Jointly reported by:
Rosalind Chiang Fei Yang Sr3A
Ming Xuen Amelia Sr3A
On the 13th of October 2021 (Wednesday), the Kuen Cheng Counseling Department invited speakers from Sunway University to conduct a virtual workshop on Resume Writing and Interview for Senior Middle Three students. The workshop was limited to 150 participants, who applied via google form on a first come first serve basis.
The workshop was conducted mainly in English with the two speakers from Sunway University, Ms. Cindy Chow and Ms. Eileen Khor. The workshop started with Cindy introducing Resume Writing.
Firstly, she mentioned that we should look for keywords when writing a resume. State the information needed in the resume clearly to create a suitable image. For instance, one who applies for a sports scholarship should detail their achievements in sport-related events. Quantify it by listing them in detail, not just summarise the achievements in a few words. Next, prioritise the contents. Following the previous example, a sports scholarship applicant should write their sport-related achievements first before stating other relevant information. The same goes for academic scholarship applicants. They should prioritise their outstanding academic achievements at the beginning of the resume.
Then, we should make the resume memorable. Instead of following a standard template, make the resume personal. Do not copy-paste others’ resumes as it lacks personal character. Furthermore, know how to highlight your strengths. Magnify your strengths by stating incidents that prove good traits. Avoid stating your weaknesses to not disparage yourself. However, one should be truthful about the information written, without exaggerating or disclosing false information.
Lastly, we should take note of the formats of a resume. One of the most important elements of a resume is the font. Be careful not to choose fancy font styles such as cursive fonts. Instead, use standard fonts such as Times New Roman, Arial, and Calibri. For font size, size 11-12 is adequate. One can write in bulleted sentences to make your resume appear clean and organised. Remember, a resume is not an essay! For the final step, name your file properly. State your first and last name, and indicate it as a resume. Save your file in PDF form to prevent any distortion of the resume.
After introducing the techniques of writing a good resume, Cindy talked about interviewing. The goal for an interview is to impress the interviewer as it is the best avenue to market oneself.
Before the interview, we need to research questions about the services, mission, values of the university or institution which can be found online or by asking seniors. One also needs to be mentally prepared. During a face to face interview, arrive earlier than the allotted interview time.
During the interview, formal dress is important for a good first impression. Then, greet the interviewer. Always make eye contact with the interviewer and smile to show confidence. Next, introduce yourself to the interviewer. Give heartfelt answers during the interview and always tie them back to the topic of the interview. If we do not understand the interviewer’s question, apologize and request them to rephrase the question.
Cindy also shared the don’ts in an interview. Do not lie about our experiences, do not complain or bad mouth others, and prevent mumbling. These actions leave a bad impression. If we are asked to comment on our weaknesses, answer the question by giving a strength that is disguised as a weakness.
Moving on, attendees were divided into two groups to practice the techniques with a trial interview with Cindy and Eileen. They asked some common interview questions such as their goals, strengths and weaknesses. Students volunteered and participated actively. They gave feedback and suggestions to use more suitable words during the interview.
After finishing the trial interview, Cindy shared what should be done after the interview. Ask for the interviewer’s contact and send a thank you note to show them respect and appreciation. The talk ended with a question-and-answer session.
