The perfect Resume?

[Nullifi3d]

Now i know that perfection does not exist even though we all seek for it. So with the current job market being so bleak and competitive, how do you create the perfect resume? I've read a number of books and browsed hundreds of websites on how to create a "sell-able" resume but somehow only one or two might gain a prospecting employer's interest.

 

As a marketing and management student i've learnt that you need not be a really fantastic scholar. Its all about selling yourself. I'm still trying to secure a marketing job which is still fruitless after these few months.

 

So how do you sell yourself in your resume or cover letter? Is there an agency that can proof-read your resumes and cover letters to tailor it to the industry you're aiming at? I'm already bored to death with trying to edit my resumes so i hope to hear from you guys how you all do it.

 

After all, the first step to getting a job is to decide on that 'perfect' resume.

 

 

[Kxbc]

No such thing as perfect resume as nothing is perfect in this world.

 

But if you are a chiobu, you should send in together with your resume, a colured A4 size photo of yourself in the most flattering bikini with a come hither look and pray the HR manager and your future boss are men.

[Kusje]

There's no such thing as the perfect resume. You'll get the job(or at least the interview stage) if your experience and educational level fits the company's requirements.

 

If you don't fit the requirements, your resume can be the most well done one and you still won't get the job.

 

One thing is certain, make sure your English is perfect. Nothing irks people more to read a resume riddled with spelling errors.

[Xspace]

Why not you post your writing format and rough content?

 

It's easier to comment n help in that way...

[Sosaria]

If you read up on resume-writing books, most of them emphasize what I call "American" style... whereby it starts with an Objective followed by short descriptions of your achievements, etc. - everything summarized in one or two pages.

 

IMHO, "American" style does not work here... For example, they value privacy and equal opportunity, so very little private info is given in the resume. Sorry, not in Singapore... over here they want your name, age, gender, birthdate, race (a big no-no in the USA) etc. ... you get the idea.

 

Here, a "good" resume follows the style of a typical job application form. State your private info, followed by your working experience (basically company name, job title, responsibilities, maybe a couple of lines at each responsibility to highlight any particular achievement that you can back up), then followed by your qualifications, degree, JC/poly, O-level, etc. CCA too, if you're young enough. Then end it with any other achievements not mentioned earlier, e.g. scholarships, and the like.

 

I find that it's best to trumpet your matching qualities for the job and really big achievements in the Cover Letter, which most people forget to include with their resume in their job application. A good Cover Letter can help to get your foot in the door for interviews.

 

All the above IMHO and personal experience. Critics and those having other experience are welcome to share their own observations.

[Sony]

Rather than no prefect resume as what a few bro have shared, i would say that you can't do one solid resume and expect to use it for all job application.

 

this work only for freshie out in the market for their initial job.. as you move on, you need to customise and write the correct stuff to the company you are applying for. each company and interviewer is out for certain things, so do your research on the company and skew towards their needs and wants.

 

and usually if your first few line don't catch the people doing the 1st cut, you are in the bin already.. don't bother writing pages after pages. refer to my above para.

 

as for the common mistake, google ard and/or check out books on professional writing.

 

simple thing like correct font, size, spacing and spelling are fatal mistake that people make..

 

and it help to get a few other friends to go thru the CV.

[Sosaria]

Yup, forgot to also mention that CUSTOMISATION is important. Okay, it's inconvenient to customise each and every application when you're applying for many jobs at one go. But at least for those few jobs that you REALLY want ... it's worth your trouble to customise to the company's requirement / job ad.

 

As for all the others that you're mass-mailing, can use one standard resume, but don't forget to double-check the company name and address !!! (...send an application to one company but your application has another company's name and address )

[Ultramega]

Most important is the 1st page. If your 1st page can catch the attention of the reader, win half the battle already.

 

Some people put their personal particulars on the 1st page, 1st section, taking up half a page. I think it's a waste of valuable space....i mean, who's interested in your photo, name, phone number, address, blah blah blah when they don't even know you?

 

Reserve the 1st page for a summary of your achievements and experiences, customised to match the job description. This will catch the reader's attention and make them think "This is the guy I want!" while reading your resume.

[Drive_carcar]

Now i know that perfection does not exist even though we all seek for it. So with the current job market being so bleak and competitive, how do you create the perfect resume? I've read a number of books and browsed hundreds of websites on how to create a "sell-able" resume but somehow only one or two might gain a prospecting employer's interest.

 

As a marketing and management student i've learnt that you need not be a really fantastic scholar. Its all about selling yourself. I'm still trying to secure a marketing job which is still fruitless after these few months.

 

So how do you sell yourself in your resume or cover letter? Is there an agency that can proof-read your resumes and cover letters to tailor it to the industry you're aiming at? I'm already bored to death with trying to edit my resumes so i hope to hear from you guys how you all do it.

 

After all, the first step to getting a job is to decide on that 'perfect' resume.

 

The number one rule is highlight your achievements and what you are capable of. People screening resumes look for certain key words, existence of these key words give them reason(s) to call you that's all.

 

Next is do understand the concept of matching supply to demand. Highlighting achievements and capabilities that people are not looking for is just wasting your time. Look at the job description of some of the jobs you are looking for very carefully. Try to match what you have achieved to the job descriptions.

 

I have a friend who just copied and paste the entire job description under his current working description in his resume, and sure enough calls come in. It just show that sometimes people who screen through resumes don't really read, they are looking for a keyword match. Much like how we go through car brochures, we look for what we want to see, and ignore everything else.

[Nullifi3d]

The number one rule is highlight your achievements and what you are capable of. People screening resumes look for certain key words, existence of these key words give them reason(s) to call you that's all.

 

Next is do understand the concept of matching supply to demand. Highlighting achievements and capabilities that people are not looking for is just wasting your time. Look at the job description of some of the jobs you are looking for very carefully. Try to match what you have achieved to the job descriptions.

 

I have a friend who just copied and paste the entire job description under his current working description in his resume, and sure enough calls come in. It just show that sometimes people who screen through resumes don't really read, they are looking for a keyword match. Much like how we go through car brochures, we look for what we want to see, and ignore everything else.

 

But in terms of a fresh graduate theres not much career highlights to choose from apart from academic achievements. The lack of relevant experience might have killed me most of the times.

 

However i do agree on customizing the resume to make it look outstanding; but the problem is how outstanding can it look among employers in Singapore? Its different when you compare to our western counterparts who can hire anyone based on a fantastic cover letter without even reading through your resume.

[Ace]

But in terms of a fresh graduate theres not much career highlights to choose from apart from academic achievements. The lack of relevant experience might have killed me most of the times.

 

However i do agree on customizing the resume to make it look outstanding; but the problem is how outstanding can it look among employers in Singapore? Its different when you compare to our western counterparts who can hire anyone based on a fantastic cover letter without even reading through your resume.

 

Well, you can highlight achievement or activity you have in your intership. Anyway a good resume will only

open the door for an interview, the rest is still pretty much up to how well you perform in the interview

and of course how other interview perform compare against you plus a bit of luck.

[Watwheels]

Even if you prepared a "perfect" resume it does not confirm you will land yourself on a "perfect" job. Formats aside I think you should be honest and not make things up. I know some ppl who likes to exaggerate about themselves and work experience. Later on if you cannot deliver, your boss will feel cheated.

 

And becos of this many employers dun trust what they read on the resumes anyway. So it's down to your interview where your employer will judge you. I would suggest you to work on that instead. Resumes are pretty straight forward, what ppl wanna see is what impression you give them on your interview. I think that matters more.

[Polar28]

I find that it's best to trumpet your matching qualities for the job and really big achievements in the Cover Letter, which most people forget to include with their resume in their job application. A good Cover Letter can help to get your foot in the door for interviews.

 

All the above IMHO and personal experience. Critics and those having other experience are welcome to share their own observations.

 

I certtainly agree that a good written Cover Letter is a must, to me as a recuriting manager, the cover letter tell a lot about each individual. In fact, if there is no cover letter that comes with the resume, it usually goes right down the list.

 

 

[Wind30]

I certtainly agree that a good written Cover Letter is a must, to me as a recuriting manager, the cover letter tell a lot about each individual. In fact, if there is no cover letter that comes with the resume, it usually goes right down the list.

 

?? even if the achievements inside the resume is really good?

[GoodCar]

No such thing as perfect resume as nothing is perfect in this world.

 

But if you are a chiobu, you should send in together with your resume, a colured A4 size photo of yourself in the most flattering bikini with a come hither look and pray the HR manager and your future boss are men.

 

 

 

That will happen if the competition become so strong and there are so little jobs like some other country.

 

We must be thankful that are not in this state yet.

 

Do we want our children to become foreign labour and maid ?

 

Poverty is a curse, no one will like to sell their body

[Kwchan]

I certtainly agree that a good written Cover Letter is a must, to me as a recuriting manager, the cover letter tell a lot about each individual. In fact, if there is no cover letter that comes with the resume, it usually goes right down the list.

 

not sort by asking salary?

[Polar28]

?? even if the achievements inside the resume is really good?

 

 

A written cover letter is less "standardise" than a resume which can easily copy from reference format.

[Polar28]

not sort by asking salary?

 

In the first place, you are trying to shortlist quality, but of course if the asking salary is too unrealistic of course it may fall out of the shortlist. However sometime with a good written cover letter, I might still want to meet up for an interview.