WORKSHOP 1:
Resume &
CV writing
Instructor:
Phoebe
Tsai
Preparation for job hunting
Purpose:
Candidates are initially asked to
provide a curriculum vitae (CV) or
resume which gives information about
their qualifications, experience and
skills.
Preparation for job hunting
CVs and covering letters are essential
tools in the search for the right
candidate for the job and they can be a
snapshot of a potential candidate.
Cover Letter
Cover letter
The purpose of a cover letter is to
convince the recipient--the hiring
manager, recruiter or networking
contact—
to read your resume and offer you an
interview.
Format of Cover letter
Header
Cover letters are
generally one
Introduction
page at most in
length, Body
- divided into
Conclusion
Format of Cover letter
1. Header: sender's address and
other information, the recipient's
contact information, and the date
sent.
Format of Cover letter
2. Introduction: briefly states the
specific position desired, and should be
designed to catch the employer's
immediate interest.
Format of Cover letter
3. Body: highlights or amplifies on
material in the resume or job
application, and explains why the job
seeker is interested in the job and
would be of value to the employer.
Format of Cover letter
4. Closing: sums up the letter and
indicates the next step the applicant
expects to take. It may indicate that
the applicant intends to contact the
employer.
Template of standard business
format
Your street or box number
City, Zip code
Date
Contact’s Name
Contact’s Title
Organization Name
Street Address
City, (State), Zip code
Dear Mr. / Ms. (person’s last name only):
Sincerely,
Your signature (leave 4 blank spaces for this)
Assignment
This website can help you create
your own cover letter with only a
few steps. try it out: Create your
cover letter
Resume
Classroom discussion
Which elements should
definitely be included in a CV /
resume? (the others are
“optional extras”)
name address gender other skills
employment goals and age / date
marital status
history objectives of birth
email telephone personal
references
address number qualities
personal
languages hobbies nationality
achievements
personal
religions photo education
summary
How to write a spotty resume?
Think big
Be clear
Get real
Resume
1. Think big
start by having big-picture
conversations about what you do and
how it serves the organization as a
whole.
Resume
2. Be clear
Focusing on your accomplishments
rather than your specific
responsibilities will help keep your
resume concise.
Resume
3. Get real
Look for other opportunities in which
you can contribute and grow
professionally.
Some Tips
1. Be a concise, factual, and positive.
2. Make sure your resume is PERFECT!
3. Limit your resume to one page.
4. Make all the information easier to read.
5. Emphasize your accomplishments in and out of
the classroom.
6. Present your job objective
7. Sell yourself
8. Tell the truth and nothing but the truth
9. Sound positive and confident
Employment gaps
Think about other activities you can use
to fill that time period. You might have
experience relevant to your job target.
Volunteer activities, community
involvement, special projects, consulting
engagements and continuing education
can be used in the Experience section.
Content Information
• Education
• Relevant Coursework
• Work Experience
• Awards, Honors, Fellowships,
Scholarships
• Activities
• Computer Skills
• Language Skills
Other Optional Information
• Conferences
• Skills/Accomplishments
• Certifications/License
• Military (mandatory military service)
• Leadership
• Training and workshops
• Memberships
• Office machines
Resume objective talks
about what the
employer's looking for.
Degree received
School performance
reverse chronological
order- list the current first.
Work Experience:
Company Name City
Job title Date
Responsibility
(use verb)
Samples of
resume template
+ language
skills
Tailor your
objective to
include
Identifyelements
your
of the job
degree, major/s,
description
graduation
Highlight date,
and school. that is
coursework
Include
relevantyour GPA
to the job
if
you3.0are
or seeking.
higher
List skills relevant to the
position. Include level of
proficiencies for any
Think beyond
languages andpaid jobs
software
and internships. Present
applications.
relevant experience
gained from class projects
volunteer efforts, and
other extracurricular
activities.
location
date
Education
1. Look up the official name of the school
Attending month/year - graduation
month/year (or expected graduation date)
2. Degree
3. Bachelor of Arts/Engineering/Laws/Science
(B.A.)
4. Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
5. GPA (Grade point average): 3.0/4.0
6. Major; Minor; Thesis
Dates
• 第一學期 Aug. 2013 – Dec. 2013 = Fall
2013
• 第二學期 Feb. 20114 – June 2014 =
Spring 2014
• Two semesters or a year = Term
2013
• June 2010 – expected May 2014
•
• Be consistent in spacing
• Only add period (.) after abbreviations!!
Relevant Coursework
• Look up the official English course name
• List all relevant coursework
• Do NOT list courses that are not relevant
Work Experience
• Title ex) student worker, private tutor
• Official company name
• Date: Feb. 2010 – present
• Work responsibilities:
1-2 sentence using bullet points
Use action verb
Be detailed and informative (who, what, when,
where, why, how, results)
Ex) Tutored math to an undergraduate student and
helped him score a 90 on his college entrance
exam.
Practice
Video resume
A video resume is a way for job seekers to
showcase their abilities beyond the
capabilities of a traditional paper resume.
The video resume allows prospective
employers to see and hear applicants, and
get a feel for how applicants present
themselves.
Video resume
In today’s highly competitive job
market, creating the right video
resume to accompany your traditional
CV can make you stand out from the
crowd.
Video resume: 5 Tips
Be appropriate
Don’t just read out your resume
Keep it short
Don’t be afraid to be creative
Make sure it passes the share test
Video resume
In 2009, Tourism Queensland (Australia)
promoted the Great Barrier Reef as a global
tourism destination with a website
encouraging people worldwide to apply for
The Best Job In The World, to be a
“Caretaker of the Islands” to “house-sit” the
islands of the Great Barrier Reef for half a
year.
Best Job In The World- Ben
Southall Ben's video resume
The
One of the finalists from Taiwan,
Clare: Clare's video resume
