Resume Writing Presentation for students

Career planning and resume writing

1. Use your experiences to demonstrate how you have each of the different KSAs in the JDs 2 STEP List Experiences and Skills (W.I.S.E) W ork Experience I nternational Exposure S tudent Life Activities E ducation and Qualifications

2. C.A.R. Writing Good C.A.R. Statements C ompetency + A ction + R esult 3 STEP Write C.A.R statements about your experiences to demonstrate your  KSAs

3. For each experience, include a bulleted skills statement, following this formula: 3 STEP Putting It Together (C.A.R.) C ompetency verb + details of A ctions + R esult = C.A.R. Begin each bullet point with a strong competency verb (e.g. “researched,” “analysed,”, “publicised”, “recruited”, “negotiated” etc.). Summarise how you carried out the duties and what your contributions and achievements were. Whenever possible, quantify the results of your efforts. If results are not tangible, share the rationale.

4. C ompetency A ctions R esults / R ationale Increased productivity by 20% Reduced by 30mins per day Improved grades from C to A Exceeded sales target by $3,000 Potential impact of 4,000 migrant workers in SG Possibility of furthering research in… With the intention to… For the purpose of.. Created/ Formulated Presented Improved Inspired Expedited Collaborated Conducted Investigated Coordinated Managed Analysed Delivered Conceptualised Developed Research Excel R Programming SPSS Copywriting Photoshop Canva Brainstorming Social media marketing MATLAB NOTE : The above words and phrases are only examples. You may refer to  https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome , or other career websites for more suggestions. C ompetency verb + A ction + R esults/ R ationale C.A.R

5. Communication  Analytical/   Critical Thinking Problem-Solving   & Creative Innovation  Leadership  & People Management  Communicated Negotiated Resolved Collaborated Coordinated Navigated Attended to Convinced Persuaded Presented Analysed Performed trouble-shooting Assessed Investigated Proposed Identified gaps Created Designed Conceptualised Developed Improvised Initiated Strategised Founded Sourced Led Directed  Organised Managed Commanded Championed Pioneered Mentored Inspired C ompetency verb NOTE : The above words and phrases are only examples. You may refer to  https://www.themuse.com/advice/185-powerful-verbs-that-will-make-your-resume-awesome , or other career websites for more suggestions.

6. Think of an achievement in the experience Why would you be proud to share it? Translate that to competence How do you know you were good at it? Find evidence to convince your employer What were the outcomes/results / Rationale ? Consider tangible, measurable outcomes Did you improve, increase, reduce, or optimise something? Did you inspire, motivate, or mentor someone? $ % Hr # R esults / Rationale

7. Efficiency (Cost & Time) Effectiveness (e.g. satisfaction, output, ROI) Accuracy (e.g. reduced failure rate) Quantifiable R esults / R ationale

8. C.A.R. Examples | CCA Marketing director in NUS Club 123 and in charge of creating marketing materials Led a team of 6 members to develop monthly social media campaigns, increasing the club membership by 50%, and overall attendance at signature events by 75%. C - Competency verb? A – Actions, what did you do? R - What was the end results / Rationale?

9. C.A.R. Examples | Technical Project Analyzed data to provide insights Analysed residential property prices, using time series modelling in R, to evaluate the effectiveness of state housing policies. What kind of data? What platforms were used? What was the end results / Rationale?

10. C .A. R . Examples | Various Roles Finance Developed alternative and multi-factor China futures trading strategies for the commodity market, yielding an annual return of 13.8% and Sharpe ratio of 0.5 . Human Resource Reviewed the employee onboarding programme to minimize staff attrition . Medical Research Formulated 9 antibacterial inhalation drugs, with statistical Taguchi design, improving performance in Fine Particle Fraction by 30%. Product Management Conducted medical diagnostics market research in APAC, and developed a “Go to Market” proposal, which was well-received by the management team.

11. Passive verbs: Assisted, Participated in, Involved in, Worked with, Supported, Contributed to, Served as, Assigned to, Tasked with “Self-serving” verbs: Learned, Gained, Developed, Improved in, Adapted to Non-verb: Responsible for and Marketing Director Beyond 2 sentences per bullet point Common Mistakes | Avoid these in the bullet points of your resume

12. Structure and Format: Education Name and contact details clearly stated No photo or address required (unless specified) Include SEP and/or NOC (if any) Highlight scholarships and/or relevant modules taken

13. Structure and Format: Work Experience “Position, Organization” as title List in reverse-chronological order Appropriate professional tone without using first-or third-person pronouns

14. Structure and Format: Extra-curricular Activities Highlight your transferable skills Use “Position, Organization” as title Avoid over-using the same competency verbs Include language and IT (technical skills) Add your interests for a hint to your personality

15. 4 STEP Clear & Uncluttered Layout 1-page, not more than 2 Black font with white background, balance of text with white space Simple, formal and readable font (Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana); font size: 11 or 12 If submit via email, save resume and cover letter in pdf as attachments, and include a brief note in email body stating your purpose Apply Finishing Touches

16. CENTRE FOR FUTURE-READY GRADUATES Cover Letters

17. How Is It Different From a Resume? A well-written 1-page Cover Letter that complements your resume A persuasive piece which allows you to elaborate: Why are you motivated to apply for the internship How your interests  & values align with the organisation’s Why are you a good fit for the company and why the employer should grant you an interview Cover Letter

18. 2. Why are you applying to this role and company? 4. Why me? What about your personality, interests and attributes make you a good fit for this company? 3. Why me? Provide evidence of skills and experience to convince the employers of your fit to the role. 5. Warm sign off + Call to action 1. Introduce yourself and the team you are applying to Overall Structure Resume and Cover letters: Build Your Brand and Attract Recruiters

19. Cover Letter Template < Your Name & Contact Details> <Date> <The Hiring Manager’s Name and Contact Details> Dear Mr/ Ms XYZ (Hiring Manager’s surname), (or Dear Hiring Manager), Subject: Application for the position of <position name> Paragraph 1: Clearly state the position applied for. Briefly introduce yourself , and show genuine interest in the company . Clearly show that you have researched and understood the organization . (4-6 lines) Paragraph 2: State the top 2-3 skills and achievements that make you best suited to this position, supported by specific examples . The answer to the interview question “Give me 2 reasons to hire you” should be described here with clear examples. Think about what the company is looking for in a candidate while you write this part. The purpose of this paragraph is to capture the interest of the employer and make him read your resume. If you are applying for a position that is not related to your studies or past work experience, provide your rationale here. (10-12 lines) Paragraph 3: Closing and call to action. For example: Thank you very much for your time. I have attached herewith my resume for your consideration, and I look forward to hearing from you. If you need further information as a part of this application, I can be reached at <email> or <phone>. Yours sincerely, <Name>

20. Cover Letter Format Not more than 1-page Simple formal and readable font (Arial, Times New Roman, Verdana) with font size: 11-12 Free from typo- and grammatical-errors Cover Letter