Unit Summary
A résumé is a self-marketing tool, designed with the goal of obtaining a job interview. Résumé information is targeted briefly to a career field and addresses the needs of a specific employer. Your résumé should market your relevant skills, knowledge, and accomplishments.
Both chronological and functional résumés must be succinct, emphasizing your experience and accomplishments. Résumés are often your first introduction to the employer and dramatically impact the screening process. Invest the time to create an excellent marketing tool – your résumé – to increase job opportunities and career advancement.
CV stands for the Latin words Curriculum Vitae, which mean: the course of one's life. Your CV is a summary of your professional/academic life until now, and it usually concentrates on your personal details, education and work experience. A CV is also called a résumé, resumé or resume (especially in American English).
European CV's have varying formats. Each European country has different recruitment practices, but all use CV's instead of résumés. The UK CV comes closest to the American résumé. A CV is usually sent with a Cover Letter.
A good résumé/CV is one of your most important tools in the search for employment.
Review Questions:
What is a résumé?
How many types of résumé do you know? What are they?
Is there a correct form of résumé?
What information should your résumé include?
What is the main objective your résumé/CV?
Unit 2. Application Form
A
pplication
Form is a form used in the recruitment process to enable a job
candidate to supply information about his or her qualifications,
skills, and experience. Employers may ask a candidate to complete an
application form instead of, or as well as, providing a Resume.
Application forms should be reviewed regularly to ensure that
questions asked take account of current legislation, accepted good
practice, and internal organizational developments. These questions
should be job-related and avoid unjustifiable intrusion into a
candidate's personal life.
An employer application form may be required by an employer even though you have sent in a résumé and a cover letter. An employer application will definitely be required if you are applying in person or online for a job opening.
If you are applying for a position in person, ask for an employment application form, then take it home with you to complete. You can take your time filling it out so it will be neat and tidy, as well as accurate.
Completing an Application Form
It is very difficult to give specific advice on how to complete any application form you might come across, but it could be useful to make some general comments which should start you thinking along the right lines. These comments relate to the sample application form given below, but the practical guidance will be relevant to most situations of this type.
Take copies of the form as soon as you receive it, and use a copy to draft a 'rough' submission.
a It is essential to follow the instructions.
b If BLOCK CAPITALS are required, then make sure you use them, and maintain a consistent presentation throughout.
c Write in ink, with no errors or crossings out.
d Answer all sections - even if you have to enter 'N/A' (not applicable) in some places.
In Section A do not be tempted to leave any part unanswered just because you think it is 'none of their business'. This is a naive reaction, and you risk not being short-listed.
Section B requires full details of all your educational experience, and qualifications gained. If necessary, use a separate sheet to continue the information in any section. If you do this, make a note to this effect on the form and structure your additional sheet in the same way as the original.
Note: The same principle applies to sections such as Employment Record, Recreational/Leisure Interests and Additional Information. Don't be afraid to continue on-another sheet if you feel there is essential information you need to put across. However, always insert a note saying 'continued on attached sheet' or 'continued on a separate sheet', and make sure that you use the same layout and format as the original. It is never worth ruining the overall presentation by trying to cram too much information into a small space.
The employment history in Section C is very important, and it is essential to present the information in a logical manner. Follow any instructions given, and be consistent.
The 'Additional Information' section is a favourite of reruiters', as it can provide just the information they require to help them decide who to call tor interview. This is the section where you should specifically relate any skills you might have to the requirements of the post/and, convince the prospective employer that your past experiences demonstrate your initiative, overall competence and general employabiIity. You must convince them that you have something to offer!
7. Leisure Interests are important as they can give an insight into what sort of person you are – introvert or extrovert, good mixer or loner, a thinker or a doer! It is in your interests to indicate that you have a well-balanced personality, but remember – you might be questioned closely on this information at interview.
Task 1. Completeting an Application Form
Study the given application form and complete it.
Application form (Please answer all sections, using block capitals.)
Position applied for: ______________________________________
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SECTION A – PERSONAL DETAILS
Surname_______________________ Permanent address ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ Telephone no ___________________ ________________________________ |
First names____________ Age______ Date of birth ___________________ Place of birth __________________ Nationality _____________________ Marital status __________________ Maiden name _____________________ No. of children _________________ Present position ________________ Present salary __________________ Driver’s licence ________________ Dates available for employment __ |
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MEDICAL HISTORY (Please give brief details of any serious illness, etc., with dates) ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ Are you registered disabled? _______________________________________
NEXT OF KIN (Name, address and relationship) ___________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ _____________________(Relationship)_____________________(Occupation)
SECTION B – EDUCATIONAL DETAILS
SECONDARY EDUCATION
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Dates (From-to)
__________ __________ __________ __________ |
Name and address of school(s)
________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ |
Type of school (e.g. Comprehensive, Grammar, Technical) _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ |
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HIGHER/FUTHER EDUCATION AND TRADE
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Dates (From-to)
__________ __________ __________ __________ |
Name of college etc.
________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ ________________________________ |
Course taken (state full- or part-time) _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ |
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TECHNICAL, PROFESSIONAL OR OCCUPATIONAL TRAINING, APPRENTICESHIPS, ETC
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Dates (From-to) __________ __________ __________ __________ |
Type and location of training
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ |
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QUALIFICATIONS GAINED (Continue on a separate sheet if necessary)
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Name of examination ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ ___________________ |
Year taken __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ __________ |
Subjects _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ _______________ |
Level _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ _____ |
Result ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ ______ |
Grade(s) _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ _________ |
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EXAMINATIONS TO BE TAKEN ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________
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SECTION C – JOB HISTORY – in chrono;ogical order (including H.M. Forces)
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Dates (From-to) __________ __________ __________ __________ |
Company, location and nature of business _________________________________ _________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ |
Position held and main responsibilities _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ _____________________ |
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SECTION D – ADDITIONAL INFIRMATION (Please use this space for further details of knowledge and experience that you consider are relevant.) ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________
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SECTION E – LEISURE INTERESTS (Please give full details, including offices held, past or present and membership of clubs or societies.) ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________
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SECTION F – REFERENCES (Please give the names of two persons who can be consulted regarding your suitability for this post.)
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Name Position Address
Name Position Address
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_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________
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I certify that information contained in this application is true and complete. I understand that false information may be grounds for not hiring me or for immediate termination of employment at any point in the future if I am hired. I authorize the verification of any or all information listed above. |
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Signed __________________________ |
Date ____________________________
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REMEMBER!
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