Résumé-Building Techniques

Résumé-Building Techniques

(And other employability skills)

By: John Nolan Assistant Director of Education

What is a résumé?

A résumé, sometimes spelled resume (or alternatively resumé), is a document created and used by a person to present their background, skills, and accomplishments. In certain places, it is called a called a curriculum vitae (CV). Résumés are used to secure new employment.

A typical résumé contains a summary of relevant job experience and education. The résumé is usually one of the first items which a potential employer sees regarding the job seeker and is typically used to screen applicants, and is often followed by an interview.

The word "résumé" comes from the French word résumer, meaning “to summarize”. Leonardo da Vinci is credited with the first résumé, though his "résumé" takes the form of a letter written in 1481 to a potential employer.

What is the difference between a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and a résumé?

The term CV is an abbreviation of the Latin word Curriculum Vitae, which is literally translated to “the course of your life”. A CV is a very in-depth document that describes your career journey step-by-step, including all sorts of personal information. You can look at the CV as a comprehensive description of everything you have ever done, all the achievements you are proud of, and all the publications that bear your name. There is no rule on how long a CV should be - depending on the amount of experience, it can range from 2 to 8 pages, or even more.

Full name Contact information Professional title, resume summary, or resume objective Research interests Education Publications (both academic papers and books) Teaching or lecturing experience Work experience Conferences and courses Skills Certificates Languages Grants of fellowships References

What to Include on a CV: CV

A résumé is a short, straight-to-the-point, document created

for the purpose of applying to a specific job. Unlike the CV, you

should try to keep a résumé as short as possible. In 99% of the

cases, you’d want to keep your résumé to a 1-page max. If you

have 15+ years of experience, or really believe that the extra

information you can mention can add value to your application,

you can make it 2 pages tops. In a résumé, you only mention the

aspects of your work experience and skills that are relevant to

the job you’re applying for.

Résumé

Anato my of a

Résu mé

Contact Information (name, physical address, cell phone number, e-mail address)

Summary of Qualifications: A bulleted list of 4 or 5 sentences that briefly explain your qualifications for

the job.

Professional Experience ● Descending chronological order ● Job title, company name,

city/state, period of time, duties ● Use keywords ● 5-7 years

Education ● Descending chronological order ● Graduation, school name,

city/state, period of time ● No unfinished studies. Current

studies yes (expected graduation date)

Professional Skills Job-related (keywords),

computer, languages, etc.

References are available upon request.

Sample Résumé

The résumé is commonly presented together with a job application and a Cover Letter. A Cover Letter is a one-page business letter that you submit when applying to a job. As a piece of persuasive writing, your cover letter will aim to convey to the employer why you're a great candidate for the role.

Once you have secured the opportunity of a job interview, you

must prepare for it accordingly (professional attire, documents,

practice job interview questions).

Job Interview Questions

● Research info (company, wage, etc.) ● Prepare your answers (keywords) ● Practice your answers (mirror, friends, etc.) ● Positive attitude

Common Job Interview Questions

1.- Tell me a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in (city, country).

I achieved a (diploma) from (institution).

I have (period of time) of experience in the (career) field.

I worked/have been working at (company) for (period of time).

2.- What do you know about this company?

-Owner

-Foundation

-Products/services

-Other relevant info

3.- What are the requirements/skills that are necessary for this position?

Go to Google and type:

For example, cashier job description, and you will find the answers.

4.- Why is customer service so important in businesses nowadays?

Every business exists thanks to the customers. If the customers are happy with the service they receive, they will always come back. They will also tell other people that the company offers quality products and excellent service. Consequently, the business will grow. This has the opposite effect too.

5.- What salary are you looking for?

According to my investigation on the Internet, I understand that the salary range for this position is between $________ and $_________, and I would like to be paid based on my experience, knowledge and skills.

6.- Why did you leave your previous job?/Why are you leaving your current job?

Although I enjoy(ed) working there, I realized that I could not grow professionally. So, I decided to look for another job where my experience and knowledge will be utilized to the maximum.

7.- Do you prefer to work alone or as part of a team?

I have no problem to work in both ways. For example, I worked alone as a cashier at Publix. I also worked at Ross Dress for Less where we worked as a team to achieve the company goals.

8.- Why should I hire you instead of someone more qualified?

Because I am highly motivated, reliable, hard-working, and punctual. I am a team player and a fast learner. I always give my best effort.

9.- Tell me about a problem that you confronted and how you solved it. a. Briefly, describe the situation. b. Talk about the steps that you took to find a solution to that problem. c. What was the outcome?

10.- What is your biggest weakness?

1. Weakness which is not related to the job: I find accounting (or mathematics) as my major/biggest weakness. Even at home my wife is in charge of our books. Though it bores me, recently, I managed to learn some functions for having an idea of key accounting basics.

2. Weakness the interviewer already knows: I lack general work experience because I spent many years in advancing my education. However, my education has prepared me for the job – I learned some skills that couldn’t be gained as extensively in any regular job, such as: research experience that helped me analyzing and developing A, B, C.

3. I know that I am not completely fluent in English, but I am taking an English course right now to improve because I understand that it is important.

4. Weakness that can be considered as a positive attitude: I don’t know to balance work and personal life. I love my work, but my family is neglected sometimes because of this. I often put in 12-hour working day. I am now learning to better manage my time as well as my personal life.

11.- Do you plan to continue your education?

Yes, I do. I am planning to study Accounting at Miami-Dade College, but I will make sure that my studies will not interfere with my work schedule.

12.- Where do you see yourself five years from now?

I see myself working at this company in a higher position with more important responsibilities.

After the job interview, ask the person for a business card, and when

you can call to follow up on the status of your interview.

Leave a Thank You note with the secretary or the receptionist. You have a 24-hour window to send a

Thank You letter/e-mail.

References:

Belsak, L. (2021). What to Wear to an Interview. Cultivated Culture. Obtained from: https://cultivatedculture.com/what-to-wear-to-an-interview/

Mistry, S. (2023). The History of Résumés. Obtained from: https://www.mistryresume.com/history.php

Novoresume. (2023). What’s the Difference between CV & Résumé? Novoresume. Obtained from: https://novoresume.com/career-blog/cv-vs-resume-what-is-the-difference#:~:text=The%20differences%20are%3A%20(1),CV%20is%20a%20c omprehensive%20overview.

Wikipedia. (2023). Résumé. Wikipedia. Obtained from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R%C3%A9sum%C3%A9

Resume Now. (n.d.). Sample Thank You Letter. Obtained from: https://www.resume-now.com/business-letters/thank-you