People tend to get confused as to what they should include in their resume. This article looks at the first section of your resume and what you should - and shouldn't -
The first article in this series – Formatting Your Resume – looked at the fonts and styles you should use in your resume.
This, and following articles, looks at the nuts and bolts: the information you should include in your resume.
Section 1 – Personal Information
This is probably the easiest section. There are really only five things you need to include:
- Your name Sounds simple? Perhaps not. Remember the culture you are applying in. In some countries, the Family name comes before the Christian name. You should always have your name in the order of the country you are living in (eg: in Asian countries, family name then christian name. In US, Australia and most parts of Europe, christian name then family name). In brackets after your name, include your title (Mr, Miss, Mrs, Ms). This just means that your reader knows if you are male or female – not for employment reasons, but so they know who they will be speaking to.
- Address You only need to include your postal address. This is needed so that you can be contacted.
- Contact telephone number Please, don’t put your work number here. How do you explain to your boss a rival company or a recruitment agency calling you at work? If you must leave a work number, please make sure it is your direct line and indicate clearly that it is a work number. If you leave a mobile/cell phone number, and have it turned off, ensure that you have a message bank facility, with a clear, concise and business-like message. You will not look impressive if you use one of those “funny” messages. Remember to check your messages regularly.
- E-mail address Again – it’s so that you can be contacted. Ensure that it is a business-like s-mail. Do you really want prospective employers sending business e-mail to foxychick@whatever? There are plenty of free e-mail providers out there – set one up just for job hunting, using your name only. Leave “fun” e-mail addresses for personal use. They just don’t look professional.
- Drivers Licence details You only need to state if you have a current, full licence. If there are any restrictions on your licence, then state them.
Other Information to include
If you are not a native-born resident of the country you live or are applying to work in, you must include your residential status (eg: permanent resident, work visa, green card holder, working holiday, student visa, etc). This is because different visas have different working permissions attached to them. You should also be prepared to provide a copy of your visa at interview.
All other information really is irrelevant and asking for some of it (eg: marital status, age, religion) is actually against anti-discrimination laws.
In your resume, you don’t need to include the names and ages of your wife and children, but, if you are going to be relocating to a new location, your cover letter (more about that in a future article) should include the information about your family and what you need to do to relocate them.
The most important thing is that your Personal Information section has the correct and full information to allow you to be contacted. It would be a shame if you were just the right person for the job, and nobody could contact you! Don’t assume anything with contact details – and always ensure that you are businesslike.
Remember: your resume is your initial business card to a prospective employer. Ensure that it conveys the image you want to convey: a professional person who is competent and the right fit for the job.
