Resume Writing for the Certificate IV in Training and Assessment Student

Resume Writing for the Job Seeker

Upon completing your Certificate IV in Training and Assessment or other Vocational Training and Assessment Course, many students ask the question... "Now what?" If you are not already employed, creating a standout resume is the best bet at giving you the edge in today tough job market.

For your convenience I have created a sample resume below, basically a 'fill in the blanks' for job seeking students.

TIPS & TRICKS

1. Keep your resume to two pages (three max!)
2. Spell check, spell check, spell check (and proof read) - grammatical errors are not acceptable
3. The real opportunity is within the cover letter so highlight your biggest achievements there
4. Keep the front plain and pages spaced
5. Without 'resume padding' put forward the best version of you

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Vocational Trade School or University - Which Is for You?

Many people around the world are engaged in vocational education and training as well as university level courses. However, when enrolling into a training program it is important to consider which medium of higher education is right for you. There are many differences between university and vocational education and training. Below these differences are outlined for your convenience.

University

• Involves degrees, honours, masters and doctorate level courses and some universities offer associates degrees as a bridge between vocational education and university courses
• Based on theoretical learning
• Generally gives students access to professions that require formal qualifications (teachers, doctors, psychologists, lawyers)
• Usually between three and 6 years, depending on course structure
• Consists of lectures, labs and tutorials
• Lectures generally are over 100 students, tutorials refined to about 30 students
• You must have completed your high school diploma or as a mature aged student pass some other form of test

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A Guide To Effective Business Writing

A good personal assistant or secretary will need to have excellent command of the English language at her fingertips. Emails and letters may have to go out at a seconds notice. Likewise you are responsible for staff memos. Given that you will produce so many scrutinised pieces of writing for both clients and colleagues, your writing must be faultless.

There are easy rules and aspects for all PAs or Secretaries to revise that can help maintain your standard of English. Common mistakes include "their" and "there", all too often PAs send out email with these words being used in place of the other. Everybody will know the meaning of these words,but it is just all too easy to make these mistakes. Another common mistake is "were" and "we're", these have very different meanings but often substitute one another.

Also, be sure that you are clear on the difference between "can" and "may". I can write correctly, infers that I have the ability to write accurately. If I substitute "can" with "may"; the meaning changes and means that perhaps I will write correctly. This is a subtle difference that can make emails and letters look clumsy to the reader.

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