WRITING SKILLS
WHAT ARE WRITING SKILLS?
• Skills for clearly communicating ideas in a textual
format.
• Why are they important?
• Note-taking vs Note-making
NOTE-MAKING
• Process of reviewing, connecting, and synthesizing
ideas
• How does it help?
Saves times
Stay organised
Active engagement
Retention
STRATEGIES FOR NOTE-MAKING
• The Cornell Method
• Cue Column
• Note-taking column
• Summary area – main ideas and review
STRATEGIES FOR NOTE-MAKING
• Mind-mapping Method
• Central idea
• Branch out – major categories or key concepts
• Sub branches – specific details
• Keywords/images
• Connect ideas
• Hierarchy
STRATEGIES FOR NOTE-MAKING
• Charting
• Determine categories
• Set up the paper in advance by columns
• Record info into the appropriate category
MEETING AGENDA
• What is an agenda?
• Necessity of an agenda:
Prior notice of what will be discussed
Sets clear expectations for the meeting
Maintains focus
Time management
MEETING AGENDA – HOW TO DRAFT ONE
• Make meeting objectives clear
• Be specific
• Clarify expectations and responsibilities
• Estimate a realistic time duration for each topic
• Get feedback from the team
MEETING AGENDA – WHAT TO INCLUDE
• Information items – updates
• Action items – to be completed
• Discussion items – feedback
MINUTES OF MEETING (MoM)
• What is an MoM?
• What to include:
Date and time
Names of participants – present and absent
Motions made and rejected
Decisions made about each item on meeting agenda
Items postponed
Items discussed (not on the agenda)
CIRCULAR
• Effective means of business communication
• Four components: Head, opening, text, signature
• Benefits:
• Inexpensive and quick
• Uniform distribution of info
• Informal and non-obtrusive
• Emergency communication
• Feedback and clarification
RÉSUMÉ
• A document used to summarise work experience,
educational background, and special skills.
• Types:
• Chronological
• Functional
• Combination
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
• Prioritises relevant work experience and
achievements
• Helps to gauge value of recent work experiences
quickly
• Used if you have many years of experience in one
field or if minimal to no gaps between jobs
CHRONOLOGICAL RESUME
• Include:
• List relevant work from most recent to least recent
• Include contact information
• Education
• Skills
• Certifications
FUNCTIONAL RESUME
• Emphasise skills of candidate
• Great for candidates who lack recent, relevant, or
extensive experience
• To include:
• Header – Full name in bold, contact info
• Summary of professional experience – relevant
• List skills – categories like sales, marketing, technical, etc.
• Include work experience, if any
• Education
COMBINATION RESUME
• Both skills and work history
• Good for junior or mid-level candidates with
important, relevant skills that match the job
description
• Connects skills to professional experience
COMBINATION RESUME
• Include:
• Name and contact info
• Summary – relevant skills and work experience
• Skills – Technical and interpersonal
• Professional experience
• Education
STRUCTURE OF A STANDARD RESUME
• Contact info: • Summary or • Professional
• Full name objective experience
• Phone number • This is optional • Reverse
• Email address chronological
• LinkedIn profile • Name, location,
(optional) job title, years of
working
• Professional
• Key
website or
portfolio (if responsibilities +
applicable) accomplishments
STRUCTURE OF A STANDARD RESUME
• Education • Skills • Certifications
• Reverse • Relevant skills • Projects
chronological • Technical • Awards and
• Name, degree, • Interpersonal Honours
graduation date, • Extracurriculars
• Languages
honours
• Volunteer
• Professional
memberships
• References
FONTS AND COLOURS IN A RESUME
• Font must be easy to read
• Let the font size be between 10 and 12 pt
• If resume longer than 2 pages with 10 pt font size,
edit
• Make headings/subheadings bold
• Be consistent in colour scheme
• Use a template if not confident
• Colours evoke emotions – not too bright and flashy
POWER VERBS
• Dynamic and impactful words
• Strength and clarity to writing
• Coordinated, executed, negotiated, resolved,
accomplished