Your Resume / CV

Your Resume or Curriculum Vitae will be the most important document you will prepare in your search for a job – it’s worth spending some time to get it right.

Here are some general guidelines – then some specific tips

Guidelines-

Write, or at least tailor it, for a specific job if possible.

Do a draft then develop it. Show it to people and ask them what it says about you and how clearly it says it.

Start early – well before the time to make applications. (Your CV will not change very much during your program – excepting that you may wish to list any electives you decide to take in your program, and you will have lots of things that must be done later).

Make it a good looking document – check all spelling, grammar, syntax, layout etc. and do not use fancy designs, clipart or humour.

Tell it ‘like it is’ – don’t exaggerate, lie or conceal anything, and don’t be vague.

The more senior the position that you are applying for – the more details you will be expected to provide.

Follow any specific instructions – don’t send standard CVs.

Write it yourself- don’t get someone else to do it for you.

Always send your Resume/CV with a covering letter – and be clear about the purpose of each ( see section on Covering Letters).

Give basic details of your last salary – only if recent and relevant.

Tips writing your resume-

• In a CV for a specific job – use language that they will recognise (look at their Web page – look for key phrases – eg ‘adding value’ and use them sparingly in your Resume/CV).
• Start with an Objectives section, ie what job or type of job you seek, then:
• Put it in chronological order - most recent things first.
• Be concise and precise.
• Keep sections/paragraphs short.
• Focus on the company's needs - not yours. Say what you can contribute.
• Identify your achievements - focus on results, not responsibilities.
• Give specific examples - eg managed project X over Y months to achieve Z.
• Don’t use ‘I’.
• If possible - put the key points at the beginning of a section.
• Send a top copy – not a photocopy.
• Differentiate yourself - don't fold and post your resume - send it in a bigger envelope.
• Don’t list referees unless you have been asked for them.
• Make it action oriented – ie what you ‘managed’, ‘developed’ etc.
• Keep biographical/personal details to a minimum.

Electronic Resumes/CVs.

Some organizations will allow you to send Resumes/CVs electronically. Always check before you do so.

Guidelines-

Send your Covering letter electronically also.

Put both the Covering letter and the Resume as a single document.

Don’t send either as attachments – they may never be opened.

Send a hard copy of both as follow up.

Tips-

• Use a standard word processing application, and don’t use complex formatting.
• Make the maximum line length 65 characters, inclusive of spaces.
• Send your document to yourself or someone else first, to see that it arrives and looks OK.
• Save a copy.
• Try extra hard to put the strong points first – readers are less likely to scroll down than to flip pages.
• Run a spell check but don’t rely totally on it – it wont find correctly spelt but wrongly used words.

Faxes

Never send your Resume/CV or letter by fax - unless you are specifically asked to do so.