Resume Tips And Tricks To Help You Stand Out

Make a Good First Impression
Your resume is the first thing an employer sees from you.  Most employers will use a resume to decide whether you move on to the next stage of the employment process.

  • Create your resume as a word document, as this is a widely accepted format.
  • Layout is important!  Make sure each page is formatted the same and the font is consistent throughout.
  • Always review your resume and cover letter closely to ensure there are no spelling or grammatical errors. Potential employers DO notice.
  • Keep your personal information to a minimum - employers don't need to know how old your children are and if you are married.
  • Clearly list your contact information - ensure your email address is professional sounding!

Tailor Your Resume
You should tailor your resume for each job and ensure your resume showcases your most relevant experience and skills directly related to the role you are applying for.

Career Objective
Include a clear and concise career objective; this should align with the job you are applying for.

Highlight Your Strengths
Set the tone with your strengths, encouraging the employer to read further.

Work History
Use bullet points and avoid long paragraphs. Make sure the language you use is clear, interesting, and easy to read and understand.

  • Start with your most recent job.
  • Use months when stating your dates of employment - not just years.
  • Do not leave gaps in your work history; people will wonder what you are hiding.
  • List your skills, responsibilities and what you achieved in each role.

Cover Letter
Don't forget to attach your cover letter with your resume.  Your cover letter should address key points from the advertisement and highlight how you meet the criteria.

References
Always provide at least two contactable work referees, these should be people who have directly supervised your work and have already agreed to be a professional referee for you.

Employers look for referees from your most recent roles and written references are not highly regarded.

Before You Press Send

  • Have someone you trust review your resume - they will notice if it does not flow logically.
  • Remember - Spell check is your friend
  • Check your layout consistency
  • Set yourself a reminder to follow up and ensure your resume was received!