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Contents

1.0) Resume .................................................................................................. 3

1.1) The Importance of a Resume? ..................................................................................................... 3
1.2) The Recruitment Process ............................................................................................................. 4
1.3) The Ideal Resume......................................................................................................................... 5
1.4) Use Key Words ............................................................................................................................. 5
1.5) Applying Online: ATS.................................................................................................................... 6
1.6) How to Shine: Tips on Promoting Yourself .................................................................................. 7
1.7) Action Verb List ............................................................................................................................ 8

2.0) Impactful Cover Letter .......................................................................... 13

3.0) Interview Techniques ............................................................................ 15

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1.0) Resume

1.1) The Importance of a Resume?

A resume is an important document that shows your potential employer what you have to
offer.
It concisely summarizes;

• Your Skills
• Work Experience
• Education
A well-written resume can help you stand out from the crowd and increase your chances of
being selected for an interview.

When writing your resume, be sure to tailor it to the position you are applying for. Every
time you apply for a new role, be sure to change your resume highlight the skills and
experience that are relevant to the job you are applying for. Be sure to use keywords that
are specific to the industry or position you are applying for and are in the job description.

Your resume should be easy to read and free of errors. Use clear, concise language and
avoid using jargon that may be difficult for the reader to understand.

Don’t forget to include your contact number so that potential employers can easily get in
touch with you.

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1.2) The Recruitment Process

There is no one-size-fits-all as the recruitment process will vary depending on the specific
organization or company. However, in general, the recruitment process will usually involve
the below broad steps.

SCREENING
Recruiters will review resumes to determine if the candidates are a match for the position.
These can be automatically done using software such as ATS where resumes will be filtered
through ‘the net’ if they include key words in the job description. Such software looks for a
minimum 75% key word match so for this reason remember to Tailor, Tailor Tailor.
Recycling the same content will limit your chances of passing screening of individual jobs. It
really does pay off to incorporate key words from the job posting.

INTERVIEW
In the interview stage, recruiters will ask questions to determine if the candidates are a
good fit for the position and the company. You should be able to;

• Expand on the content of your resume with examples

• Show that you have researched the company and what it does
• Explain why you are a great fitment for the company
Further Interview preparation tips are offered in section 3.0.

FINALISATION
For senior and technical positions, the interview process can be two or even three rounds.
In these cases you may be called back to be interviewed by different personnel in the
company i.e. HR round, departmental round, technical test round.

CLOSING THE DEAL

If successful you will be offered a tentative offer in writing which you must respond to and
accept if interested. It is usual for the company to make a personal call to you to let you
know that you have been selected before they send you the contract.

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1.3) The Ideal Resume

Again, no one-size-fits-all. However, there are some general tips that can help you create
the best possible resume. Don’t forget; Tailor Tailor Tailor. Take the time to make your
resume relevant to each position that you apply for.

HIGHLIGHT YOUR STRENGTHS

Focus on your strengths and accomplishments rather than on your job duties. Your resume
should highlight what you have achieved and not just what you were responsible for.
Include quantifiable information whenever possible, such as numbers or percentages. For
example, instead of saying "managed a team of five people," say "managed a team of five
people who increased sales by 25%."
Here are some tips to help you create the perfect resume:
▪ Use a clean & professional font
▪ Make sure your formatting is consistent
▪ Use bullet points to highlight your achievements
▪ Keep your resume to one or two pages, if possible
▪ Be specific and use quantifiable information whenever possible
▪ Proofread your resume carefully before sending it out
▪ Tailor: Use keywords from the job posting in your resume

1.4) Use Key Words

Keywords are words or phrases that are important to the hiring manager. By including them
in your resume, you can show that you have the right skills and experience for the job.
There are different ways to find keywords relevant to your industry. You can look at the job
listing itself, or do some research on the company or field you're interested in.
CAUTION: Try and avoid ‘stuffing’ your resume with key words just for the sake of it. Be sure
to use them naturally and strategically around your existing content. The goal is to make
your resume stand out, not to make it look like a list of keywords.

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KEY WORD TIPS:

• Start by identifying the keywords from the job listing. Be sure to read the job
description carefully and pay attention to words that are repeated often. These are
likely to be important to the hiring manager.

• Next, think about how your skills and experience match up with those keywords.

EXAMPLE:

Keyword: "account management’"

RESUME: Executed timely customer account management for 14 key clients.

• Try to incorporate them into your job titles, experience descriptions, and skills
section.

• Make sure your resume is easy to read. Don't include too many keywords or use
them in a way that makes your resume difficult to understand.

1.5) Applying Online: ATS

APPLICANT TRACKING SYSTEM (ATS)

An applicant tracking system (ATS) is software that companies can use to automate the hiring
process by filtering job applications by key words.

ATS software uses artificial intelligence (AI) to score resumes based on how well they align with job
requirements. Candidates that pass through ATS filters are shortlisted.

It has been found that 75% of recruiters use some type of ATS system in the hiring process which
means that there’s a good chance that your resume will be up against an ATS before it ever lands on
the desk of a human hiring manager.

For this reason optimizing your resume so that it is ATS-friendly is an important step in your job
search. Remember that you can tune your resume to pass the filters.

HOW ATS WORKS

Most applicant tracking immediately rank and match your resume with the job you applied for.

Although it’s impossible to know exactly what parameters and weights are set by employers, there
are general categories;

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Most score or weight items such as qualifications, education, job titles and compare your resume to
the job description.

Some employers use ‘knockout questions’, such as ‘do you have at least 5 years of experience.’
Make sure you have the necessary years of experience so that you can answer ‘yes’.

Most search for keywords in titles and profile snapshots so incorporate where possible.

HOW TO OPTIMIZE YOUR RESUME TO PASS THE ATS SYSTEM

A few points can help you pass the ATS system. The best advice? Keep Things Simple.

A visually creative resume with colours, headers, charts, will be wasted on an ATS. Its better to save
that for the human recruiter by creating a second copy of your resume. As most ATS strip out
formatting, a plain text format will be easy for the ATS to scan and rank.

Tailor your resume to the job description. If there are skills listed in the job description that you
have, then make sure to add them before you submit it.

Keep your content to under 1000 words as this is highly desirable for ATS shortlisting.

Try and make sure that your resume can incorporate 70-80% of key words as this will help the
software to find a match.

Very often ATS softwares will require that you apply to an online platform and fill out boxes online
with specific sections. In this case you may or may not be required to upload a resume. Mostly these
kinds of applications require you to recreate sections of your resume as per the questions online.
Copy and pasting is fine but you will need to make sure that you structure your answers according to
the specific question. Remember to modify your answers to suit the question.

1.6) How to Shine: Tips on Promoting Yourself

When you're looking for a job you need to convince potential employers that you're the and best
candidate for the job. Here are a few tips on how to do that:

Make a Good First Impression:

When you go for an interview, make sure you dress appropriately and act professionally. Be polite
and respectful to everyone you meet.

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Research the Company:

Find out as much as you can about the company before the interview. Know what they do, their
values, and their goals. This will show that you're interested in the company and that you've put
some effort into preparing for the interview.

Sell Your Skills and Experience:

Your experience and skill set are what you are supposed to sell your recruiter. Make a list of your
accomplishments and be prepared to talk about them. highlight the skills that are relevant to the job
you're applying for.

Prepare Questions for the Interviewer:

Don't just answer their questions, but also ask some of your own. This shows that you're interested
in the job and that you've done your research.

Stay Positive:

Don't criticize your previous employers or talk negatively about past jobs. Keep your tone positive at
all times. Being negative will only make you look bad and it will reflect poorly on the company you're
interviewing with.

Further information on interview techniques is in section 3.0

1.7) Action Verb List

When crafting your resume, be sure to use powerful action verbs and avoid using the same words
over again. Using powerful action verbs will help you get more job offers. The next few pages will
give you a useful selection of action verbs to differentiate your resume.

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Management/Leadership Orientated Action Verbs:

Empowered Advised
Spearheaded Centralized
Implemented Formed
Motivated Fostered
Executed Hired
Pioneered Identified
Mentored Leveraged
Advocated Formalized
Negotiated Enabled
Developed Predicted
Transformed Optimized
Persuaded Resolved
Engineered Restructured
Augmented Trained
Directed Supervised
Aligned Renovated
Aligned Reorganized
Differentiated Trained
Endorsed Sustained
Ensured Revitalized
Shaped

Teamwork Orientated Action Verbs:

Enabled Evaluated
Inspired Instructed
Supported Forecasted
Collaborated Explored
Aided Extracted
Encouraged Substantiated
Facilitated Summarized
Guided Motivated
Taught Elevated
Regulated Participated
Organized Coordinated
Harmonized Volunteered

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Communication Capability Actions Verbs:

Conveyed Documented
Briefed Addressed
Corresponded Informed
Publicized Questioned
Scribed

Research Experience Related Action Verbs:

Discovered Interpreted
Audited Measured
Evaluated Surveyed
Investigated Tracked
Identified Checked
Forecasted Critiqued
Analyzed Conceptualized
Deciphered

Organizational Ability Related Action Verbs:

Charted Recorded
Indexed Overhauled
Correlated Inspected
Classified Grew
Executed Clarified
Integrated Operated
Lifted Generated
Planned Orchestrated
Remodeled Transformed
Revamped Tabulated
Revitalized Standardized
Streamlined Strengthened
Redesigned
Merged

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Technical Experience Action Verbs:

Devised Coded
Engineered Programmed
Installed Troubleshoot
Modified Updated
Networked Launched
Diagnosed Formulated
Detected Discovered
Deployed Repaired
Automated Built
Solved

Mentoring Action Verbs:

Certified Lectured
Authorized Represented
Conferred Scheduled
Coached Supervised
Consulted Tutored
Counseled Taught
Arranged Trained
Encouraged Enabled
Fostered Conducted
Illustrated Stimulated
Guided Coordinated
Interpreted Instructed

Finance Related Action Verbs:

Balanced Planned
Halted Administrated
Researched Equalized
Budgeted Maintained
Appraised Minimized
Calculated

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Creativity Indicating Action Verbs:

Ameliorated Brainstormed
Drafted Curated
Overhauled Intensified
Rejuvenated Visualized
Retrieved Diagrammed
Revitalized Customized
Interceded Conceptualized
Supplemented

Additional Useful Action Verbs:

Surpassed
Succeeded Enacted
Attained Endeavored
Earned Amplified
Outperformed Spearheaded
Achieved Capitalized
Established
Overhauled

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2.0) Impactful Cover Letter

A good cover letter helps you to make a great first impression and increases your chances of getting
shortlisted. Often recruiters specifically request an accompanying cover letter as a mandatory
requirement as they summarize key points of the resume.

A well-written and compelling cover letter will highlight your key skills and relevant work
experiences in a concise manner. Cover letters also let you demonstrate that you took the time to
research the company and understand its needs and requirements.

Do:
Have a strong opening statement that makes clear why you want the job and what you bring
to the table.
Be succinct — a hiring manager should be able to read your letter at a glance.
Share an accomplishment that shows you can address the challenges the employer is facing.

Don’t:
Try to be funny — too often it falls flat.
Send a generic cover letter — customize each one for the specific job.
Go overboard with flattery — be professional and mature.

STRUCTURE OF A COVER LETTER

Make sure that your cover letter is addressed to the right person.

Also, make sure that the position you are applying for is obvious.

INTRODUCTON: Ideally, the beginning portion of your cover letter should begin why you are
applying for the job. You may want to briefly mention where you heard about the vacancy.

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MAIN SKILLS THAT MATCH THE POSITION REQUIREMENTS: Your transferable skills and
competencies can aid in determining your eligibility for a job role, so make sure to mention
any personal qualities or personality attributes that make you a better fit for the role and
more appealing to a hiring manager. If you've had outstanding success in a comparable
position, make sure to focus on that.

WHY ARE YOU INTERESTED IN THE POSITION: Make sure you can describe and convey in
your cover letter what you know about the company and why you want to work for them.
Also, define your career goals in this section.

WHY YOU: It is critical to figure out why you can be the best candidate for the job. Here you
must highlight your previous achievements as well as any extra abilities that might benefit
the firm if you were hired.

ENSURE YOU COVER LETTER WILL PASS AN ATS SCAN: To pass the ATS scan, your cover
letter and resume must be formatted properly include the right keywords. Try to
incorporate some keywords in the job description without ‘over stuffing’ the cover letter.

CLOSING STATEMENT: Demonstrate your eagerness to join the team and invite the recruiter
to contact you to further discuss your suitability in an interview. Sign off the letter with
‘Yours Sincerely’.

In case you don’t hear back from them, send a follow-up email or phone the interviewer if possible.

Always proof read and format your cover letter before submission. It is imperative that you
check your cover letter for spelling, punctuation, and structural issues after you've finished
composing it.

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3.0) Interview Techniques
Getting an interview is amazing but the hard work is not done. They loved your CV and now you
need to present the real professional behind it. Preparation is essential at this stage too so here are
some tips to help you prepare.

BE ENTHUSIASTIC

You can prove to be a desirable candidate if you have an optimistic outlook on your career.

Be specific, and create a step-by-step plan for achieving your objectives. Make your desires known to
the employer by remaining focused and persistent in your aims.

SET YOUR GOALS

Before going for your interview, take the time to think upon and write down where you want to be
in 1 year, 3 years, and 5 years.

Be specific and map out a step-by-step plan on how you’ll achieve those goals.

DO YOUR RESEARCH

Never walk into an interview unprepared. It’s vital that you do your research. Once you
have a good understanding of the organization and role to which you're applying, you'll be
able to discuss your experience within the context of the job.

KNOW YOUR APPLICATION

It's likely you'll be asked about specific roles you've performed, skills and successes that you
have written about in your resume. Ensure that you can speak sincerely and knowledgeably
about your entire application so you're not caught off-guard about something you've
written.

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ANTICIPATE QUESTIONS
Some employers provide more guidance on interview content and structure than others,
but you're likely to be questioned around your main skills and competencies.
Many interviewers ask for a five-minute overview of your relevant career history. In this
case, you should definitely avoid a chronological recital of your work history. Instead, draw
on the main skills and experiences that you want to showcase in your summary.

PLAN YOUR RESPONSES

Employers will be looking for real examples of how you meet the technical and personality
requirements of the job. Create a series of potential well thought-out responses that
convincingly show the relevance of your experience. You will then easily be able to adjust
these responses in your interview.

PREPARE FOR YOUR WEAKNESSES

You may be asked what you feel are your weaknesses. These kinds of questions are
designed to show employees to judge your self-perception. No one wants to work with a big
ego or someone with little self-belief so it’s important to prepare a good answer on this.

Don’t cast any doubt on your abilities to do the job, instead focus on your action plan for
improvement. A good answer would be;

“ I do take my time sometimes, but I think this could actually be a

good thing sometimes when proof reading documents. In other
areas I am now consciously
monitoring how long I take to get things done, so that I meet
the deadline.”

In the example, you have shown;

• Your weakness; speed

• When this is actually a strength; proof reading
• What you are doing to improve this; Monitoring

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PRACTICE!
Practice your responses out loud, in a credible and concise fashion. You should go through
your responses several times to help build your confidence.

PREPARE RELEVANT QUESTIONS FOR THE INTERVIEWER

Interviews are a two-way process. While employers will be assessing you, you should also
ask questions to figure out if you will enjoy working within the organization. Ensure that
your questions are relevant and demonstrate your interest in the position.

Good luck!

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