Kishurim's Advice to Job Seekers

Preparing Your Resume Chronological Resume Format What to Leave Out of Your Resume The Cover Letter Sending Resumes by E-mail At the Interview After the Interview

Preparing Your Resume

Your resume reflects your level of professionalism. The wording and formatting of your resume testifies to your level of seriousness and thoroughness. A shallow and sloppy resume gives your potential employer a wrong impression of the type of employee you might be.

Remember: Your resume is your calling card. Make sure it is attractive. Have someone else review it. Take a few days to fine-tune it. It is well worth the effort.

The preferred resume format in Israel is the traditional chronological resume format.

Your resume should ideally fit onto one page; maximum two. Use bold fonts for important information and compatible fonts for accompanying information. Use bullets or asterisks to highlight important facts.

Exercise your creativity by contrasting dates, headings and titles with bold and/or italics.
Resumes should be clear and concise. Use parallel construction, state the facts, and don't tell stories.

Chronological Resume Format

Your resume should include the following information:

• Your name, address, home and cellular phone numbers and e-mail address at the top of the page, in a clear and bold font.
• Optional: Career objective, either by position or industry. Make sure it is relevant to your background and experience.
• Employment history, with present position first and the remaining jobs in reverse chronological order. Mention any honors or citations. Each job should include the dates you worked in reverse chronological order and responsibilities you held.
• Education, in reverse chronological order, with most advanced degree mentioned first. Grade-point averages should be noted. Awards or citations should be mentioned.
• Publications, if many should be included in an appendix.
• Membership in professional or volunteer organizations
• Language skills, verbal and written
• Computer skills
• Personal information, including date and place of birth, and family status (expected in Israel, but considered non-professional in the US)
• Military or National Service. Dates and type of service done
• References. It is sufficient just to write: "References to be furnished upon request."

What to Leave Out of Your Resume

• Photographs
• Diplomas and certification documentation
• Reasons for leaving previous jobs
• Your past salaries, and your present salary expectations
• Names and contact information of references
• Abbreviations unclear to the layman

The Cover Letter

Your resume provides the facts. Your cover letter sets a personal tone between you and the potential employer. It will interest him/her more than the resume, because it is the real "you" talking.

A cover letter should be only three or four paragraphs. It should state why you are interested in the position and why you think you are appropriate for the position. Ask the potential employer - in a professional and dignified manner - to call you in for a personal interview.

The cover letter should be convincing, but not demanding. Make sure it is specifically tailored to the position for which you are applying. It should not be a copy of a mass mailing that you have sent to all potential employers. Make the potential employer feel that he/she is the only one you are interested in working for and the only one you have applied to.

Sending Resumes by E-mail

Most employers and recruitment firms prefer that resumes be sent to them by e-mail. By e-mailing your resume, you are proving that you are part of the internet era. You will seem obsolete if you send it by "snail mail" and old-fashioned if you fax it.

Before sending your resume by e-mail, print it out to ensure that there are no problems with your graphics. Do not include any heavy downloads. Make sure that your file and software are virus-free.

At the Interview

• Be punctual. This means not arriving too early as well.
• Make sure you are dressed professionally. Bring a copy of your resume and any other documentation that illustrate the type of work you do.
• Close your cellular phone.
• Research in advance what the potential employer does.
• Listen to the interviewer. Look him/her in the eye. Answer his/her questions.
• Ask intelligent questions about the company and the position.
• Do not malign or bad-mouth former employers.
• Thank the interviewer for his/her time and interest.

After the Interview

• Follow up with a letter showing your interest in the position. Do not call until a week later, unless instructed to do so.
• Always take both acceptance and rejection professionally and graciously. Suppress your excitement as well as your disappointment. There is always a "tomorrow". Your professional reaction will be remembered at future opportunities.
• Make sure to specially thank your referral for his/her initiative.
• Upon assuming your new position, notify your network of contacts and those who provided your referrals. Make sure to thank them as well. You may need them in the future.