Lesson 10

RESUMÉ, CURRICULUM VITAÉ AND

BIO-DATA
•A resume is a document used by job seekers
to present their professional background,
skills, and accomplishments to potential
employers.
•It serves as a summary of your work
experience, education, achievements, and
qualifications relevant to the job you're
applying for.
Resume

•Usually paired with a cover letter, a resume

helps you demonstrate your abilities and
convince employers you’re qualified and
hireable.
•A cover letter is your opportunity to introduce
yourself to the employer.
•You can briefly explain who you are, why you're
writing, and how you learned about the job
opening.
•A cover letter is a one-page business
letter that you submit when applying to
a job, along with your resume.
•As a piece of persuasive writing, your
cover letter will aim to convey to the
employer why you’re a great candidate
for the role.
With your cover letter, you’ll aim to:
•Highlight your qualifications: You’ll show how
your skills and experience relate to the
employer’s needs for a specific position.
•Showcase your motivation: You’ll demonstrate
your enthusiasm for the specific position and the
organization.
•Reflect your voice and written communication
skills: You’ll give the employer a sense of your
personality and writing style.
Example of Cover Letter
Block Format

•Sender's address
•Date
•Inside address/Recipient's address
•Salutation ( use colon: )
•Body
•The closing
Body of the letter

•Please accept my application for the

_______recently posted through __________.
With my background in academe for five
years, I am confident that I would make a
very successful member of your team.
•Having worked for the Local government,
I have been exposed to a number of
organizations which help me to develop
my skills in communication and
demonstrates capability in working with
others through motivated approach while
meeting the daily challenges that were
presented to me.
•In addition, I am very proficient in using
computer-based works, file management
and excellent in any form of
communication.
•I would like the opportunity to make a
substantial contribution as part of the staff
at your organization.

•Thank you for your time and consideration.

•Unlike a resume, which is more general and can
be used for various job applications, a cover
letter should be tailored to the specific job and
company you're applying to.
•It allows you to show that you've done your
research and understand the company's needs
and culture.
•You can use the cover letter to
emphasize the qualifications and skills
that make you a strong candidate for
the job.
•Mention how your background and
experiences align with the job
requirements.
Resume
•Your resume communicates your
qualifications and your brand, who you are and
what makes you different—to employers and
recruiters.
•In a tough job market, you need a resume that
helps you stand out in a sea of applicants.
•Ultimately, the purpose of a strategically
targeted, polished resume is to get you an
interview.
•For students, resume shows a future
employer what you had done in the past.
•It details your skills and training, work
experience, and education, and most
importantly, the accomplishments you have
made with the past employers.
Question:

Why do you need a resume that helps

you stand out?
•The purpose of a strategically targeted,
polished resume is to get you an interview.
•The spelling of “résumé” actually originates
from French, and means “summary.”
•To this day, the purpose of a resume is still
to provide employers with a summary of
your relevant qualifications.
The Purpose of a Resume
•Many job seekers assume that the
purpose of a resume is to provide a
full overview of their professional
history.
•The popular belief is that resumes land
jobs. NOT TRUE.

• Instead, the goal of your resume is to

convince employers you’re worth
interviewing.
•To that end, your resume is a valuable
tool you can use to highlight your
experience to prospective employers.
•A resume is to give your potential
employer a feel for your past
experience and skills.
•Remember you are trying to sell
yourself, so emphasize your
strengths.
•If your resume provides a concise
summary of your relevant
qualifications and skills in a format
that makes your ability to handle the
work as clear as possible, you will get
more interviews.
Most employers look for a steady job history and
positive patterns of progression
(ex. increased responsibility, promotions).

However, each organization has different

demands, and it is essential to learn as much as
possible about the employer and what he or she is
looking for.
Your resume should be tailored as much as
possible to match each employer’s needs.
Should you tailor your resume
to each job?
Why?
•Submitting the same resume for every position
can't possibly meet each employer's individual
requirements.

•If you want to grab hiring managers' attention,

you need to give them what they want.
•Tailoring your resume to a job description
is a must.
• By tailoring your resume to the job
description, you signal to the hiring
manager that your experience is relevant
and that you're the right person for the
job.
•Employers not only use resumes to find a good
fit, but they also use them to weed through the
applicants.

•At this point in the hiring process employers are

handling numerous resumes and they are looking
for mistakes to narrow the applicant pool.
•From the resume, the employer will
decide who they will and will not
interview.
Remember your resume should be a reflection of you!
Although, certain standard elements are included in all
resumes, there is no perfect resume mold that you must
ascribe to.

Your resume should accurately reflect your background

and experience in a way that optimizes your
qualifications.
•One way to maximize the impact of your
resume is to choose a style that will make
your personal history as attractive as
possible.
•If your resume is well-written, it will generate
phone calls asking you to come in for interviews.

•If you are not getting phone calls and you are
sending out resumes, then you need to take a
closer look at what you are sending out.
What Do I Include on a Resume?

your resume should include the following

sections:
•1. Contact Information: This should be at the
top of your resume and include your name,
phone number, email address, and optionally,
your LinkedIn profile or personal website.
•2. Objective or Summary (Optional): A brief,
well-crafted objective or summary statement can
help the employer understand your career goals
and what you can bring to the table.
3. Professional Experience:
•Job Titles and Dates: List your work experience in reverse
chronological order, starting with your most recent job.
Include the job title and the dates you worked there.
•Company Name and Location: Provide the name and
location of the company or organization.
•Key Responsibilities: Use bullet points to describe your key
responsibilities and achievements in each role.
•Focus on quantifiable achievements, such as "increased sales
by 20%" or "managed a team of 10 employees."
•Action Words: Begin each bullet point with a strong action
verb to make your accomplishments stand out.
4. Education:
•Include your educational background, starting
with the most recent degree.
•Mention the institution's name, location,
degree earned, major, and graduation date.
5. Skills: Highlight your relevant skills. These
can include technical skills (e.g., programming
languages, software), soft skills (e.g.,
communication, teamwork), and certifications.
6. Optional Sections:
•Certifications: Include any relevant certifications
or licenses.
•Volunteer Work: Mention any volunteer
experience, especially if it's related to your
career goals.
•Awards and Achievements: If you've received
any awards or honors, consider adding this
section.
7. Formatting Tips:
•Use a clean, professional font (e.g., Arial, Calibri,
or Times New Roman) and an appropriate font
size (usually 10-12 points).
•Maintain consistent formatting, such as bolding
job titles and italicizing company names.
•Use bullet points for ease of reading.
•Keep your resume to 1-2 pages in length,
depending on your experience.
•8. Tailor Your Resume: Customize your
resume for each job application.
•Highlight the skills and experiences most
relevant to the specific job you're applying
for.
•9. Proofreading: Carefully proofread your
resume to eliminate errors in grammar,
spelling, and formatting.
10. Professionalism: Ensure your email address and any other
personal information on your resume reflect professionalism.

11. References: It's not necessary to include references on your

resume. Typically, you provide them separately when requested.

12. Online Presence: Ensure your LinkedIn profile and any other
professional online presence aligns with the information on your
resume.

13. Upload and Send as PDF: When submitting your resume

electronically, save it as a PDF to preserve formatting.
 Types of Resumes
•A common misconception is that
there’s only one way to write a
resume.
•There’s actually a variety of resume
formats, and each one has its own
strengths and weaknesses.
Depending on your specific skill set or work
history, one format might be better suited to
highlight your qualifications than another.
•For reference, there are four main types of
resumes:
•Chronological resumes
•Functional resumes
•Targeted resumes
•Combination resumes
Lesson 10: Assessment:
Craft your own Chronological
resume
•1. A chronological resume is one of the
most common resume formats and is
particularly useful if you have a consistent
work history.
•In this format, your work experiences are
listed in reverse-chronological order, with the
most recent job at the top.
• (meaning your most recently held position is
listed at the top).
•[Your Name]
•[Your Address]
•[Your Phone Number]
•[Your Email Address]
•[LinkedIn Profile (if applicable)]

•Objective (optional):
•[Your career goal or a brief summary of your
qualifications]
Example:
•For a Student or Recent Graduate:

•"Objective: A recent [your degree] graduate with a

passion for [relevant industry or field]. Eager to
kick-start my career in a [specific role] where I can
apply my academic knowledge, strong work ethic,
and [mention any relevant skills, e.g., 'analytical
abilities and problem-solving'] to contribute to
[Company Name]'s success."
Professional Experience:
•[Job Title]
•[Company Name]
•[Dates of Employment]
•- Bullet point describing your responsibilities and
achievements in this role.

•[Job Title]
•[Company Name]
•[Dates of Employment]
•- Bullet point describing your responsibilities and
achievements in this role.
Education:

•[Degree Earned]
•[Institution Name]
•[Graduation Date]

•- List any honors or relevant coursework.

•[Degree Earned]
•[Institution Name]
•[Graduation Date]

•- List any honors or relevant coursework.

Skills:
•Technical Skills:
•- List technical skills, such as programming
languages, software, or tools.

•Soft Skills:
•- List soft skills, such as communication,
leadership, or problem-solving.
Certifications (if applicable):

•- List any relevant certifications.

•Awards and Honors (if applicable):

•- List any awards or honors received.

•Projects (if applicable):

•- Describe any significant projects you've

worked on, your role, and key achievements.

•Professional Memberships (if applicable):

•- Mention any memberships in professional

organizations.
Languages (if applicable):

•- List any languages you speak, especially if they're relevant to the

job.

Interests (optional):

•- Mention any hobbies or interests that are relevant to the job or

demonstrate valuable skills.

References (available upon request):

•- You can include references or simply state that they are available
upon request.
2. A functional resume, also known
as a skills-based resume, focuses on your
skills and qualifications rather than your
work history.
•This format is useful if you have
employment gaps, are changing careers,
or want to emphasize your skills and
abilities.
•While similar to other resume formats,
functional resumes are unique a few
keyways:
•The resume introduction and skills
section are longer and more detailed than
usual.
•The work experience section is
de-emphasized.
• [Your Name]
• [Your Address]
• [Your Phone Number]
• [Your Email Address]
• [LinkedIn Profile (if applicable)]
• Objective (optional):
• [Your career goal or a brief summary of your qualifications]
• Summary of Qualifications:

• - List 4-6 key skills or qualifications relevant to the job you're applying
for.
• Skills:

• Technical Skills:
• - List technical skills, such as programming languages, software, or
tools.

• Soft Skills:
• - List soft skills, such as communication, leadership, or
problem-solving.
• Professional Experience:

• [Job Title]
• [Company Name]
• [Dates of Employment]

• - Briefly describe your job title and company.

• - Create bullet points that highlight how you used your skills and
achievements in that role. Focus on specific accomplishments, not job
duties.
3. A targeted resume is a customized
resume that is specifically tailored to a
particular job or company.
•It's designed to demonstrate that you
have the skills, qualifications, and
experience required for a specific
position.
•To write a strong targeted resume, scan through the
job listing for the position you want to fill.
•Typically, hiring managers include the skills,
responsibilities, and traits that they want candidates
to possess in the job description.
•Then, highlight these qualities on your resume to
demonstrate that you’re an ideal fit for the position (if
you have them).
4. A combination resume, also known as a hybrid
resume, is a mix of both the chronological and
functional resume formats.
•It combines the emphasis on your skills and
qualifications with a brief employment history
section.
•This format is particularly useful if you have a solid
work history and want to highlight your skills and
achievements.
•A combination resume is a format that (true
to its name) combines the best aspects of a
functional resume and a chronological
resume.
•While a chronological resume focuses heavily on
experience and a functional resume emphasizes
skills, a combination resume typically leverages both
work history and skills equally to demonstrate your
qualifications.
•Combination resumes are ideal for candidates who
have extensive experience or a highly developed set
of skills that they want to showcase.
Curriculum Vitae
What is a Curriculum Vitae?
•A curriculum vitae (CV) is the traditional standard for
presenting your qualifications for academic employment.
•This generally holds true for all teaching, research, and
administrative positions in higher education.
•A professional CV can be rather lengthy and is typically
inappropriate for most other jobs in the public and private
sector.
•With your CV, you shouldinclude a detailed letter of
application that specifically addresses skills, knowledge,
and abilities required by any job announcement.
How is a CV different from a resume?
•Length! Beginner resumes will usually be from one to two pages in
length.
•CVs often begin at three pages and can be as long as needed.
•Length, however, is not the determinant of a successful CV.
•Present all the relevant information you can, but try to make it as
concise as possible.
•Another difference is the goal of a resume is to construct a
professional identity, the goal of a CV is to construct a scholarly
identity.
•With that being said your CV will need to reflect your abilities as a
teacher, researcher, and publishing scholar within your discipline.
Information to include in your CV
•In most cases, the CV replaces the job application form.
•This means that the CV is your primary means of presenting
your qualifications for a position.
•The exact format will vary, but you maywant to ask a
graduate advisor or professor for a copy of his or her CV to
use a basic model.
•Notwithstanding the issue of style, the following information
should be included in every CV:
• • Name, address, phone numbers, email addresses
• • Objective – A specific position title.
• • Academic Preparation – Conferral dates and degree titles of all degrees.
• • Work Experience – Include teaching, research, & Graduate Assistantships
• • Publications, Presentations, and Papers – include current submissions
• • Performances, Exhibitions, and Compositions
• • Current research interests
• • Grants awarded, worked on, or revised
• • Languages and international travel
• • Professional memberships
• • Honors and Awards
• • Professional service and consultations
• • Relevant leadership experience (Being president of the high school chess club is probably
• not relevant, but being treasurer of the graduate student association probably is!)
• • Specific skills – Lab techniques and equipment, computer programs and languages,
• Technology and other technical skills
•Remember that phone numbers and email
addresses should be “permanent.” Phone
numbers should have voicemail enabled
with a professional message for callers. A
well-constructed, content-rich CV will do no
good, if prospective employers cannot reach
you.
Information NOT to include in your CV
• An otherwise well-constructed CV can quickly become a liability for you if it includes irrelevant
• information. Generally, the following information should be excluded.
• • Age
• • Ethnic identity
• • Political affiliation
• • Religious preference
• • Hobbies
• • Marital status
• • Sexual orientation
• • Place of birth
• • Photographs
• • Height, weight, health
Format and Quality
•Remember when working on your CV, that there is not
one standard format.
•A good CV is one that emphasizes the points that are
considered to be most important in your discipline.
•When it comes to electronic standards, generic word
processing programs are generally acceptable.
•It is recommended that CV’s be saved in either MS
Word or Adobe PDF format.
•You just want to make sure that your CV can be
opened with the majority of the current software
systems.
•Commercial copy stores will take electronic files (via
email or USB) and make multiple copies professional
quality printers.
•For most applications, however, an inkjet or home
laser printer will produce acceptable copies.
Paper Quality
•Always use standard white, ivory, or neutral 8.5 x 11
inch heavyweight paper. Keep in mind that
•colored paper and ink may look hazy after copying.
Departments will oftentimes make multiple copies of
a CV and distribute it all the members of a search
committee.
•While royal blue or apple red may look great, there is
a greater likelihood that they will pose difficulties in
the copying process, and may also not look quite as
professional.
Font style and size
•The most commonly used fonts are “Times New
Roman” or “Helvetica/Arial.”
•The actual choice is a matter of taste and preference.
Point size should be no less than 10 points, but not
greater than 12 points.
•Do not overuse boldface, italics, and underlining,
however occasional use should guide the eye and help
the reader find useful information.
Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)?
The primary differences are:
•• Length
•• Content
•• Purpose
•A resume is a one or two page summary of
your skills, experience, and education.
•A goal of resume writing is to be brief and
concise since, at best, the resume reader
will spend a minute or so reviewing your
qualifications.
•A CV, on the other hand, is a longer (three or more
pages), more detailed synopsis of your
accomplishments.
•It includes a summary of your educational and
academic backgrounds as well as teaching and
research experience, publications, presentations,
awards, honors, affiliations and other details.
•Biodata is the term which is referred to the biographical
data about work and life experiences. It is a one-to-two
pages document that consists of specific factual information
about an individual.

•It encloses the details mainly about your biological

information, which comprises all numbers, height, weight
and date of birth along with gender, caste, religion, hobbies,
date of birth, current employment details, education,
current position, permanent address, etc.
Types of Biodata Format

•A biodata is used by individuals or organizations for

the purpose of requesting personal information.
•It is used for employment purposes, marriage
purposes and education purposes.
•The pieces of information requested in biodata are
usually tailored to suit the context of request.
•1. Biodata format for marriage: Biodata for
marriage is used to gain personal information about
an individual looking for marriage. It is a document
which highlights details like name, age, height,
hobbies, skills etc.
•2. Biodata format for jobs: A biodata format for
jobs is a document that is used for candidates
applying for a job. It is a similar document to a
Resume or CV with minor changes. It contains details
like education, skills, jobs, awards, certifications etc.
•3 Biodata for education: It is a document
that is similar to the resume and is applicable
for high school or college students. It is used
to apply for an internship or any part-time
jobs or your first full-time job. It contains
details like education, hobbies and
professional qualifications.
•Biodata Format for Marriage
•Personal Summary: In this section, you can choose
to describe yourself in a few words.
•Personal Details: Include your name, age, physical
features, location, hobbies, community, religion,
Mangal dosha, gotra, education and languages known.
In addition, you can also list some of your strengths
and other relevant information that helps the recipient
understand you better.
•Family Background: Include your parent's
name and their occupation along with your
sibling details and their profession. Be proud
of your family background and try to portray
what your family members do.
•Professional Details: Mention your
company's name and the position you hold.
You can also add your yearly earnings
(optional)
•Educational Background:Add your education in
chronological order. List your achievements and
academic profile.
•Appearance: Mention sections; Facial
appearance, height, weight, build (skinny, athlete,
etc.), eye colour and hair.
•Lifestyle: Be clear about what lifestyle you hold.
Mention your interests, smoking or drinking habits
(if any), food choice ( veg or non-veg)
•Partner Preferences: This section is important
for your partner to see if they stand any chances.
Do not skip any information which you seem must
have in your partner. You could list something
like; Hindu, confident, loves sports, facial
features, professionally stable, vegetarian, animal
lover, respectful etc
•Contact Information: Add your contact
details like your email address,
residential address, phone number and
mobile number. You can also give
details about your social media
accounts.
Reference
RESUME WRITING WORKSHEET
• https://www.uwgb.edu/UWGBCMS/media/career-services/files/pdf/
Resume-Worksheet.pdf
 Assessment
create your own resume