Resume Reminders

Your resume, CV, or Curriculum Vitae is essentially your brief business biography. It is your introduction and calling card for an employer. It’s you, as a professional, in a nutshell. So what does a résumé require and what should be avoided?

A résumé should include your full name as well as your contact information, education history, qualifications and career history, skills and abilities, and references. Interests and a portfolio of work can also be included.

Along with the obvious spelling and grammar mistakes, résumés should not include the following:

Images

Pop art, starbursts and speech bubbles, and images of any kind are out of place on your CV. Your resume should be uncluttered and easy to understand. Copies of graduation certificates, awards, and accreditations, however, are often useful to photocopy and attach. These are the only images that should feature. Also keep your font basic and easy to read.

Archaic Achievements

Resume can seem like a bit of brag but you’re showing your skills, qualifications, and role potential. In an effort to show your best accomplishments, consider their relevance to the position/industry and how recent they are. Primary school awards for example are unfortunately outdated in this respect. Likewise your employer isn’t likely to find use in information about your undefeated burger-consumption record, wet t-shirt accolades, or fun run participation awards.

An Essay/ Excessive Length

Your résumé is a summary. Brief paragraphs, even bull points can be appropriate for some sections but a full-blown essay, though perhaps persuasive, is too tedious and time consuming to be effective. It’ s about prioritising important elements and communicating your competency in a concise way. Your resume, without a portfolio, should ideally not over more than a page or two.

Incorrect Details

Keep you details current. You may need to create a new professional email to add to your résumé because something like princesslucybutterfly17@yahoo.com from when you were twelve may not give the right impression to your potential employer.

Your mother as your reference

Your references should firstly know they are your references, and also know enough about you to provide either information on your professionalism or personality and hopefully have something positive to say about either. About two references are standard and they shouldn’t be someone romantically or relationally linked to you. Appropriate references include: a previous employer, teacher, or coach.

With these tips in mind, keep your CV constantly updated and formal with a hint personality. The end result should be short, sweet, and packed full of your suitability for the role.