The resume / curriculum VItae

A resume is also referred to the Latin terms curriculum vitae (the course of one’s life) or vita brevis (a short life. Whatever name it bears, this document presents, usually one or two pages and in the form of a list, a summary of an applicant’s job objective, education, work experience, personal experiences, extracurricular activities, achievements, honours, etc. Sent out with a cover letter that is addressed to a specific person in the company, the resume is intended to introduce the applicant to a potential employer and to elicit a request for further information about the applicant and ultimately for an interview.

The resume and the cover letter should be neatly and attractively typed on good paper. The physical appearance alone of these documents could make a crucial impression on the reader. You cannot afford to be careless in preparing these documents. Remember that you are trying to sell yourself and the service you have to offer. So in listing your assets and achievements, do not misrepresent yourself, either by exaggerating or by downplaying your merits. For example, if you mention that you have a four-year Grade Point Average of 3.8, you do not have to boast that you have been an excellent student.

There are two kinds of basic resumes: chronological and functional. If your work experience was fairly continuous and in related areas, use a chronological resume, which lists your work experience in reverse order. A functional resume, developed on the basis of three or four skill areas, can be used if you were in and out of the job market at various times or if your work experience does not appear directly related to the job for which you were applying.

There is no one-and-only way to write a resume, but some good basic guidelines to follow are: be brief, be clear, be neat, be honest. The best resume describes your qualifications on only one page; its general idea is to give the employer a preview of you before an interview takes place.

HOW TO WRITE RESUME:

1. Name, address, home phone, business phone.

List this information prominently at the top of the page. Be sure to give yourself phone numbers; a prospective employer should know where to reach you, day or evening. If you do not wish your present employer to know you are job hunting, ask someone to take messages for you when you are at work.

2. Position objective, as specific and brief a job title as possible.

3. Qualifications in brief: a short summary highlighting your education, experience and skills to capture the attention of and assure the reader that you can do the job. Elaboration is included in the body of the resume.

4. Experience summary.

5. Education background (can go before work experience if it is more job-related)

The purpose of this background is to indicate general and specific training for a job. A person who has little or no educational training would omit this item.

College name, City, State, Degrees, Majors, Dates. If you received no degree or you are presently attending college, give the number of units completed, major, date, place.

High school. List if you have not attended college. Add dates and areas of specialty.

6. Personal paragraph. You may wish to include a statement, describing personal attitudes towards work that make you a valuable and unique employee.

Sample Resume

Name

Street Name 123

1111 Maastricht

The Netherlands

Tel: [phone]

Email [e-mail]

OBJECTIVE

To contribute strong customer service skills and experience within a business hotel by participating in a Rooms Division career program in the role of Supervisor.

EDUCATION

XXXX Hotel School, Maastricht, The Netherlands September 2002 - May 2006

Bachelor degree in Hotel Management

Relevant courses: Hotel management, Financial Management, Food & Beverage Management, Rooms Division Management, Marketing and financial accounting, Business Law

EXPERIENCE

XXXX Hotel, Maastricht, The Netherlands Front Desk Supervisor 4 star, 1,365 room business hotel Assure smooth operation of the front desk through the supervision of 8 Front Desk Agents Ensure that quality standards are met during the check-in and check-out of guests, handling of all guest complaints, following up on guest requests, and handling of VIP guests. Hotel ABC, Maastricht, The Netherlands Front Office Agent 4 star, 227 room luxury hotel, part of XYZ Hotel Group Responsible for check-in and check out of all guests, answering phones, maintaining and balancing a bank, and accepting after hours reservations Ensured that all guest problems are resolved by using the guest response program procedure XYZ Resort, Sea Island, FL, USA Food and Beverage Intern Participated in the Summer Work and Travel Program at this 3 Diamond, 550 room hotel Worked in the restaurant, bar, room service, and banqueting areas of the hotel. Responsible for completing banqueting set-ups, preparing of bar snacks in the kitchen, and acting as server for lunch and dinner service in all restaurant and room service outlets

June 2006 – Present     September 2003 – June 2006     May 2003 – August 2003

SKILLS

Language - Fluent in Dutch and English languages Intermediate Spanish speaking and writing skills

Computer - Experience with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, FrontPage, Fidelio Front Office, Micros

REFERENCES References are available upon request

 

LANGUAGE PRACTICE

Exercise 1. Match the positions with their day-to-day activities.

Clerk	answer inquiries, welcome visitors; operate the computer, write letters, welcome visitors, answer telephone; prepare invoices, write reports; write computer programs, operate the computer; type letters reports and speeches;
Computer operator
Typist
Receptionist
Accountant
Secretary	meet clients, write reports, answer inquiries; monitor cashflow, prepare regular financial statements;
Manager

Exercise 2. Match the positions with adjectives which describe the features necessary for the following positions.

Secretary

Accountant

Sales representative

Director/ Manager

active	cooperative	energetic	realistic
attentive	creative	extroverted	sincere
broad-minded	diplomatic	independent	systematic
constructive	disciplined	methodical	tactful

 

Exercise 3. Some characteristics can be either positive or negative depending on your point of view. Match the words in the right-hand column with their negative connotations.

Positive	Negative
determined	extravagant
economical	inquisitive
assertive	obstinate/stubborn
original	mean/tight-fisted
frank/direct	weird/eccentric/odd
broad-minded	naive
inquiring	self-important/arrogant
generous	pushy
innocent	aggressive/bossy
ambitious	blunt/abrupt

 

Exercise 4. Match the opposites.

clever	introverted
extroverted	tight-fisted
rude	courteous
cruel	gregarious
generous	kin-hearted
unsociable	half-witted

 

Exercise 5. Look at the words below and match them to the questions which aim to decide whether a person is like that.

pessimistic	argumentive	sensitive	sociable
extravagant	assertive	inquisitive	reliable

1. If you arrange to meet at 7 p.m., do you arrive at 7 p.m.?

2. Look at the picture. Do you think ‘my glass is half empty’?

3. Do you prefer to be in the company of other people?

4. Do you find it easy to tell your boss if you feel he/she has treated you badly?

5. Do you always look out of the window if you hear a car draw up?

6. Do you often buy your friends presents for no particular reason?

7. Do you often disagree with what other people say?

8. Do you think about other people’s feelings?

 

Exercise 6. What questions like those in ex.5 could you ask to try in finding out whether a person is the following?

thrifty	sensible	even-tempered
blunt	intelligent	obstinate

Exercise 7. Choose five or six adjectives from this unit to describe either your own or your friend’s character. How do you or your friend demonstrate these characteristics?

Example: Sociable – I am sociable because I love being with other people.

Exercise 8. Write down your Resume according to the following plan.

OBJECTIVE

QUALIFICATIONS

EDUCATION

LANGUAGES

WORK HISTORY

PERSONAL

Lesson 2

JOB INTERVIEW

Presenting Yourself Successfully –

Before, During & After Your Job Interview

An interview is a personal meeting with a prospective employer to assess the qualifications of an applicant for employment for a job. There are a variety of types of interviews that employers may conduct, including behavioral interviews, group interviews, phone and video interviews, second interviews, and even interviews held during a meal. Job interviews are always stressful - even for job seekers who have gone on countless interviews. The best way to reduce the stress is to be prepared. Take the time to review the "standard" interview questions you will most likely be asked. Also review sample answers to these typical interview questions. Before Your Job Interview: Learn all you can about the company or organization so that your questions are sophisticated and knowledgeable during the interview. Employers expect you to arrive knowing background information about the organization. If you don't, you look like you're not really interested in the job. Prepare your clothes for your interview, making sure they are business-like, clean, pressed and conservative; make sure your hair and nails trimmed and clean. Dressing nicely and appropriately is a compliment to the person you meet. A two-piece matched suit is always the best choice for both men and women, in navy, gray or black. Prepare papers for your interview, including extra copies of your resume, job reference lists, reference letters, legal pad for taking notes, and any other information that you may wish to have with you. During Your Job Interview: Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. Don't take any chances that you might be even one minute late. If necessary, arrive 30 minutes early and wait in your car. Treat all people you encounter with professionalism and kindness. Don't address the interviewer by his or her first name unless you are invited to. Don't chew gum or smell like smoke. Don't take cell phone calls during an interview. If you carry a cell phone, turn it off during the interview to be sure it doesn't ring. Don't ever interrupt the interviewer, even if you are anxious and enthusiastic about answering the question. Be aware of your non-verbal behaviors - sit straight, smile as often as you can, maintain eye contact but don't stare the interviewer down, lean forward but not invading the interviewer's space. Sit still in your seat; avoid fidgeting and slouching. Don't be shy or self-effacing. You want to be enthusiastic, confident and energetic, but not aggressive, pushy or egotistic. Don't make negative comments about previous employers or professors (or others). Listen very carefully to each question you are asked and give thoughtful, to-the-point and honest answers. Ask for clarification if you don't understand a question. Always thank the interviewer for his or her time at the close of the interview and establish a follow-up plan. When the interviewer concludes the interview, offer a firm handshake and make eye contact. Depart gracefully. After the Interview: After the interview, make notes right away so you don't forget critical details. If you are working with a search firm or recruiter, call that recruiter immediately while the facts of the interview are fresh on your mind. The recruiter will want to know what you thought went well and what you may have concerns about. Don't call the employer back immediately. If the employer said they would have a decision in a week, it is OK to call them in a week, again to thank them for the interview and reiterate your interest. If you receive word that another candidate was chosen, you may also send a follow-up letter to that employer, again thanking him or her for the opportunity to interview for the position. Let them know that should another or similar position open in the future, you would love to have the opportunity to interview again.   LANGUAGE PRACTICE Exercise 1. A. Match the words and expressions in the box with the headings below. Job seekers Bonus Applicants Confidence Shortlist Job offer Pension plan Doctorate Candidates Advertisement Qualifications Enthusiasm Interviewees Health insurance Initiative Company car Diploma Interview Degree independence   1. fringe benefits ……………………. ……………………….. 2. education ……………………. ………………………. 3. stages in recruiting ……………………. ………………………. 4. personal qualities …………………… ………………………. 5. people looking for work ……………….. ………………………. B. Now put the words you have chosen to the heading ‘ stages in recruiting’ in the correct order. Exercise 2. Complete the conversation using the words given below. Application fringe benefits interview qualifications personal details candidates experience interviewers shortlist salary job offer job title job description curriculum vitae job advertisement   George: Good news about your new job, Tony. Tony: Yes. I saw a ………. in the newspaper. The …………. seemed just right for him. George: What about the money? Tony: The ………. was good too. So I sent in a letter of ………….. along with my ………….Three weeks later they said I was on their …………….. of six ………….. for the job. They asked me to go for an ………... There were four ………….., and they asked hundreds of questions. George: What about? Tony: Well, first they checked my ……….- age, family, education, and that sort of thing. Then they asked about my …………… from college. And they wanted to know about my work ……… - what jobs I’ve done in the last three years. George: Did they offer you job immediately? Tony: No, they made a formal written ……….. George: So, what exactly is your new ………..? Tony: Assistant Sales Manager. George: Sounds good. Do you get any nice …………. with the job? Tony: Well, a car of course, and the holidays are good. Exercise 3. Fill in the gaps in the text below with appropriate words on the right. When there is a __________ (1) in a company, it is the job of the Personnel Manager and his department to manage the recruitment of a new ____________ (2). One way an organization can find staff for job vacancies is __________ (3) in-company. Management can inform people of new appointments by means of the firm's notice board or news bulletin. Another possibility is to ask for __________ (4) from departmental managers and supervisors. If it is necessary to recruit outside the company, the personnel department may use commercial and government __________ (5) or consultants. It may prefer to put its own advertisement in a __________ (6) or magazine. It is usual for an advertisement to give a short description of the __________ (7), conditions of work and salary, and to invite introductory letters from __________ (8). After studying these, management decides who receives an application form.. employee   job   employment offices   vacancy   to recruit   applicants   newspaper   recommendations Exercise 4. Answer the following questions. Think of a job you would like to have. Make up a conversation with your partner. 1. What is your future profession? 2. Did you have a dilemma in choosing your profession? 3. Did your parents impose their views, likes and dislikes on you? 4. When did you make a choice to become a lawyer / an economist / a secretary? 5. What do you have to do to master English? 6. What is your regular business? 7. Do you have a big personnel? 8. How do you earn your living? 9. What special education does your profession require? 10. How many hours a day do you work? 11. What are the advantages and disadvantages of your job? Give the reasons. Exercise 5. A. Work in pairs. Imagine that a friend is going to start a new job. Decide which are the six most important pieces of advice that you’d give to your friend for his first day at work. Which of these tips do you disagree with? Arrive twenty minutes early. Wear your smartest clothes. Go to the hairdresser’s the day before. Smile at everybody you meet. Make a note of everything somebody tells you. Show your new colleagues pictures of your family. If you’re a smoker, don’t smoke in an office you share with someone. Enquire about the company pension scheme. B. Add two more pieces of advice you’d give to someone starting a new job. Exercise 6. Have a look at the Interview Questions below. How would you answer them? You can consult best answers on http://jobsearch.about.com/od/interviewquestionsanswers/a/interviewquest.htm Who was your best boss and who was the worst? Why are you leaving your job? Why were you fired? What is your greatest weakness? What is your greatest strength? How do you handle stress and pressure? What motivates you? What are your salary expectations? How would you describe the pace at which you work? Tell me about yourself. What do people most often criticize about you? What type of work environment do you prefer?