Why write a good résumé/CV?

[shibli]

Think of a résumé/CV as being a positive advert for yourself.

Employers do not know anything about you so by writing a résumé/CV you are giving them an overview of your skills, experience, and qualifications and starting to prove to them that you are the right person for the job.

It is important to make your CV/résumé as good as it can be as this, or an application form, is what the employer will use to decide whether or not to invite you to an interview.

To be continued.......

[shibli]

1. Keep your résumé/CV short, simple and to the point i.e. no more than 2/3 sides of white or pale A4 paper.

2. Apart from the education section, your résumé/CV only needs to cover the last five years.

3. Do not lie on your résumé/CV. But at the same time do not be afraid to show off your skills to the fullest and in a positive way.

4. Avoid leaving gaps in your education and employment history. Where possible attempt to briefly explain any gaps. (break of studies)

5. Avoid using abbreviations and slang words.

6. Tailor your CV/résumé to each job you apply for by putting emphasis on the necessary skills.

7. Get a friend to read over your CV/résumé to check for mistakes and ensure it all makes sense.

[Shamim Ansary]

Resourceful post.

Good going, Sir.

[shibli]

"The primary differences between a résumé and a curriculum vitae (CV) are the length, what is included and what each is used for. A resume is a one or two page summary of your skills, experience and education. While a resume is brief and concise - no more than a page or two, a Curriculum Vitae is a longer (at least two page) and more detailed synopsis.
A Curriculum Vitae includes a summary of your educational and academic backgrounds as well as teaching and research experience, publications, presentations, awards, honors, affiliations and other details. In Europe, the Middle East, Africa, or Asia, employers may expect to receive a curriculum vitae.

In the United States, a curriculum vitae is used primarily when applying for academic, education, scientific or research positions. It is also applicable when applying for fellowships or grants." extracted from internet
   

[shibli]

A résumé is shorter form of CV mainly used by freshers seeking for jobs while a CV is a more detailed one used by experienced persons opting for changing professions or the like. But the term résumé is commonly called in the USA and Canada while CV is used in European and Asian countries. CV is also used for academic purposes such as applying for scholarship since it is more likely to be a detailed one, on the contrary, a résumé is expected to have all the latest (preferably last 5 year's) information of a person.

And a Bio-data is much more detailed one than a CV containing all the personal information of a person required for matrimonial and investigation purposes. 

[kazi shahin]

Thanks sir. Finally I have got the answer very clearly. What is the heart of a CV/ résumé? What makes me difference when I have send a CV/résumé? What kind of candidate is looked for a job generally?   
I have copy this word (résumé) from your post. But it shows wrong spieling. The correct spelling shows "resume". I know the fact between résumé & resume but not clear. Would you kindly tell me about it?



   
   

[shibli]

The correct spelling is Résumé. It's a french word. Sometimes computer can be wrong.

[shibli]

Guidelines for Writing Your CV
A well-produced CV can make all the difference when applying for a job

--Md. Shibli Shahriar, Assistant Professor, DIU

It can take a reader just 30 seconds to reach a decision about a CV. So when writing a CV, you should remember you have just half a minute to gain the reader’s interest, leave a clear impression of professionalism and indicate the likely benefit to an employer of hiring you.  To prepare a CV which is effective will take time and possibly several drafts. Layout, presentation and a choice of words which demonstrate both responsibility and achievement are vital components of any CV.

No matter how well your career background and skills match the needs of an employer, your efforts could fail if you make it difficult for the reader to take in the relevant information. As your message must register quickly, make the reader’s task an easy one. Ensure that the print is well spaced and that the key information is displayed clearly.

The purpose of the CV is to generate interviews. Visually, you want your CV to have a positive effect, but it is also necessary for it to convince the reader that you are worth meeting. The style in which you present your CV is a matter of personal choice, but it is important that you use words which suggest an active and successful career.

People sometimes make the mistake of regarding a CV as a rewrite of their job description, which results in unnecessary jargon and detail. In addition, issues such as salary and reasons for leaving previous employers should not be included; they are best discussed at the first interview stage.

[shibli]

What should you include?

Personal details: include your name, date of birth, nationality, address, contact number, and email if you wish.

Education: Start with your most recent qualification. Put the name of the organization/university/school/college and the year you studied there and from and to. Then list the qualifications, subject and grade.

Employment & Experience: You can include paid employment, voluntary work, training and work experience here.  

Start with the most recent first and list the name of the organization and the dates that you worked there from and to.

Use bullet points if you need to and focus on what you did and particularly the skills that you gained. E.g. stocking shelves you might have gained good organization skills and working on tills you may have gained excellent care/service skills.

Interest: In about two lines say a little about about your hobbies and interests are and what skills you gained. E.g. team-working from football, building new relationships as a result of socializing with friends.

References:Include the names and contact details of two people who will be able to tell an employer what you are like as a person. Ask their permission to be references first though.  

[shibli]

Skills, skills, skills........

Have a think about you have developed some of these skills as a result of something that you have done.

• Team work or the ability to work unsupervised
  
  Good written or verbal communication skills
  
  Self-motivation, good time keeping, organized
  
  Ability to work well with people i.e. customers
  
  Honesty, ability to handle cash
  
  Technical skills e.g. computers, tills or tools

[shibli]

These are just a few examples and what the employer is looking for will depend upon the particular job. Always check the advert and try to illustrate that you have the needed skills as a result of your experiences. Don't use the same résumé/CV for every job you apply for. Your job objective and skills may vary from job to job. For a job application of a customer service officer, your objective will be totally different from that of a public relations officer or management trainee officer. So be careful about that.

If you need to know more, why not drop into CDC at Price Plaza (4th Floor). CDC offers a wide range of information and support services which include:

• Advice and support with writing your CV
  
  Information and advice on job hunting, career planing & development
  
  Counseling on Ethics and Human development

 

[papelrezwan]

I did not know that it is a french word even the right spelling which computer can also mistake. Thank you sir for this informative post.