| Your resume (CV in British English) has one | | | | Tip 3: A number is worth 1,000 words |
| mission and one mission only: to get you a | | | | |
| job interview. Your resume is usually the | | | | People react to numbers! Numbers are alive |
| first impression an employer has of you. And | | | | and powerful. They create vivid images in our |
| as 'you never get a second chance to make a | | | | minds. General statements are easy to ignore. |
| first impression', you'd better get it right | | | | Be specific and use numbers when describing |
| first time. | | | | your duties and achievements. |
| | | | |
| Tip 1: Use design that demands attention | | | | Don't talk about 'managing a major turnover'. |
| | | | Talk about 'managing a $27,000,000 turnover'. |
| Employers don't have time to read through | | | | Don't talk about 'extensive teaching |
| each of your job descriptions to know if you | | | | experience'. Talk about '7,000 teaching |
| have the skills they need. The design of your | | | | hours'. Better still, talk about '7,300 |
| resume must do it for them. Your resume | | | | teaching hours' - the more precise a figure, |
| should be concise, well-organised and | | | | the more real it becomes. |
| relevant. It should emphasise the most | | | | |
| important and relevant points about your | | | | Tip 4: Put important information first |
| experience, skills and education. | | | | |
| | | | List important information at the beginning |
| Tip 2: Use 'power words' | | | | of your job descriptions. Put statements in |
| | | | your resume in order of importance, |
| To control the image that an employer has of | | | | impressiveness and relevance to the job you |
| you, use power words that match the position | | | | want. A powerful statement with numbers and |
| you want. Certain words are used frequently | | | | power words influences every statement that |
| by recruiters in their job descriptions. You | | | | follows. |
| should study recruiters' advertisements and | | | | |
| job descriptions and use these words in your | | | | Tip 5: Sell benefits, not skills |
| resume and covering letter. | | | | |
| | | | Holiday companies don't sell holidays. They |
| The most powerful words are verbs. And the | | | | sell relaxation, adventure, sun, sea and sand |
| most powerful verbs are action verbs | | | | (the benefits of a holiday). You should not |
| (describing dynamic activity, as opposed to | | | | sell your skills (many other people have the |
| state). | | | | same skills). You should sell the benefits of |
| | | | your skills. When you write your skills and |
| If, for example, you are applying for a | | | | past duties, be careful to explain their |
| management post, you should use as many | | | | benefits to the employer. |
| management skills power words as possible - | | | | |
| and use them in the active form, not passive. | | | | Tip 6: Solve your employer's (hidden) needs |
| | | | |
| Here are some teaching skills power words: | | | | Employers want people who can solve problems, |
| | | | not create them! Your resume and cover letter |
| * advise | | | | should show how you can solve the employer's |
| | | | problems and needs. And in addition to the |
| * clarify | | | | skills or needs shown in a job advertisement, |
| | | | an employer may have other needs. You should |
| * coach | | | | identify these additional needs and show how |
| | | | you can satisfy them too. But concentrate |
| * elicit | | | | first on the needs listed in the job |
| | | | advertisement. Your additional solutions |
| * enable | | | | should come later, after you already have the |
| | | | employer's attention. |
| * encourage | | | | |
| | | | Tip 7: Target the job |
| * explain | | | | |
| | | | You will have more success if you adjust your |
| * facilitate | | | | resume and cover letter for the specific |
| | | | skills an employer is seeking. This means |
| * guide | | | | that you would write one resume for one |
| | | | particular job and a different, modified, |
| * inform | | | | resume for another job. You 're-package' |
| | | | yourself. In that way, an employer will see |
| * instruct | | | | immediately that you correspond to the job |
| | | | description. It is not dishonest to |
| * persuade | | | | 're-package' yourself. You are simply |
| | | | presenting yourself and your skills in the |
| * stimulate | | | | best light for a particular employer. This |
| | | | will help you to get more interviews and |
| * train | | | | allow you to apply for a wider range of jobs. |
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