• A résumé is not just a few bits of paper with things scribbled on them about you, your past and your hopes for future employment.
• In many cases it will be the first, and if not appropriate possibly the last, thing that gives you effective contact with a potential employer and applies whether it is the first or last application of your working life.
• It is a summary of you, your past work , life experiences, skills, achievements, ambitions, goals and potential value to the company, that make you the most suitable candidate.
• It is something you can create for yourself or, if you wish, can be done for you by someone else, even a professional. You can also use an online résumé program.
• There is no one, correct format for a résumé. It depends on many factors. These will be discussed in later sections. They take into account presentation styles, type of résumé, career stage, career area, position applied for, …
• Be aware that Résumé and Curriculum Vitae [C.V.] often refer to the same document. This is not the case everywhere in the world [not even in Australia], so be sure to understand they refer to what you know as a résumé.

What does it do ?

Put bluntly, a quality résumé is designed to achieve the following things :

• be a first contact with potential employers, especially the person involved in the employment process;
• grasp their attention in the first few moments, so they do more than skim what is presented and then throw it aside. It has to grab their attention;
• present your special qualities, skills and attributes in a very brief period of time, using limited material and present them in a positive manner;
• impress the reader of your suitability for the position being sought and create the belief you are better than most, if not all, other applicants and can best fill the position;
• get you to the next stage of the selection process - the interview;

If it can achieve this, then it has done its task.

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There are several golden rules about content. Make sure you understand them. More importantly, ensure they are implemented.

• The first rule is - content has to be relevant.
  No résumé reader wants a life history. They are only interested in your skills, qualifications, experiences, past achievements and future aims, not that you are an only child. They not only do not want it, they don’t have the time or interest to read it.
• The second rule is - it has to be relevant to the advertised position.
  It still amazes us that people send in generic résumés, or one previously used for a position with different criteria, and still expect success. The usual result is disposal in a circular file. All content must address the requirements and description of this position.
• This means you should be doing background work to ensure you know what is involved with this position, the company involved and future implications and opportunities. There are many ways of doing this - company information, industry information, information from the web, … . Ensure it is factual and accurate. Once found, use it to tailor content listed below to gain the greatest impact.
• The third rule is to include each of the following items.
• Your Contact Details. If they can’t get in touch, it doesn’t matter how good the résumé is.
• Name [preferred version];
• Current mailing address. If change is likely, consider supplying an address which will remain the same for the application period;
• Telephone numbers. Home, work and mobile numbers should be supplied. Be certain you know who will answer and that they will be answered appropriately;
• Email address if you have one. Don’t forget to check for messages !
• Personal web page details. If yours has relevant material, consider including the URL. Take care the site does not contain material that could have a negative impact before adding it.
• It is not necessary to include other personal details, unless these are specifically requested. This would only be likely when completing an online résumé or a pro forma requested by a company.
• Your Qualifications
• Qualifications should be included using a reverse listing approach. Begin with the most recent qualification and work back to the earliest. This appears the most common commonly accepted method.
• If you finished school some time ago, details of this will be brief. If you have just finished school, then you need to provide greater detail on subjects, levels achieved, special awards and other relevant details.
• With higher qualifications, these should be listed indicating the qualification, major area[s] of study, university or college name and the year it was completed. If you are still to complete a qualification, use those details but include the anticipated completion date.
• You should note major achievements gained while doing these courses, e.g. levels of achievement [grade levels], awards, grants, scholarships, honours, … , especially when it enhances the level of achievement;
• If you have been involved in professional development, include this. If you have no tertiary qualifications, it shows you are serious about improving knowledge, skills and understanding. Even with tertiary qualifications, it indicates commitment to improvement.
• However, be selective. Ensure you include those applicable to the position, while those with no relevance [e.g. underwater macrame] are omitted.
• Include Professional Development information as a sub-section in the qualification record, with each inclusion showing title, where and when it was done.
• Your Achievements & Experiences
• List any work experience. Provide the following : position title, employer’s name, when employed [give month and year for commencement and conclusion]. For experiences you wish to emphasise, include specific responsibilities and any specific achievements.
• Be careful using present and past tense listing these - present applies to your present position, past tense applies to all previous listings.
• Include action verbs and ‘keywords’ [see later information] when developing points. Be brief but specific in what you say.
• Concentrate on aspects most relevant to this position. Don’t try to include every responsibility or achievement. You do not want a document as thick as an encyclopaedia.
• Point form, especially for responsibilities, is by far the best method of recording.
• Don’t include anything that is false. If you do, you will be found out !
• Include all relevant experiences, i.e. positions. Emphasise the most relevant and where you have gained greatest achievement by adding greater detail. For the less relevant, just provide a listing.
• Purposeful omission is as bad as claiming something you didn’t do. Reviewers always query gaps. It always comes out when suspicion is raised.
• Your Referees
• Ensure you choose referees who are work-related. Personal referees always support a candidate, so their involvement may be ignored.
• Where possible, your immediate supervisor is the preferred option. If this creates a difficulty, irrespective of the reason, seek an alternative at the same level, or find a co-worker who will do the job. If you are not using your supervisor, be able to explain why. You will be asked.
• Ensure your referees have agreed to act, know what the position is and can present you in the best light. They need time to prepare, and must never be put in a position where they are contacted without knowing. It is not fair to them. Unless they are very capable, it will not be fair to you. They can make or break your application in a few moments. Why take the chance of your discourtesy causing this ?
• Ensure accurate name, position and contact details of each referee is included.
• Other Possible Inclusions
• What you see as career objectives;
• A summary of strengths and special attributes;
• Special skills you possess, e.g. foreign language[s], specific technology skills, … ;
• Membership of relevant professional groups;
• Interests which apply to the position being sought.
• In doing so, remember the following :
• Everything you include must be relevant to what you are applying for;
• It has to be done in a few sentences. Remember, reviewers will only spend a short period of time looking at what is submitted. If too lengthy, it will not be read !
• Don’t lie about anything. Remember - the truth will always be found out.
• For everything else, with the exception of what has been listed, there is one simple rule.
• The résumé is designed to get you to an interview or at least to a second round selection process.
• You need to grab a person’s attention in the first minute, and convince them of your worth for a particular position. Anything other than this will prove too long or too irrelevant.

For information on using action verbs, special keywords, ways of defining achievement and a covering letter, see the following sections.

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Substance, style, size, prettiness, … . So many decisions ! Not really !

• Substance must always win over style and prettiness. As Brenton Moore recently said in the SMH - ‘Don’t spend too much time on prettying up the document to the detriment of the information it contains.’
• This doesn’t suggest scraps of paper looking like they have been through a shredder or blown around the yard; full of spelling and grammatical errors; not addressing the position; containing information you cannot back up as true; …
• While facts must be accurate and brief, your document should also be :
• Neat and tidy, printed on plain white, standard-sized paper;
• Checked and double-checked for spelling and grammatical accuracy [by others if necessary];
• Set out logically and clearly [see Content section];
• Easy to read, having :
• a plain font in a size that is easy to read;
• bullet points for details;
• reasonable amounts of white space around the print;
• standard margins;
• a consistent format and layout for all pages;
• numbered pages;
• been printed using a quality printer. If necessary, use a friend’s or a professional source.
• When writing content, :
• be positive not negative;
• begin points using action verbs. Lists are available for most industries. Examples for Education include - adapted, assessed, demonstrated, evaluated, innovated, tutored, … ;
• use particular industry keywords. As with action verbs, there are lists available [e.g. AllJobs.com.au ]. Again, using Education - primary, secondary, teacher, tutor, vocational, university, degree, qualifications, … ;
• do not use acronyms without indicating what they mean. You cannot rely on a reviewer knowing what they are;
• do not use slang or abbreviate terms. Neither is likely to be viewed positively;
• check spelling and do a final proofreading. This cannot be emphasised enough.
• Be aware there can be different formats for presenting résumés :
• In the past, there has usually been the standard paper-based format, which is the basis of most of the descriptors provided here.
• There are now opportunities, especially with the internet for various kinds of résumés to be generated such as those below.
• Creating with an online résumé builder. These are available on sites like JobGuide. It provides résumé development for various experience levels.
• Other electronic formats. Includes email attachments, a personal webpage, a company’s website form, on a USB stick, CDRom, DVD, posting an online résumé on a major employment portal; using proprietary formats such as PDF, Word, text, etc..
• Each requires you to have skills with the program involved, so it is done effectively. If you don’t have these, gain help or don’t use that method.
• However, retain a paper copy listing all details you want to include. This makes your task easier and ensures you omit nothing important.
• Web based multimedia presentations are another option. They can be effective but can be negative if done ineffectively. Be sure you know what you are doing if using this format.
• In addition to the quality of content, the amount presented is everything :
• Be brief. Most experts today suggest a résumé more than about 4 pages is too big, unless you are applying for a senior executive position.
• This does not include a cover letter or material you take to interview or have available in case it is required.
• Small is beautiful. More is not better.
• Small is likely to be read, thus giving you a chance for success.
• Remember - you have to grab their attention, not drown them in detail.

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There are several different types, but a cover letter is always worthwhile, indeed essential.

• The cover letter may refer to a specific position. It may go with a résumé being sent to several employers. It may result because someone recommends you for a position. Samples of most types are found on a range of Internet sites.
• Like all letters, there should be an introduction, a body and an ending.
• In the introduction, include contact details, company address, an appropriate greeting, position reference number if available and a statement about why you are contacting them.
• The body lists skills, experiences, value you will bring, why you want the position, … . This is where you need to grab their attention.
• The ending indicates your résumé is attached, provides contact details, indicates a willingness to have face-to-face contact or to follow up this initial contact.
• Be sure if you say you will contact them, be available, provide further information if required, … , you do it. Not to do so would ruin your hopes.
• Finish with a salutation [Yours sincerely if addressed to a specific person, Yours faithfully, if not] and your signature, with your name typed below it.
• As with the presentation rules for the content, apply all of these to your cover letter.
• Your cover letter should be no more than 1 page long.
• There are other possible additions. Many of these would be indicated rather than included.
• Specific Application Form. Some companies develop a specific application form for advertised positions. If one is required, complete and enclose it with your résumé. These can usually be downloaded.
• Portfolio. In some instances a work portfolio may be required to demonstrate specific skills. The highest quality should be chosen to show quality and breadth of work. Normally applies in restricted areas such as graphics and media.
• At some levels, especially early in your career, you may be asked to attach copies of documentation. This could include transcripts, qualifications, certificates, … .
• Depending on the position involved, you may be required to provide proof of registration, particular licences, proof of citizenship, visas, … . As a rule of thumb, don’t supply these unless they are requested or there is a specific reason.
• Never send originals. Make copies and send these instead. Ensure copies are of good quality.

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There are many ways of doing this.

• The first and best is to hand deliver your résumé and cover letter [with attachments if required] direct to the company. Where someone is nominated as a contact, hand material over personally if possible. This may be considered old-fashioned but can be valuable.
• It allows you to meet the person/people involved and lets them put a face to a name.
• Taking the time to hand deliver an application reaffirms your interest in that position.
• It is not always practical to do this. The position may be too far away; may be an application to multiple places; an online application may be required; no contact may be given, only a Human Resources Department or recruitment company.
• Post still works and can be effective, but allow enough time.
• Faxing is an option, though there is no control over the quality of what is received at the other end. It relies on their equipment, not yours.
• Using the Internet. Online applications/résumés give no option. It is also possible to send emails, emails plus attachments, PDF documents, web pages, media presentations, … .
• With any but the hand delivered method, allow a reasonable period of time and follow up to ensure material was received. This could be just a phone call where you indicate who you are , that you have forwarded documents for … , and are checking to see they arrived safely and you are looking forward to a response at the appropriate time.
• Always allow enough time to rectify anything that goes wrong before a closing date.

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You are not alone ! Remember, everyone applying for that job is in the same position you are. You are all starting from the same place. How well you do is up to you and the effort you put in.

• If you are not prepared to make the effort, you should not be involved. It will be a waste of everyone’s time. Do you really want to waste time and effort for no purpose ?
• Nor are you alone in developing and forwarding a résumé. If you have confidence in your ability, go for it.
• If you are not as confident, or feel you would benefit from help, some of the following people may help overcome doubts, concerns or lack of knowledge and help you achieve your best. They include :
• family and friends;
• careers advisers and teachers;
• careers counsellors and career groups at tertiary level;
• books and other print material from libraries, groups, … ;
• online sites and material that has either/both advice or examples of quality material and processes.
• Make use of them all.
• Finally, be sure this is what You want to do. Do not lock yourself into what may be a long term commitment where you do not want to be. Be certain, in the final instance, it is your decision, not one made for you. You will be in the position, no one else.
• As with the comment about effort above, if it is not what you want, don’t do it. Stop now and head in a different direction. Take what you have learnt from the process and put it to good use.

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Very few [if any] people are always successful !

• If more than 1 person applies for a position, someone is going to be unsuccessful. Sometimes everyone is unsuccessful, even with only one applicant ! This is a fact of working life.
• We know individuals who were unsuccessful with up to 100 applications before successfully gaining positions they wanted.
• What you do when unsuccessful will influence what happens the next time you apply for a position but only if you learn from the experience.
• If you were not successful on this occasion learn from it. Do not be disheartened. Accept it has happened, move on and look for ways to be better. Use some of the following.
• Go back to your résumé and cover letter. Check the following items.
• Was my résumé directed to the advertised position ?
• Did I include everything needing to be included - contact details, work history, referees, experience, skills, etc. ? Was it done accurately in the format required. If not, how do I make sure I do it next time ?
• Did I include additional material, attachments, copies of documents, … ?
• Was it presented in a neat, logical, accurate manner in an easy to read and understand format ?
• Did I check and ensure that it arrived in time to be considered ?
• How well did I present myself as the best choice rather than just another applicant ? Could I have done better ? If so, how ?
• Was there anything else I should have done ? How do I make sure I do it next time ?
• Go back and check with the contact person.
• Ask for feedback about the application.
• Any quality person will take time to talk to you, indicating what they saw as things that worked against you.
• Even if you disagree, take what is said and use it to work on improving your next résumé, cover letter and application.
• Remember, these people are seeing many résumés and applications. They should know what does and doesn’t work. Consider what is said and make use of their experience and perceptions. They may well be right !
• Make use of a range of sources to help you improve for the future.
• See the list of people in the ‘Is there anything else I need to Consider ?’ section and use them.
• Use a professional résumé writer who will work with you to develop a résumé for a future position.
• Gather up all the new information, access all possible help.
• Keep trying !
• By doing this each time you are not successful, learning what does and does not work, implementing what you learn, refining your résumé and other documentation, you only get better.
• You will grow in confidence and become much more successful !

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Australian Sites

• Aussie Résumé
  Free and Fee-based options covering everything from critiquing a résumé, to writing one, cover letters, coaching and other resources.
• Australian CV
  Information with embedded links.
• Career Guide Australia
  Provision of good advice on careers, interview techniques and résumé development.
• Careers [University of New South Wales]
  One of the best sites for help on search strategies, résumés, interviews and more.
• CV Graduate
  ‘Professional Resume Services By Professional Resume Writers.’ Tailored to students.
• C.V. Writing Tips
  A clear summary of all that is involved.
• Job Applications
  ‘Want to know how to write job applications which will get attention ? The very first thing you should do is get your résumé ready before you apply for any jobs ! Once you’ve done that, start finding out how to write an effective application !’
• Jobs
  Tools, tips, proofreading. All you need for a résumé. Free registration required.
• Résumé
  Covers a résumé in great detail [side menu]. Also has CV and Interview information.
• Résumés
  ‘Want to know how to do a Résumé which will get attention ?’ 6 sections from Introduction to Various Samples.
• Seek
  The résumé builder is user friendly, including useful tips about different sections.
• Successful Résumés Australia
  If you do not feel confident doing it yourself, this group can coach you or do the résumé for you for a fee.
• Youth Central [Vic.]
  Good advice and tools for those about to write their first résumé.

Other Advice & Sites

• About.com
  Links to résumé resources of all kinds.
• Career Advice
  Covers CV writing and ‘How to Dress to Impress’. Also advice on interviews and interview techniques.
• CV, Résumé and Cover Letter
  3 Main sections plus templates and examples.
• CV Résumé and Blog
  CVs, resumes, cover letters, ideas, discussion.
• How to Write A Résumé
  View advice, visit the blog, use the online résumé builder.
• Interactive Résumé
  ‘The purpose of the Interactive Résumé is to get you, the job seeker, invited to as many interviews as possible with employers of your choice. It is a powerful tool that puts you in front of a limitless number of employers.’ Online tool available from Drake International.
• iRésumé
  Help with résumés, store them and more.
• Professional Association of Résumé Writers
  While a US-based organisation, you can find a number of Australians certified as quality [qualified] résumé writers who may be able to help. Also covers Career Coaches.
• Proven Résumé
  A Fee-based site, but some Free tips and hints.

Résumé Software

Software is Free unless otherwise indicated.

• Interactive Résumé Builder
  ‘Makes it easy to document your job assignments, skills, and training in a beautifully laid out HTML file with hyperlinks to important information about your career. It will not be a boring recitation; instead, it is interactive. Output is in HTML/Word/text/clipboard formats.’ Free Trial available. Cost is quite small.
• Résumé Wizard 5
  ‘Excellent tool for creating résumés. It is easy-to-use and loaded with extras. This résumé wizard takes you through twelve easy steps. Just fill in the blanks on each screen or cut and paste the information from an existing résumé.’. Shareware.
• Résumé Wizard, The
  You can trial for 3 days. Works on you thinking about the career you want rather than just a résumé. Not Freeware

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