school education:

• Name of institution
• Dates attended
• Major qualifications obtained there
• Grade or scores
• Awards
• Any relevant training courses you attended

If you are currently studying towards a qualification, leave the graduation date blank to
indicate that you are still in education.

You can also give the following details about the courses and seminars you attended:

• Subject of the course/seminar.

• Name and place of entity or institutions providing the course or seminar.
• Course/seminar completion date.

3. Work Experience

Again, place these on your resume in reverse chronological order, with your current, or most
recent job first. Include the following:

• Starting and finishing dates (month and year).

• Name of position (duty, title).
• Name and location of the company (the full company address is not required,
specifying the city and country is sufficient).
• Responsibilities in the position.
• Achievements in the job.*

*Writing about your achievements is optional. However, do not forget that including your
specific achievements in that position is an effective way to attract the employer’s attention
and could be decisive in determining your suitability to the job.

When writing about your achievements, avoid vague statements like:

• Increased sales.
• Provided training.

Instead be more specific, i.e.:

• Increased sales by 15%.

• Organized 16 training sessions, providing 34 hours of training to 2000 people.

4. IT familiarity

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This is where you can give details of your knowledge and experience of:

• Hardware.
• Programming languages.
• Operating/network systems.
• Office programs.
• Database programs.
• Special-purpose programs.
• Web applications.

5. Other competencies

In this section, you can catalogue all kinds of information, skills, and experience which have
not yet been specified in the previous sections. Ensure that everything you detail here is
related to the position you are applying for and that they could help distinguish you from
competing applicants. Below are examples about information that could be included in this
section:

• Foreign languages and levels.

• Office tools used.
• Special devices and tools used.
• Special production, performance or service techniques.
• Tools and work machines operated (driving license, etc.).
• All professional qualification certificates (diploma, certificate, license, etc.).
• Specialized knowledge in a very specific field.
• Physical abilities and skills.

6. Association/Organization membership

You can specify associations – particularly professional ones – which may be relevant to the
position.

7. Hobbies and activities

Whoever reviews your resume may gain important clues about your personality and
motivation from the hobbies and activities you specify, so “Watching TV”, “Going to a
movie/theatre” or “Watching football” will not help you to be invited to an interview.

They might also assume, for example that applicants interested in activities with a high
excitement level, like bungee jumping or paragliding, may have a low boredom threshold and
would have difficulty coping with routine tasks in the office environment. On the other hand,
individuals engaged in team sports are thought to be good team-workers.

If you include your hobbies, be specific, so “played in the University team for 3 years” is a
better phrase to use than simply writing: “played basketball”.

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 Resume types

Two types of resumes – functional and chronological – are most frequently used by job
applicants.

Chronological resume

Work experience, education, etc. are written in reverse chronological order starting with the
most recent one, allowing the reader to clearly see your development. It is by far the most
popular resume.

Functional resume

This is a different format that details work experience in specific market or industry-based
groups (e.g. marketing, human resources, public relations, etc.).

Cover letter

Always send a cover letter with your resume. In it, emphasize those personal and professional
characteristics which you think are most relevant to the job and will differentiate you from
other candidates. The cover letter will also give the recipient an indication of how you
organize your ideas and how clearly you express yourself.

Resume samples

The following samples provided are ones representative of those widely used, and preferred
by employers. However, in areas such as advertising, where creativity is of greater importance,
you can create an extraordinary resume. One thing you should not forget here is that you have
to create a resume which conforms to your immediate career goals and that will distinguish
you from competing candidates.

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 Sample Functional Resume

Name, surname
Address
Telephone numbers (including mobile)
E-mail

CV Objective

A short, concise statement that tells the employer what kind of position you are looking for.
The type of position, (e.g. manager, supervisor, contractor) should also be included.

PERSONAL PROFILE:

• Self-starter who takes initiatives and can work independently.

• Aware of time pressure and good at meeting deadlines.
• I am motivated and presentable and an experienced teamworker.

RELEVANT SKILLS PROFILE

Communications

• Extensive knowledge of Photoshop

• Printing processes
• Graphics production
• Publication management
• Advertising production processes

Organization & Management

• Management experience
• Organized
• Improvement-orientated
• Supportive
• Advertising production processes
• Productive
• Communicative, persuasive, result-oriented, practical and analytical
• Successful business results in creating a program
• Experience in advertising and promotional campaigns

EDUCATION/QUALIFICATIONS

(University name)
(Department)
Date of graduation:
Expected Class: (e.g. 2.1)
(Brief description of course)

WORK EXPERIENCE

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(Start date) -Current (job title, current employer’s name)
(Brief description of role, duties, achievements.)

(Start date) – (Finish date) (job title, previous employer’s name)

(Brief description of role, duties, achievements.)

TRAINING & SEMINARS

(Date attended)................ Seminar AAA Training

(Date attended)................. Seminar BBB Training
(Date attended)................. Seminar CCC Training

FOREIGN LANGUAGES
English: (..........) level
German: (..........) level

COMPUTER SKILLS

Windows NT; Microsoft Office 98: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access; Internet

ACTIVITIES / INTERESTS

Watersports – Secretary of the Watersports Society at University. I organized a range

of events and encouraged new members.

Cooking. I am a good cook and regularly hold dinner parties for friends and family.

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 Sample Chronological Resume

Your Name Surname

Your Address
Your Telephone Numbers
E-Mail

PERSONAL INFORMATION
Place of birth
Date of Birth
Marital status

EDUCATION

(Starting Date) (University name & location)

(Department)
Date of graduation:
Expected Class: (e.g. 2.1)
(Brief description of course)

(Starting Date) – (Finish date) (High school name & location)

(Brief description of qualifications gained.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

07/2004 – . Current Procurement coordinator assistant AAA Inc.

Organized procurement activities for the company, which was undergoing a restructuring
process. Reduced costs by 17% through active marketing research. Established an Advertising
and Public Relations department.

(Start date) – (Finish date) (job title, previous employer’s name)

(Brief description of role, duties, achievements.)

TRAINING and SEMINARS

- 06/2005 ................. Seminar AAA Training Inc.

- 02/2005 ................. Seminar BBB Training Inc.
- 12/2004 ................. Seminar CCC Training Inc.
- 11/2004 ................. Seminar DDD Training Inc.

FOREIGN LANGUAGE

English: (..........) level.

German: (..........) level.

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COMPUTER SKILLS

Windows NT; Microsoft Office 98: Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Access; Internet

ACTIVITIES / INTERESTS

Watersports – Secretary of the Watersports Society at University. I organized a range

of events and encouraged new members.

Cooking. I am a good cook and regularly hold dinner parties for friends and family.

Sample Cover Letter

Your Name Surname

Your Address
Your telephone number
Your e-mail address

Mr/Ms. Name Surname (if known) Date

Company’s Name
Address
Fax number
E-mail

Dear ……..,

I would like to apply for the computer programmer ad published in the Human Resources
journal on March 21, 2005, reference JXC 124.

As I have mentioned in my resume, I think that my software training will be a real asset to
your organization. I already have some experience relating to company database systems,
gained during my internship at Krisco Corporation.

I believe that my technical knowledge and problem-solving skills will provide your
organization with a clear advantage in the market, and I’d like the opportunity to tell you how
at an interview.

In the meantime, please find detailed information about my background and skills in the
resume attached.

Best Regards,

(Signature)
(Name, surname)

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Check list

A final checklist when writing a resume and submitting a job application. Ensure you have:

• Determined the most appropriate resume format.

• Described a few of your key achievements in relation to each of your previous work
experiences.
• Used impactful keywords in your resume.
• Written a resume which will distinguish itself from the other candidates’.
• Decided how best to present yourself, your skills and experience.
• Not forgotten to state the other party’s name in all cover letters.

Also:

• You have expressed your benefits to the company rather than the company’s benefits
to you.
• Your cover letter and resume are completely correct and up-to-date.

Sources of Assistance and Information:

When writing a resume, you can benefit from books related to the subject, the Internet and
NKGM (Netron Career Development Center).

When opportunity knocks, make sure your resume can open the door.

References

How To Write A Great Resume; Permacharts, Mindsource Technologies Inc. 2002

About Writing Your Resume; Channing L Bete. Co., Massachusetts 2004
Marcus, John J; The Resume Makeover The McGraw-Hill Companies 2003

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