Curriculum Vitae is just as important as what to include in your Resume or C.V.
One of the most frequent errors I see when I edit someone's Resume or C.V. is
irrelevant information. Another is
too much information. Now, that last one will sound counter-intuitive; but it's not. The extra details which often end up in Resumes is information to be expanded on at the interview, or even more commonly, information to be exchanged at the water cooler once you get the job.
Whether you are applying for a position with a micro company, a small company or a large corporation, there are specifics the employer/HR personnel are looking for: things which are job relevant, job relevant, job relevant.
Information about your family, your hobbies, your time as a busker or backpacking around Asia have nothing to do with the average job on offer. Of course, there might be some jobs where this type of information is exactly what is needed, but only if the job is in some way related.
If you have a long job history, then most of the previous positions will probably not have relevance to the job you are after; they can be collapsed into a sentence or two, or left out altogether. If you are applying to middle management, for example, the jobs you had while in college or the first jobs you had on leaving school are very unlikely to be relevant.
Of course, applicants worry that their Resumes will seem too lightweight or short if they don't include everything. This is true of young job seekers, where a job making milkshakes after school, or fruit picking while travelling overseas might well be important to include. They show you have a work ethic and are willing to stretch yourself with challenge.
If you are applying for an accounts position, and have no experience other than basic training, it might be helpful to mention you have practiced your bookkeeping skills on the family budget; otherwise, the employer is not interested. However, if you've had a hand working on the books for a family business, even an at-home, part-time business, then that is relevant.
Sometimes, it can come down to how you write your information. Whatever your experience and training, and whatever position you are applying for, it is always important to keep one thing constantly in mind: Is this relevant to the position? In answering that question, it is also a good idea to ask: How can I make this information relevant to the position? This is especially true for people, mums in particular, who have been out of the workforce for some time.
Many things can be adapted to a work situation, e.g. car pooling children to school or events demonstrates: time management, organisation, supervisory and teamwork skills. It also, no doubt, involves handling crises from time-to-time. These are skills which are relevant to any position.
However, don't just put car pooling as an example of what you have done. Be creative and give evidence of what is involved and what skills it requires. It is the skills rather than the deed which the employer or HR manager is looking for. So, it is important not to leave out transferable skills. Your Resume needs to give an overview of your Education, Work History, Experience, etc., but also it needs to document examples of your skills and abilities. It's a common pitfall to leave this vital information out.
Another very common pitfall is to overwrite the information and make it difficult to pick out the necessary information. If you don't have access to a computer with Word, find one to use, and learn how to use it, especially the bullet points. There is every reason to set out your information in a way that the reader can scan it to see if it potentially holds evidence of what they are looking for.
When you use bullet points, you:
- Make the document eye friendly
- Highlight your salient points
- Draw attention to your career and skill highlights
- Give a practical demonstration of your pc skills
A favourite pro-forma style sheet people like to use for their Resume is tables. I have one word to say about that: DON'T!
It is not eye-friendly; it is confusing and always ends up looking jumbled. A spreadsheet is easier to read than a Resume or written document which is squeezed into tables. Unless you use tables all the time and are especially proficient at them, you will have trouble making them fit in a way which portrays your information in the best manner. Even if you know tables better than the back of your hand, don't use them. They just aren't the easiest format for the reader.
Of course, if you are applying for a position which will require you to mostly work with tables, it would be a golden opportunity to demonstrate your skill. Just beware, though, because if they aren't perfect both in layout and reading ease, you will be demonstrating your lack of skill.
There are an endless number of pitfalls when it comes to Resumes, but these are some common basics which will stand you in good stead. So, remember:
- clean and clear
- easy on the eye
- keep your information relevant.
And good luck!
This article is the intellectual property of Hannah Quinn and is protected under International and Australian Copyright and Moral Rights Laws. Do not reproduce without the express permission of the author, Hannah Quinn.
© Hannah Quinn 2007
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