Media Feature

This article is by Andy Goh, Singapore's first and only Certified Professional Resume Writer and Principal Consultant of www.CareerInvestment.net, was published in the cover page of The Straits Times Recruit on 10 Dec 2002.

Write it right!

Want that dream job? Take the first step by crafting a resumé that will grab the attention of your prospective employer.

In today's competitive job market, your resumé plays a more important role in getting you your dream job than you think. Invest some time and effort in crafting a good resumé - it is a worthwhile investment.

While a resumé itself will not get you a job, a well-written resumé improves your chances of being called for an interview. And interviews can lead to jobs. So the resumé is the first step to getting a job.

It is important, then, to be aware of the common pitfalls to avoid when drafting your resumé and cover letter.

Here are some tips to keep in mind:

Keep your resumé updated

You should always have an updated version of your resumé handy, for you never know when new developments might arise - you may be headhunted, or retrenched. Unfortunately, most job seekers view resumé and cover letter writing as a chore rather than an investment in their career, and fail to update their resumés regularly.

Include a cover letter

Some people leave out the cover letter and send in only their resumé. But the cover letter is important, as it introduces you to the company and is a good way to express why you are interested in working for them, your knowledge of the industry and that you possess the relevant qualities and strengths that are required for the job. The cover letter can set you apart from the rest of the candidates.

Tailor your resumé to suit the job

Do not write a general cover letter and resumé and mass mail it to 50 companies! Remember, each job and company is different, so a resumé that works for one might not necessarily work for another. Spend the time and effort to do some background research on the company and customise each application accordingly, stating your interest in working for the company and highlighting your relevant strengths. The results will surprise you.

Focus on achievements

People tend to make a list of all their responsibilities in each job. But there are many others out there with the same responsibilities. You can differentiate yourself from the crowd through your achievements. For example, instead of writing "In charge of getting sponsors", write "Obtained sponsorship worth S$100,000 from established companies such as ABC, XYZ".

The employer is more interested in how you can benefit the company rather than where you studied or worked. Always show how previous experience can be productively applied to a new job. Avoid being self-centred, especially in the cover letter.

Less is best

The more concise your cover letter and resumé are, the better. Remove all irrelevant and repetitive information. Only include facts that are relevant to the job. Write using straight-to-the-point language and avoid lengthy sentences that bore HR officers. They do not have the luxury of time to carefully peruse every word, so write just enough to make them interested in finding out more about you - that way, you'll get called for an interview.

Don't dress it up

A neat and professional looking resumé will stand out. All your key qualifications and experience should be highlighted prominently so that the employer will know straight away, within the first 10 seconds, what you have to offer. Always use good quality paper. A laser printed copy is preferred as it will not smudge.

Article by Andy Goh of www.CareerInvestment.net which aims to help seekers find jobs through professional resumé writing and job matching. This article appeared in The Straits Times Recruit on 10 Dec 2002.