Writing a Résumé (Third Year)

Why do you need a CV or Résumé?

A CV or Résumé is a written summary of your educational background, skills, activities, and experiences for employers. If you are seeking a job (mainly in the private sectors), you will probably need a résumé. This is an opportunity to showcase your strengths and direct the reader's attention towards the specific aspects you wish to emphasize. So basically, the people who need a CV/ Résumé are:

1. School passed out students

2. Graduate/Post Graduate/Doctorate candidate

3. Anyone who wants a job or wants to change his/her job

 

What is the objective of CV or Résumé?

The main objective of a CV or Resume is to be selected for an interview.

 

Are CV, Résumé, and Bio-data different?

1.   CV stands for Curriculum Vita, and it is a Latin term meaning “the course of life”. The term is basically used by Britishers.

2. The term Résumé is taken from French and is used by Americans. Resume means “summary” of person’s education as well as work experience.

3. Bio-data stands for Biographical Data. It is a term used by South Asian countries (for example, India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan etc.). The usage of biodata is limited to specific locations.

NOTE: Generally, CV and Résumé have similar structures, but they differ in their length. CV is lengthier and more descriptive than Résumé. Résumé format varies based on job requirements.

 

Résumé (American)	CV (British)
1 to 2 pages long	Over 2 pages
Used by job searchers.	Used for academic/research position

 Sections of a Résumé:

Section one: The Header

(What should be included?)

---Name

 ---Permanent and Present address

--- E-mail address

--- Mobile number

 Section Two: Objective Statement  

  ---- Purpose

Section Three: Education 

----  From latest qualification (UG to 10th) with name of institutions and passing years

Section Four: Achievements and Awards or (Language) Skills (If any)

Section Five: Experience (If any)

Section Six: Activities

Section Seven: References (References are 2-3 professional contacts who can vouch for your character and skills.)

 

Format of a Résumé

Paper Size: A4 (White)

Front:  a) Type: New Roman/Ariel/ Verdana

             b) Your Name 14-16 Point

             c) Body 11-12 point

             d) use bold to highlight the section

             e) use of underline (in the body text in order to highlight)

             f) Space 1—1.5

                                               Sample

Chandan Kumar Address:   VIP Nagar Palace                      UTD, Sector 2B                      Sagar- 470004 Mobile: (+91) 7589000091 Email: kumarchandan91@gmail.com Objectives: Obtain a fulfilling position at a well-known organization/institute. Education:                   2024: BA in English from Hindu College, University of Delhi                 2021: Govt. Higher Secondary School, Bhopal, M.P.                   2019: Sri Ganga High School, Jabalpur, M.P. Interests: Reading, Writing, and Traveling Language Skills: Besides Hindi, Fluent in Spanish, English, good conversational German Activities: Treasurer, Friends Club (Sagar) References:      Mr. Deendayal Pandey                               121, Mahavir Nagar                               Mumbai- 401021                        Email: deenpandey@gmail.com                                  Mr. Vikash Rajput                                1/21 Atalmark, Gandhipuram                        Bengaluru- 560001                        Email: rajputvikash@gmail.com

 Points to Remember:

There are three types of Résumés: Chronological, Functional & Combination

Ø  A Chronological Résumé is Professional and written in a reverse order

Ø  A Functional Résumé places emphasis on job-relevant skills and accomplishments.

Ø  A Combination Résumé combines work history, skills, and achievements.

### A functional résumé highlights your key skills for the new job. ####

What is Cover Letter?

A cover letter is a formal letter to present oneself as sincerely interested in the job and express a strong desire to join the organization. The primary purpose of the cover letter is to capture the employer's attention by highlighting your job-specific qualifications and skills. And a CV/Résumé should always be accompanied by a covering letter to avoid an incomplete job application. Therefore, a good cover letter is a must.

In the typical cover letter, the first paragraph includes revealing the origin of the information regarding the job opening. For example, through a social media/friend/Newspaper etc.

 

Multiple Choice Questions (For Practice)

1. Job letter is also called:

a) Prospecting letter

b) Application 

c) Cover letter     

d) Résumé

2. A good cover letter will:

a) Make a good first impression

 b) Why should I hire you?

c) Present your qualification directly   

d) All of these

3. Your resume is a tool with one specific purpose:

a) To get a job

b) To win an interview   

c) To discuss salary

d) To know about work

4. What is the purpose of a résumé?

a) to apply for a job

b)   to get a degree    

c) to get Experience          

d) None

5.  Typically, how many pages should a fresh graduate's résumé be?

a) one page

b) three pages

c) four-page

d) more than five pages

6. The heading of a résumé includes:

a) Personal information, name, and address

b) Names of references

c) Title of most recent job      

 d) Career Objective

7. Which of the following is not a necessary part of a resume?

a) Religion 

b) Education   

c) Contact Information

d) Employment history

8. In résumé where you should keep your career goal?

a) Objective   

b) Skills

c) Profile

d) Summary

9. Résumé is a ____ word which means summary.

a) French

b) German

c) Italian

d) American

10. CV stands for?

a) Curriculum vitae 

 b) Curriculum velocity

c) Curriculum volt   

d) Curriculum verse

11. The word CV is derived from?

a) French

b) Greek

c) Latin

d) German

 12. Résumé can be delivered through ______.

a) Mail

b) E-mail

c) Fax

d) All of the above

13. Which of the following is the safest g-mail address style to use on your résumé?

a) attitudegirl@gmail.com

b) proudboy@hotmail.com

c) singleforone@outlook.com

d) deepaksingh@gmail.com

 14. What should you do after finishing your resume?

 a) Proofread it for errors

 b) Have other people proofread it   

 c) Keep it in good condition    

  d) All

15.  What is a résumé's feature?

  a) It creates crucial first impression.

  b) It is well-organized, written, and presented.

  c) It is free of errors.

  d) All of above

16) When crafting a résumé, it's crucial to ________.

a) Use a good printer

b) Proofread it at least twice

c) Keep it updated

d) All of the above

17. The typical formats used to construct a résumé are as follows:

a) Chronological, Biodata

b) Chronological, Celebration, Free‐write

c) Chronological, Functional, Combination

d) None of the above

18.  In what format should a cover letter be written?

a) Formal

b) Informal

c) Personal

d) All of them

19. ______ is a document for individuals to display their background and skills.

a) Résumé

b) Cover Letter

c) E-mail

d) Informal Letter

20. Prior to submitting your résumé, what is a highly crucial tip you should follow?

a) Get someone else to read it

b) Spell check

c) Both a and b

d) None of these

21.What is the usual format for submitting a resume when applying for jobs online?

a) PPT  

b) PDF

c) Word document

d) HTML webpage