Checklist for résumé

Size: One page if you are a fresher. Two pages if you have experience. More than two only in exceptional cases (very senior professionals with multiple careers).

Presentation: Clean, and readable. Use only plain fonts and avoid designer fonts.

Writing style: No grammatical errors, spelling mistakes, and poor punctuation. Avoid using personal pronouns.

Contents: It should include name and contact information, objectives, experience, skills and competencies, education and special achievements. Including marital status and hobbies is optional.

Information authenticity: Do not exaggerate or provide false information. Interviewers are smart and can see through.

Salary and perks: Not to be included unless specifically asked for.

References

It is best not to include references on your résumé. Create a separate document with the names, addresses, and correct phone numbers of references.

Don’t…

Hesitate to spend time and effort creating your résumé.

Make your résumé look like your autobiography. It need not chronicle your entire life.

Include unnecessary details about your personal life.

Electronic résumés

Sending your résumé and cover letter via the Internet calls for e-mail etiquettes, if you do not follow them, your document may not be opened or may end up being deleted.

Electronic résumés can be formatted in different ways but the two most acceptable formats are:

Microsoft Word document.

ASCII (American Standard Code for Information Interchange) format: RTF and PDF.

It does not mean that you have to write your résumé several times to have the proper format. You can write it in any word processor and then using the Save As command and save the file in the respective format.

E-mail etiquettes

Make sure you follow some basic etiquettes while sending it by e-mail.

Do not use fancy ids to send your résumés from.

Do not send résumés from your company id as such a gesture is construed to mean misuse of office facility.

Don’t leave the subject line blank. Give details as called for in the advertisement.

Avoid flippant jargon: The e-mail should be professional and formal.

Be case-sensitive: Do not use only lower case or only upper case in an e-mail. Write in a style that you would use for a printed business letter.

Trial dispatch: Before sending your résumé to the potential employer, send it to your own e-mail address as a trial to check and see if it reads fine.

Do not attach EXE files: An EXEcutable file may not be opened by the receiver for fear of a virus.

Do not attach ZIP files: The ZIP file could also contain a virus; besides, the receiver may be intimidated that your résumé is so huge that you need to ZIP it.

Do not attach a password protected document: How can you expect the HR manager to open it without the password?

Customise your cover letters to the job requirement and don’t do a cut and paste job.

Keep a printed copy of the application you have sent by e-mail for your records.

Cover letters

A cover letter is an opportunity to introduce yourself and showcase your qualifications. Here are some guidelines to create a positive impression: Checklist for a cover letter

Size: Not more than one page.

Presentation: Neat and reader-friendly.

Tone: Formal, business-like with confidence.

Writing style: No typographical errors, grammatically correct language and short sentence structure.

Basic information: Date, contact address, phone numbers and e-mail id.

Address to: A specific individual with correct name and designation.

Highlight: Your skills and work experience.

Emphasise: What you can contribute to the company.

List: A couple of achievements that demonstrate your skills and benefits to your present employer.

Demonstrate: Your knowledge of the company and how your skills would match in the light of any new development.

Include: Salary and relocation details only if asked, otherwise they can be discussed during the interview.

Avoid: Any kind of negative information; arrogant approach and desperation.