CVs or RESUMES

Remember, keep it:

BRIEF CLEAR UNDERSTANDABLE POSITIVE RELEVANT

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BEFORE YOU START

Remember, your CV is your sales brochure and its purpose is to persuade an employer to interview you for a job. It is their first impression of you - so NO spelling and grammar mistakes! The average employer in Dubai will spend 7 -10 seconds scanning a CV. they read YOURS and are impressed, it must be: Brief To make sure

1 page preferably (if necessary leave out your secondary education, or interests concentrate on your main achievements and skills relevant to the position and make sure the most impressive information about you is on the first page and near the top! This is where a profile or skills list can help focus the employers attention on what you have to offer them. An objective can be useful to give an employer an idea of what youre looking for if you are not applying for a specific job.

Easy to read

Use the same font and same size font throughout. Use bold type or CAPITALS to highlight different sections. Keep the layout simple! AVOID: borders or boxes underlining. colours italics

AVOID: Long sentences and use of I and words such as esteemed, reputed, privilege, hardworking, loyal, trustworthy, friendly, good personality. Everyone is ALL of these things! Understandable Remember the employer may come from a different country to yours with a different education system and culture. So AVOID abbreviations such as HD for High Distinction or C for Credit or BIST, B COMM for Bachelor of Internet Science or Bachelor of Commerce Make sure you mention your achievements both academic and extra curricular. If you did well at university and got a distinction in a module say so. If you increased the membership of your club or society, say so and by how many. Include information about your skills and experience which are RELEVANT to the job. For example if you are applying for a marketing position, mention that you studied a marketing module. You will also need to update your CV regularly and sometimes alter it slightly to make it relevant for each job you apply for.

Positive

Relevant

Read through your CV to check the spelling and grammar and ask someone else to check it too. Use your own words and make sure your CV is not identical to your friends!
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Sample Layout for a CV

YOUR NAME
Your contact details: Include mobile phone, landline and email PHOTOGRAPH You dont need one, UNLESS a job advert specifically asks for one.

OBJECTIVE

Keep it brief and to the point. eg: Seeking a position in finance/marketing administration/ technical IT. Seeking a summer internship in finance/marketing/administration/IT This is good for people with some experience already. Summarise in 3 or 4 lines any achievements, skills and experience which are relevant to the job or career area you are aiming at. Mention key languages or IT packages too. eg: A business graduate with 2 years experience in customer service and marketing research seeking a position in marketing administration.

OR:
PROFILE

OR:
SKILLS AND ACHIEVEMENTS A skills list of no more than six points, backed up with evidence from your university and work experience and which reflects the skills the employer is asking for in the job advert can also be useful. List relevant languages especially Arabic if you are a fluent speaker and any good knowledge of MS Office. (See list on page 5, plus CV examples) EDUCATION Put your most recent education first. Include dates. 200? to present University of Wollongong in Dubai Name of your degree in full with expected final grade (if high!) Date due to complete Details of any main subjects studied, projects completed, that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Details of Scholarships or Awards connected with your degree E.g. Deans Academic Merit List, Name of Secondary School, Location/Country Final Qualification achieved.

199? 200?

WORK EXPERIENCE - Put your most recent work experience first: If you are a post grad student with full time work experience relevant to the job, put this BEFORE education. May June 200?
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Name of Organisation, Location/Country Position/Job Title. Use action words to describe what you did and what you achieved. If you did a similar job over a few summers put it in as one entry.
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OTHER SECTIONS YOU COULD INCLUDE ARE: INTERESTS For fresh graduates with little work experience, employers like to see evidence of involvement in university extra curricular activities. E.g. membership of clubs, sports team, voluntary groups etc. This can show that you have wide interests beyond just studying. .. Be specific. list here any sporting, leisure interests Dont put watching TV or surfing the net. Everyone does this anyway, so it doesnt make you stand out from the crowd!

OTHER INFORMATION REFERENCES

Driving licence Languages ( those not directly relevant to job) Visa Status

Two names E.g.: Your professor and a part time employer, or two professors. Ask their permission first. You need to include their name, position, phone number and email address. Do not use relatives or friends! If you feel you must include your personal details, put them here at the end of your CV, so that you can impress the employer with your skills, experience and qualifications, before they have a chance to stereotype you according to your age, religion, nationality, etc!

PERSONAL DETAILS

FINALLY Have you read through your CV and checked the spelling and grammar?

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EXAMPLES OF SKILLS THAT COULD BE INCLUDED IN YOUR SKILLS LIST AND ON YOUR CV
Communication (written and spoken) / Interpersonal skills (e.g. Gained through my work experience in sales, through taking part in debating competitions at university, as a student tutor, had articles printed in newspaper, student magazine) Team work skills. (e.g. Gained through working with my colleagues on group projects, my work experience doing ., as member of university club) Organisational skills (e.g. Organised a club outing, planned, or set up a filing system) Innovative /Creative thinking (e.g. Developed a new programme to automate a process, devised a new stock keeping system at work, worked out a new way of doing something, e.g. Set up a new club at university, organised an outing Leadership skills (e.g. Elected captain of debating team, group leader for university projects, president/treasure/secretary of university club) Ability to work under pressure/ meet deadlines/perform multiple tasks (e.g. combined studying with part time work, getting ALL assignments in on time IT skills (keep them relevant and remember the layout and look of your CV is evidence of your ability to use MS Word!) Languages include these here and level of fluency, if relevant to the job. Arabic speakers be sure to include fluent Arabic here in your skill set.

WORDS AND PHRASES FOR CV WRITING

Remember you should you use POSITIVE words to describe yourself and ACTION words to describe what you have done. Think of examples of how you have displayed these skills. Only pick those that apply to you! Use a dictionary and check with other people if necessary!!!! Analytical Organised Meticulous Enthusiastic Efficient
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Logical Thorough Accurate Determined Flexible

Creative Pays attention to detail Diplomatic Persuasive Adaptable

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How to Write a CV Info Sheet

Motivated Numerate Good at Capable of doing Capacity to do

Focused Proficient in Knowledge of Experienced in Familiar with

Decisive Competent in Able/Ability to do Background in Fluent in (a language)

Phrases to describe things you have done Action words led was in charge of developed established managed analysed classified planned improved trained tutored administered was responsible for set up designed arranged monitored compiled carried out produced instructed coached coordinated initiated introduced devised organised tracked completed researched responded to presented

Some examples of things you have done that may have developed your skills:
Arranged /Organised events / processes Managed database / accounts Logged / Tracked / Recorded information Checked reports, texts, figures for accuracy Compiled figures / compiled reports / data Drafted / Wrote reports Trained someone
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Classified data / records Maintained database / files / records Interpreted / Analysed data / figures/ information Liaised / coordinated between people / agencies / organisations Coordinated tasks Persuaded others Motivated others Corresponded with/communicated well with: customers / peers / colleagues / professionals Planned meetings, agendas, events Raised funds / money Took part in / participated in Assimilated / Grasped complex information / ideas / concepts Interpreted information Processed / Extracted relevant information Increased / Improved sales/processes Introduced / implemented a new..

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CV EXAMPLE

PLEASE do not copy word for word. If you do, your CV will be identical to those of the other students who also copied this and you will fail to get an interview!

NAME
MOBILE NUMBER, EMAIL, LANDLINE SKILLS

Ability to work well under pressure was able to handle the hectic University schedule of examinations & assignments and study for ACCA simultaneously. Excellent communication, interpersonal and presentation skills (developed through presenting class assignments and working with colleagues on projects) Worked as a team leader in several group assignments. Excellent knowledge of MS Office (including Excel), MYOB and good knowledge of MS Access Database.

EDUCATION

2002 - 2005 University Of Wollongong in Dubai Double Major in Bachelor of Commerce specializing in Finance and Management 100% Scholarship in Year 3 at University, Earned a place on the Deans Merit List at University (UOWD). Comprehensive grounding in Finance (Banking & Financial Institutions, Financial Statement Analysis, Investments, Business Finance etc.) Major project: Analysis of, and recommendations for Financial Health of Major Airline FZLLC 2002 - Associate Certified Chartered Accountant (ACCA) exams: Paper 1.1 (Preparing Financial Statements) 75% Paper 1.2 (Financial Information for Management) 71%
1993 2002 Our Own English High School, Dubai

Senior School Certificate (10+2) Central Board of Secondary Education, India Obtained 87% in the aggregate (top 5% in UAE)

WORK EXPERIENCE

INTERESTS

July 2004 - Worked as an audit trainee for a month in the Assurance and Advisory Business Services Division at Ernst & Young, Dubai August 2003 - Helped in the audit of Toptronics Trading, Leading Concepts FZE and Emirates Neon FZCO. Treasurer of Youth Club Member of University Volleyball team

REFERENCES

Dr. Raed Awamleh, Dean Academic Affairs, University of Wollongong in Dubai, Tel: 04 3672400 email: Dr. Ashraf Mahate, Assistant Professor, University of Wollongong in Dubai. Tel: 04 367 2400 email

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PLEASE do not copy word for word- if you do, your CV will be identical to those of the other students who also copied this and you will fail to get an interview!

CV EXAMPLE

Name
Career Objective Skills and Achievements

mobile number email address

Currently seeking an entry-level technical position in IT - IT project management skills - Inter-personal skills - Knowledge of software engineering tools and techniques (UML, Java, C++). - Documentation skills - Experienced with Windows and Linux platform. - Database design and querying (Oracle 9i, MySQL) - Knowledge of Networking and Security concepts. - Web development skills. (HTML, PHP, Apache web server). - Chosen to represent the University of Wollongong in Dubai at the National Programming Contest 2003 (NPC 2004) held at American University of Sharjah. University of Wollongong in Dubai Bachelors of Internet Science and Technology, specializing in Internet Applications. Major project: (Acquired a High Distinction) Designed and completely developed an Automated Secure Survey Analysis system as part of a team of four members, for a period of ten months utilizing Java and PHP as front-end in conjunction with MySQL database, Apache and STMP servers as back-end. Project manager for three different fully functional academic projects; an Internet-based food court, an online health clinic and a library system, acquiring High-Distinction for all three projects.

Academic Qualifications September 2000 June 2004

Work Experience June 1999 Present

Tasty Catering Services, Data entry operator o Data entry of daily sales and purchases utilizing Tally accounting software to produce daily, weekly and monthly reports. Telephone operator o Handling customer relations by order-taking, receiving feedback and answering enquiries. Manage basic accounts and handle other operations on a timelybasis. University of Wollongong in Dubai Exhibitor at the Gulf Education and Training Exhibition (GETEX) o Handled customer inquiries in terms of the courses and services offered and conducted a market survey for the university. University of Wollongong in Dubai Teaching assistant o Tutored students in maths and computers as part of a voluntary program on a part-time basis.

April 2004

September 2003 February 2004

Other Information
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Member of university outdoor club. Organised excursion to Fujairah UAE Driving licence Languages: Fluent English, Hindi, Urdu References On request

PLEASE do not copy word for word- if you do, your CV will be identical to those of the other students who also copied this and you will fail to get an interview!

CV EXAMPLE

NAME
Phone: Email: An MBA student with three years management experience with a leading shipping line, handling international corporate customers. Holds marketing diploma from the Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM, UK) and shipping qualifications (MISE). Excellent negotiation, organisational and interpersonal skills ACHIEVEMENTS Increased market share from 32% - 44% in 2004 and surpassed all budgetary estimates in profits and volumes maintaining all pre-planned rate increases, whilst heading the Americas trade desk at International Shipping Company LLC Transformed a little known brand of black-and-white TVs and transistor radios to Sri Lankas market leader (At Sparky Electronics, Sri Lanka) Coordinated the efforts of the Sri Lankan community in the UAE and the Red Crescent society to send 156 X 40 containers to tsunami stricken areas . PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2003 To date International Shipping Company LLC (Regional head office West and Central Asia) U.A.E. Assistant Manager WCA-Americas trade. Reporting to the commercial GM, and responsible for the ultimate profitability of the West & Central Asia to South Americas trade lane. Increased market share from 32%-44% whilst maintaining market rate levels. Supervised team of ten staff

2000 2003 International Shipping Company (Pvt) Ltd. Sri Lanka. management trainee Out of a total of 600+ applicants, was selected for the International Shipping Education (MISE), 2 year management programme in 2000.

1997 2000 Sparky Electronics Ltd._Sri Lanka. Marketing Executive. Sparky is a subsidiary of one of Sri Lankas largest diversified groups and sole agents for Philips, Daewoo and Whirlpool.
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Responsible for all Marketing activities of the companys local brand Electric which went from a relatively unheard of brand in Sri Lanka to the market leader in black and white TVs. ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS 2005 current Masters in Business Administration (part time evening courses) University of Wollongong in Dubai 2000-2003 International Shipping Education (MISE) Graduate with top grades in Marketing and Line Management subjects 2002 Institute of Chartered Ship brokers (ICS) Completed dry and bulk ship brokering exams conducted by the ICS 1997-2000 Post graduate diploma in Marketing - Chartered Institute of Marketing Presently a member of the Institute LEISURE PURSUITS AND OTHER INTERESTS Played Rugby and water polo for the under 19 national teams whilst in Sri Lanka and still play at a recreational level. Open water diving, watching movies and reading REFERENCES Professional and/or personal references will be provided upon request.

Prepared by UOWD Career Development Services - Student Services Department For further information, please contact the UOWD Career Advisor. Office 004, Block 5 Tel: (04) 367 2400; Direct Office Tel: (04) 390 0629; Fax: (04) 366 4585 Email: [email protected]

DISCLAIMER UOWDs Career Services provides this information and these links only as a general guide. UOWD assumes no liability for acts or omissions by third parties or for material supplied by them. Students are encouraged to report any incorrect addresses or sites which are no longer functioning to the Career Services.

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