Your Personal SWOT Analysis and Preparing your Curriculum Vitae Introduction
Everyday, I go through hundreds of resumes…resumes of people having 10-20 yrs of experience…resumes of people passed out from institutes like Symbiosys, XLRI, TISS… and just one word comes out of my mouth…"PATHETIC". People, have knowledge; they have experie experience nce but don't don't know why, why, they are not able to put it on a paper. paper. Your resume is the first thing that will go to your prospective employer and based on that you will get a chance to speak to him and if your resume is not proper, forget about job, you will not even get a call for interview. Here, I am trying my best to put-in as what we should and and what we shou shoulld not writ rite in a "Cu "Curri rriculum Vit Vitae" ae" Possible reasons for RESUME REJECTION
1. No name name is is listed listed at at the top top of your your resume resume.. 2. Missing phone and/or e-mail address. 3. Educ Educati ation on categ category ory is miss missin ing g dates dates,, no major major and/o and/orr degre degree e is listed, listed, the university name is missing, and/or abbreviations are used inappropriately. 4. Employ Employmen mentt accompli accomplishm shment ent statem statement ents s should should be no longer longer than 4 lines lines if stated in paragraph format, no dates of employment are listed, no employer names are listed and/or resume does not include accomplishment statements. 5. Your resume resume should not exceed exceed 3full pages in length. length. 6. A single single page resume should be ¾ to to 1 whole whole page in length. length. 7. Do not not use a font font that that is is smalle smallerr than 8 point. point. 8. Fonts Fonts should should be tradition traditional; al; do not use italics italics,, script script or more than than one font on your resume. 9. Check spelling and grammar. 10. If you have an objective objective statement, statement, consider consider including some of your skills. The resume should show the employer what you have to offer them, NOT what you want to get from them. 11. Avoid using personal pronouns - such as I, me, and my 12. Your name should stand out - consider putting it in a larger font size 13. Font size 10-12 if generally acceptable. Anything else is hard to read. 14. Under educational information - List your CGPA CGPA only if it is 3.0 and above. 15. Under educational information - Put the type of degree AND the major (E.G. Bachelor of Arts in Psychology). 16. Write Write out the name of the degree degree that you are receivin receiving g (E.G. (E.G. Bachelo Bachelorr of Science, Master of Arts) 17. Avoi Avoid d abbrev abbreviat iatio ions ns - the the empl employ oyer er who who is readin reading g your your resum resume e may not necessarily know what you are referring to. 18. Your high school information is not necessary. 19. You should list your most recent college education only. 20. Your informatio information n should should be in chronol chronologic ogical al order order - most most recent recent experie experience nce should be first. 21. You should not have have duplic duplicated ated informatio information. n. If you have informat information ion in one place, you should not repeat it somewhere else in your resume. 22. Use bulleted points under your experience and/or accomplishments. This makes it easier to read.
23. Under work experience - you should include the position/job title, the Month and the Year, you should reflect results-oriented accomplishments (E.G. increased sales by 20%). 24. You do not need to list your supervisor's name and the company's complete address. 25. It is not necessary to include you birth date, marital status or a picture 26. You should list your awards/honors (if work related) under a separate category. 27. I recommend having a one page resume - unless you have significant "relevant" work that warrants a longer resume (Such as if the experience relates to your objective). 28. Consider adding an "Additional Information" category - and list your job titles and dates. This way you can eliminate clutter and still account for employment gaps. 29. Don't mention the names of your parents, spouses, relatives and their occupations, take from me, nobody is interested in it. 30. Don't write your present, permanent and temporary address; nobody is interested in it. 31. Don't mention the details about your references, in your resume, if you are able to get through the interview, your prospective employer will ask you to give references. Personal SWOT Analysis is necessary to prepare your Curriculum Vitae Strengths
Internal positive aspects that are under control and upon which you may capitalize in planning
·Work Experience ·Education, including value-added features ·Strong technical knowledge within your field (e.g. hardware, software, programming languages) ·Specific transferable skills, e.g., communication, teamwork, leadership skills
Communication: Speaking effectively • • •
Writing concisely Listening attentively Expressing ideas
Research and Planning: Creating ideas ; Gathering information; Solving problems ; Setting goals ; Analyzing Human Relations: Developing rapport • • • • •
Being Sensitive Listening Conveying feelings Providing support for others Motivating
Sharing credit Organization, Management and Leadership: Initiating new ideas; Handling details
Coordinating tasks Work Survival: Being punctual • • • • • • • •
Managing time Attending to detail Meeting goals Enlisting help Accepting responsibility Setting and meeting deadlines Organizing Making decisions. Personal characteristics (e.g., strong work ethic, self-discipline, ability to o work under pressure, creativity, optimism, or a high level of energy Good contacts/successful networking o o Interaction with professional organizations Weaknesses
Internal negative aspects that are under your control and that you may plan to improve • • • • • • •
Lack of Work Experience Low GPA, wrong major Lack of goals, lack of self-knowledge, lack of specific job knowledge Weak technical knowledge Weak skills (leadership, interpersonal, communication, teamwork) Weak job-hunting skills Negative personal characteristics (e.g., poor work ethic, lack of discipline, lack of motivation, indecisiveness, shyness, too emotional Opportunities
Positive external conditions that you do not control but of which you can plan to take advantage Positive trends in your field that will create more jobs (e.g., growth, globalization, technological advances) • • •
• • • • •
Opportunities you could have in the field by enhancing your education Field is particularly in need of your set of skills Opportunities you could have through greater self-knowledge, more specific job goals Opportunities for advancement in your field Opportunities for professional development in your field Career path you've chosen provides unique opportunities Geography Strong network Threats
Negative external conditions that you do not control but the effect of which you may be able to lessen
• • • • • •
• • •
Negative trends in your field that diminish jobs (downsizing, obsolescence) Competition from your cohort of college graduates Competitors with superior skills, experience, knowledge Competitors with better job-hunting skills than you Competitors who went to schools with better reputations. Obstacles in your way (e.g., lack of the advanced education/training you need to take advantage of opportunities) Limited advancement in your field, advancement is cut-throat and competitive Limited professional development in your field, so it's hard to stay marketable Companies are not hiring people with your major/degree
Preparing your Resume
While no "right" or "proper" design for resume content exists, a few guidelines for resume format are commonly accepted practices. Following these structural rules for your resume will help you present a professional impression to prospective employers.
Resume Length
One page is the accepted rule for resume length. A three-page resume should only be used if you have extensive experience or qualifications relevant to the position for which you are applying. If you do choose to develop a two-page resume, be sure to organize your content in a manner that places the information most likely to impress an employer on the first page. If the first page is not impressive, then an employer may not even look at the second page.
Type Size and Style
A resume should always be typed with the font size between 10 point and 14 point and with absolutely no information crossed out or handwritten. In regards to the type style, use a style that is professional and easy to read. Dense styles and styles with curlicues should be avoided. A few common font styles are Times, Schoolbook, New Century, Optima, Palatino, Helvetica, Futura, Universe, and Courier. TIP: Prepare your resume using a computer word processing program. It will be much easier to edit and to create different versions of your resume if you have it saved to disk. Margins The margins of your resume serve two basic purposes. First, the margins can contribute to the visual appeal of your resume. Overly narrow margins can make your resume appear jumbled, and overly wide margins can project a perception of emptiness in your resume. The standard rule of thumb is to set your margins at one inch (1") on all sides to create a well-balanced design. If you are in a crunch for space, try decreasing the top and bottom margins slightly, but avoid decreasing the side margins. Side margins are the key to the second purpose of your resume margins, to provide your prospective employer with space to make notes on you resume.
Sentence Structure
"To the point" is how sentences should be written when constructing your resume. Sentences should be brief and informative rather than long and excessively descriptive. Short sentences are easier and faster to read and to understand, showing that you value the time the prospective employer is taking to review your resume. Also, be sure that the grammatical structure of your sentences is correct and consistent. Past tense should be used when describing experiences you have already had or activities in which you have already participated. Present tense should be used only to describe those activities you are involved in now, such as your current job. You should also avoid beginning sentences with the word "I"; the employer already knows that the resume is about you.
Word Choice
Be active in your word choice on your resume. Begin your sentences with action verbs that describe exactly what you did, or are still doing, in your experiences and activities. Paper Selection & Printing
When you are ready to print the final copy of your resume, a professional quality paper and printer should be used. A bond paper with a watermark in a solid conservative color, such as white, ivory, or light gray, is the best stationary to use. Dark colored paper and patterned paper should be avoided because more than one person will likely photocopy your resume for review, and dark or patterned paper does not copy well. A laser printer should be used to print your resume with the watermark of the stationary right-side up and face forward. TIP: Don't rely on spell check to catch all of the errors in your resume. Be sure you proofread your resume, and have several others proofread it as well. Errors imply you didn't put your full effort into your resume, therefore the job isn't important to you. Content of your Resume Personal Details
Obviously every resume will have this section to start it off. Remember however to keep these details to a minimum. Your name, phone number and email address are all that is required. You do not need to indicate your date of birth, marital status, number of children, or supply a personal photo. Other details should only be included if they are required. Otherwise you can address specific criteria in a covering letter. Career Goals
If you are applying for graduate positions this just needs to be a short statement that broadly outlines both your short and long-term goals. It demonstrates that you have started to think about the directions in which you would like to go and is not something that potential employers are going to hold you to for the next 10 years. Education Start with the most recent qualification and work backward in a chronological order. List the title of the degree(s), name of the institution and date of completion. You may also want to include your CGPA (Cumulative Grade Point Average) or current GPA. Be sure to explain the scale of 1 to 7 e.g. GPA of 6.5 on a scale of 1- 7;7 being the highest. You may also include your major(s) so that the employer is more familiar with your qualifications. Do not list all of the subjects you have studied and the grades gained at this point in your resume.
If you have been awarded certificates for training include these details in this section. Remember to check the relevance of the certificates with the requirements of the positions you are applying for. Employment History
Information under this heading can be organized in a number of ways depending on what you wish to highlight. Many start with their most recent position and work backwards throughout the years. You may have taken a position some time ago that is relevant to your current interests, therefore place it on top of the list to ensure its prominence. Regardless of order, be sure to include information such as your position, the name of the organization, the time you were employed with them, and a brief outline of the duties you performed and the skills, abilities and knowledge you developed as a result of the work (give the most detail to jobs which are professionally relevant or have transferable skills).
Specialist Skills
This section can be in point form, to highlight how your studies are relevant to the position you are applying for. Include any relevant projects, thesis or assignments you have completed and any skills that you have obtained throughout your degree that will make the potential employer interested in your application. For example they may be degree specific skills, general skills such as communication, research abilities, computer knowledge (say what packages etc), and familiarity with statistics. Looking at a range of job advertisements will help you to identify what to include in this section. Membership of Associations
If you are a member of certain (usually professional) associations that will be relevant to the position you are applying for, include them.
Awards You can include any academic awards achieved where relevant. List these in point form and make sure to identify those that were tertiary or secondary.
Achievements This section is used by employers to identify that you have set various goals for yourself and worked to achieve them. Achievements may be academic, sporting, personal or community based. In essence, an achievement is anything that was a milestone for you or demonstrated leadership and initiative. Finally When you have finished your draft resume, go back through it and make sure that the majority of it is in a point or brief format. Be sure that you are emphasizing or highlighting the main aspects you want an employer to note. Look carefully at the layout and order of your resume to ensure that you are doing everything you can to make it an easy to read document.
Note: Use this as an example and change the format to suit your needs. Conclusion
Understanding how employers use resumes and the basic structure and contents of a resume can help you write a winning document. When putting together a resume it is important to put yourself in the employer's shoes. What would make an employer read
one
resume
over
another?
Employers in essence want to know how hiring you will benefit their business now and in the future. It is therefore very important to research and understand the position for which you are applying. Decide what skills, abilities and knowledge are needed to be successful in the position within the organization. The information contained in your resume should represent a succinct time line of employment (paid and unpaid), education, training, skills, and personal attributes that you have been developing. Always draw attention to your abilities, knowledge and your skills that relate directly to the position or are transferable to the position. Employer is busy; he is not having enough time to read your resume, so just "Keep It Simple and Sweet". As they say, your resume must be like a mini-skirt of a girl,"Should give enough information to get interested in you and hide enough to explore, "Across the Interview Table". That is all, I like to say here, looking forward to your comments and feedback. Have a great time and take care of yourself Submitted by: Sanjeev Sharma (Mobile:+91-9890788259; 9850884378); (E-mail:
[email protected];
[email protected]); (Blog: http://sanjeevhimachali.blogspot.com)
Personal SWOT Analysis A personal SWOT analysis is a look at you and your life. It will help you identify where you need to improve, and more importantly allows you to identify your internal strengths that you can capitalize on to seize your opportunities and thwart any external threats. For this reason, it is an important step in personal goal setting – a step that shouldn’t be overlooked. A template for a personal SWOT analysis for goal setting is available in the ToolBOX as part of the Free Life Planning Workbook, and essentially asks you: Strengths: • • • • • • •
What are your abilities, skills talents in this area? Do you have any specialist knowledge in this area? What resources do you have that support this strength? Who can you ask for advice, support or help? What is already working well in this area? What personal behavioural traits do you have that are strengths in this area? Do your intelligence preferences indicate a strength in this area?
Weaknesses: •
What are your main limitations in this area?
• •
• • • •
What skills/ abilities are needed in this area that you don’t have? Are there any resources (money, time, help) that you don't have that you really need? What is not working in this area right now? What personal behavioural traits do you have that are weaknesses in this area? Do your intelligence preferences indicate a weakness in this area? Does your motivational need level according to Maslow indicate a deficiency?
Opportunities: •
•
•
• • • •
What opportunities (dreams, wishes, goals) have you been considering in this area? Do your personality/ intelligence preferences or motivational needs indicate any opportunities that you haven’t previously considered? What could you improve in this result area for you? List as many ‘goals’ as you can – which one or two will have the most impact on this aspect of your life? How can you take advantage of your strengths to pursue these? Do you have any weaknesses that may impede these goals? What major change do you need in your life to improve this area? Are there any special tools you can use or develop to help?
Threats: •
•
• •
• •
What external threats (changes to income, events, etc) could affect you negatively? How could these affect you? Are you facing any risks in this area if you continue along your current path? What are they – list them all. What would happen if these risks took place? What obstacles or roadblocks are in your way? Do your personality/ intelligence preferences or motivational needs indicate any threats that you haven’t previously considered? Do any of your weaknesses increase the level of these threats or the impact? What strengths do you have that could help you reduce the identified threats?
The outcome you want from the SWOT analysis is a list of: • •
• • •
•
What opportunities are best for you to pursue What internal strengths you can use to enhance your pursuit of these opportunities What threats you need to eliminate/ minimise What internal strengths you can use to overcome these threats What strengths you should consider making stronger to further enhance your ability to pursue your goals What weaknesses you need to improve on, or manage, so that they don’t impede your goal setting.
