Headings to include in your resume
A possible set of headings using the reverse chronological order format for education and work history are as follows:
Alternatives
Other headings
Academic Background Career Achievements Career Objective Community and Professional Involvement Educational Background Leisure Activities Personal Information Professional Highlights Professional Experience Professional Skills Research Interests Research Skills Special Skills Specialists Knowledge & Skills
Resume Writing
A resume is the accepted way of presenting in a concise, ordered, and factual form, the key aspects of your education, work experiences, interests, and related activities. As employers may have many applications to read in a short time, your resume should be presented in such a way that they can locate the information they are looking for quickly and easily. In Australia, a standard resume for a graduate is usually three pages; it may extend to four (or five) pages if your education or work history is extensive. In other countries, the accepted number of pages may vary (in the USA only one page is expected). In countries like Singapore much more personal detail is required than listed below. To assist you with career planning it is recommended that you access the Planning Your Next Career Move Blackboard site, under Plan your career in the Course/career planning section of the C&E website. For information on resume writing, select Applications and/or Workshops & workbooks under the Getting a job section of the C&E website.
Personal Details:
Name: all in bold, surname in CAPITALS Address: Semester and Home – be explicit so you can be contacted easily Telephone: semester and home contacts; fax and email (if available)
Optional details (usually not included)
Nationality: optional – but may be included if employer confusion, regarding nationality, is likely
Education:
Action, Skill, Achievement
analysed assembled created demonstrated established examined generated initiated liaised monitored originated presented reconciled researched arranged conducted delegated developed evaluated formulated influenced improved managed negotiated planned promoted reorganised reviewed
Tertiary: provide as many highlights as possible Secondary: provide limited information only Awards/Achievements: educational awards Computer skills: competent/familiar Other Qualifications/Skills: foreign languages – fluent/studied/familiar
What to include in your resume
• The examples provided in this handout use reverse chronological order to present, as succinctly as possible, education and work histories. Key dates are used to organise the information using this format (alternative methods of presentation are provided in other publications). It is important for graduates to attach a certified photocopy of their most recent official Academic Record. Downloading a copy of your Academic History from your Personal Profile on QUT Virtual may be acceptable to most employers as a substitute for an official Academic Record in the first instance. If you have one outstanding work-related reference, you may also wish to attach it as an appendix to your resume. You should also compile an Interview Portfolio, which contains the originals of all possible relevant documents for presentation at an interview. • It is usual to include a letter of application when sending your resume to potential employers or when responding to an advertisement. You may or may not wish to add a cover page to your resume. Although it may enhance the appearance of your resume, it may mean that the employer has more pages to read and therefore less time to become familiar with the content. Include life experiences such as leadership roles, community contributions, travel and languages in a concise manner. Sometimes you will also need to include a completed application form and/or your response to the key selection criteria as separate documents.
•
Personal Profile:
Optional: 3-4 bullet points detailing your career interest area and relevant skills you have to offer (technical and personal)
•
Work History:
Career related: indicate career related skills Other: provide limited information only
Other methods/strategies
•
Instead of, or as well as, listing your education and employment history in sequence, you may wish to provide a summary of your skills. For example:
Life Experiences: Achievements:
Include extra-curricular activities, leadership roles, community contributions, travel
Academic skills
• • • research problem solving/analysis report writing
•
•
•
Optional – community and sporting
Public relations skills
• • • • • • • • • • •
Memberships: Referees:
Include student affiliations, community, and professional
planning promotional & financial campaigns writing media releases, speeches & publications production and scripting of audio visuals survey and market research formal presentations management & administration market analysis and management planning and managing promotional strategies budget preparation verbal reasoning tact and diplomacy
Usually two or three – work related is best
Knowledge of business management
Reference:
Optional – only if it is outstanding
Personal skills
The general answer is: • Anything that is not relevant to the position you are applying for, and • Anything that could prevent you from being offered an interview For each section of your resume ask yourself • Is this relevant? • Could it be perceived negatively? • Can I work this in a positive way?
What to leave out of your resume:
This usually means leaving out information such as: Date of birth Marital status Whether you have children Religious background Health status Disability Political affiliation Get feedback, but if in doubt – leave it out
Page 1
RESUME Lucy Mai NGUYEN 62 Staghorn Drive, BALMORAL Q 4125 07 3341 4333 (Semester) 51 Ascot Street, GYMPIE Q 4875 07 5286 2322 (Home) l.nguyen@student.qut.edu.au Australian Permanent Resident EDUCATION Tertiary 2006-2008
Sample Resume – General Example
Cover page?
Voluntary Work
Page 3
Assisting with computer training at Woolloongabba Job Club
RESUME TIP 1:
You may wish to design a simple cover page for your resume.
Page 2
Computer Skills Competent using Microsoft Word Microsoft Access Microsoft Excel Other Qualifications/Skills Foreign language skills fluent in Cantonese familiar with Mandarin studied French to Year 10 level Music A.Mus A. Piano WORK HISTORY Career related 2008 Familiar with PhotoShop SPSS Nudist
Voluntary work
Don’t forget to include your voluntary work.
Only use relevant contact information – it’s not necessary to include your date of birth, marital status, etc. Make sure you have a professional email address – maybe set one up specifically for your job search correspondence.
Bachelor of Business – Marketing Queensland University of Technology Secondary Major – Management (expected completion date – November 2008) (You may wish to include a 4/5 line description of the degree here) High Distinctions Strategic Marketing Consumer Behaviour Distinctions Management, People & Organisation Credits and above in over 65% of subjects Course GPA – 5.2 (scale 1-7, 7 highest) (see attached Academic Record/History) Team Projects Retail analysis for Country Road Australia Public relations campaign for Sportsleaf Special Interest Area Strategic Planning
EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES Member of School Social Committee Participated in school musicals and choir Piano Tennis Swim and attend the QUT gym Assist in the organisation and promotion of the QUT Ball Listen to classical and contemporary music MEMBERSHIPS 2007-2008 2006-2008 CAREER GOAL To put my studies and work experience skills into good use by combining my interests in management, marketing, and publications in a relatively large company with an eventual opportunity to work overseas. REFEREES
Mr Ross Maynes Office Manager Myer Department Store 25 Truk Street COORPAROO Q 4152 Tel: 07 3777 5990 Fax: 07 3777 5327 Dr Mary Green Senior Lecturer, QUT School of Management GPO Box 2434 BRISBANE Q 4001 Tel: 07 3864 0000 Fax: 07 3864 1111 Ms Pat Dayson Quality Manager Fastfoods Inc. Fairfield Road FAIRFIELD Q 4215 Tel: 07 3589 1258 Fax: 07 3259 1247
RESUME TIP 2:
Achievements…
Are an excellent way to prove your ability, so include them with your work and education.
Business Student Association (BASS) Borneo Students’ Association
Remember to show highlights from your course. Think about key assignments, individual or group projects, presentations, grades – anything that makes you stand out!
RESUME TIP 3:
Administrative Assistant (vacation – 8 weeks) Dept of Local Government & Planning – Brisbane Skills Developed/Responsibilities preparation of daily correspondence reception work and attending to clients compilation of survey work preparation of an environmental impact report
Bold subject matter such as course or job title, University or employer name.
RESUME TIP 4:
2006-2007
Sales Assistant (casual – 15 hours per week) Myer Department Store – Carindale REFERENCE Skills Developed/Responsibilities customer relations and extensive sales experience administration of records for three sections cash register transactions displays and visual merchandising product knowledge and training seminars conducted supervised and organised competitions conducted stock-take and ordering Achievements Staff member of the Month Award One selected reference from Ross Maynes is attached.
2005
Associate Diploma in Management Southbank Institute of TAFE (Transferred to QUT after first year)
Secondary 2001-2005
Year 12 Senior Certificate Gympie State High School Overall Position (OP) – 5 Very High Achievements English Economics
Headers & Footers
Don’t forget to include a header or footer with your name and page number.
2005-2006
Reference or Referee?
Awards/Achievements Completed “Teamwork in Action” and “Leadership” Business Advantage modules Harcourt Australia International Marketing Prize Year 12 Economics Award School Prefect School Debating Team Page 1 of 3 Lucy Mai NGUYEN
Promotional Hostess (casual – 4 hours/week for 20 weeks) Billabong Family Bistro – Gympie Skills Developed/Responsibilities promotion of Billabong restaurant entertainment of children at the restaurant for special occasion party groups compèred and promoted shows
Referees are people who can comment in a positive manner about your work and academic skills and personal qualities. Be sure to inform your referees of the positions for which you are applying. References are written. They should only be used if they are outstanding.
It doesn’t matter if your experience us paid or unpaid – it has all helped you to develop your professional skills. Use a heading such as Professional Experience to include any voluntary work, practicum placements, work experience or paid work related to your degree. Make sure you’ve developed and demonstrated in these roles. Don’t underestimate the value of “non-degree-related employment”. You will have gained valuable skills that are professional roles, so use this opportunity to promote yourself to your future employer.
Other 2006 2004-2006 Waitress (casual – 4 hours/week) Terrace Coffee Lounge – Coorparoo Sang Pho Takeaway Restaurant – Gympie
Similar jobs…
It is acceptable for you to group like jobs together.
Page 3 of 3 Lucy Mai NGUYEN
• • • • • • • • • •
Resume layout and formatting:
Minimum margins: 2cm. Preferably set margins at 2.5 or 3.0cm. Check that the completed document is free of all spelling and grammar errors. Include a header or footer including your name and page number. The chosen font type for your resume should be easy to read. Fonts generally used include Arial or Times New Roman. Fonts similar to these should be considered and are acceptable. Restrict font size to 10, 11 or 12 point. Use tabs and columns for a neat layout. Select one or two heading styles to be used throughout your resume. Check layout; try to avoid breaking sections and bulleted lists across page breaks. Use concise language and excellent English. Laser-print all copies on good quality A4 paper.
Skills Developed/Responsibilities attending to clients and dealing with any customer complaints following instructions from the kitchen staff and manager utilised financial management skills in handling and totalling the money at the end of each shift
Page 2 of 3 Lucy Mai NGUYEN
Attach a copy of your current Academic Record that has been certified by a Justice of the Peace or Careers & Employment staff. The Statement of Results the Institution sends you at the completion of each semester is not considered an Academic Record and may be unsuitable to send with an application.
Academic Record
RESUME TIP 5:
Online Resume Builder
Design Tips:
• •
The QUT Resume Builder assists you with your resume preparation. This resume builder assists you in writing your basic resume. Once completed, you are encouraged to further enhance the layout and give your personalised touches to it. Instructions are provided to assist you to download and convert the document to a Microsoft Word document.
In many instances, employers will accept a copy of your Academic History, downloaded from your personal profile on QUT Virtual, as a substitute for an actual Academic Record.
Make sure you keep your referees informed of the positions you are applying for, so that they are prepared for when an employer contacts them to find out more about you. It’s a good idea to send then an updated resume and copies of your application letter, responses to selection criteria etc, whenever you apply for a position.
Other possible enclosures to your resume:
Resume Letter Application Form Key Selection Criteria Cover Page
Academic Record One Selected Reference
Experiment with design features such as coloured headings, watermarks and borders. Microsoft Word has formatting and design tools to help you create these. If you are required to (or choose to) include a photograph of yourself, it should fit within the following specifications: o No larger than passport photo size (approx. 3 x 4cm) o Head and shoulders only o Plain colour background o You should wear business style dress o Good quality copy (from scanner or digital photograph)
After you have checked for all of these things, submit your resume to be checked by C&E. The checking service is offered throughout the year and has a 24-48hr turnaround. You can email your resume to careers@qut.edu.au, or drop it into the C&E office at Level 2, U Block, Gardens Point campus.
Only when required Optional
Resume Checking Service