Reorganised my previous sharing in this presentation on how to make good changes to your resume, especially for Fresh Grads.

1. Recharge Your Résumé
& Boost your chances!
By Chuah Kee Man (www.chuahkeeman.com)
Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

2. Résumé &
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Are they the same?

3. Résumé
a concise outline (1-2
pages) of your skills,
education and experience.

4. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
An in-depth document of your
qualifications, experience,
skills, publications,
achievements, etc. (can be
more than 3 pages)

5. Résumé is more
commonly used in the
industries (especially
private companies).

6. CV is mostly used when
applying for academic,
scientific, or research
positions

7. Let’s improve your résumé!

8. One recent study showed that
recruiters spend only
6.25 seconds looking at a
candidate’s résumé
before deciding whether he or she
is fit for a job.
~Forbes.com

9. So how to
increase your
visibility via
résumé?

10. #1
Use the Right Layout

11. Bad layout

12. Bad layout

13. Bad Layout
(although it
looks fancy)

14. Neat and
Clean

15. Look for more awesome templates here:
http://www.slideshare.net/keemanxp/awe
some-templates-that-make-your-resume-
impressive

16. Layout: The Basics
 Stick to standard paper size (A4)
and use left or justified alignment.
 Use neat and professional layout
(not too fancy/creative)
 Use suitable font type and font
size (10-11pt).
 Use proper headings for each
section/part

17. Layout: Best Fonts
• Arial
• Calibri
• Garamond
• Georgia
• Times New Roman

18. Layout: The Standard Parts
Use headings to indicate:
 Contact Details (No fancy email like
pikhachu@gmail.com )
 Career Objective (Precise)
 Education
 Skills
 Work Experience
 Achievements/Awards*
 Activities and Interests*
 References
*optional

20. #2
Use the Right Language

21. Language Tips #1
Use strong action verbs
when listing your
experiences. Avoid
“clichés” or overused
words.

22. Worst Words (Overused) Best Words
1. Best of breed
2. Go-getter
3. Think outside of the box
4. Dynamic
5. Synergy
6. Thought leadership
7. Value add
8. Results-driven
9. Team player
10. Bottom-line
1. Achieved
2. Improved
3. Trained/mentored
4. Managed
5. Created
6. Resolved
7. Volunteered
8. Influenced
9. Increased/decreased
10. Won

23. Language Tips #2
Keywords are the key
(use those keywords
mentioned in the ads)

24. Top Keywords
Problem solving
Leadership
Oral/ Written Communication
Team building
Productivity
Adaptable

25. Language Tips #3
Avoid improper
abbreviations

26. Example:
Ass. Manager (Marketing)
Don’t embarrass yourself

27. Language Tips #4
Ask someone to
proofread your resume

28. #3
Use the Right Focus

29. Customise Your Resume!
Make sure you modify
your resume to fit the
position

30. Customisation Example:
Highlight your academic
strengths (e.g. relevant
courses taken) instead of
putting only CGPA.

31. Customisation Example:
Move specific parts up
according to the job. E.g.
Move up skills if your work
experience is limited.

32. Power Up Your Job Search

33. What are the best
ways to search for
jobs?

34. Job Search Tip #1
Make use of your
network of friends and
relatives

35. Job Search Tip #2
Don’t be afraid to accept
“walk-in interviews”

36. Job Search Tip #3
“Advertise” yourself
on job portals (e.g.
Jobstreets or even
local forums)

37. Top Job Search Sites
1. JobsDB Malaysia
2. JobStreet Malaysia
3. MyStarJob.com
4. Mudah.my
5. Bestjobs.com.my

38. Job Search Tip #4
Capitalise on Social
Media especially
Facebook & LinkedIn

40. Extra!
Excel in Interviews

41. Basic Interview Tips
Be Prepared
Be Polite
Be Confident
Be Humble
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ShRr5E4KbxI

42. Avoid These Statements
o I’m a team player
o I’m a perfect fit for this job
o I’m a perfectionist
o I’m a workaholic
o I have good leadership skills
(Be specific,in fact get ready the facts)
E.g. If you are a team player, say “I led my
teams during undergraduate years in two
important projects namely….”

43. Be careful of these questions
during interviews
o “Tell me more about yourself”
o “Are you willing to be relocated?”
o “Why should we hire you?”
o “Why do you want this job?”
o “If we offer you lower pay, will you
accept this post?”
And also the “pause” by the interviewer
half way through.

44. Language Focus during Interview
o Use active voice more instead of
passive voice. (e.g. I conducted the
project…NOT the project was
conducted by me…)
o Use more first-person pronoun (e.g. I,
we)
o Avoid using run-on sentences. Pause
at the right time to highlight
keywords.

45. Are you ready to face
the reality? Good luck!