3. Writing your resume

Through Careers4a.com, you will create your online resume that will be used to target job vacancies. This integrated approach reduces the administration on your side removing the requirement to print a resume and pay postage for each job vacancy !

We also cover the traditional approach to resume writing:

What should be on my resume ?

  • Name, address and telephone number including dialling code
  • Date of Birth
  • Provide a personal profile - a brief description of you and what you can offer. Keep it to below 50 words.
  • Work experience - enter your latest job first. Your job title and how you achieved your companies objectives and achievements. Use the list of suggested action words to describe your duties as well as your achievements.
    Qualifications - enter your university, college, school, courses and other work skills obtained.
  • Interests & Activities - write a short paragraph to describe your external interests and activities. This provides a wider profile of yourself and an opportunity for the interviewer to discuss your interests.

Using "action words" and "self descriptive words"

It's a good idea to include action words and self descriptive words in your resume.

Recommended DO's & DON'Ts

DO:

  • Use quality paper - at least 80gms and conqueror (pastel coloured paper can catch the attention of the employer but make sure it is light otherwise it will be difficult to photocopy)
  • Abandon modesty but never sound as if you are bragging
  • Be positive - Sell yourself - eliminate all negatives
  • Having written your resume, leave it to an overnight test. Look at it the next day with a fresh eye. Ask your friends would you employ me if you received this resume ?
  • Take care on the layout - use block paragraphs and make use of bullet points
  • Keep all paragraphs short and to the point
  • Avoid jargon - unless it is required by the position
  • Ensure that you resume is word processed accurately and tidily.
  • Try to use the same typeface throughout your resume
  • Use headings to separate the different areas of your resume - making these bold can be very effective.
  • When sending a resume use an A4 sized envelop so it can be sent flat.

DON'T:

  • Bind your resume - interviewers can find this very annoying to handle and store
  • Ensure you name is on every sheet - as interviewers tend to shuffle sheets
  • Try to keep your resume to normally 2 pages (if professional 3 pages)
  • Use two words when one will do - but do not throw long and unusual words for the sake of it.
  • Interviewers will not reach for a dictionary
  • Be repetitive - use a book of synonyms and select suitable ones
  • Over emphasis areas by using all capital letters - this tends to focus the attention of the reader away from other details
  • Send second generation photocopies of your resume
  • Use the "I" word to often - this is often used excessively - the interview knows that you are referring to yourself.

To help you we have also prepared an exhaustive list of suggested action words and self descriptive words for you to use. Use the