TEACHING RESUME WRITING: COMPARING TWO PERSPECTIVES TO ENHANCE CLASSROOM PRACTICE

Abstract

This paper examines the complexities underlying resume writing in relation to current recruitment practices and classroom instruction in Singapore. Interviews were conducted with several corporate personnel from the private and public sectors to identify the essential elements of an effective resume. The findings were then compared with the opinions gathered from a survey administered to a group of university lecturers teaching a course on resume writing. The results of the study showed that differing opinions about what constitutes an effective resume exist between the corporate personnel and lecturers. We argue that classroom instruction for teaching resume writing or any other professional genre should include the voices of corporate personnel. It should also adopt a dialogic approach which would allow learners to critically engage in the writing process by paying close attention to socio-cultural contexts.