Special Sub-Topic: Writing Your Resume / CV in the UK Click Here To Play: Writing Your Resume / CV in the UK

What should be most prominent on your resume?

Your name. You should include the title of the job you are applying for and the name of your contact on a covering letter, unless you are specifically instructed otherwise. It should be obvious that the document is a resume, so there is no need to spell it out. Your name is the key information which will be used to identify your resume, and underneath or alongside it should be your contact details. Don’t forget to include details of work permits, if relevant.

You want your resume to stand out from the crowd. How can you best achieve that?

Use one font and a few lines imaginatively - stand out through use of good design. Your resume must be clear, correctly spelt, and if at all possible, should be word-processed. Do not overcomplicate it with unnecessary colours or fonts: use any design elements to add clarity.

In the first section of your resume, you need to set out your objective (although you could put this in the covering letter). A good objective will be:

Specific and tailored to the job you are applying for. This is going to be the most important part of your resume. The other sections merely provide evidence to back up your objective. Of course, you should be truthful, but remember to describe what job you want, and what you can offer to the organisation you are applying to. Don't ramble on, or try to be amusing - it is unlikely to impress employers.

You’ve had a wide variety of jobs in the past. Which past employment should you include on your resume?

Full- and part-time jobs, in reverse chronological order. There is no need to include short-term agency jobs or work experience gained in the distant past, unless it is directly relevant to the post you are applying for. You must, however, account for your full- and part-time jobs, or there will be gaps on your resume, which a suspicious employer could read as being a bad sign. Don't forget to include voluntary positions, and to give more details for more recent jobs.

You’ve acquired a lot of qualifications, both through work and at school and college. Which should you include on your resume?

Recent qualifications and all other relevant ones. You want to demonstrate that you are well-qualified for the position, but if you have a master’s degree, there is no need to document every exam result from your schooldays.

You’re applying for a job as filing clerk, so it doesn’t seem relevant that you speak Spanish as a second language. Should you include it on your resume, regardless?

y. Most employers will be impressed by language skills. Even if they may not appear relevant, they may come in useful when communicating with customers or even suppliers. Similarly, it is a good idea to include your computer skills.

An activity you enjoy is drinking beer. You even won a certificate for drinking ten cans in an hour. Should you include this on your resume?

Don't mention it. No employer is going to be impressed with detail of drinking exploits, television-watching habits or a love of partying. You could paraphrase, and claim an interest in ‘socialising’, but better yet, omit it entirely. Include interests which show your personality in a positive light, whether they are sporting, artistic or even collecting, and in particular include any which are relevant to the job you are applying for.

There’s no need to put references on your resume, but you should _____ ?

ask some people if they will provide references for you in future. You’ll need both professional and personal references, but these shouldn’t be from relatives. Don’t forget to ask people in advance if they are willing to provide references, and check their contact details: if they fail to respond when a company writes to them, it is likely to count heavily against you.

Well, you’ve finished your resume, but it doesn’t look very long. How long should a standard resume be?

One to two pages. Unless you have a large amount of relevant experience to list, for a job which requires it (for instance, academic papers published in a niche field) it is best to stick to a couple of sides of paper.

Great – your resume is complete. But now you’re not sure about that job as a filing clerk: a job as an English teacher sounds like fun. Will the same resume be ideal to apply for both jobs?

n. Different jobs will require different resumes, as you will wish to highlight different qualities, qualifications and achievements, and perhaps omit others entirely. Good luck with your resume, and all the best with your next job application!