For successful employment, it is important not only to have positive qualities and professional skills, but also to be able to present them in the most favorable light.
First of all, the employer evaluates a potential employee only by the resume, so every effort must be made to write it. And to do this, you need to know how to correctly compose a resume, what to write in the “About yourself” column, and what mistakes should be avoided when preparing it.
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What should the “About Me” section contain?
When filling out this column, you must understand that this is what gives the employer an idea about the personal and professional characteristics of the applicant. You need to treat it as a brief self-presentation, the content of which determines your future success in employment.
key skills
In order for an employer to be interested in a potential employee, you need to follow three simple rules when filling out the subsection:
- indicate only those skills that correspond to the planned position. There is no need to write down unnecessary characteristics such as “I love dogs”, “I can cook well”, “a faithful and reliable friend” if the vacancy involves a job as a programmer. Sympathy for animals may be needed if the work is related to them, cooking skills - if you want to become a cook, etc.;
- Too many qualities may confuse the employer. A mistake made by many: they indicate a huge range of skills, as if almost Superman himself is applying for the job of a courier. It is important to evaluate your abilities soberly. It is enough to indicate 3-4 qualities that will suit you - and they should interest the future manager;
- There is no point in writing down the characteristics on several sheets. Information “about yourself” should be written down briefly, without overloading, so that the glance can catch the most important thing. In addition, this will indicate that you value time and can formulate thoughts in the most understandable form.
Video: Making a resume. How to write an effective resume?
Important! Fill out the skills subsection strictly taking into account the requirements for the applicant applying for a specific vacancy.
Personal qualities
In addition to professional skills, personal qualities are also important. Describe your strengths honestly, while respecting the fundamental principles:
- conciseness;
- reality;
- compliance with the chosen specialty.
See also: How to get a job without experience. Step-by-step instructions + job search sites
It is enough to indicate 3-5 positions to establish yourself as a person worthy of the desired position.
For example, a future programmer should write:
- I always strive to learn new information in the field of software development;
- I quickly find common ground with the new team;
- It is difficult for me to be disturbed from my working mood by extraneous noises and topics.
In the case of a resume of an applicant for the position of an accountant, it is important to pay attention to:
- I check the statements without fail if there are any doubts;
- I subscribe to news resources for accountants and constantly study updates.
As for the head of the sales department:
- diligent in calculating possible risks;
- I am hardworking and carry out all planned actions to the end;
- ready to take additional courses, including in another city.
Important! You need to pay attention not only to the position itself, but also to the company, its policies and management - depending on these characteristics, the wording must be adjusted in a more “aggressive” direction or, on the contrary, made “softer”.
Achievements and other information
There are no universal recommendations for this subsection; much depends on the specific circumstances. For example, for people working in the trade sector, it would be preferable to include the following information in their resume:
- contributed to the expansion of sales by rationalizing the resources of branches, which made it possible to increase overall profits by 10%;
- in times of crisis, ensured minimal losses among regular customers;
- implemented a strategy to eliminate competitors in extensive retail chains, resulting in a 15% increase in profits;
- was consistently among the top three employees of the month;
- developed new tactics to attract customers, which helped expand the base by 60 customers in one year, with 10 of them recognized as large ones.
Software professionals are advised to adhere to the following language:
- contributed to a 3-fold reduction in server accident rates;
- led the team for the development and promotion of an online store project, which was included in the TOP 3 search engine rankings;
- ensured improved security of the company's confidential information;
- carried out a complete diagnostic of the company’s technical equipment, which helped reduce its maintenance costs by a quarter.
In addition it is also worth indicating:
- completed courses and existing certificates;
- breaks in service;
- having a driver's license;
- reasons for leaving previous places of employment.
When describing achievements and other information, the main emphasis should be on one principle - the employer must understand the actions taken by the applicant and the final result of their implementation.
See also: Professional skills in a resume - an example of filling out for different professions. What are they and which ones should you indicate to get a job?
“About” block
There is no point in focusing too much on this point. You can enter information into it that should interest the employer and win him over.
For example, an accountant may enter the following information:
- there are publications in the publications “Home Accounting”, “Accounting”;
- possibility of business trips;
- married, one child;
- I annually renew my subscription to specialized accounting magazines to always be aware of changes;
- I can work with all MS Office programs.
A future sales manager can try to interest a recruiter like this:
- I easily find contact with people of different ages and professions;
- have a driver's license and a personal car;
- the possibility of business trips, including for a long period of time;
- I am interested in learning the German language, I interned for 2 months in Germany;
- I am a confident user of MS Office programs and know how to operate office equipment.
Good to know: Additional information in the resume
For an applicant for the position of driver, the “about me” column may look like this:
- married, two children;
- driving experience more than 15 years;
- ready to work on an irregular schedule;
- I have experience driving passenger buses.
A candidate for a sales position in the sports department can write:
- I enjoy snowboarding, roller skating, skateboarding, and cycling;
- I organize hiking trips on weekends;
- I am a candidate master or master of sports;
- took part in testing sports equipment.
How to write “About yourself” in a resume - examples
A good example for a sales manager:
“Extensive experience in sales and customer service in Russian companies and abroad. I have effective tools for working with the premium segment. I am fluent in English and professional vocabulary. I am learning Chinese at a conversational level. I have experience in studying and implementing new developments in the field of sales strategies.”
An applicant for the position of financial director should indicate the following:
“More than 8 years of experience at manufacturing enterprises in large multi-industry holdings. I am proficient in tools for assessing assets, risks, and profitability. I have expert knowledge in the field of accounting and financial analysis. Successful experience in attracting investors and passing on-site tax audits. Experience in managing a team of up to 400 people.”
A bad example for any vacancy:
“I get along well with the team, I am very flexible and resistant to stressful situations. I don't drink alcohol, I don't smoke. I can charge the entire team with energy. I often go skiing with my family. PC is a confident user.”
Creating a “working” resume - examples
An example of a correct resume for a candidate for a sales position in a large trading company:
Full name: Shavlinsky Ilya Tavridovich.
Date of birth: December 12, 1978.
Place of residence: Novosibirsk.
Telephone.
E-mail: [email protected] ***.com
8 years of experience as a head of the sales department. Was involved in the successful development and implementation of strategies for attracting new clients and expanding sales volumes. Created and led a team that achieved high performance in the sales market.
Experience and skills include:
- negotiations at various levels;
- personnel management: selection, training, motivation;
- rationalization of business project costs to achieve high performance;
- concluding transactions and ensuring control over the fulfillment of contractual obligations;
- knowledge of English at an advanced level.
Work experience: Trading Firm LLC: a leading supplier of construction equipment and tools from Russian and foreign manufacturers.
Head of Sales Department (09.2011 – present):
- market research and development of a cooperation plan with major clients;
- optimization of business projects, which made it possible to increase profits by 2,500,000 rubles per month;
- ensuring control over accounts receivable and fulfillment of contractual obligations;
- resolving conflict situations with clients, monitoring the quality of supplies;
- fulfillment of the sales plan using strategies for searching and attracting new customers.
Education: Moscow Trade and Financial Institute (2003-2008).
Specialty: Economics and management.
Additional education: short-term courses in the MBA program at the International School of Commerce, 2021; English language courses at the English School, 2014
What should you not write on your resume?
To increase your likelihood of employment, when preparing your resume, it is important to consider:
- you should avoid personal pronouns: “I did”, “I need”, “I helped” - all this will only worsen the overall perception of the characteristic;
- overly complex sentences worsen the chances of a positive decision. It should be taken into account that managers are often forced to review several hundred applications, on each of which they spend no more than 5 minutes. Therefore, complex formulations distract the attention of the inspector;
- you should not try to joke, point out personal, family or financial problems - the employer does not need all this, but such clarifications do not characterize the candidate from the best side;
- Lack of literacy indicates an insufficient level of education or a disregard for filling out a resume. It is difficult to work with such employees, so there is a high probability of refusal;
- there is no need to go into unnecessary details: the listing of all school achievements, hobbies, situations involving participation in tourist trips is mostly skipped by the inspector or immediately put aside in the “refusal” category.
See also: Participation in tenders, government procurement and electronic trading for beginners
The resume will be studied by a person who has not even seen the candidate in person, which is why it is so important to be able to briefly display as much information as possible.
Common Mistakes
Many candidates repel the recruiter by continuing to list their merits in the “about themselves” column. For example, it would be a mistake to write that you are:
- responsible, scrupulous, proactive;
- sociable, attentive, conscientious;
- creative, talented, resourceful.
It will be enough if you list all your advantages in the “personal qualities” column.
Good to know: Your hobbies and interests in your resume
In addition, keep in mind that computer knowledge can be tested during an interview. The same applies to information regarding knowledge of foreign languages.
Useful tips
Additional recommendations worth highlighting:
- The number of pages in a resume is no more than two;
- In each subsection, the basic information is first written down, and only then possible additions;
- You do not need to include social media addresses in your contact information. The best option: email address and valid telephone number;
- There are problems with literacy - before sending, you should ask a more educated person to check the text for errors or use the paid services of a proofreader;
- The photograph should be taken in a professional studio - home-made images taken by yourself can leave an unpleasant impression.
As a final recommendation, involve a knowledgeable person in writing your resume. This can be either a friend or an outside specialist.
Advice from professionals
Some recruiters fundamentally do not read this block of information or get acquainted with it at a glance. The reason is quite banal: lack of time. To find the right candidate for a vacant position, you have to sort through hundreds of submitted resumes in a short time. However, this does not mean that the column can be easily thrown away. Leave it there and keep the information short and concise.
Professionals recommend:
- do not use complex sentences;
- do not repeat in the “About yourself” column the information that is already in the document;
- if the work experience is enormous, in the opinion of the applicant, this information can be omitted;
- instead of banal definitions and superficial information, prefer not to write anything;
- A resume is not an essay and should not contain false information.
If you follow all these tips, you can create a column easily and without unnecessary questions. Don’t waste a lot of time and effort on it; there are more important points in your resume that the employer will definitely pay attention to. Negligent behavior is also not acceptable. If the applicant provides a competent and clear resume that meets all modern rules, then the approach to it will be appropriate.
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One comment on “What to write about yourself on your resume”
- Anastasia:
03/20/2018 at 07:38
Responsiveness Politeness Ability to easily find contact with people Self-confidence Ability to easily maintain business and professional contacts Ability to prioritize Optimism Active life position Ability to achieve goals Ability to effectively plan your time Creative thinking
Answer