I receive lots of questions about resume writing. Here are a couple of recent ones.
Bob asks: "How is a resume different from a CV?'' The answer is it isn't. Resume is a French word and curriculum vitae is Latin.
The important thing to know is that whatever you call it, this is a document marketing your skills and experience in a positive way. We have a free advice area
on the CareerOne website that includes a dedicated section on resumes. Go to careerone.com.au, click on the News & Advice tab and then click on Resume.
To see samples, click on the Resume templates link at the top. Read the article "Resume writing -- Australian style'' for the basics such as how long to make your CV, what fonts and layout to use, how to cover gaps in work history and more.
Krysta writes: "Should I include comments at the bottom of my resume where I say it will be a pleasure to work with you, etc?''
No Krysta. You could include a paragraph in your cover letter explaining why you want to work for a particular employer but ensure your reasons are well-researched and genuine.
Wendy wants to find a professional resume writer. One way is to visit the Career Development Association of Australia website -- http://www.cdaa.org.au/ -- and use the Find a practitioner link at the top of the home page. Other methods include using the Services & Products tab on the CareerOne website, look at ads in this newspaper or
ask people you know for a recommendation. A couple of things to consider. The internet means you are not restricted to a professional writer in your city or state.
You might need a graduate specialist or someone with experience preparing resumes for mature age workers. You can use the CDAA website for this or browse articles prepared by various specialists in our
Resumes section. For example, "Migrants must adapt resumes for Australian employers'' or "Creating the perfect graduate resume cover specialist areas''. Also, by reading our article "Resume writing --
Australian style'' you will also get a sense of what to expect. A professional will cost anything from $99 for a document generated by an online service such as www.iresume.net/ to $400 for a specialist writer. I would question any quote above that.
And lastly, a comment rather than a question. Darcy points out I left the accent off the word resume in an article in December. He is right. Sometimes the production process turns resume into resume. Sorry.
If you need workplace or career advice, submit your question to Kate at CareerOne's Advice Forums.