HOW TO PREPARE A PROFESSIONAL RESUME

How can you make your resume stand out? The perfect resume is tailored to fit the position you are applying for, is accurate and honest but, perhaps most importantly, it wont be too long and will be easy to read. Above all, it must demonstrate that you are a person who would be an asset to the organisation. Below we have suggested an example of a sensible resume format and offer some guidelines on how to prepare and present a document which will allow the employer to make an accurate assessment of your suitability. Overall rules: 1. 2. 3. Your resume should be no longer then between 4 and 6 pages. The first page of your resume should be a snapshot of you. Your resume starts with the most current or last position you held and works back chronologically.

Important points to remember: Thoroughly research the company, the job requirements and the essential skills required for the role. Remember that when you present your experience in writing (and at the interview for that matter) you are aiming to match your background to the criteria the organisation seeks to fill. Never rely on just one generic resume that you send off to every position, but tailor each application for the position you are applying for. If you dont have a computer and cant update your resume easily, perhaps use two or three different versions depending on the types of positions you are targeting. Resumes should be no longer than 4 to 6 pages; anything longer will make it difficult for the person reading it to review all your information in a short period of time. Proof read your resume several times to ensure the information presented is accurate and complete. For example, if you have worked for an organisation, that companys name must be in full. Poor spelling and grammar in such an important document implies poor attention to detail and will not be viewed positively by most employers. Keep the formatting of your resume simple and use an easy to read font for the main text, for example, 12 point Arial or Times New Roman. Use section headings in bold capitals to clearly identify what information you are presenting under which heading. Dont use too many colours or patterns in your resume as this can look unprofessional. Think about what most standard business documents look like they might be a bit plain, but you are aiming to present your information clearly and make it easy to read. Pictures, colours and patterns can be distracting. Put your name on each page, and number each page.

RESUME
PERSONAL DETAILS
Name: Permanent Address: Current Address: Telephone (home) Business (home) Mobile: E-mail: Date of Birth: Nationality: <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>> <<insert>>

Be sure that the e-mail address you provide is easily accessed at any time and is confidential. You should also provide contact phone numbers for business and after hours. If you dont have an e-mail address, thats ok. Either make a note that you dont have e-mail and make sure you include contact telephone numbers, or ask a trusted friend to use their e-mail address.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

Education <<date>> Training <<date>> <<Training>> <<Institution>> <<Qualification>> <<Institution>>

Be sure to include the name of the qualification/ training, the institution and the year you completed. If you are currently studying, include the relevant details and be sure that it is marked current. If you dont list it as currently studying, an employer will presume it is complete and that could cause problems once they find out you have not yet completed your studies.

Firstname Surname

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

<<insert>>

COUNTRIES OF EXPERIENCE

<<insert>>

These should be countries where you have worked in-country or in close liaison with incountry teams on a specific project. If you wish to highlight your experience or time in a specific country that was not work related, it is best to include this under a separate heading. Countries should be listed in regional groupings to highlight your experience.

LANGUAGES

<<insert language>>: <<insert degree of proficiency>>

The proficiency of your language skills should be classed as an overall ability (inclusive of speaking, reading and writing) and rated as follows: Mother tongue, fluent, excellent, good, fair, and basic.

Firstname Surname

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
<<date>> <<date>>: <<position>>, <<company/ organisation>>, <<location>> <<Insert a brief background to the organisation>> The key responsibilities in this role are outlined as follows:

<<insert responsibilities>>

Try to keep your key responsibilities short and informative. In order to assess your application effectively, recruiters need to know exactly what your duties were not a description of what was expected of you or a copy of the job description for your position. Recruiters want to know what you personally were responsible for on a day to day and overall basis, what your achievements were, what challenges you faced and the teams you worked with. It is best to start with your most recent position first even if it was a short term contract it is important to specify what your recent experience is, and to put timelines around your work. If you were studying full time at any stage include this in your professional experience section. You need one sentence only to state from x date to y date; you were in full time study. It looks far better then a 2 year gap between positions with no explanation.

Achievements <<insert achievements>>

These should be key achievements which you led/ had a significant contribution to. It is important to outline the significance of these achievements to the project/ organisation where appropriate.

PUBLICATIONS

<<insert relevant publication details>>

These should be publications relevant to your professional/ technical field/s of expertise. It is best your publications list to the preceding 12 years.

Firstname Surname

REFEREES

<<insert professional referee 1>> Name Position Company/ organisation Work phone Email

<<insert professional referee 2>> Name Position Company/ organisation Work phone Email Referees should be people who you have reported to directly, and who can comment extensively on your work. Ideally they should be from a position or contract within the last 2 to 3 years. You need to provide phone numbers and email addresses where the referee can be contacted, and if you are applying for a specific role you should make them aware of your application. By supplying the names and contact details of your referees, recruiters will presume they are individuals who have given you permission to list their names and contact details in a referee context. Dont be caught in the embarrassing situation of someone being unaware and unprepared to act as a reference.

Firstname Surname