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Most employers will spend an average of 20 seconds deciding whether your CV goes into the "Yes" pile, the "Maybe" pile or the wastepaper basket so it is vital that you make a good first impression.
Layout
Your CV should be typed in a business-like font such as Times New Roman or Arial. Avoid fancy fonts, colours (like red, blue, pink, stick to black) and formatting such as coloured backgrounds and decorative borders. Try to keep to no more than two A4 pages. Do not go into great detail about jobs you had more than 10 - 15 years ago.
Personal Profile/Objective statement
Start with a profile of who you are, your key achievements and your plans for your career.
Personal details
Name, home address, phone number, email address and date of birth.
Work experience
List your most recent jobs first. Include the name of your employer, your job title and the dates you started and left. Use bullet points to list your duties. You will probably be asked to explain the reasons for any gaps in your employment so you should be prepared for this.
Education
Include the name of your school, college or university and the dates you attended. If you are just beginning your career you should mention qualifications gained at school including grades. Any professional qualifications should be included here.
Interests
You should only include these if they are of interest to an employer. "Reading, shopping and socialising with friends" isn't very inspiring and is probably best left out. However, any activities where you have leadership or responsibility or which involve you working with other in a team are worth mentioning as is any voluntary work you have done.
Skills
Computer skills including the software packages you have used are essential for most jobs. The obvious ones are Microsoft Office (particularly Word, Excel). Do not make false claims of proficiency. You may be tested on it. Foreign languages, ability to drive and any other relevant technical skills should be included.
References
Supply the names and contact details of two referees, preferably previous employers and, if possible, your current employer. Check with them first that they are willing to do this for you.
Resume Check List
- When saving your resume on the computer, use your last name for the filename. Don't name your resume something generic like "U.S. resume" or "translator 1." This just makes good sense, especially when submitting your resume online, since translation companies will typically file an applicant's material under their last name.
- Proofread your resume thoroughly and have others proofread it. This is particularly important if your native language is not English. Of course, even native English speakers are not immune to typos and poorly worded English. Remember, you have designed your resume as a tool for selling your linguistic skills. If a resume is not flawless, your capabilities will appear questionable.
- Update your resume frequently. Sending out an updated resume is a good excuse to make additional contacts with translation companies. This will also help to keep your name fresh in the minds of prospective clients.
- Don't use photos, word art, and graphic images unless you have a good reason to do so (such as using your logo).
- Don't use acronyms. Most of us know what TAT stands for, but standard resume writing suggests you spell out all proper names. If the name occurs more than once on your resume, it is fine to use an acronym for subsequent occurrences.
Writing Resume Cover Letter
Write a resume cover letter that:
- indicates your interest in a particular company or position,
- summarizes the most important aspects of your education and experience,
- Contact information for the prospective interview is supplied.
To write a resume cover letter - pay attention to the following criteria:
- Not even one spelling or typing error when you write a resume cover letter
- Write a resume cover letter and address it to the appropriate person making the hiring decision. Be sure the name is spelled
correctly and the title is correct. A touch of formality is good too: address the person as "Mr.," "Ms.," "Mrs.," "Miss," "Dr.," or "Professor."
- Write a resume cover letter in your own words – do not plagiarize. Employers are looking for knowledge, enthusiasm, focus..
- Being "natural" makes many people nervous when they write a resume cover letter. And then even more nervous because they are trying to avoid spelling errors and grammatical mistakes.
- When you write a resume cover letter - research the industry and especially the company. You know who they are, understand what they do and they are your choice!
- Use terms and phrases when you write a resume cover letter that are meaningful to the employer. If you are applying for an advertised position, use the requirements in the ad and put them in BOLD type.
We understand that the questions are not limited to above, in case you need to know more or something specific to your career you can write to us at resume@talentdiscoveri.com |
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