Natwerk Designs

what do you think of my resume?

Nicole Ilaya D.O.B ** November 1993 School: blah blah Girls High School Interests/Hobbies: Photography, painting, art, music, reading, literature, Advertising, horticulture, interior design, fashion, graphic design, magazines, collecting, commerce, maths, travelling, helping others About me: I am a friendly, enthusiastic and quick learner. I consider myself to be a very creative person and an optimist. I am a very diplomatic thinker, and am keen to listen to other people’s opinions to increase my own knowledge and opinions. I have great initiative and enterprise and believe in seeking opportunities and looking for work, not waiting for it. I am interested in a creative career, particularly in the areas of photography, art, music, commerce and advertising, journalism and fashion. My future goals are to start travelling and to obtain a career as soon as possible, after completing the School Certificate and HSC (Higher School Certificate). Qualities/Skills/Key Strengths: I can adapt easily to different circumstances and am deeply interested in constantly improving my qualities, skills and learning ability. I work well with technology and have high skills in programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel Powerpoint and Publisher. I am determined and believe in commitment to what you are working on. Achievements: Grade 5 AMEB (Australian Music Entertainment Board), Flute Participated for 2 years in Westpac Maths Exams SRC (Student Representative Council) 2008 Commendation on National Trust Competition (essay on heritage sites) Previous employment: N/A Additional Comments: I am keen to enter the workforce and believe that this company will give me the best start to utilise my skills in a professional environment for the mutual benefit of myself and employer. References: blah blah 2o0835720857 blah blah 308572085 -obviously some personal details i haven't included.

Public Comments

1. First off- beware of pyramid schemes. That said, your resume needs work. For example, NEVER leave the previous employment section empty! If you have never held a job, then place in that section something you have done for exchange of assets--have you ever watched your neighbor's kids when they ran to the store? Did you ever mow your neighbors lawn? In the cover letter you can indicate that while you are young, you have a strong work ethic. If you have NOTHING to put in that section, just take it off completely. Since most employers want to see the facts quickly, and do not want to take time out of their busy schedule to read paragraphs, condense down your paragraphs to simple and short bullet points displaying to the potential employer what you have to offer their company. Under additional comments, put a bullet point "See attached letter of recommendation" and then include with your resume and cover letter a letter from a teacher who knows your work ethic. Remember why resumes are important in job hunting: they are essentially snap shots of what kind of employee you would make for a company. Always be professional when writing and placing your resume. I don't know if it is very different in Australia, but in the USA resumes ALWAYS begin with your name and contact info at the top; the first section is the OBJECTIVE (why are you taking the time to write up this resume?); next comes the EMPLOYMENT HISTORY which I have already commented on. Another tip there- psychologists have proven that men tend to think more quantitavely, while women tend to think more qualitavely. If you know the company you are looking at has a woman making hiring decisions, still put it in bullet point format, and you can keep the mushy-gushy stuff. But if it is a man, then they are going to want to see numbers about what you have accomplished in your work experience. EXAMPLE: NAME OF FAMILY TIME FRAME EMPLOYED BY FAMILY **bullet** Babysat 5 children under the age of 10 for approximately 60 hours through the summer. **bullet** Took extra initiative to also clean the home after the 5 children were asleep, culminating in approx. 10% of that 60 hours in proving I was the best nanny that family would ever hire. That may be a crappy example, but if babysitting is your only work experience, get creative on how to sell yourself! After the Experience section then comes EDUCATION-- make sure to mention any extra seminars you have ever attended, awards won, etc.; then you can list after Education any other things like VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE, NOTABLE ACCOMPLISHMENTS, and INTERESTS/HOBBIES. Any personal information about you outside of the Interests/hobbies section needs to be contained to the cover letter. You are just giving a snapshot to an employer in the resume; the cover letter is telling them that you are fresh out of high school (or soon to be graduating) and that you are eager for some "real-world" job experience. Also, there are numerous resources both online and offered through your local Chamber of Commerce and/or public libraries of which you can take advantage. Search for a non-profit employment agency to review your resume if a business teacher at your high school won't do it for you, or even to get a second opinion. Just like beauty, the worth of a resume is in the eye of the beholder, and a resume one person scorns could be an invite for an interview to the next person who sees it. Always keep your chin up and confidence high. Don't expect to land your first attempt (though, don't give up hope it won't happen either!). Be confident and strong, yet acknowledge you have a lot to learn, and talk to everyone you meet and let them know you are a serious student looking for serious experience in the work field...chance has a funny way of placing you in the paths of those looking for a good, hard-working employee. A few of my jobs I have had in the past during college I got simply because the employer recognized I was eager and willing to learn, and was impressed by how I WANTED to work and prove myself. I often knew nothing about the industry, but I proved myself a good study. I have never left a job disgruntled, which also helps when people call my former employers to check on my work ethic and resume.