Rsum Writing Notes

What?

It is a brief history of accomplishments that one prepares for his/her potential

employers.
A rsum packages your assets into a convincing advertisement that sells you for a
specific job.
When opportunity knocks, your rsum can open the door.
Why?

To get you a job interview

Employer needs Job Description Employee needs Rsum

Communication Pay Package
Competency Brand
Attitude Employee-friendly policy
Personality fitment Designation
Team player
Cost fitment

Know yourself

Can you list a few words that will describe your

Strengths/weaknesses
Knowledge/Abilities/Skills
What is unique about you unique selling proposition (USP)?

Know your market

Do you know the

Total number of engineering colleges in India? ________

Total number of graduates passing out every year? _________
Employability rate? ________
Reasons why people are not able to get jobs?
Can you list

Ten companies that you wish to apply to & rate them?

Ten words that these companies have used to describe a potential applicant (Job
description)?
Eg. Outstanding Technical competence, Excellent Communication skill

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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
Names of Rate them in the Words/phrases from Words/Phrases that
companies order of your companys Core these companies have
preference values/Vision used to describe a
statement potential applicant

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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
Components of a Rsum

Heading How can the employer contact the candidate?

Career Objective What are his/her career objective(s)?

Educational
What are his/her academic background/ Educational Qualification?
Qualification
What are his/her work experience(s)?
Work Experience

Distinctive
What are his/her distinctive academic/Job achievements?
Achievements
Areas of
Interest/Specialisation
What are his/her Areas of Interest/Specialisation ?

Training, What training has he/she undergone? Is there any research output?
Development &
Research
Extra Curricular
What are his/her special interests/hobbies?
Activities/hobbies

Soft Skills What are his/her soft skills

References Who are his/her references

Heading

Full Name
Complete Address Present & permanent
Contact Number
Email id
Centered
Name in Bold a little bigger font

Career Objective

Specific
One-sentence focused statement
Career-goals vs. targeted position
Use the words you have used to describe yourself & the company has used to describe a
potential applicant
Read a few career objectives. Write a few. Use the one you think will best fit the context.

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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
Educational Qualification

Programme Institution Percentage/GPA Year of Completion

B Tech in <department>
Higher Secondary
School
High School
No abbreviation/ acronyms

Work Experience:

Job Title/Designation
Where?
How Long?
BriefJob Description

Distinctive Achievements

Scholastic Achievements (awards/honours)

Scholarships
Fellowships
Special Awards (attendance/punctuality etc)
Top grades or Distinctions
Commendations
Certificates

Areas of Interest/Specialisation (Specialised Knowledge/skills/abilities)

Relevant course(s) with grades

Relevant lab(s) with grades
Technical Skills
Relevant Software Packages
Languages you speak fluently
Mention specific details like dates/duration and grades, if any etc

Training, Development & Research

Projects/internships/in-plant training
Seminars/workshops
Paper presentation/publication
Mention specific details like dates/duration and briefly talk about your contribution

Extra-Curricular Activities /Hobbies

Extra-curricular activities
Sports
Music
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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
 Hobbies
Interests
Give specific details. No vague claims.
Web presence (blogs/LinkedIn) Create blogs of all your projects/extra-curricular activities etc
Caution: Online reputation

Soft skills

Pick any three relevant soft skills that you possess and state briefly that you possess them. Dont
list skills. Describe them instead.
Eg.
Work carefully with attention to detail
Work well under pressure
Can handle more than one task at a time and set priorities

References

Any positive professional associate who will speak well of you with a smile!
Someone from your area of specialization who knows you well and can speak about your
acumen.
Dean/Programme Chair/Project Guide /Research Guide/ Teacher/ Anyone you Reported to
during Internships/In-plant Training
Name
Designation
Contact address
Official Telephone number
Email id

Features of an effective Rsum

Time + Effort = Effective Rsum

Read a few Rsums in your discipline. Gather relevant details like vocabulary, style etc.
Custom-made not mass-produced/ out-sourced/ the Cut/Copy + Paste ones
Can take help from Rsum software/Templates - adapt
Flawless 0% tolerance to errors
Format (Spacing, margins, alignment etc)
Content (Correct grammar, vocabulary, usage, spelling, punctuation)

Features of an effective Rsum Content

Clarity
Conciseness 1 -2 pages
Tone formal/serious
Dynamic action verbs** Make your rsum speak for you!
Objective - avoid the pronoun I
Factual
Appropriate writing style
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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
 Specific details

Features of an effective Rsum Format

Professional look
Font face (Times New Roman, Verdana, Arial, Calibri)
Font size 12
Consistent use of Bold, italics, underline
Avoid ALL CAPS as much as possible

Use Show/hide Formatting symbols and format neatly

Well structured
Quality Print & Photocopy
No folds/smudges

Some things you should do

Read about 10-15 rsums in your field.

Read 10 15 career objectives in your field.
Learn the words, phrases, verbs, adjectives, tone, style, format etc used in your field
Browse through the careers pages of companies you can apply to.
Learn about the company, their vision, goals etc.
Spend 5 to ten hours working on your rsum.
Show it to at least 5 people and ask for critical comments.

Finally, an Effective Rsum

Convinces a potential employer of right fitment

Reveals personality traits that align with organisational core values
Shows the benefits you will bring to the employer
So
o Know about yourself
o Know about the company you wish to apply to
o Know why you want to work there
Appendix

**A list of soft skills & general skills that could be added in your rsum if appropriate:
Fluency and Proficiency in second, third, or fourth languages.
Positive work ethic.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office programs *[If Engineer: Include all technical programs]
Good attitude.
Desire to learn and be trained.
Excellent communication skills: Ability to relate to coworkers in a close environment
Courtesy and Honesty.
Excellent written communication
Reliability.
Flexibility.

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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
 Team skills/ team oriented/team player.
Flexibility/Adaptability.
Self-directed.
Dependability.
Self-supervising and organized.
Punctual.
Personal integrity.
Positive work ethic.
Interpersonal skills.
Motivational skills.
Willingness to learn.
Dedication: Staying on the job until it is finished.
Ability to listen.
Commitment to continued training and learning.
Willingness to take instruction and responsibility.
Communication skills with public, fellow employees, supervisors, and customers.

**Some Suggestions for action verbs that could be used in your rsum if appropriate:

1. acted 18. directed 35. planned

2. analyzed 19. edited 36. prepared
3. assembled 20. established 37. produced
4. assessed 21. evaluated 38. promoted
5. briefed 22. executed 39. reported
6. calculated 23. found 40. researched
7. coached 24. implemented 41. restored
8. compared 25. instructed 42. reviewed
9. compiled 26. invented 43. searched
10. composed 27. investigated 44. surveyed
11. computed 28. led 45. synthesized
12. coordinated 29. maintained 46. taught
13. created 30. managed 47. tested
14. demonstrated 31. negotiated 48. worked
15. designed 32. operated 49. wrote
16. developed 33. organized
17. diagnosed 34. performed

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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses
Notes:

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Rsum Writing Notes: Compiled by Evangeline Rajasekar, SAS, VIT Chennai for ENG601/ENG102 ET Courses