~ Difference among CV, Resume and Bio-Data ~

[MysteRy]

●► Outline for Making a Resume



The employment resume is the first representation of any job seeker that reaches a hiring manager. Resume formats are typically always the same. The differences only come with the option of using a functional, chronological or combined resume format. Keep in mind not only your past work history, but the type of job objective you are seeking to fulfill when compiling the outline for your resume.

The Resume Outline

1. Every resume should have certain sections. When working on your outline make sure you have areas for your contact information; i.e, your name, address, email address and telephone numbers where the hiring department can reach you for an interview. You want to add your job objective on your resume as well. Let the hiring department know what you are hoping to gain from your employment search. What are you looking for in a job within that company and what do you hope to gain by working for them? Sections after that should include your past work history, including an explanation for any wide gaps of unemployment (school, stay-at-home parent, etc.). Also list education acquired including degrees and GPA if the employer specifies. Do not leave out the cities and states of the schools you may have attended as well as the places you have worked.

Most companies require job seekers to complete applications as well as submit a resume, so you usually do not have to list supervisor names and telephone numbers on your resume. Lastly, make sure to add any affiliations you are a part of if it is relevant to the job objective listed on your resume. Add a section for certifications and licensure. This is especially important if you are required to hold a license in your field of work. Complete your resume by adding a reference section to let the employer know that you can supply references by request. Or you can type a reference sheet and include it with the resume.


The 3 Types of Resumes

2. When wondering which type of resume outline is best,consider this information :-
A functional resume is good if you have had quite a few job changes in your career and have an unbalanced work history. It highlights your skills rather than your past jobs.A chronological resume is the most commonly used. It lists jobs and education history by date.A combined resume shows your achievements as well as the stability of your work history.

The outline you use on your resume will greatly depend on what resume type you decide will best display what you have to offer a company.

[MysteRy]

●►10 Things To Avoid In Your Cover Letter



Like it or not, your cover letter is the first document that creates an impression about you (good or bad). Because first impressions really count, you need to take a careful approach to writing cover letters in order to avoid rejection. Here are the 10 major dont's you need to avoid:

1. Don’t use cover letter templates, however good they may be. There are three things you must know that go against these templates: 1) they are stale & boring 2) most templates are likely to have been downloaded from internet 3) therefore, yours will be exposed as being identical to many. Use samples to get ideas on how to write your own unique letter.

2. Don’t write a lengthy first paragraph that will only bore the reader. A lengthy first paragraph also dilutes your impressive qualities and eventually weakens the entire letter - this is the last thing you want to happen.

3. Don’t exclude your Unique Selling Proposition, or USP. Remember that the cover letter is your sales letter; you should highlight your main strengths and prepare the reader psychologically to want to read further.

4. Don’t write a vague letter without mentioning specifics, such as the job title and job code/number if you are responding to an advertisement.

5. Don’t address your cover letter ‘To Whom It May Concern’. It shows that you don’t care enough to do your research to find out who is receiving the resume packages.

6. Don’t use fanciful fonts. Don’t unnecessarily use capitalized or bolded words, or grandiose phrases. Don’t send the letter without nixing silly spelling or grammatical mistakes.

7. Don’t use cliche language such as "As afore mentioned, I am enclosing." This will only irritate the recruiter. Instead use simple phrases such as, "enclosed please find my resume."

8. Don’t include personal information like your race, sex or marital status in the cover letter. These things are against the Equal Employment Opportunity Act, and as such will not impact the decision whether or not you are called for the interview.

9. Don’t use copies of the same cover letters with just the address and date lines changed to send for similar jobs. If you don’t customize the entire body, the letter may either be irrelevant or a mistake may silently make it into the final draft.

10. Don’t brag or make statements that can't be quantified. You should be humble, yet accurate – employers these days often verify your statements for accuracy (and uncover exaggerations).

The trick with the cover letter is to capture the reader’s imagination as soon as they begin reading. This entails keeping your cover letter neat and tidy with a simple format, and avoiding common errors, such as the 10 listed above

[MysteRy]

Resume Tips




A resume gives you the opportunity to share your credentials with potential employers. It should contain your employment history, educational history, organization affiliations and professional accomplishments.

Resume Do's
- Format your resume in a reader-friendly manner. Use lists or bulleted style to make your resume even more reader-friendly.
- Include up-to-date contact information.
- Include a summary of qualifications to show why you are qualified for the position.
- List your work history in reversed chronological order.
- Include any certifications and skills that you have that relate to the position for which you are applying.
- Proofread and have a few people review your resume for errors.
- Tailor your resume to fit the position for which you are applying. It is okay to have multiple resumes for different types of positions.

For applicants who are still in school, here are some additional resume tips:
- When applying for an internship or co-op position, include your GPA.
- Include your anticipated graduation date.

Resume Don'ts
- Don't use a paragraph format.
- Don't use an unprofessional email address.
- Don't include unrelated hobbies and affiliations.
- Don't include unrelated personal information (i.e., age, number of children, etc.)
- Don't have a resume that is just a few sentences.
- Don't think that your resume has to be one page. If you have an extensive work history, you may need to use additional space so your resume won't be crammed on one page. This will help your resume be reader-friendly.