by Lexi » 23 Oct 2016, 21:36
Getting your résumé right is one of the key elements to getting an interview, which is the first step to getting a job. I’ve worked in recruitment and have seen thousands of résumés and profiles. Over the years I have rejected many, hired a fair number, fired a few, and given references to former employees. Each country and company differs in what they look for, so these guidelines are based on UK law and US business requirements. There are also many templates that you can use online, but sometimes that’s not enough, so here are a few pointers.
• Use a template as a guideline but do not copy it. Choosing a template is a good idea, but you can adapt them. Recruiters will see if you have used a template and copied it word for word, so rewrite things, otherwise they will see you as lazy.
• Contact details. An email address should be professional sounding, so choose one that can be read out easily and without anything embarrassing. I recall interviewing someone and confirming their email address, which was along the lines of ‘essexdiscodiva’, but I’ve seen worse. You should add a phone number, and include the country code and area code. Make sure any voicemail message is professional too.
• Nationality. This is more important for international jobs, but you should include this, and if you have dual nationality. Do not include any details of visas or work permits because these can change, and also have restrictions.
• Do not include your age. In the UK you are not allowed to put your age on any application forms, but you can write down what years you were at school and the periods that you worked. This is to prevent any discrimination due to age.
• Photo. These days some ask for a photo, and the best way to do this is create a small headshot and add it to the résumé as a thumbnail alongside your name. Most don’t want attachments unless stated.
• Use your full legal name. This may sound obvious, but many people don’t do this and end up with issues when a contract is offered. If your name is Catherine and you call yourself Kate, you must use Catherine. The same is for men who use Bob, when their legal name is Robert. When an applicant is accepted the details are entered onto a database, and when ID is requested the details must match.
• Should you include referees? It’s always a good idea to have several referees; a combination of personal and professional ones. I would not include them, but state they are available on request. First, it gives you control over deciding whose name to give, and also gives you an idea of how your application is progressing. As someone who has been asked to be a referee, I have been happy to help out, but it would have been better if those people had dropped me a line first to ask me, or to inform me that I will be contacted in regards to the application.
• Don’t lie or over exaggerate. Again, this may sound obvious, but people do and most interviewers can tell. Those applications also tend to also be rejected when they look as if someone else has written them. I have interviewed people who couldn't answer questions from their own résumé; don't be one of those people.
• Don’t include social media links. The only one you should include if appropriate is a LinkedIn profile. That doesn’t mean that prospective employers won’t look up your profiles. Most will do searches, so keep your profiles private and monitor all your accounts for any embarrassing posts. One girl tweeted she had just got a job at a horrid place. The employer spotted it and fired her before she even started.
• What to include in ‘additional information/skills’. In this section you should include any languages you speak and the level, what IT skills you have and how that was used, any courses you are pursuing, and details of any relevant awards.
Don’t forget, this is a first impression so make it count.
Getting your résumé right is one of the key elements to getting an interview, which is the first step to getting a job. I’ve worked in recruitment and have seen thousands of résumés and profiles. Over the years I have rejected many, hired a fair number, fired a few, and given references to former employees. Each country and company differs in what they look for, so these guidelines are based on UK law and US business requirements. There are also many templates that you can use online, but sometimes that’s not enough, so here are a few pointers.
• [b][u]Use a template as a guideline but do not copy it[/u][/b]. Choosing a template is a good idea, but you can adapt them. Recruiters will see if you have used a template and copied it word for word, so rewrite things, otherwise they will see you as lazy.
• [b][u]Contact details[/u][/b]. An email address should be professional sounding, so choose one that can be read out easily and without anything embarrassing. I recall interviewing someone and confirming their email address, which was along the lines of ‘essexdiscodiva’, but I’ve seen worse. You should add a phone number, and include the country code and area code. Make sure any voicemail message is professional too.
• [b][u]Nationality.[/u][/b] This is more important for international jobs, but you should include this, and if you have dual nationality. Do not include any details of visas or work permits because these can change, and also have restrictions.
• [b][u]Do not include your age.[/u][/b] In the UK you are not allowed to put your age on any application forms, but you can write down what years you were at school and the periods that you worked. This is to prevent any discrimination due to age.
• [b][u]Photo.[/u][/b] These days some ask for a photo, and the best way to do this is create a small headshot and add it to the résumé as a thumbnail alongside your name. Most don’t want attachments unless stated.
• [b][u]Use your full legal name[/u][/b]. This may sound obvious, but many people don’t do this and end up with issues when a contract is offered. If your name is Catherine and you call yourself Kate, you must use Catherine. The same is for men who use Bob, when their legal name is Robert. When an applicant is accepted the details are entered onto a database, and when ID is requested the details must match.
• [b][u]Should you include referees?[/u][/b] It’s always a good idea to have several referees; a combination of personal and professional ones. I would not include them, but state they are available on request. First, it gives you control over deciding whose name to give, and also gives you an idea of how your application is progressing. As someone who has been asked to be a referee, I have been happy to help out, but it would have been better if those people had dropped me a line first to ask me, or to inform me that I will be contacted in regards to the application.
• [b][u]Don’t lie or over exaggerate.[/u][/b] Again, this may sound obvious, but people do and most interviewers can tell. Those applications also tend to also be rejected when they look as if someone else has written them. I have interviewed people who couldn't answer questions from their own résumé; don't be one of those people.
• [b][u]Don’t include social media links.[/u][/b] The only one you should include if appropriate is a LinkedIn profile. That doesn’t mean that prospective employers won’t look up your profiles. Most will do searches, so keep your profiles private and monitor all your accounts for any embarrassing posts. One girl tweeted she had just got a job at a horrid place. The employer spotted it and fired her before she even started.
• [b][u]What to include in ‘additional information/skills’.[/u][/b] In this section you should include any languages you speak and the level, what IT skills you have and how that was used, any courses you are pursuing, and details of any relevant awards.
Don’t forget, this is a first impression so make it count.
