CV Preparation Guidelines

CV Preparation Guidelines        Resume/CV is a tool which speaks for you in your absence. It portrays > you as a professional and as an individual. >  >  >  > First impression is the best impression ; resume is your first entry > into the organisation and is a platform which should highlight every > achievement and relevant strength of yours. >  >  >  > Writing an effective and creative resume that gets results can be a > daunting task.  But if a few of the simple things are taken care of, > your chances of being shortlisted for the interview enhance significantly. >  >  >  > As a prelude to a fruitful interview you should prepare a meaningful resume. > Here are some valuable tips which will make it stand out amongst the > many others. Resume has to have an optical appeal, it should be > presented in a structured format and properly present the contents. >  >  >  > Optical Appeal >  > The paper should be A4 size. >  > The printout should be in font 12 (Arial or Times New Roman.) >  > Printout should be taken on a Laser Printer. >  > The overall optical appeal should be presentable. >  > Format >  > Resume should generally not exceed two pages. For Software > professionals it may exceed the limit to highlight team size, duration > of project and assignment contents. >  > Please note this is only an introduction to ensure an interview call > and not your biography. >  > Avoid making tables in your resume as far as possible. Either write it > in sentences or columns without a border. >  > Name must be the opening word of your resume. If the employer has to > waste efforts to locate it, you have irritated him. >  > For experienced professionals; resume should highlight work experience > followed by educational qualifications; simply because the company > will be interested in your work experience as compared to your > educational qualifications. >  > For freshers; resume should focus on the educational qualifications, > and highlights therein, followed by summer training and academic projects. >  > Mention your academic and professional achievements separately towards > the end. >  > Contents >  >  >  > Personal Details : >  > Specify date of birth and not age as on date. >  > State temporary address followed by permanent address. >  > To facilitate speedy connectivity write telephone numbers with STD > codes, fax number and E mail id. >  > Mention best time to contact. In case of pp or c/o number write the > name of the contact person. >  > List languages known; they play an important role in the selection process. >  > Avoid writing family details. >  > Educational Qualifications: >  > Bifurcate the qualifications into Educational and Professional along > with specialisations. >  > Specify name of the degree, name of the university; year of passing > for every qualification. >  > Marks obtained should be written if only particularly good. >  > Work Experience: >  > Should start with the present job, followed by others in reverse > chronological order. >  > Name of the organisation, its location, designations held, month and > year of joining and leaving must be specified for each employment. >  > Job profile or responsibilities handled play a key role in the > selection process. List responsibilities point wise for quick comprehension. >  > Few sentences about the company profile and its product may be included. >  > Compensation: >  > Never mention your compensation. This could be a limiting factor > unnecessarily. You can always talk it over at the personal interview > or may discuss with your consultant. >  > If you are sending the resume to a placement consultancy do write cost > to company in a covering note. >  > You may add expected salary and location preferences too, confidentially. >  > Important Tips >  >  >  > Here are a few of the tips that will be immensely beneficial for any > candidate, irrespective of the industry or organization to applying to. > These are some basic things that make a lasting impression. >  > Determine your job search objective prior to writing the resume and > structure the content of your resume around that objective only.  If > you write your resume without having a clear objective in mind, it > will come across as unfocused to those who read it. >  > You don't need to go into detail about every accomplishment.  Strive > to be clear and concise.  The purpose of your resume is to generate > enough interest in you to have an employer contact you for an interview. >  > The language should be simple, the flow of language lucid and grammar > absolutely correct.  The format must be chosen carefully and > consistency should be maintained through out.  Use a font size no > smaller than 10 point.. >  > To improve the presentation and comprehension, use bulleted sentences. > Resumes are read quickly ( a resume gets an attention of 30 sec. on an > average) this bulleted sentence format makes it easier for someone to > quickly scan your resume and still absorb it. >  > To add life to your resume use begin with action words like prepared, > developed, monitored and presented. >  > Take the time to determine which bullets most strongly support your > job search objective.  Put those strong points first where they are > more apt to be read. >  > Use the key words listed in the ad (Where the vacancy is advertised) > and match them with the contents in your resume highlight your > suitability for the job profile. >  > Use some technical jargon, specific to your industry.  If there are > terms that show your competence in a particular field use them in your resume. >  > Accent the positive and leave of negatives and irrelevant points.  > Lead with your strengths.  Focus on the duties that support your objective. >  > Rather than going into depth in one area, use your resume to highlight > your breadth of knowledge. >  > If you have reported to someone important such as a vice president or > department manager, say so in your resume.  Having reported to someone > important causes the reader to infer that you are important. >  > Limit the length of your resume to 1-2 pages.  Help the reader to scan > your resume efficiently and effectively. >  > Since you are so close to your situation, it can be difficult for you > to hit all your high points and clearly convey all your > accomplishments.  Have someone review your job search objective, your > resume and listings of positions that interest you. >  >  >  > Use your resume to obtain an interview, not a job.  Most prospective > employers decide whether or not they want to interview you after > reading the first few lines. >  >  >  > All the best.....