How to Write A Good Résumé
This helps you with a few tips about writing Cover Letter and a CV / Résumé and get you that job you want so badly!
Monday, March 24, 2003
How to Write a Good Résumé.
Hints, Pointers, and Tips ‘O the Trade
1. Don’t send your résumé as an attachment. People looking to fill a position can receive hundreds of inquiries, and they’re not going to bother to take the extra time to open and print out your résumé. Put your résumé in the body of the email, after your cover letter.
Writing Letters:
The résumé & the Application Letter gives the prospective employer everything they
Would like to know about you.
You need to format your résumé and Cover letter for the hard copy, which you may send.
1- While formatting leave adequate margins on all sides i.e., top bottom, left and right.
2 – The lay out should be neat and visually pleasing.
3 – The first block on the left of the letter would be the Employers Address.
A It would be better to call up the advertiser and get to know the name of the person who is to receive the letter. Check the spelling. Check it again read out aloud and confirm it. If you do not have a name, if the advertisement gives you no salutation, print ‘The Advertiser’ or ‘The Personnel Manager’.
The title of the employers name can be abbreviated like a Mr. Or Dr. If it is a woman you are addressing, use ’Ms’. Most of the other forms would be a Mrs. or a Miss.
It is a Ms. Laxmi and a Dr. Adam Wheavil and NOT Dr. Vinod Kumar MBBS.
Introduction:
You identify yourself, the position you are applying for and how you came to know about it.
Body:
You mention about your knowledge, your experience and your desire to work for the company and any of your knowledge about the company.
Conclusion:
You indicate the enclosed contents of the résumé and finish with a request.
You may also be proactive and inform that you would call back say in a week or ten days time to follow up your application. You request for an interview.
Ending
It is ideal to close the letter with ‘yours sincerely’ and ‘with regards’ / ‘warm regards’ ONLY when you know the employer.
Signature Block
You put your signature here. Ideally two lines below the ending of the letter. Beneath your signature your name should be printed legibly. Ideally with the first letters of your name in capitals e.g. A. Bill Gates but not Mr. A. Bill Gates. (You never introduce yourself with a Mr. / Ms / Dr. Etc.,)
Check the résumé for spelling mistakes before enclosing. The enclosure should be mentioned in the cover letter.
After your name leave two lines space and type : ‘Enclosure’. You may also type
‘Encl.:’ my résumé or simply résumé or append your name to it, to make it unique. Say for example if your name is Joe Bill, it would read, Joe Bill_résumé.
SAMPLE LETTER:
DATE
dd mmm yy
The date on which the letter was written.
ADDRESS:
The Advertiser (When no name is given) When a name is given Mr. / Ms. / Dr. /Prof. /)
The address in the advertisement.
Dear Sir / Madam
(You use this salutation when you or not aware of the gender of the person to whom you are addressing the letter.)
Sub: Application for the post of (mention the position you are seeking)
This letter is with reference to your advertisement
(NEVER USE THE ABBREVIATIONS) in the mention the name of the publication, and the date
(for e.g ‘The Hindu’, dated 15th August 2003.) I would like to apply (mention the position).
(This paragraph mentions about personality, character attributes that would suit the position you are applying for. These are the qualities that you wouldn’t able to mention in your RÉSUMÉ apart from others. Here you may mention that your résumé is enclosed).
I have ………………………. about ………………as mentioned in my résumé which is enclosed
Kindly give me a chance to present myself for an interview. I am looking forward to an early and positive response from you.
Yours sincerely,
(leave at least five lines space.)
Your signature.
(Your name)
Encl.: Résumé .
A résumé is a document that describes you, your background and the career your seeking
To excel in. This is THE document that creates the first impression of you on the prospective employer.
try to get to know about the organization.
Its services / products.
Avoid length descriptions.
Combine your knowledge with the experience required by the organization.
Put it chronologically.
Mention what ‘YOU’ did for the previous company or the present company with which you are employed NOT what ‘WE’ did.
Use action words.
Check your gramar.
Check your spling.
Take second opinions.
Résumé should mention your
Personal Details
Educational Achievements
Work Experience
Additional Skills and any Training
Extra curricular interests and hobbies
Résumé
(This is to be printed in capital letters and center aligned. Ideally all the heading should be in bold letters.)
Leave three blank line spaces. But should not be less than two lines.
Name: *Start here and align the consequent text to
this margin.
Age: *Leave double / triple line spacing between
Headings. Keep it uniform.
Date of Birth:
Address: 123, abc apts
456, road
Area
City – Pincode (123 456) or zip code in some countries or postal code in some other countries.
State / provice
Telephone No: 91+ (Std Code) 1234 56 78
Academic Qualification:
Degree / Course Year of Passing Percentage
Degree 1999
HSC 1996
SSC 1994
Technical Qualifications
(Mention different h/w and s/w platforms.)
Work Experience:
Interests:
*
*
You can mail me at:
Email Id: the.achievers+résumé AT gmail DOT com
While the help that is offered here is free it would be appreciated if you could acknowledge the use of this material.
How to Write A Good Résumé