As most job markets are online based, many companies now expect the candidates to upload a CV or resume together with a cover letter. The Australian style of CV could be a bit different to that of your country and it is worth spending time to properly research and address the key points.
Your resume serves to introduce the relevancy of your skills, experience, qualifications and achievements to a recruiter and potential employer. A recruiter or employer may not spend longer than a few minutes reviewing your resume, so it should convey your most relevant achievements in a quick-to-understand style.
If the reader thinks you are a suitable candidate for the role, your resume will have achieved its purpose – an offer to attend an interview.
How long should my resume be?
Your resume should be approximately two to three pages long. If it is substantially longer, eliminate information that isn’t relevant to the role or industry. You can even leave out ten year old part time jobs, internships etc which does not add much value especially if you an experienced professional.
Similarly, if you have an advanced degree, few people are going to be concerned about the exams you took when you were 16 years old. Instead, only include training that is relevant to the position you are applying for.
What NOT to include in a resume
Most job market experts advise candidates to avoid listing their hobbies or interests. Focus instead on the experience and skills that make you suitable for the job you’re applying for. The exceptions occur when you have limited relevant experience or if the employer specifically asks applicants to list hobbies. In these cases, keep it brief.
Even if you are list hobbies consider listing a hobby that requires expertise relevant to the role, such as organisational or communication skills.
What about colours and graphics?
You also do not need to design a creative resume, unless you work in a creative field. Some candidates attempt to produce a more creative resume to stand out, however it really is the relevancy of your skills and experience that will ensure you make a shortlist, not how you present your resume.
What is the best way to layout my resume?
Your resume must look clean, clear and well structured, with enough white space to enhance readability. Use a simple font like Arial 10 or 12 point, and keep formatting, such as italics and underlining, to a minimum. Bullet points are extremely useful as they allow you to highlight key points succinctly and keep the document tidy. Start each one with an action verb if you can (‘created’, ‘managed’, ‘increased’, ‘improved’ etc.), rather than ‘I’.
Format to save for online upload
As for the document layout, most organisations will upload your resume into their database so make sure it is in a commonly accepted format that follows the below structure. We recommend a cleanly formatted Microsoft Word document or PDF with no graphics, images, no fancy formatting or fonts. While a creative CV may look good, graphics and special fonts can be difficult for an ATS to process.
What is good to include at the top?
Start with the basics such as your name, phone number, email address (make sure the email address you use sounds professional) and LinkedIn Profile.
How to do a good skills summary?
The reader of your resume may not have more than a minute to spend scanning each application, particularly if the volume of applications is very high, so including a skills section can capture their attention by making it immediately clear what you can offer. Compile a brief bulleted list of skills and competencies. Use keywords from the job description when creating this part.
Also be bold to list your key career achievements, supported by facts, statistics or links. For example, if you over-achieved on your sales targets, you need to say by what percentage and over what period.
Importance of clearly quantifying your achievements
It is important to quantify your accomplishments – the reader wants to see facts not fluff. Focus on the value you added in each role, rather than simply listing what your duties were. This section shouldn’t read like a job description. Rather, it should tell the story of your unique strengths and accomplishments. Think of your biggest achievements for each role and provide concrete, quantifiable evidence of each. One way to help you do this is to use action verbs such as “managed” or “oversaw”. Such verbs force you to focus on what you achieved and your results in each role, which proves the value of your experience.
It is also advisable not to leave gaps in your recent work history. If you took a year out, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so. Just make sure you illustrate whatever the experience was in a positive way, focusing on the fact that it gave you some great experience and knowledge.
And finally the referees….
The details of references are rarely included on resumes. It’s common for candidates to simply write, “References are available upon request” in this section of your resume. Your recruiter will then reach out for the details of your referees at the appropriate point in the recruitment process.
Remember though, the referees recruiters and employers value the most are those people you reported to directly who can speak about how you used your skills and experience to add value to their organisation. If you are unsure who to provide as a referee.