Resume Tips: How To Get Started On Your Resume

 

  

Writing resume can seem daunting and a big deal particularly when you have not acquired any job experience or have not seen one before. In Nigeria we are often not thought how to write a resume until we leave the walls of our universities or we are in the final year and possibly have been asked where we would love to work raising the conversation of a CV or Resume.

So, lets start from you being a new graduate getting ready to apply for jobs, and you know you need a resume. Or maybe you already have a resume—from industrial internship training jobs or a career workshop for those who attend, say—but you know it wont captivate the recruiters attention.

Here are the different steps to resume-writing process is broken down—from doing research, to drafting your resume, to getting it ready for submission.

1. Look at sample resumes

Before you start writing your own resume, it’s a good idea to get a sense of what other resumes look like.  You can also find lots of sample resumes online: good places to start looking are professional resume-writing sites and career-specific job board/industry information sites.

Look at lots of different kinds of resumes, and pay attention to their organization, design, layout, and the information they include. Design-wise, which resumes most quickly catch your eye? Try to pay attention to and write down what it is about their design that makes them stand out. Which resumes are most reader-friendly, making it easiest to find any information you’re looking for? Again, pay attention to how those resumes are designed and laid out, and write down anything you notice that increases readability. Are there any sections that all resumes include? Are there any sections that aren’t standard across the board, but are included in all resumes in your desired field? Keep note of all these sections. Do the noted sections always appear in the same order? If so write down the standardly accepted order in your field. If not, note which order of presented information seems most effective to you.

Resume Tips: HOW TO WRITE COMPELLING RESUME IN NIGERIA

 

 

A resume describes your skills, experience, training, and education. Employers use resumes to quickly see whether your background fits their job opening. For a strong impact, include only the experiences that make you a good candidate for a job. Here’s what to include:

 

Section	Information to include
Contact information	At the top of your resume, write your full name, home address, phone number, and email address. If you don't have a permanent address, use a location where you can receive mail, or a rented post office box.
Summary	Write your 3-4 top accomplishments or skills.
Work experience	List past jobs you've held. Include the name of the employer or company, city and state, your job title, dates you held the job, accomplishments, main tasks, if you were promoted, or other highlights.
Education	List education and training you have done. Include school or program name, city and state, dates attended, and any diplomas, degrees, or certifications you have earned.
Volunteering / activities	List volunteer or community work you have done. Also include other activities that can show your responsibility, commitment, or skills such as sports, clubs, or languages spoken.
Military experience	List dates of military service, rank reached, and branch. Write in any special training or skills you gained.

Download this sample resume and edit it to create your own resume.

A good resume represents you well. Remember to be:

• Truthful. State your skills and abilities accurately.
• Brief. Limit your resume to one page.
• Error-free. Proofread your resume and ask at least one other good speller to review it.
• Professional. Print your resume on high-quality paper using a quality printer
• Readable. Use an easy to read font, minimal boldface, avoid italics and underlining, and leave white space.
• A good match. Use keywords that match words from the job posting or description

Job references

References are people who will speak positively on your behalf about your skills, abilities, work history, and motivation. Most employers will ask for three references, either when you apply, or at a job interview.

Steps for requesting a reference:

• Get permission to use someone as your reference in advance. Ask if they would feel comfortable being a reference for you, to be sure they will speak positively about you.
• People you could ask: previous work supervisor, co-worker, teacher, mentor, religious or spiritual advisor, volunteer supervisor, or others. Usually family and close friends do not serve as references.
• Confirm how your reference likes to be contacted, and the best times to reach her or him. Make sure it’s OK to give his or her name, phone number, and email address to the employer.
• Give your reference a copy of your resume and the job description for the position, so they know what to focus on.
• Create a one-page document that lists each reference’s name, job title, company or organization, street address, phone number, and email address. You will give this to an employer at your job interview, or send it to them on request.
• After your interview, send each of your references a thank you note, and let them know when you get a position.