Labels

My Thoughts on RESUME or CV Writing


Writing a great resume is far from following specific rules and advice you hear from others. Some common notions like the resume should just be a page long, etc. are misleading. Every resume is one-of-a-kind “marketing communication”. It should be appropriate to the post applied for. So it could be one page or more provided it is focused on the position you are applying for. That then means one should not use the same generic CV for all types of vacancies. 

 A note of caution though, that is not to say you should falsify any of your personal details, experience or qualifications to suit a particular vacancy. What I mean for example is to emphasise your sales and marketing experience or skills when applying for a sales and marketing opening, while such is to be downplayed in applying for a Human Resource role, where you also have experience and achievements in Human Resource Management. In that instance, it is your HR experience that you will highlight in your CV. Your personal details like age, education and where you’ve worked remain the same on the various CVs you submit. 

 Here are some examples of Resumes below.
__________________________________________________________________________ 
AN ACCOUNTING RESUME
Sarah John
213 Broad Street, Lagos
07028963156
Email: sjohn@yahoo.co.uk

Objective
Seeking a position as an Accounting Assistant where extensive experience will be further developed and utilised.

Awards and Leadership Records
  1. Best graduating student Boston University 2005
  2. Management award for staff of the month - July 2010, February and March 2011
  3. Secretary of Iludun Oro young Men’s Association 2008-2010
  4. President Federal Government College Lagos Old Students Association 1996 - 1999
  5. Sunday School Teacher at RCCG Olive Tree Parish, Lagos
Career Profile
  1. Detail-oriented, efficient and organized professional with extensive experience in accounting systems.
  2. Possess strong analytical and problem solving skills, with the ability to make well thought out decisions.
  3. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
  4. Highly trustworthy, discreet and ethical.
  5. Resourceful in the completion of projects, effective at multi-tasking.
Employment History
Glen Dara Construction Company, Kaduna, Nigeria   2012 - Present
Accounting Assistant
  1. Performed accounts payable functions for construction expenses.
  2. Managed vendor accounts, generating weekly on demand cheques.
  3. Managed financial departments with responsibility for Budgets, Forecasting, Payroll, Accounts Payable and Receivable.
  4. Created budgets and forecasts for the management group.
  5. Prepared company accounts and tax returns for audit.
  6. Coordinated monthly payroll functions for 200+ employees.
  7. Liased with bankers, insurers and solicitors regarding financial transactions.
Curtis Web Design Limited, Lagos, Nigeria      2009 - 2012
Accounting Assistant
  1. Managed accounts payable, accounts receivable, and payroll departments.
  2. Generated budgets and forecasts on a quarterly basis and presented to the management team.
  3. Reported on variances in quarterly costing reports.
  4. Prepared annual company accounts and reports.
  5. Reduced credit period from 90 days to 60 days.
  6. Managed payroll function for 140 employees.
Lapgroup Industries, Abuja, Nigeria      2005 - 2009
Administrative Assistant
  1. Performed general office duties and administrative tasks.
  2. Prepared weekly confidential sales reports for presentation to management.
  3. Managed the internal and external mail functions.
  4. Provided telephone support.
  5. Scheduled client appointments and maintained up-to-date confidential client files.
Education
·      BSC in Computer Science: University of Ilorin          1999 - 2001
·      MSC in Accounting Boston University, Boston, MA   2002 - 2004

Computer Skills
Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook Express, Microsoft Windows XP and Microsoft Office XP

__________________________________________________________________________ 

CUSTOMER SERVICE RESUME
Richard Anderson
Zone 4, Abuja
08052348970
Email: radnderson@gmail.com

Objective
Position as a Customer Service Manager.

Abilities
  1. 6 years rendering Customer Service in varied industries.
  2. Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with an eye for detail.
  3. Extremely productive in a high volume, high stress, environment.
  4. Proficient in the use of Windows and Mac IOS applications.
  5. Self starter with a can do attitude.
Employment History
GTBank Plc., Lagos  2008 - Present
Customer Service Manager
  1. Collaborated with the Product Development department in developing new Fee Based products and their sales to the unbanked credit card membership base.
  2. Answered an average of three hundred customer calls in a day through the call center queue.
  3. Worked as a Senior Representative in the Recovery department to ensure customers where given assistance in bringing their over limit and/or pass due account current
  4. Performed duties in the Retention department retaining customers who wanted to close their accounts.
KCMB Micro Finance Bank Ltd , 2005 - 2008
Customer Service Representative
    1. Answered inbound calls in support of customer needs.
    2. Conveyed in a reassuring manner step by step instructions to resolve application issues.
    3. Reviewed and issued audits on account information and processes.
    4. Performed queries in multiple databases.
    5. Assisted in the creation and development of the banks customer relationship management system.
Education
Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria
B.A., Business and Economics, 2004
__________________________________________________________________________ 
  
HUMAN RESOURCES RESUME
Fatima Bello
18 Police Road, GRA, Ilorin
08034194237
Email: fbello@yahoo.co.uk

Objective
A position as a Human Resource Manager

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
  1. Human Resources Assistant - Resource Intermediaries Limited - Port Harcourt - Summer 2013 - Date
    1. Assisted a 10 member consulting team in the administration of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator to assess employee's personality types and how they correlate with job performance.
    2. Computed yearly, quarterly, and monthly benefits and payroll totals for clients including NNPC, Hyundai Motors and Notore Chemcals Onne
    3. Coordinated orientations and exit interviews for part-time and temporary employees.
    4. Completed a training program on Affirmative Action Hiring Procedures, Union Regulations, Statutory Compliances, and Labor Laws.
Project Experience
  1. Training and Development:
    1. Designed an HRD intervention to improve employee performance at a local chain grocery store.
    2. Conducted an in-depth analysis of the problem by performing a Needs Assessment using Organizational/Task/Person Analysis.
    3. Provided recommendations to the organization by the use of a designed training program.
Additional Experience
  1. Bartender - The Soul Lounge - The Palms, Lagos 2011 to 2013
    1. Provide optimum customer service in an establishment that serves 600 to 800 patrons daily
    2. Train new bartenders and wait-staff members in customer service skills, money transactions and conflict resolution.
    3. Conduct identification checks to insure legal entry, assist with crowd control and security services.
  2. Sales Associate - The Gap - Chicago, Illinois - 2009 to 2011 (seasonal, part and full time)
    1. Assisted customers with locating and selecting merchandise in addition to providing options in fashion and accessories.
    2. Created in-store displays to maximize product marketability and appeal.
    3. Trained new staff members in customer service, fashion marketing, and money handling skills.
Affiliations, Honors and Skills
  1. JAYCEES Club
    1. State Chair: Created an aggressive new member marketing plan that led to an increase in membership by 40%.
    2. Fund Raising Chair: Developed a community clean-up program that resulted in N2.5 million in donations for charity.
  2. Society of Human Resource Management
  3. Communication Students Society
  4. Dean's List: 5 Semesters
  5. Winner of The RIL finishing School Entrepreneurial Grant of N0.5 million: 2011
  6. Microsoft Office (all software programs), Adobe Photoshop, Adobe PageMaker
Education
Bachelor of Arts in Communication - May 2007
Lagos State University LASU
Minors: Marketing and Management
Overall GPA: 3.3/4.0 Major GPA: 3.7/4.0

__________________________________________________________________________

MARKETING RESUME
Janet Chukwu
34, Ado Road, Ajah, Lagos
07061553432
Email:richard@esojay.com

Objective
Obtain marketing / management position in music industry

Summary of Qualifications
  1. Experienced promotions director for three national web sites focusing on new and upcoming musical acts. All types of music covered from various perspectives.
  2. Thorough knowledge of music promotions specializing in Internet and radio campaigns for newly released albums and singles.
  3. Ability to communicate on various levels with advertisers, artists, corporate clients and media contacts.
  4. Capable of layout and design work.
  5. Experienced in digital imaging, including pixel editing with Adobe Photoshop and digital halftoning.
  6. Proficient in copywriting. 
Accomplishments
Promoted three times in one-year period to Vice President In Charge of Marketing at Esojay Nigeria Limited
  1. Responsible for increasing article submission from area freelance contributing writers.
  2. Edited and provided additional creative guidance to contributors.
  3. Initiated various promotion campaigns involving live music acts in coordination with local radio and television stations.
  4. Successfully launched promotional web site geared toward local rock bands in Accra Ghana.
  5. Focused promotions, link exchanges and advertising toward regional exposure. Traffic increase of over 700% in first year. Response surveys indicate successful regional penetration.
  6. Awarded designing woman of year award, (2014), for original artwork and marketing campaign content geared toward promotion of non profit classical music concerts in Kumasi region.
Employment History
  1. INITS Nigeria Limited June 2009 to Present
    1. Web Site Manager / Editor – Chief editor
    2. Responsible for article submission and editing all site promotional material including photographs, animation and music files are submitted for edits and proof reading prior to release to site.
  2. Infinity Outdoor Boards & Signs Kaduna         May 2007 to May 2009
    1. Promotions Liaison – Principal marketing consultant for outdoor billboard promotions company. Inventory of 1,100+ boards extending all over Nigeria.
    2. Initiated promotional campaigns for various regional retailers and business concerns. Implemented myriad board rotation strategies to maximize exposure over geographic areas of 5-100 kilometres. Extensive use of survey data and demographic analysis for targeted marketing efforts.
  3. Kennis Music, Lagos         January 2006 to May 2007
Promotions Editor
    1. Wrote various promotions for area concert tours. Introduced company to concept of on line marketing with regional and potentially national focus.
    2. Outlined marketing plan for Internet sales campaign in conjunction with area cable television and radio spots. 
Education
University of Nigeria, Nsuka        December 2004
B.S. Liberal Arts, Computer Graphics Minor.
__________________________________________________________________________ 
  
In Conclusion, you will observe that the CVs focused on the skills/abilities and accomplishments of the applicant and not on their years of experience or academic qualifications. That is the new trend. Employers of labour have a need and typically seek for the applicant that can provide a solution to that need. Employers are not looking for whom to pay a salary or to fulfill some employment quota.

Each prospective employer or recruitment agency typically receive several thousands more CVs than they require for every advertised vacancy. It is not humanly possible to go through each of such large numbers to find a right fit. What is done is to run through the first few lines of most CVs received, searching for relevance to the advertised position.

The CV that fills the most of the first page with bio data such as religion, local government, state of origin, marital status, sex, schools attended etc. are usually just thrown out instantly as such information are not critically needed on a CV to aid the recruiters decision. At best they would be required at resumption should the applicant scale trough the process or at the interview if invited.

The key role of the resume is to get the applicant through to be called for an interview. The applicant’s CV must therefore communicate effectively for the applicant to even scale through to the invitation for interview stage. The key elements of that effective communication are the skills and accomplishments of the applicant. Practically all applicants have academic qualifications and years of experience these days. So those details are now basic.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular Posts