1.      We want a polished job application

Many young job applicants think that in order to stand out from the crowd, IT pays to be creative. But there is a fine line between being tastefully different and simply being weird and unprofessional. Instead of packaging a professional and elegant resume and cover letter set as a job application, some job hopefuls hope to stand out by making use of alternative channels such as shameless self promotion and badgering on social networks. This strategy may work for certain job openings, but most HR managers still prefer the traditional, polished job application.

Keep in mind that HR managers need to know where you come from and if you have any relevant experiences and skills that can benefit the company. No matter what you do and how you choose to present yourself as a job candidate, you need to make available this information for the HR Manager in a way that calls for no hassle on his or her end. And IT must be tastefully done.

2.     We like genuinely enthusiastic and sincere people

Expressing enthusiasm and your keenness in the job position is not the same as being desperate. HR managers meet so many job applicants every day that sometimes, they get jaded, and it becomes very easy for them to eliminate ordinary, typical candidates from the running to become the hired one.

That is why it is such a rare breath of fresh air for them when they come across a sincere candidate who seems eager to learn by taking on this particular position in the company. The key point is: you need to show that you really care about the job. Do your research, be mindful about what the HR Manager is looking out for, and be the one.

3.     We like honest people

The job of a HR Manager is to match the right person to the right job. This is why they actually appreciate an honest job candidate, who is upfront about his or her job expectations from the start. Also, by being frank about what your true weaknesses are, you help the HR Manager by allowing him or her to know where your limits lie.

Your honesty makes the life of the HR manager so much easier, and they sure will appreciate your effort and put in just as much in trying to match you to the correct job. Plus, it is also better to set things straight first, before it is too late and you end up in a job position that makes you cry a little inside when you wake up every morning to go to work.

Have some tips or your views to share? Write in to Editorial now! Let’s discuss!

Terrible Internship Myth 1: You will be assigned menial tasks and end up insignificant and completely forgettable.

interns are often imagined as busy worker bees that zip back and forth through the office all day while fetching coffee and making copies. Other common associations include sorting mail and answering phones. These might just be some of the administrative tasks that are typically expected as intern job requirements, but internships are definitely not just about these. In fact, many companies hire interns specifically as extra helping hands to assist and work alongside full-time staff on real projects.

Terrible Internship Myth 2: You will be given opportunities to work on big, important projects that are totally related to what you study and love.

We like to think that employers hire interns because they want to source for new talent and train potential employees for the company’s future. But in reality, most of the time, these companies are also shorthanded. Pressed for time and manpower, employers are forced to concentrate their full-time staff on important tasks while leaving the less critical duties for nobody else but the interns. Bluntly put, internships are mostly about taking on errands that nobody else wants to do or has time for.

But do keep in mind that interns are after all, very green and inexperienced. No boss in the right mind will trust a less than qualified newbie enough with a significant project at first. However, as you go through the motion of completing administrative tasks and observing your colleagues at their jobs, you gain more awareness of what the job really entails and if it is really the best fit for you. What you are really slogging for, is to become more well-informed.

Terrible Internship Myth 3: You might be able to score full-time employment out of your internship.

Many of us go into internships thinking that this could be our big, career-defining break. But again, one must always keep in mind that most of the time, companies hire interns because they really need the extra manpower to tide through that particular period or phase. Even if you leave your employer with a really good impression, they are not obliged to keep your name and remember you for a job opening after you graduate. Who knows what is going to happen a few years down the road? And more often than not, interns find themselves not keen on going back for full-time employment after graduation. So always keep your options and professional network open for whatever opportunities that might just knock on your door.

Terrible Internship Myth 4: Internships at companies with the bigger names and reputation pay better and often provide the best experiences.

The name is everything, but when it comes to internships, it is what you do that makes the biggest difference. Sure, ‘big name’ companies add an impressive layer of shine to your resume and cover letter, but being as highly publicised as their internships must be, these companies attract a larger pool of fresh talent that reduces your chances of being able to showcase your capabilities. But with start-ups, small businesses and lesser-known companies, these smaller organisations often provide more practical opportunities for hands-on tasks, close mentor-ships and skill-building.

Terrible Internship Myth 5: You should only take an internship that is related to your field and desired specialty.

True enough, interning in a particular field that wins your interest is a very good way of establishing important contacts, building rapport and getting your foot in the door. But sometimes, things just don’t go your way. In the event that your desired internships are scarce or down to a depressing zero, it doesn’t mean the end of the world. Say for example, you are interested in writing, and would like to pursue it as your career. But there are many different fields that call for writing skills, and if the field that you want runs out of internship positions, there are always other fields to consider. After all, you are just getting started. Trial and error is a good way of figuring out what you really want, and what you really don’t want.

Like how water and oil can never come together, IT seems almost impossible for pay and passion to achieve even a hint of balance these days. IT is a cruel fact of reality that most of us have had no choice but to learn to accept; and the same goes for even the upbeat and hopeful wide-eyed fresh grad. A survey conducted in the United States revealed that 47% of Generation Y members (ages 18 to 29) are prepared to earn lower salaries and to sacrifice prestige in order to attain more meaningful and interesting work. There is also the notorious legend of the soulless corporate job: high-paying work that feeds on passion and fuels nothing but the worst of Monday Blues.

Which will IT be for you?
There is no right or wrong answer, and neither is there a black and white in this endless debate. It all boils down to choice – a decision that can be made properly only after you consider thoroughly the pros and cons of what you want. Can money alone buy you enough job satisfaction for the road? Do you have a need for emotional fulfilment apart from professional development throughout your career? Think about it. What makes you happy?

“I choose Pay“
There are those who opt for practicality in terms of career choices because simply put: one must survive and dreams cannot be eaten. Remuneration is the top, and sometimes, the one and only decisive factor here. You see, with a high-paying job, you can finally afford to splurge lavishly in the most effortless manner possible, and probably even get that dream car or mansion you’ve been fantasising about for so long.

The downside to this, however, is the very likely possibility that your paycheck will be the only thing worth looking forward to. Aside from Pay Day, you will be dragging yourself to work with reluctance so abundant an amount you could plant gardens of hatred for your job with it. Money mutates into your only concern, and we all know what happens to someone like that. You become The Scrooge. Plus, impressive starting salaries typically face a greater risk of getting stuck in a vicious cycle of stagnancy.

I choose Passion
On the other hand, some people never fail to amaze us with the level of commitment that they are willing to dedicate towards their job. What makes it so unbelievable is the fact that these folks are almost always paid nothing but peanuts. And yet, they are cool with it because money is one of the last things that they are working for. You see, unlike everyone else, they get to go to work with a smile on; they play a part in making a difference with pleasant colleagues and helpful bosses; and they receive ample satisfaction from what they do.

However, peanuts can hardly ever amount up to anything adequate in paying bills and you could have trouble with covering the most basic of needs. You will be criticised for being immature and for not trying hard enough to get a ‘real’ job that pays better. Further down the road, you will find yourself being tormented by comparison and envy as your friends start doing better and better while you remain struggling. Believe it or not, this takes a lot of fun out of what you do and soon enough, you will start to question if passion is truly worth it.

The Checklist

The grass is always greener on the other side. No matter what choice you make, you will end up wondering if things would be better if you went with the other decision instead. Therefore, it is very important that you think really carefully before making one.

In order to make regret less big of a deal for you in future, here’s a checklist of questions that you might want to consider:

• With minimum wage, are you able to cover your basic costs of living such as travel, food, clothes, Insurance, household allowance, etc?
• If not, are you willing or able to take up side jobs to earn extra income?
• How badly do you need the extra money? Are you willing to give up some things in your life in order to incur fewer expenses? Is it a wise decision in the long term?
• Is there some form of compensation for lesser pay such as more meaningful work or more flexible hours?
• How important is it to you to do something you love?
• Can you settle for a better-paying day job while continuing to pursue your interests in your free time as a side job, e.g. doing it on a freelance basis?
• Can you picture yourself still doing this job 5 to 10 years from now?
• Do you feel like you’ve done something great or is it more like a mere waste of time?

Remember, whatever rocks your boat. Good luck!

What do you do when you have a long break for 3 months? Do you just immerse yourself in the fantasy world of World of Warcraft? Or do you go on a shopping spree around the globe? Perhaps an idle break of lazing might recharge the drained mind of yours. Yet, without constant stimulation to the stagnant brain, you might just find yourself floundering when the school semesters open the floodgate of assignments and readings. However, before you decide to plunge straight into the next semester’s readings, before you decide to worry if the brain cells of yours have deteriorated in quality, do allow me to provide a few tips to sharpen your mind during this holiday season.

One way to sharpen the mind of yours is to learn a new language. With abundance of time on your side, learning a new language of your interest can be quite fun. There are quite a number of foreign language institutes in Singapore which provide holidays courses to spark that language learner in you. If you are interested in the romantic language also known as French, you can always turn to Alliance Française de Singapour for a head start in Français. Perhaps you might be interested in the K-pop phenomenon where the fashion wind seems to blow towards nowadays. There are a number of options available such Singapore Korean International School, or NUS Extension where you can pick up Korean as a second or third language. If Korean does not suit your taste, may I recommend a Romance language or more favorably known as Spanish? Also known as the most beneficial second language for native speaker, you can perhaps refer to Las Lilas for a lesson or two.

If you decide that language learning is not your cup of tea, perhaps you might try working the right hemisphere of your brain during the holidays. One of the ways is Sudoku. This world-wide phenomenon can send your brain working overtime while you try to scramble this logic-based, combinatorial, number placement puzzle. With smart phones easily available, one can easily download Sudoku at a nominal price and work at IT while waiting for your public Transportation. If you prefer the hard copy version of Sudoku, you can always head to your nearest bookstore and purchase a copy. Especially, if you have overworked your left side of your brain during the semester through literal essays, you might wish to focus on the right side of your brain during the holidays. After all, a balance will definitely do you good.

A holiday occupation might also come in handy in working that brain of yours. Instead of just spending, why not earn pocket money and pick up a few skills as well? A friend of mine managed to pick up the art of balancing dishes with plates stacked on his arms during his part-time job as a waiter in a Sakae Sushi restaurant. Sometimes, skills such as social Communication and negotiation are brushed up during such employment which might come in useful in future employment. Hence, why not pick up your nearest newspapers and start finding a holiday occupation now?

Hopefully, by the time the summer break ends, the brain of yours would be sharp as a razor and you would not have regretted living the 3 months of holidays in vain.

Working before the deadline

No doubt, the deadline is one of the most powerful sources of motivation, but IT’s not the most welcome source of motivation. Naturally, the best way around IT is to start early, although IT’s easier said than done. But it is possible, of course. You can plan a writing schedule to track your progress and make the most out of the time you spend writing. As such, it is vital that you pick your most productive time of the day to write.

Just a little disclaimer here: the suggested time periods are not hard and fast rules you must follow, and depending on what happens each day, you might write better during a particular time period that seemingly clashes with your preferences. The following is just a guideline that you can take into consideration when you pick a time to write.

Bad times to write

1.            Early mornings and late nights

As mentioned multiple times throughout this series, everyone is different, so we all function better at different times of the day. You should be able to identify roughly if you’re a morning or night person, based on the time of the day when you are most productive. If you’re a morning person, avoid writing at night. The same goes for night owls: try not to write in the morning if possible. However, if you’re an extreme case like me (I’m most productive between 2 to 4 in the morning), you should look for better time slots to write; writing daily at 2 to 4 in the morning is just bad for health.

2.            After meals

A good mood usually translates to higher productivity, but the same can’t be said for the period of time just after a meal, especially a heavy one. Heavy meals tend to make us feel sluggish, and that’s one of the easiest ways to kill creativity. That said, writing a short while after a light meal is fine, because you won’t feel as lethargic. Also, there are ways to go around this after-meal lethargy; I’ll show you all the tips I have gathered for writing in the later instalments of this series.

Good times to write

1.            Mornings and early afternoons, and late evenings and nights

Morning people tend to lose energy as the day progresses, so if you’re a morning person, write in the morning or early afternoon. Night people don’t gain energy as the day progresses; rather, they just have enough energy and focus to write in the late evening and at night even after a busy day.

2.            After meals

Usually, about an hour or two after meals, the after-meal lethargy fades and we feel happy because we’ve already eaten, and we don’t feel sluggish. This makes for a rather nice time to sit down and do some serious writing. For those of us who write better while munching on snacks, the time between two major meals is a good time for a snack and hence possibly a good time to write as well. My usual after-meal time slots for writing are after either breakfast (11 in the morning) or dinner (after 9 at night).

3.            After established ‘rituals’

As Gore Vidal, an American author, says: “First coffee. Then a bowel movement. Then the muse joins me.” I do follow a somewhat similar ritual in the morning if I don’t have to rush off for early classes, and, believe it or not, it works. We can actually prime ourselves to write by initiating a ritual and performing it constantly enough, thereby “Programming” ourselves into a particular mode. It’s like how a glass of milk, the dimming of lights in the bedroom and a bedtime story helps prepare children for bedtime at night. It’s easy to set a writing ritual. Simply find a good time slot you want to establish as your writing time, add in a few actions as part of the ritual (such as getting a mug of coffee, laying out your stationery, showering, or playing music from a particular artiste), and voila! If you do this often enough, you’ll realize that it’s easier to get into the mood for writing.

And next up: analysis of your writing preferences

Now that we’ve looked briefly at how the Where and When aspects can affect our writing, we’ll delve into your writing preferences and from there find the best place and time for you to write your next article. After that, we’ll also move on to the Who aspect and learn more about how the people around you can help or hamper your writing efforts, as well as the How aspect, which is where I’ll guide you through the steps you can take to break through your writing block.

Yes, the choice of where to write does make a huge difference in our productivities. But no, we don’t have to seek out bamboo pavilion in the middle of a lake to achieve that Zen-like calm in order to write well. In this article, we shall be looking at the different kinds of writing studios, based on how they appeal to our different senses.

Analyzing a writing studio

The ideal writing studio is one where you can focus easily on your work and not feel tired, distracted or frustrated easily. We are able to focus and concentrate when we feel safe and secure, and the ideal writing studio contributes to that by providing the appropriate stimulus for our senses. Each kind of stimuli affects us in two ways: the amount of stimuli, and the type of stimuli.

1.             Sight.

Some of us can write in tiny, cluttered dens. Others may prefer a bright, airy and sparse room, as visual clutter translates into mental clutter for them and impedes their creativity and thought process. The amount of visual stimuli needed differs from person to person; a quick look at the location you have chosen can tell you how much visual clutter you require or can tolerate. I need a mixture of both empty space and clutter: empty space around where I write so that I can focus on the writing at hand, and clutter to the sides so I don’t feel intimidated by all the empty space around me.

Apart from the amount of visual stimuli, what we see also matters. I dislike surrounding myself with things that remind me of work, which is why my work desk is full of interesting and fun items. I also work well in places with a quiet and relaxing atmosphere such as cafés. Conversely, you may prefer to surround yourself with work to get yourself “into the mood”.

2.             Smell.

Those who write in cafés will be very familiar with the smell of coffee and food; in fact, the smell of coffee is one of the more common sources of motivation for writers. The smell of food, flowers, and scented candles all have different effects on people based on their preferences and how they are currently feeling (hungry people will be distracted by the smell of food). Also, the strength of the smell is a factor. Some people cannot work with any smell at all.

3.             Taste.

Unlike the previous two more general factors, taste is a far more exclusive factor that only includes food and drinks, but IT has perhaps one of the greatest and most profound influences on writers. I shall like to say that I am currently at a café and I’m feeling slightly hungry. Every now and then I am staring at the menu and thinking of getting some food, and this is impeding my train of thought. Usually, writers crave for different kinds of food and drinks, based on amount, taste, texture, and even temperature. On the other end of the spectrum, there are writers who do not eat or drink at all when they write, so food may be an unwelcome distraction. I tend not to eat when I write, which is why I’m thinking of moving somewhere else to write.

4.             Hearing.

Auditory stimuli may be welcome (such as music and white noise) or unwelcome (such as Construction noise and rowdy people). What may be welcome to one person may not be to another. For instance, I usually listen to rock music while I write, whereas most people I know prefer less ‘rowdy’ music. Also, I am very used to the sound of Construction works so IT isn’t a distraction to me, although the same can’t be said for a lot of people. Naturally, the volume of the sounds we hear matter as well. Pin drop silence can be intimidating, although the lack of sound can help with focus and concentration for some writers.

5.             Touch.

The tactile aspect to a writing studio involves the choice of writing materials, be IT the traditional pen and paper, or the modern computer. For physical writing instruments like pencils, pens or even markers, you’ll want an instrument that feels right in your hand, based on how smoothly it can write, and its size and weight balance. Also important is the choice of paper: texture, type (single-lined or blank or grids), size and colour. For computers, the type of keyboard and the choice of word processor matters in the same way. And finally, no matter what medium you use, the font size, style and colour may affect your writing.

Personally, for physical writing materials, I prefer to use heavier and thicker Mechanical pencils for their weight balance and size (thin pencils feel very odd in my hands), 2B pencil leads for their darkness and A5 notebooks with small grids printed on the paper (because the vertical lines make tabulating, formatting and indenting easy and neat). When I’m typing on a computer, I don’t feel comfortable using any keyboard apart from my laptop’s keyboard, because my keyboard protector has a particular texture that I’m am accustomed to.

Apart from the five senses…

Sometimes, even a studio that appeals to the five senses isn’t enough; you need something that appeals to both your body (such as physical comfort and ergonomics) and your heart (like privacy and security). If your writing studio isn’t ergonomic enough, you’ll probably end up with a backache, not to mention you’ll be stuck in an uncomfortable position for the duration of your writing session.

Because writing is a form of expression, it is difficult for anyone to write if they feel that the world is judging whatever they’re writing. I, for one, certainly cannot write when someone is staring at my screen, which is why of late I don’t write in public places where people can see what’s on my screen easily. It’s the same way we get stressed out during an examination when an examiner walks by and we think that he or she is staring at our answer script. I require this sense of privacy and security when I write, which affects the seat I choose when I’m intending to write in a public area such as a café.

And onwards to the next installment

Now that we’ve gone through the different ways our choice of writing studios can affect us, we’ll move on to the next aspect of reducing the Writer’s block: the When aspect. There, we’ll see how the time and dates play a part in causing or relieving Writer’s block. And after that, we’ll analyze your writing style so you can find your ideal writing studios and the best time for you to write.

But as you stare blankly at the computer screen (or paper, if you prefer writing the old school way), IT stares equally blankly back at you. A voice inside your head screams at you to write, but you just… cannot. Nothing comes to mind, and nothing gets written. Not that you’ve been slacking off for the past few days; you’ve actually been working on that essay since a week ago, but you’ve never written anything apart from your name. IT’s just that somehow you freeze up when you need to write that essay. And before you know it, you’re back on Facebook and YouTube again, munching cookies and sipping coffee, while the evil monster known as Writer’s Block watches from a corner and sniggers to itself, celebrating yet another victory over the Muse.

Yes, Writer’s block. It is that very sense of paralysis that you probably experienced before, that overwhelming feeling and the uncertainty as to how to even begin. It also manifests as the complete lack of energy, focus and motivation that makes you abandon your work almost immediately after you start.

To make things worse, the symptoms of Writer’s block don’t only appear when you’re writing. Any activity that seems overwhelming can make you freeze up and abandon the task altogether, such as individual school projects or learning a foreign language by yourself.

Three Perspectives on Writer’s Block

For a condition that afflicts so many people, students and even professional writers alike, there aren’t many studies and researches regarding writer’s block. Still, to better understand writer’s block, we’ll look briefly at three different perspectives on writer’s block.

Robert Boice, a senior Lecturer who has written many articles on writer’s block, advocates the importance of tacit knowledge in writing. He identifies a two-pronged approach: on one hand, discipline is needed to help a writer stay on track. On the other hand, knowing how to write effectively and seeking support from others helps make writing more pleasurable and rewarding.

Dr. Karen E. Peterson, a psychologist, novelist and former university writing Instructor (amongst her various professions), asserts in her book, Write. 10 Days to Overcome Writer’s Block. Period. That writer’s block is the result of our fight-or-flight response when faced with a difficult writing task. The flight response makes us abandon our task, while the third aspect of the fight-or-flight response, the freeze response, contributes to the feeling of paralysis we get from writer’s block. The book deals mainly with brain research and how it relates to writer’s block, and clearly details a 10-day plan to help readers overcome writer’s block. Dr. Peterson proposes that, once we overcome the flight and freeze responses, we will be ready to fight, or in other words, tackle that essay that we’ve been procrastinating for days.

In addition, Hungarian psychology Professor Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi’s flow theory explains the magical feeling that writers may experience whereby words seem to flow freely and fit together perfectly to create the perfect piece of writing. It is the same feeling that you get when you’re playing an immersive video game that demands your full attention, where the world just fades away and you totally lose track of time and you don’t even feel hungry or thirsty. Some students claim to have experienced flow while in the examination hall and finished their papers smoothly and effortlessly. Now, if you could get yourself into flow, you’ll be able to write smoothly as well, right?

The Cure

Unfortunately, there is no single method that’ll help you overcome writer’s block. Writer’s block is a complex issue that stems from the combined effect of many smaller problems, and you’ll have to solve all of these small problems in order to write smoothly and consistently. And as you’ve probably already noticed from the preceding paragraphs, writer’s block is best tackled with a holistic approach.

Yes, I know how cliché holistic approach sounds, but I assure you that it really helps. In case you’re not convinced, this very article is proof that the methods I will be introducing are indeed useful. Believe it or not, this is written over the course of two weeks, while I juggle an audio editing assignment, a research project, and my revision for my examinations. And I did manage to catch an average of six hours of sleep per day for these two weeks, while sneaking in a couple of hours here and there for gaming.

For ease of memorizing, I have grouped the ways of overcoming writer’s block into 6 components, namely Why, What, Where, When, Who, and How. I’ll cover each section in more detail in my subsequent articles, but for now I’ll run briefly through each aspect to give you a feel of what’s coming up.

WHY

Why do you need to write? Why do you want to write? The WHY aspect explores the rationale behind writing, and it includes both external sources of motivation and internal sources of motivation. For example, if I were to write a novel, I can look forward to the money I may get when I am published, and that serves as an external source of motivation. However, the internal source of motivation that would have a stronger and more long-lasting effect would be that I love writing to begin with, and when I write, I know that I enjoy the process, no matter how difficult it can get at times.

WHAT

What are you writing about? Have you done ample (read: not excessive) background research? In order to write well, you need to have a good grasp of your content. In addition, the choice of subject also affects us psychologically. You might feel uncomfortable writing about a controversial topic for fear of reprise or criticisms from society.

WHERE

Where do you write? Your writing studio matters very much and affects how you write, or don’t write. Needless to say, a comfortable chair and table improves your mood and prevents you from having a stiff neck. Other aspects, such as the choice of writing materials, the amount of clutter and other stimuli, are just as significant. I tend to write on my computer, or with my Mechanical pencil and writing pad, because I can erase and edit easily without making a huge mess. My workspace is full of interesting items because a sparse environment unnerves me. Currently, I have on my table a dragon paperweight, two Japanese mecha model kits, and some fiction books, and it’s just messy enough to look lived-in but not too messy as to look like the aftermath of a natural disaster. Also, I work best with a mug of strong black coffee. The smell is actually already enough to help me stay focused on my task. And noise is always a factor: I need some music or ambient noise around me so that I don’t feel completely isolated. I have designed my own writing studio to suit my writing needs, and it has definitely helped me moderate my mood when I feel that I cannot write well.

WHEN

Some of us (me included) are not morning people. We spend the first waking hour each day in zombie mode, while others are perfectly awake and alert and literally jump out of their beds every morning. Find out the part of the day where you are most alert and productive, and reserve this time period for your most important work. Equally important is your daily schedule. Are you getting enough sleep? Can you squeeze in a bit of time in between lessons to write?

WHO

The WHO aspect is, like the Where aspect, another major factor. Who are you writing for? Who do you interact with during your writing? Who do you rely on for support and help when you need it? The Who aspect explores your interaction and relationship with people and how it contributes to a smooth and enjoyable writing experience.

HOW

Last, but definitely not least, is the How aspect. How do you even begin to write? How do you keep writing till the end? How do you go around overcoming blocks, or writing in spite of any difficulties you may encounter? This is perhaps the most practical aspect, because it deals directly with the process of writing, after all the external factors like environment, food and time have been taken care of.

One Last Thing

I must profess that the methods of overcoming writer’s block that I have and will be covering are not magical pills that will make writer’s block go away forever. Neither are there one-size-fits-all methods that will work for everybody. Everyone is different and unique, and you will have to judge for yourself what’s best for you, and monitor your own writing.

Next up, we will be delving into the first aspect from the aforementioned list: the WHY aspect, where I’ll help you find your motivation to write. Apart from the deadline, that is.

Pre-registration online starts now so hurry and beat the queue!

In this article, you’ll also find a sample résumé, split into its individual sections. There are numerous ways to format a résumé, so you don’t need to stick strictly to the one used in the sample.

A résumé can make or break your interview

Writing your résumé

IT is actually really easy to write a résumé. You should include the following in your résumé:

1. Your personal details

This includes your full name, address, email, and phone numbers placed prominently at the head of the document. Avoid using that funny sounding email that you have created when you were ten; create a new, more professional sounding email address if you have to.

2. Objective (optional)

This is a simple sentence that expresses the aim of your résumé: to get that dream job. This is optional, so you can actually skip this. In fact, I will be skipping this in the final sample, but here is what IT looks like.

3. Education

Under this section, you’ll include your academic qualifications, starting from the most recent all the way down to ‘A’ levels or equivalent. You will need to state the name of the institute, subjects studied, your results and any additional details that may be useful.

4. Work experience

This is where you include your work experiences, if you have any. internships count as well, so do include those if you have interned at a company and find the experience relevant. Again, start with the most recent, and state your position held, the name of the company you worked for, and when you held your position. You will also want to describe the nature of your job, preferably using an active sentence structure. Keep your sentences short and succinct: your interviewers want this as a quick reference, not a detailed report.

5. Skills

This section is meant for you to go into a little more detail about your technical expertise and other relevant skills, such as language and IT skills. Do take note of your grammar here, especially with the word proficient: you can be proficient in something, but you can’t be proficient with something. When in doubt, use another word, as I have done so in the sample.

6. Other experiences

This is where you can put in anything that you think is relevant but not covered in the previous sections. Any Leadership positions you have held, any events you have taken part in, or any awards you have won can be included here. Your interviewers will be looking at this section closely, and this is where you can differentiate yourself from other interviewees. Depending on what you place on this list, you might want to rename this section to something more appropriate (such as ‘Achievements’ or ‘Awards’ and so on).

7. References (optional)

This is where you put in the names of your most recent and important tutors or past employers or anyone who is reliable and knows you well. It’s optional, and even if you include it you can simply leave it as “References are available upon request”, which means that you’ll need to prepare a separate document for your interviewer during the actual interview, should he or she ask for it.

Formatting your résumé

Just like the way you should pay attention to how you look during an interview, you should also put in some effort to the way your résumé looks. Your interviewer probably has an entire stack of résumés to go through, so a well-designed résumé will grab his or her attention. It’s also easy to make your résumé look pleasing.

1. Your photo (optional)

Notice how Property agents always look the same? A simple photograph can tell us enough about a person for us to assign certain qualities to the person in the photograph. We associate high foreheads with trustworthiness, and spectacles with intellect. Choose your photo with great care. Even before the interview, your interviewer is likely to judge you based on your appearance. Pick a photograph that portrays the kind of image you want to project. However, do note that photographs are not required, so this is something you can skip.

2. Presentation

There is actually a field of study dedicated towards the visual aspect of words: such is the power of a well formatted document. You will need to look at a few aspects, such as font, size, alignment, and spacing. Aim for a clean, elegant and professional look. If you’re sending your résumé electronically, stick to common fonts, so that your résumé will look the same on your interviewer’s computer. Fonts such as those in the Times family of typefaces are generally suitable. Separate each section and use a larger font size for the headings. You can also bold the words, or even underline or capitalize the words. Also notice that I have used tables to format the résumé: you can see how the table neatly arranges the text in rows and columns. Try not to cram too many words as well: if possible, your résumé should fit nicely in one or two pages, with ample space between each section for clarity.

And there you have it!

As you can see, writing a résumé isn’t all that difficult. Just bear in mind what qualifications and achievements you have which help you differentiate yourself from the rest, and include them in your résumé. You might also have to write multiple résumés if the companies you’re applying to have different expectations when it comes to your qualifications and skills. Don’t fret; just keep these guidelines in mind, and you’ll have your résumé completed in no time.

We rarely get second chances in life. As a result, only too many job interviewees had left the interview room only to realise that they had again forgotten to ask for clarification from the job interviewer about certain things. This lack of critical information might be what stands between you and a good job offer. So here are 6 questions that you should keep in mind and always have at the ready at your next job interview.

Q1) Could you give me more detail about the responsibilities of the position?

As a job applicant, you have every right to seek further clarification to aid your understanding of the job. Sometimes, the advertised job description could be very vague, such that IT does not furnish you with enough information to make an informed choice. Asking this question during an interview, forces the Recruiter to give you a better description of the position’s responsibilities. With this crucial bit of information, you will be in a better position to decide if the job is really for you.

Q2) Why is there an opening for this position?

Is this a new position – therefore the need for Recruitment? Was someone promoted or transferred to another department – therefore the need for another person to come in and take over? Or is IT simply due to the horrifyingly high turnover rate? Having the Recruiter explain this to you in detail helps you better understand and even analyse the underlying issues that the company is facing.

Q3) What is the company’s corporate culture and Management style like?

This might appear to be a pretty superficial question at face value, but the information that comes along with IT will come in as a very important decisive factor, should you ever find yourself having to decide between job offers. Say, for example, there are two job positions that you are keen on – both of which carry similar titles and have nearly identical job descriptions. But if you consider the environmental factors, you will realise that both positions are actually very different.

Q4) If I were hired, what achievements would you expect to see in me during my first three to six months here?

This question enables you to achieve a better sense of how you will be judged and evaluated, should you be hired for the job. Listen critically and carefully to the job interviewer’s answer. Does it sound like you will be expected to fly towards greatness and results within the first few months? Or will you be given a grace period for learning and adjustment? Remember, unrealistic expectations and overly critical performance evaluations often make tough slave drivers out of employers and poor, miserable employees.

Q5) What are some goals planned ahead in the future for the company?

The interview will be so focused on what you can bring to the job that this question will come in almost like a breath of fresh air. By asking questions like this, it shows the job interviewer that you are concerned with the big picture and the company’s future direction. The interviewer’s answer will also help equip you with a better sense of how you will fit into the company, and what responsibilities are expected of you to achieve these goals. If it all sounds like a good match, then this is pretty much the job for you!

Q6) Do you have any doubts about hiring me for the job?

This is a good question to ask after you are done asking all the important questions. By being straightforward and frank about it, it forces the Recruiter to give in and tell you whatever reservations they might have with regards to hiring you for the advertised job position. So just go ahead and be appropriately confident in yourself. Politely combat the recruiter’s concerns and give them even more reason to hire you as the perfect candidate.