To help you to do this, we spoke to two experts in the field: Nic Chambers and Lucas Ang. Nic is currently the Managing Director for PageGroup Malaysia which includes the management of Michael Page, a global recruitment company founded in the UK with over 40 years of experience. Meanwhile, Lucas is an Associate Director at PERSOLKELLY Malaysia, one of Asia-Pacific's leading staffing and recruitment providers.
What’s the difference between a resume and a CV?
Lucas: Both terms are used interchangeably but if I were to simplify it, a CV is essentially the lengthier version of a resume. A CV typically includes more information about your professional and academic background.
This can be a comprehensive document on the candidate’s full track record from the research and publications participated in, awards won, and professional memberships. On the other hand, we advise candidates to only include key information relevant to the job they are applying for in a resume like working experience and skillsets.
If you are applying for a job, go with a resume and keep the information concise, then you can always talk more about your experiences and achievements during the interview.
Are cover letters necessary?
Nic: This has been well debated within HR circles and has received more airtime in recent years with the digitalisation of professional profiles on platforms such as LinkedIn. Many HR professionals including myself believe that cover letters are no longer necessary as potential employers are generally able to find detailed information on potential candidates online, which wasn’t necessarily possible 10 – 15 years ago.
That said, my advice to candidates is to follow the requirements of each job advert. If the job advert clearly states that all applications are to be sent with an accompanying cover letter, it’s best to do so.
Is it necessary to adjust your resume according to each company you’re applying for?
Lucas: Certainly. A resume is supposed to be customised depending on the role you are applying for. Again, be very clear about what you can bring to the organisation and how your experiences and skillsets would be beneficial for the role you are applying for.
By customising the resume, you also get to ensure that you do not overload the recruiter with information that is not relevant to what they are looking for. Instead, emphasise your strong points and why they should choose you. All in all, this would increase your chances of landing the job!
How many pages should the resume be?
Nic: This is also a common topic discussed amongst HR professionals with many believing that the golden rule is a maximum of two pages. That said, my personal golden rules are to make sure that regardless of how many years of experience you have, it’s important to ensure your resume isn’t too wordy and nice and concise.
A bullet point format is far better than long-winded paragraphs and is easier for potential employers to get a feel for your skills and experience. The resume should include a mix of technical (hard) skills and human (soft) skills and most importantly and whilst it’s considered a professional document, it’s important to ensure that a resume is written in a way that allows an applicant’s personality to come through at the same time.
What type of formats is suitable for 2023?
Lucas: Think about the job you are applying for. If you are applying for a job in the professional sector, use neutral colours like blue, black, or grey in your resume. Excessive designs may backfire as it can cause the recruiter to lose focus so keeping it to two colour tones is ideal. More importantly, know when and where to use colour in your resume. You can use the same colour tone to direct attention to the headers so the recruiter can immediately identify the key aspects of your resume.
If you are applying for a role that requires creative skills, then it would be good to showcase your creative flair in your resume. No one size fits all, so you need to put in a bit of time for this. For example, you can also refer to the organisation’s colour scheme for your resume.
A resume is essentially the first point of contact so it is crucial that it reflects not only what you as a candidate can do, but also how you fit into what the organisation is looking for.
What is the basic info you should include and what should you not include?
Lucas: Working experience, educational background, and a summary of yourself are a must. The summary should be at the very start of your resume. Avoid using generic terms and instead, be specific and clear about your career aspirations. This shows that you know what you want in a career – a huge plus in the recruiter’s first impression.
Another useful bit of information would be to share a precise reason for leaving your current job. Besides that, you can also consider including a one-liner on your hobbies or interests and this can serve as an indication for the recruiter of who you are as a person.
Headshots are good to have. In fact, they don’t have to be photos taken by a professional at a photo studio and can even be selfies but make sure that you still look professional in them!
As for what is not a must, you can provide references upon request. You also do not need to include your full address in your resume and simply stating the town would be more than enough.
Can you provide a step-by-step guide to writing a great resume?
Nic: Firstly, identify the job you are applying for and research the specific skills and experience required for the position. Then follow these steps:
- Choose a clear and concise format for your resume such as a reverse chronological or functional format.
- Write a strong objective or summary statement that summarises your experience and qualifications for the position.
- Include key skills and achievements in a separate section, using specific and relevant keywords from the job posting.
- Use bullet points to highlight your work experience and accomplishments including job titles, company names, as well as specific responsibilities and achievements.
- Include your educational background and any relevant certifications or professional development courses.
- Proofread your resume for grammar and spelling errors and then have a friend or professional review it for feedback.
- Save your resume in a common format, such as a PDF or Word document, and title it with your name and the position you are applying for.
Lucas: It must be clear from the get-go that you are interested in the company, you know what they do, and what they are looking for. From your cover email to your resume and up to the interview ––– the process will be different for each organisation, so you need to also tailor your approach according to the organisation and job you are applying for.
Ensure that your resume looks professional and neat, and the content is concise. Focus on sharing the tasks you were delegated, and your actual roles and responsibilities.
In fact, before you even apply for the job, have a good think about yourself and know your strengths. Are your work experiences or what you learned in university relevant to the job you are planning to apply for? We tell this a lot to candidates –– it is not about where you look for the job, but how you look for it. Do your research and know whom you are talking to, and you’ll be off to a good head start!
Nic: It’s good to utilise action words and descriptive language to showcase your personality and personal strengths. Likewise, using keywords from the job description will increase the chances of your resume being identified as potentially suitable.
This may all be a lot to take in but just go through the steps slowly and really take the time to prepare an outstanding resume to land the job of your dreams. You got this!
Image credit: Scott Graham on Unsplash