SPEAKER’S PROFILE

Understand what is a resume

What does it mean to you?

Understanding the different type of skillsets

Learning Objectives

Stepping

Into

World of

Work

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Analysing the JD, Listing of Experiences and Resume Formats

Why, What, How

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Why -> Sense Making, what does it mean to you?

What -> What do we put in the resume?

How -> How do we write the resume?

What?

Why?

How?

A resume is a summarized text containing relevantinformation about a person’s background (worth) in several key areas.

Your resume is the key marketing document to make sure you get the right opportunities to show off your skills.

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What Is a Resume?

marketing document

Goal:

Your Mission:

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What Is a Resume?

To secure an interview.

Work on increasing your chances to be called up.

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Resume Submission

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First Interview

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Assessments

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Second Interview

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Reference Checks

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Offer

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Generic Recruitment Process

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Resume Submission

1

Generic Recruitment Process

Actors

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There are no suitable profiles for consideration

Where’s my candidate!!!!!

https://www.kindpng.com/imgv/iRhhwRw_download-royalty-free-clip-art-stop-workplace-bullying/

I am getting stress and starting to lose confidence. All the resumes seemed to be lost in the black hole. I

should be qualified based on my diploma.

Reality

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A resume is a perspective document — your self-made invitation to an interviewwith the job you want.

Reality

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All roles are created out of a business needs.

Time pressure.

Instead of coming out with a list of skills you possessed, put yourself in theposition of the hiring manager and ask “Why should we hire you?”

Image from: https://imgflip.com/i/od1y1

What you know What the hiring manager is looking for

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But what can you do for the company?

To the hiring manager…………………………………

I don’t have much work experience because it’s

been quite hard to find much. Last summer I worked

for six weeks in my mum’s friends nursery to help

with holiday cover – I had quite a bit of

responsibility with some of the office duties but I

also really enjoyed it because during the breaks I

could play with some of the kids that attended the

nursery.

Reality

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Jobs = Function (Skills, Qualities)Your resume is your career brochure, not your autobiography. [Ashley Watkins]

Job market is driven by skills, the unit currency or the DNA of an economy.[Matt Sigelman]

Q: Do you meet the skills requirement?

Skills not Jobs: Pathways to Success in the Emerging Job Landscape

Reality

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What’s the mental image you want the reader to see in you?

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Hmmm………. The profile

looks interesting based on

his achievements and

skillsets

Interpretation

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/609252655824667136/https://www.pngguru.com/free-transparent-background-png-clipart-bmhuj

Reality

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Most of the time, the first person to read your resume is not the hiringmanager. (recruiters, HRs, applicant tracking systems -ATS)

Recruiters only scan resumes for an average of 6 seconds before making ajudgment, so what they do see has to be the most impactful material you have.

Each recruiter may easily handle 10-12 active cases at any one time and he/shewill have to present 6 to 10 candidates per case.

Easily review up to 80+ resumes for any given vacancy.

Reality

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The roles are usually non-exclusive for external recruiters. Hence speed forthem is an essence.

Vacancies are expected to be filled up in 2 to 3 months.

https://theconversation.com/how-to-flatten-the-curve-of-coronavirus-a-mathematician-explains-133514

Sense Making

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As a candidate, your job is to make the recruiter and HR’s job easier.

Help The Recruiter To Help Yourself.

The recruiter and HR’s job is to rule you out, not in. [Ashley Watkins]

Your resume will not be read by the hiring manager if it does not get throughthe initial vetting stage.

You are only a qualified candidate if you can fulfil the businessneeds required.

End goal is to increase your probability of selection.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/197032552422233264/

Why, What, How

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Why -> Sense Making, what does it mean to you?

What -> What do we put in the resume?

How -> How do we write the resume?

What?

Why?

How?

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Jobs = Function (Skills , Personal Qualities)

Skills are developed abilities.

Technical skills refer to your knowledge and expertise required to performthe required tasks in a particular role. These skills will vary across industriesand functions.

Transferable skills refer to soft skills that can be applied across careers. Yourtransferable skills can enhance the technical skills that you bring to the job.They may not always be included in a curriculum.

Familiarise yourself with skills in demand.

Type of Skil ls

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DNA of Jobs

Skills not Jobs: Pathways to Success in the Emerging Job Landscape

Skills with THINGS , PEOPLE, IDEAS, DATA

Helps you to move to any field or career you choose.

Basic building blocks of activities, tasks or roles used in any careers or job.

Transferable Skil ls

Part-Time JobsSoft Skills

Community ServicesVolunteer Work, Clubs

Campus ActivitiesLeadership Involvement, Sports

Diploma/Classes

Projects, School Involvement

I decided to take up Kendo as I was interested in Japanese martialarts after watching anime

I wanted to know more about Japanese culture and learn how todefend myself after being in NCC in secondary school

I found it hard to learn all the different techniques at first and theteachers were strict. I also found it hard to juggle school work withKendo training

It has been going for a year although I stopped for exam revisions

I feel I’ve achieved something because I passed my first kendo exam.I also feel I am more disciplined as the practice is strict.

Learning Kendo

My transferable skillsSkills with Things

• Using my eyes and hands in coordination

• Maintaining, preserving or repairing

Skills with Information• Gathering information by studying and

observing things

• Self Management Skills• Discipline

Transferable Skil ls

Technical Skillse.g. maths, accounting, programming,

finance, physics, biology, chemistry

People Skillse.g. communication skill, networking

skill, leadership, teamwork

Self Management Skillse.g. awareness, emotion-control, confidence, resilience, patience

Work Attitudee.g. loyal, accountable, willing to learn

Professionalisme.g. proper appearance, basic courtesy, arriving on time, drug free

Transferable Skills23

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https://www.skillsfuture.sg/skills-framework/accountancy

HERE’S AN EXAMPLE

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Q&APlease submit your questions to the Q&A platform

We will take a 5 short min break

Why, What, How

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Why -> Sense Making, what does it mean to you?

What -> What do we put in the resume?

How -> How do we write the resume?

What?

Why?

How?

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Steps Taken In Creating a Resume

Step 1: Analyse the JD

Step 2: List Your

Experiences And Skills

Step 3: Choose Your

Resume Format

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• Pay close attention to the job description and highlight the competency/skillsthat is explicitly stated and inferred from the job description.

• Some of these competencies are commonly referred to as technical skills andtransferable skills.

Analysing the Job Description (JD)

What are the skills and the

personalities needed for

the role???

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https://www.mycareersfuture.sg/

Technical Skills?

Transferable Skills?

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Technical Skills?

Transferable Skills?

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• Be selective and only showcase the relevant and useful ones to each specificrole

• In which of these experiences did you demonstrate or acquire the skillsexpressed in the job description?

• Include both your work experiences and extra-curricular activities to show yourinterest and passion

• Be quantifiable (selling points, examples or evidence)

• Make use of active verbs when listing your qualities and achievements.

• Make the statement active by dropping the “I”

List Your Experiences And Skil ls

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• Competencies can be grouped into various categories such as communicationskills, creative skills, leadership skills, etc.

• Opt for strong action verbs such as "collaborated" and "initiated" to highlightthe competency.

• Examples of strong action verbs to highlight your competencies:

o Communication skills - negotiated, collaborated

o Creative skills - conceptualized, designed

o Leadership skills - spearheaded, led

o Research – surveyed, examined, investigated, diagnosed

Active Verbs

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1. Situation: What was the situation, problem you were facing?

2. Task: What were your responsibilities or goals?

3. Action: What action did you take to solve this problem?

4. Result: What was the result or outcome of your action? How did it benefit the organization? Can this result be quantified?

STAR Approach (Be Results-Oriented)

For each position or experience, try tofocus on a concise description and 4-5key bullet focused.

Do not exaggerate your contributions.

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http://nus.edu.sg/CFG/students/career-resources/create-an-impressive-resume#CARFramework

STAR Approach

Before After

• Social media account was updated • Designed and introduced marketing collateralssuch as customer interviews and productinfographics on our social media accountthereby increasing web traffic by 10%

• A small vehicle was designed • Built a small vehicle to carry a can of soda ten feetas fast as possible with only the power of aMousetrap. Reached the finals of the competitionby working with the team to improve our design

Generic and Unquantifiable

Active and Drop the “I”

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• Part Time Tutor

o Taught one-on-one English lessons for 5 ‘O level’ students and improved their grades by 30%.

o Designed and executed bespoke tailored curriculum for students according to their learning abilities,which in turn improved their learning experience and interest in the subjects.

o Inspired the students through close mentorship and imparted knowledge beyond academics to helpexplore their interests.

• Marketing Intern

o Launched more than ten integrated marketing campaigns targeting manufacturing, increasing socialmedia activity by over 500% in two months.

o Developed an improved process flow to effectively manage a database of over 5000 contacts,successfully decreasing margin of error in working with our colleagues in Vietnam.

STAR Approach

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• Volunteer – SP Community Club

o Raised sponsorship of $2,000 for the Community Club through crowdsourcing on social media andsupported an awareness programme on personal hygiene for 200 children in Cambodia.

• Chairman, Public Relations, SP Entrepreneurship Society

o Led a group of 8 committee members to actively promote the society at various events, whichsuccessfully increased the membership by 30% (30 pax).

o Organised 6 workshops on online business development, which were conducted by local entrepreneursfor 50 society members.

STAR Approach

STAR Approach

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• Consulting

o “Led an eight person team in the design and development of a $10M new technology project, andfinished one week ahead of schedule with a saving of 10%”

• Finance

o “Structured, scheduled and forecasted a $10M project using cost analysis tools and logistics modelling,which improved efficiencies and reduced costs by 10%”

• Product Management

o “Led a cross-functional team of eight in the research, design, and feature development of innovativesoftware. Launched one week ahead of schedule with a saving of 10%”

U s e t h e s o f t c o p y S k i l l s Wo r k s h e e t te m p l a te to w r i te d o w n y o u r s k i l l s .

1 . Re fe r to t h e l i s t y o u h av e p r e p a r e d e a r l i e r.

2 . U s e t h e C C A o r Wo r k E x p e r i e n c e y o u h av e l i s te d , d e s c r i b e t h e s k i l l s a c q u i r e d a n d l i s t t h e t y p e o f s k i l l s .

3 . Re fe r to t h e exa m p l e s p r o v i d e d .

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1

2Academic

Qualification

Personal Details

Interests/Activities/Skills

Work Experience

and Achievement3

4

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Resume Key Components

Personal Details• Full name• Email address• Telephone number

Education• School and qualification attained• Dates attended• Course title• Achievements

Work Experience & Achievements• Name of employer• Job title/role and dates• Quantify and explain

achievements

Interests/Activities/Skills • Clubs/Volunteering/Sports• Language skills• IT/Software

Resume Key Components

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Chronological Order and the work history section is structured, starting with themost recent position and including dates.

One or two page document

Use real estate wisely, and start each experience description with the mostimpressive, relevant and ready to sell.

Comprehensive and concise and professional.

Resume Format

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Avoid logos, formal and readable font (Arial, Times New Roman- Font Size: 11/12).

Utilise bullet points, avoid large chunks of text and be properly aligned.

Black font with white background.

References are not needed.

Resume Format

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Explain the situation clearly but briefly, just give them the core facts withoutrevealing too much personal details.

How have you been utilising the time in between effectively.

Be upfront and honest and do not cover the gaps.

Gaps in the Employment

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Resume Format

o Pay particular attention to formatting, spelling and grammar

o Where is the prime real estate in your resume?

http://www.ntu.edu.sg/cao/StudentsCareerServices/VMock/Documents/ResumeTemplate.pdf

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Creative Formats

Increase Your Chances

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Help the recruiter/HR to help yourself.

Frontload the relevant and important information in your resume.

Be concise, relevant, result oriented.

Proofread and no typo errors.

Remove any potential biases.

Remove Any Info That May Create a Bias

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An unprofessional email address.

Photographs and residential address are not required unless stated by thecompany.

Marital status, race, religion.

Upkeep you social media profile.

29th July 2020

See you at 3pm!

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NEXT: Ace Your Interview

Q&APlease submit your questions to the Q&A platform

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1. https://www.jobscan.co/blog/how-recruiters-really-read-your-resume/

2. http://nus.edu.sg/CFG/students/career-resources/create-an-impressive-resume#ListExperiences

3. http://nus.edu.sg/CFG/students/career-resources/create-an-impressive-resume#CARFramework

4. https://careers.williams.edu/action-verbs-by-skill-set/

5. https://careersidekick.com/explaining-gaps-in-employment/

6. https://biginterview.com/gaps-in-employment/

7. https://www.careereducation.columbia.edu/resources/resumes-impact-creating-strong-bullet-points#gsc.tab=0

8. http://www.ntu.edu.sg/cao/StudentsCareerServices/VMock/Documents/ResumeTemplate.pdf

References

THANK YOU.