Thank you for the laughs guys. Now I thought I'd give some love back and enumerate a few key points that local call center applicants should follow when it comes to resume writing.
List your work experience in reverse chronological order
If you're applying for a web designer position then no one cares if you worked as a cashier at McDonald's ten years ago when you were 15. If you still feel the need to mention your fast food experience then shove that info all the way down the list because your prospective employer's main concern is your most recent & most significant work experience.Include where and WHAT you studied
This probably down to the mentality we Filipinos inherited from the Spaniards, but do indicate what you studied in college/university rather than just the school you graduated from. It'll go a long way towards helping the recruiter find the right role for you especially if you're a recent graduate. Also don't be ashamed if you did not get to finish your studies. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates were college drop-outs, remember?Make sense, damn it!
If you want to put your objectives in your CV then make sure you are coherent in doing so. Don't just string together all the high-level industry jargon you know into one long run-on sentence. The following is a real life example of what NOT to write."To be of service and to be attached to the company with stable and firm foundation, well established and fast growing both financial and interpersonal relations. To achieve optimum personal and professional growth. Skill, creativity and innovation."
It's a resume, not a family tree!
Some people have a strange need to put unnecessary information in their resumes. There are a number of people who include their father and mother's name plus their occupations to boot. Some even mention their siblings or children and what year they are in school. Seriously, no one cares about that crap.Being tall and sexy is insignificant (sometimes)
It's probably a cultural thing and what we Filipinos are used to, but unless you're trying out for the Miss Universe pageant there is absolutely no need to include your height and weight in your personal information. Some countries like Australia even forbid the inclusion of a photo in your resume because it might sway the impending decision of employment, ultimately meaning discrimination.HR people do not like jumpers
If you are an experienced applicant but have a history of working in different places for short periods of time (3-6 months) try not to include that information in your resume unless you have a very valid reason for continuously jumping ship (medical emergency, death in the family, sexual harassment case, end of the world, etc). The HR folks will always think you are not capable of committing to any job. Instead, just include the lengthiest experience you have and mention in detail all the responsibilities you had for that job.Don’t strike a pose
You might be a frustrated model-slash-actor but please try and use a professional looking headshot for your resume. Countless times have I seen profiles with ridiculous photos attached. Some use the tried and tested ‘emo’ angle from above the head. Some use cropped group photos where you can see the shoulders of people standing beside them. I even encountered a guy who submitted a full body shot, in jeans and sneakers, in his CV.
Remember you want to appear professional no matter what job you are applying for and this relates to everything from your resume, to your attire, and all the way to your decorum. Smile when you’re being interviewed, don’t let Mr. Crankypants HR person get to you.
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