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9. Personal particulars and references
In some countries,
employers cannot request for certain information as it may
be deemed as discriminatory. However, there are employers
who ask for this information. There is no need to put down
your date of birth but it may be necessary to give your age,
marital status and nationality. In some cases, if you are
applying for a job abroad, you may wish to state Mr/Ms as
some employers abroad sometimes have difficulty in identifying
your gender as they may not be familiar wih Asia names. A
common dilemma applicants face is whether to attach references
or not. There is no need to attach references unless it is
specified in the job advertisement.
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10. Interests/Hobbies
Consider what examples (interests/hobbies) you can give
to show that you match the selection criteria.
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11. If they want someone to work as part of a large team,
remeber to say if you belong to a local organisation or if
you are part of a sports team.
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12. If they want someone who will work on their own for large
periods of time,
make a reference to an Open University course
you are considering to undertake.
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13. Copies of certificates
There is no need to attach copies
of certificates, unless the employer requests for it in the
advertisemement.
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14. To fold or not to fold
This is a matter of personal
choice. If you are enclosing certificates, it will make sense
not to try and fold a thick wad of paper. It is better to
send it out in an A4 sized envelope.
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15. Proof reading
Please get a close friend with a good
command of the English Language to edit your resume (if the
application is made in English). Many resumes get rejected
because of poor grammar and choice of words. Sometimes, applicants
forget to change the company name from a previous application
and this may appear in the cover letter! Sometimes, applicants
tend to absent-mindedly state their birth year as the current
year!
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16. Convince the prospective
employer
Your primary objective is to convince the prospective
employer that you are the most suitable candidate who has
the requisite skills, experience and hunger to do the job.
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17. Your resume should be no more than 2 A4 pages
and as every
employer is different, remember to customise your resume to
every job you go after.
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| Always remember - You will never get a second chance
to make a first impression. So do not be modest in writing your
resume. Be factual and objective.
Even if you currently not seeking a job, make it a point to rewrite
your resume once every six months, if not, every quarter. This will
enable you to update it with the career progress you have made in
the past six months. Your resume is your own personal product label
and advertisement - it must be up-to-date and ready for dispatch
to a potential employer at a mement's notice. Updating your resume
is one way to review your career and its relevance to your current
job and potential jobs you are considering.
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About the Author
The article is extracted from a publication
by Kelly Services called "Best Foot Forward". It is a
52 page guide for job seekers on job search tips. To obtain your
very own copy of "Best Foot Forward", please send an email
to Themarcom@kellyservices.com.sg.
Kelly Services is a Fortune 500 company offering
human resources solutions that include temporary services, staff
leasing, outsourcing, vendor on-site and full time placement. With
more than 2500 company owned and operated offices in 26 countries,
Kelly provides nearly 800,000 employees annually.
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