Welcome back to Professional Perspective where industry professionals share their insights regarding various employment related topics!

Zain Ali, Human Resource Manager at Domo Gasoline Corporation Ltd., is back to answer today’s question. Zain’s professional perspective comes from an accumulation of his personal experience as an international student and his professional work experience within various industries, and now as a Human Resource Manager.

Today’s question is:

As a human resources professional, what do you look for in a resume?

Zain’s Professional Perspective

A resume has about 10 seconds to get the recruiter’s attention. If there is nothing that stands out or at catches my attention, I move onto the next one. Here are 4 general things that I look for in a resume:

1. Education – training and certifications

The education an applicant lists provides me with an idea of what kind of person the candidate is – their knowledge, skills, learning attributes, vision and commitment to the field.

2. Experience – employment, internships and volunteering

I look for work related experiences – including both the duration and the organization. Duration denotes commitment and efficiency while the organization shows ambition and capability to handle jobs for different organizations and their products and services.

3. Responsibilities – detailed description

To understand how your experiences have prepared you for the job you are applying for now, I need you to make the connections for me. Your explanation will also tell me whether you are enthused about your previous jobs or otherwise.

4. Format – uniformity and professionalism

Use a good font (Times New Roman, Garamond, Arial or Georgia) and easy to read layout. Black and white is ideal. Adding colour isn’t bad, but the print quality shouldn’t compromise the uniformity or professionalism of your document.

And when it comes to resumes, I have my own pet peeves. As a final tip, don’t get caught having a resume with these:

• Information written in pen
• Coffee stains or other marks
• Improper grammar
• Photos and overly creative designs
• Incorrect information and inflated titles
• Third-person writing
• Long resumes
• Out-dated personal information 

For additional tips on how to develop your resume, visit Student Employment Services’ Online Employment Resources.

Everybody is unique – book an appointment with an RRC Employment Advisor at 204-632-3966 or JobCentre@rrc.ca for personalized supports!

Welcome to the first edition of Professional Perspective where industry professionals share their insights regarding various employment related topics!

Answering today’s question is Zain Ali, Human Resource Manager at Domo Gasoline Corporation Ltd. Zain’s professional perspective comes from an accumulation of his personal experience as an international student and his professional work experience within various industries, and now as a Human Resource Manager.

Today’s question is:

Even though students have just started their 2016 academic term, what would you encourage them to do now to increase their chances of securing employment upon graduation?

Zain’s Professional Perspective

Starting a program can be challenging at times. From getting used to schedules, to knowing the classrooms, staying on top of your notes and assignments, adjusting sleeping patterns to getting groceries. You are likely in a time of many transitions and to help you with this transition and to plan for your future careers, I have listed below some basic ways to get ahead in securing employment right from the beginning.

1. Organization

Organization is the key to succeeding in almost every aspect of life. Every student should begin organizing their schedules and be on top of their academic curriculum. Read up on your program, in detail. Pay extra attention in class, read up on the chapters ahead so that when the Instructor is explaining to you some part of your course, you are well versed.

2. Know your surroundings

It is very crucial for every student to know what their surroundings are like, because sometimes what we are looking for the most may be just around the corner.

For example: What locality do you live in? Does it have a school, hospital or retail stores nearby? Or do you have any organizations or outlets that are related to your program? Are they hiring?

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