The Resume (The CV)1.Definition and DesignA resume/ curriculum vitae is a selective record of a

person’s background, basically containing such details as educational history, work experience, certifications and abilities, which is sent, sometimes accompanied by an application letter, to potential employers when seeking job interviews.

The essential characteristics of a competitive resume are readability, effective design, and adaptation to audience expectations.

A well – designed resume contains three sections: the heading, the body, and the conclusion. Each of these sections has fairly common contents.

The heading is the top third of the resume that contains your name, phone numbers, address, and other details such as your occupation, titles, and so on. Headings can also contain a goals and objectives subsection and a highlights subsection.

The body is the middle section, taking up a half or more of the total space of the resume. In this section, you present the details of your work, education, and military experience. This information is arranged in reverse chronological order. In the body section, you also include your accomplishments: publications, certifications, and equipment you are familiar with. As we are going to see in the following subsection, this information can be divided either chronologically (into separate sections for work experience and education), or functionally/thematically (into separate sections for the different areas of your experience and education).

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The conclusion is the final third or quarter of the resume, presenting other related information on your background, such as activities, professional associations, memberships, hobbies, and interests. At the bottom of the resume, you should write "REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST" and the date of preparation of the resume.

There are two main criteria according to which resume designs are classified.

1. According to how information on work and educational experience is organized, there is the functional design, and the thematic design.

* The functional design starts with a heading; then presents either education or work experience, whichever is stronger or more relevant; then presents the other of these two sections; and ends with a section on skills and certifications and one on personal information. Students who have not yet begun their careers often find this design the best for their purposes.

* The thematic design divides your experience and education into categories such as project management, budgetary planning, financial tracking, personnel management, customer sales, technical support, publications — whichever areas describe your experience. Often, these categories are based directly on typical or specific employment advertisements. and bookkeeping courses you took in college, the seminars on Lotus 123 or EXCEL you took, and the jobs where you actually used these skills.

2. According to the amount and kind of information they present, resumes can be:

* Objective resumes that just provide dates, names, titles, and no qualitative information. These are very brief

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and terse resumes, and they are generally avoided. This style is useful only in resumes that use the thematic approach, which is ambiguous about the history of employment, or that emphasize the highlights section. * Detailed resumes provide not only dates, titles, and names, but also details about your responsibilities and statements about the quality and effectiveness of your work. This is the type most widely used by applicants.General Layout and Detail Formats in Resumes

No matter what writing techniques or design you choose, the compulsory elements to be included in your resume are: * Occupation, position, job title; * Company or organization name; * Time period you worked there; * Key details about your accomplishments and responsibilities while working there.

The planning, writing, and reviewing your resume, should take into account the following points:

* Readability. Avoid dense paragraphs over 6 lines.* White space. Find ways to incorporate more white

space in the margins and between sections of the resume and avoid cramming the text on the page in order to facilitate reading. * Special format. Make sure that you use special format consistently throughout the resume.

* Terse writing style. This writing style is advisable up to a point, as length is generally an issue in resume writing, where there is the challenge to get the content on one page, or maximum two if there is a lot of information to present. Instead of writing: I supervised a team of five technicians,

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write: Supervised a team of five technicians. However, don't leave out normal words such as articles. * Special typography. Use special typography, but without exaggerations. Resumes are documents in which you can use such word-processing features as bold, italics, different fonts, and different type sizes. However, remember that too much fancy typography can be distracting and make people think you are hyperactive. * Page fill. Do everything you can to make your resume fill out one full page and to keep it from spilling over by 4 or 5 lines to a second page. If you need a two-page resume, see that the second page is full or nearly full. * Clarity of boundary lines between major sections. Design and format your resume so that the main sections are noticeable, whereas the individual segments of work experience or education are distinct and separate from each other. To this purpose, resort to well-defined headings and white space. * Reverse chronological order. Remember to list your education and work-experience items starting with the current or most recent and working backwards in time. * Consistency of bold, italics, different type size, caps, other typographical special effects. Also, avoid all-caps text because it's less readable. * Consistency of phrasing. Use the same style of phrasing for similar information in a resume. For example, keep past tense verbs for all work descriptions. * Consistency of punctuation style. For similar sections of information use the same kind of punctuation — for example, periods, commas, colons, or nothing. * Translations for "inside" information. Don't assume readers will know what certain abbreviations, acronyms, or

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symbols mean, and take time to describe the organizations you are a member of. * Grammar, spelling, usage. These should be carefully checked, as errors of this kind make the worst impression possible, and can seriously affect the competitiveness of your resume.

Once all these problems are solved, it's time to produce the final copy — the one that goes to the prospective employer. This is the time to take every step of to produce a professional-looking resume. The first two steps are to choose paper of good quality and use a good printer. Although some people feel tempted to use colored paper to catch the reader’s attention, remember that white paper is the safest, and the most professional.

2. Basic Resume FormatsThe resume is a primary tool in finding a good job. The

first and the most important step in writing a competitive resume is selecting its format. Choosing the right resume format is a major strategic decision, as it has a decisive impact on the receptivity of your potential employers. According to its overall structure, the resume can appear under three basic formats:

The Chronological Format. The primary organizing principle for this format is your

employment record.The merits of this format is that it accentuates your

formal qualifications for the work you are seeking. Therefore, it is appropriate for directly qualified candidates, who can offer a record of clearly pertinent, often increasingly responsible experiences, by emphasizing a

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variety of job challenges is. Recruiters are accustomed to, and often prefer, such a traditional format, finding it familiar, straightforward and easy to use when making preliminary decisions of inclusion and exclusion.

There are also several drawbacks of this format. For instance, in the case of candidates who are starting or changing a career, this format emphasizes the lack of direct in the targeted career area. It spotlights gaps in employment and time periods elapsed since certain qualifying experiences, being a somewhat dry enumeration of job responsibilities, rather than accenting accomplishments on the job.

Consequently, the chronological format is particularly effective for people with clear-cut qualifications, who are continuing or advancing in a particular career direction. This format can be productive if you cite relevant skills and tasks that support your objective .

In a chronological resume you have to list your job experience in date order, starting with the most recent first.

The sections of a chronological resume are: * Personal Details: name, phone, email address, postal address. * Personal Profile or Job Objective: This section defines your career objectives in about three lines.

* Career & Related Accomplishments: This section contains a summary of your resume, stressing your achievements and value to the company. Keywords and action verbs should be used here to create a dynamic and impressive message.

* Work Experience: This is the section that includes all your work related experience, even if wasn't directly employment based. Here, you should focus on the benefits

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the organization had when you were employed there, avoiding the use of padding. The kind of details your work experience should include: the position held, the date the employment started/ finished and any achievements gained. Use action verbs and keywords when describing your experience. When using this format you'll need to highlight job experience, especially when applying for work with traditional companies or when you held an impressive position. * Education: If you have work experience, place this section just below it. If you have just graduated and have no work experience, place this section first in your chronological resume. Include the schools you have attended and list any degrees, diplomas, majors, minors, honors and awards you achieved. * Professional Affiliations & Interest: Only include this section if there is enough space on your resume. If you are a member of any professional organizations, list them here.

* References: This is where you write: References (are) available on request, without including the reference contact details.

* Sample of chronological resume

JANICE BROWN678 Rapid Falls DriveRiver City, CA 91000(312) 555-6210e-mail: jbrown@xxxxxxxx.net

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OBJECTIVE: Position as a receptionist for a company in need of my two years experience as a reliable, personable receptionist.

WORK EXPERIENCE:

1999 – Present: Receptionist ABC Company, River City, California

Employed as the lead receptionist for an advertising firm.

* Greeted visitors * Answered telephones * Delivered messages

*Scheduledappointments* Provided information about company

services* Prepared letters and forms using Word Perfect and Excel 97 software packages

1997 – 1999: Clerk Typist Ace Automotive, River City, California

Employed in the billing office of an automotive repair shop.

* Answered telephones * Typed forms * Processed mail * Maintained filing system

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1994 – 1997: General Office Clerk Lincoln School, River City, California

Worked as a volunteer school office assistant.

* Greeted students and parents * Answered telephones * Filed documents

EDUCATION: Washington Heights High School, River City, California. High School diploma with emphasis in business education.

MEMBER: National Honor Society

References available on request

The Functional Format. The primary organizing principles of this format are your

key skills, knowledge and related accomplishments, supported by relevant examples. Functional resumes are best used in situations where specific skills and accomplishments gained through experience or academic qualifications will demonstrate the candidate's competency. Your skills should be listed in order of their importance.

The merits of this format are that it provides an opportunity to establish the transferability of skills and accomplishments for candidates who are starting or changing a career, pointing out their ability to function in a new situation, which the conventional resume format dilutes or contradicts. This format widens the scope of informal

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experiences supportive of your career objective, including special projects, internships, community service and relevant hobbies. Its drawbacks primarily concern directly qualified candidates with a linear progression path, this format challenges the standard presentation of personal strengths. Executive recruiters and other employment professionals prefer a job-by-job description to trace with clarity exactly what has been done, where and when. Some employers assume that this format hides background information of importance. In a purely functional resume, key time/space anchors that employers expect are not given. This information can be essential to credibility.

Therefore the functional format is particularly effective and highly recommended for people without direct experience in the area of their career objective. The functional resume is ideal when you're looking for a complete career change, or for students who have no previous work experience and are applying for their first job. Avoid the functional resume when you are applying for traditional jobs, especially positions within government or institutions.

A functional resume contains:* Personal Details: your name, surname, postal address,

email address, contact phone numbers.* Career Objective: A definition of your career objective

in no more than three lines.* Professional Experience: This is the most important

section of a professional resume. This section should list your key skills along with proof of how you gained these skills. For example, if one of your skills is event

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organization, list the events and conventions you have organized. * Work Experience (optional): This section contains a list of previous jobs, also including unpaid or voluntary work. It is optional, as your work history isn't strictly required in a functional resume If you work history is irregular, there may well be more disadvantages than benefits by listing it, in which case, it is advisable to skip this part. If you decide to provide this information as well, include: year start - year finish, job title, name of organization, job description in each of your work history items. * Professional Affiliations: This section lists any relevant, active professional affiliations * Education: Here you should include the highest qualification you gained and any special courses that you think will help you secure the position. * Awards: Any awards relevant for the pursued position.

* Sample of functional resume

William E. Dacotua

2222 SW 22nd Street

Portland, OR 97204(503) 555-2222

Objective: Entry Level Architectural Drafting/Design

Highlights of Qualifications

* Strong CAD skills* Experience in many areas of light construction

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* Ability to turn general ideas into drawings* Enjoy working with clients to develop suitable designs

Skills & AccomplishmentsDrafting

* Create full sets of working drawings using AutoCAD (13, 14) and board tools* Layout of electrical and plumbing systems* Calculate and dimension structural members* Interpret blueprints

Design* Create and redesign residential and light commercial plans using client profiles and flow diagrams* Draw perspectives, isometric and freehand sketches* Build models

Technical* Develop specifications and cost estimates* Sight survey for elevations and contours

Work Experience

- Architectural Drafting Intern, Designatech Plan Service, Portland, OR, 1998- General Construction, Various Construction Companies, Summers 1994 - 1997

Education

A.A.S. in Architectural Drafting, Portland Community College, June, 1998Graduate, Benson High School, Drafting Studies, June 1995

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References and Portfolio Available on Request

The Combination FormatThis format is the most widely used, since it eliminates

the inherent drawbacks of both the chronological and functional formats used in their pure forms and blends the best elements of each. The pure chronological resume is too mundane, being actually a bland work autobiography, and tends not to be persuasive about personal qualifications. On the other hand, the pure functional resume is too free-floating and provides a unverifiable information about the applicant’s abilities.

This type of format is a good tool to use when you need to focus on your accomplishments as well as listing your work history in chronological order.

The major sections of the combination resume are: * Professional Objectives * Education * Work Experience This format is generally used in targeted resumes, when you have a clear idea of the job you are applying for, as well as of its requirements. This kind of resume is to be used once only and for a particular job vacancy.

*Sample 1 (targeted)

JOSEPH TYLER2015 North FillmoreNixa, Missouri 65714Home: (417) 123-4567 Work: (417) 765-4321

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OBJECTIVE: Seeking a sales position representing Bass Pro Shops at regional conferences.

PROFESSIONAL SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

Merchandising, Sales, and Promotional:

* Demonstrate/sell products to hotels, motels, restaurants, and residential care homes. * Conceptualized, organized, and conducted Missouri’s First Annual Motel/Hotel Trade Show for bud’s Clubs, March 1994 at Table Rock Lake. * Promote product lines and achieve marketing goals by effective time management. * Consistently recognized as leading salesperson for membership/merchandising sales. * Proven planner, organizer, and conductor of state and regional trade shows.

Management and Administrative:

* Owned and operated restaurant and lounge; responsible for ordering, inventory, sales, cash management, advertising, promotions, and personnel management. * Responsible for all aspects of store management including advertising, pricing, inventory control, ordering, purchasing, promotion, and personnel management.

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* Taught junior and senior high school courses in Life Sciences, Physical Science, General Science, Biology, Physics, and Chemistry.

Personal/Self Management:

* Strong personal initiative; quick learner in mastering job requirements. * Energetic, dedicated professional with record of building strong working relationships achieving exceptional results. * Hard worker; committed to efficient and productive operations. * Flexible; work well as a team member of alone.

EDUCATION AND ASSOCIATIONS

* Bachelor of Science in Education, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield, Missouri

* Missouri Residential Care Association Missouri Restaurant Association

* Springfield Chamber of Commerce Table Rock Area Chamber of Commerce

WORK EXPERIENCE

* Merchandise Representative, Bud’s Wholesale Club, Springfield, Missouri, 1990 to pesent

* Assistant Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Springfield, Missouri, 1988 to 1990

* Owner/Manager, Battlefield Restaurant Clever, Missouri, 1982 to 1988

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* Teacher, Rogersville R-IV, Rogersville, Missouri, 1981 to 1983

REFERENCES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST

* Sample 2 (no previous work history)

Althea Adams12 Countryside DriveSummerstown, NH 01234(432)666-2222ada1234@aol.com

OBJECTIVE: A full- time or internship position in public relations

EDUCATION- Bachelor Of Interdisciplinary Studies. Emphasis areas: Business and Communication, December, 2001, Arizona State University, Tempe AZ; overall GPA: 3.6

EXPERIENCE- Social Chairperson, Communication Student Association- Arizona State UniversityTempe, AZ Spring 2000- Planned events designed to promote community and relationship building

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- Determined venues for major social events, negotiated pricing, and coordinated event logistics with facility management- New Membership Chairperson, Kappa Kappa Gamma Sorority, Mississippi State College- Oxford, MS Spring 1998-1999- Planned new membership activities and theme night parties designed to encourage affiliation with the organization. Increased membership by 33%- Taught new and existing members specialized conversation tools including persuasion techniques and non-verbal cues determination to improve interpersonal communication effectiveness- Controlled budget spending and reduced costs by accurately projecting and ordering refreshment needs for new member events- Volunteer/ Co-Chairperson-Donations, Safe Haven Women’s Shelter Oxford, MS Spring 1999- Exceeded fundraising goals by successfully securing donations from local businesses for prize giveaways at fundraising events- Organized fundraisers, assisted with setup and registered guests

COMPUTER SKILLS- Filemaker Pro, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Access- Internet and World Wide Web Applications TEAM PROJECTS- Advertising campaign for Rhino Internet Solutions

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- Determined customer base for local internet solutions company and developed campaign devised to increase awareness within this target group- Developed methods to strengthen branding efforts through company logo awareness- Created publicity campaigns for various media including radio, TV, print, and outdoor venues- Provided suggestions to improve customer interaction with publicity activities- Created a survey and polled ASU business students to determine reactions regarding the renaming- Entered results into SPSS data analysis program to find correlation between student reactions and company awareness- Evaluated results with national data and created report detailing findings RELEVANT COURSEWORK- Public Speaking: Developed professional speaking skills through delivering a diversity of both prepared and impromptu speeches to a class of 35. Used Microsoft PowerPoint and Vision graphics in presentations.- Journalism News Writing: Researched articles using personal interviews, Internet sources and other investigative tools. Wrote articles for print media.- Communication and Consumerism: Evaluated political, social, and commercial communication mediums and messages. Assessed more appropriate means for communication given specific circumstances.

References available on request

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* Sample 3 (graduate with related degree and non-related experience)Althea Adams12 Countryside DriveSummerstown, NH 01234(432)666-2222ada1234@aol.com

PROFESSIONAL OBJECTIVE: A position in Human Resources in which I will contribute to corporate profitability and employee growth.

EDUCATION- Masters Degree in Human Resource Administration 1991, G.P.A. 3.8- Graduate School of Business, Rivier College, Nashua, NH- Bachelors Degree in Psychology 1981, G.P.A. 3.8, State University of New York

RELATED ACCOMPLISHMENTS- Human Resource Training and Development

* Assisted in the design and implementation of three adult technical training programs. * Recruited technical faculty and support staff, facilitated curriculum design, and planned learning objectives based on industry needs, thus guaranteeing trainee job placement.* Initiated task force which developed training programs

or counselors and staff of emotionally disturbed children. Worked with management to introduce seminars in passive self-defense, group dynamics and communication skills.- Career Development and Career Planning

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* Designed and executed model career development program for chronically unemployed adults. Presented biweekly classes on job search techniques and acculturation exercises. Upon completion 100% of students obtained employment at their skill level, 70% more than target expectations.

* Instituted innovative career development program for at risk youth. Conducted daily workshops on career planning and work skills, stressing group dynamics, conflict resolution and willingness to try new tasks. Eighteen month follow-up revealed over half of participants no long categorized as "at-risk" by school officials.- Benefits and Compensation * Developed formal compensation program for growing firm. Wrote job descriptions and performance appraisal program. Instituted salary surveys. Compensation program helped to locate employment and training needs and decrease turnover by 40%.

EMPLOYMENT SUMMARY

1988-1990: Career Development and Placement Specialist, Assistant Project Manager, Northern Essex Community College, Haverhill, MA 01830.1987-1988: Account Executive, Jolicoeur Publishing Co., Manchester Journal, Salem, NH.1986 – 1987: Alcohol and Drug Counselor Student Intern, Mount Auburn Hospital Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse, Cambridge, MA.1984-1986: Counselor, Memorial Hospital for Children, Brighton, MA.

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COMPUTER LITERACY* Proficient on IBM and MacIntosh personal computers. * Experience with LOTUS 123, WordPerfect, Aldus

PageMaker, MacWrite, MacDraw, and MacPaint.

REFERENCES AVAILABLE ON REQUEST

3. Basic Resume Writing Rules1. Format and style rules. Do’s:- print your resume on standard letter size, white or

ivory rag paper.- have the resume professionally typed, with plenty of

space between paragraphs, and allow for adequate margins.

- bold and enlarge your name at the top.- keep the sections lined up and consistent - use an Arial or Times New Roman font (or similar).- If you have a two-page resume, make sure to fill at

least half of the second page.- use conventional English, but avoid multi-syllable

words.- use short paragraphs - preferably no longer than five

lines.- make sure the resume and the cover letter are error-

free. - include your significant contributions at each one of

your jobs.- allow the most space to the jobs that are most

relevant to the job you are applying for.

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- list your activity with professional, trade and civic associations only if they are appropriate.

- re-read your resume before interview.

Don’ts:- give reasons for termination or leaving a job on the

resume. In almost all cases, the reader can find negative connotations to even the best reason. It is much better to explaining it in person.

- take more than two lines to list hobbies, sports and social activities.

- use exact dates. Months and years are sufficient.- use the pronoun “I”. - include your company phone number unless your

immediate boss is aware of your departure.- include details about your physical appearance or

health, photos, and unrelated hobbies, unless you are an actor/actress or model..

- list your high school or grammar school if you are a college graduate.

- state your objectives on your resume unless the resume is targeted to that job or occupation.

- use professional jargon unless you are sure the resume will be read by someone who understands it.

- provide salary information on the resume. Save it for the interview. If you are required to give that information, reveal it in the cover letter.

provide inaccurate information . - use font size smaller than 11pt or larger than 12pt,

except for your name and headings.2. References in your Resume

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A resume reference is a person who can verify your credentials and all or part of the information you have written in your resume. References are usually contacted in the last stages of the job selection procedure, probably after the candidate has attended the first interview.

You have to know your references well and be sure that they can give good feedback, to anybody asking questions about your past.

Resume references can be * Former teachers or professors * Clients * Former project managers or supervisors * Other contacts from industry associations

It is best to check your references before you give them to a potential employer.

Resume references have to be able to answer questions on the following subjects : * Professional Conduct / Personal Character * Academic Qualifications * Work Experience o Job titles o Responsibilities o Employment Dates * Communication Skills o Oral o Written * Strengths & Weaknesses * Management / Leadership Skills * Attitude o Attendance o Punctuality o Dependability

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In a resume you generally do not list your references unless it is specified in the job advert. The phrase 'References available upon request' is one of the most common phrases in resumes. Make sure you have reliable references, as a good reference can substantiate the contents of your resume and can be the decisive factor in your job search.

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