Résumé tips
Résumés provide a summary of your skills, employment history, experience, knowledge and abilities relevant to the position.
If you spend time researching and demonstrating how your abilities and attitudes match the role being offered, you will have a greater chance of being short-listed.
Your résumé should be about 2 to 4 pages long.
Tailor your résumé
An effective résumé highlights your skills, behaviours, knowledge and experience for the vacant position. Ensure you have a thorough understanding of the position description and tailor your résumé to show why you’re the most suitable applicant for the role.
Format and layout
Competition is tough so your application needs to stand out. A good résumé is well structured, neatly formatted and flows logically.
You should try to make your résumé easy to read through the use of point form and headings for each section.
Your résumé should include:
- name
- address
- contact details - phone number(s), email
- employment history – start with your most recent job and work backwards
- education - brief summary. Please ensure that you are able to produce documentary evidence of any formal qualifications required for the job
- training - any additional training not covered in education
- personal achievements
- extra-curricular activities and community involvement
- hobbies
- referees – contact details of at two to three referees who can support your claims in relation to the position. At least two should be professional referees and at least one a character referee. Previous supervisors/managers are preferred for the professional referees
Provide evidence
The best résumés demonstrate skills and competencies with evidence. When making a statement, consider the following questions:
- What value did you bring to the workplace or activity?
- How did your actions contribute to the goals of the organisation?
- What part, however small, did you play in: cutting costs, increasing revenue, improving quality, saving time, using technology and/or motivating others?
- What were the business outcomes?
Providing strong examples will help support your application.
Talk about your achievements
Rather than simply listing job duties in your employment history, try to demonstrate your achievements, what you have learned or the commitment level involved.
By quantifying your achievements, we will get a clearer picture of what you did to develop the skills and qualities we are looking for.
Rather than simply listing job duties in your employment history, try to demonstrate your achievements, what you have learned or the commitment level involved.
By quantifying your achievements, we will get a clearer picture of what you did to develop the skills and qualities we are looking for.