Answers to Today’s Burning Résumé Questions
As a result of the global crisis many people are putting together a résumé for the first time in years and are frustrated to find the rules have changed. Here are a few answers to the most commonly asked questions on résumé basics to help you when putting together that all important document.
How can I make sure my résumé gets noticed?
If you want to ensure your résumé gets more than a cursory glance, make sure your résumé opener is strong. The top third of your résumé is where an employer makes his or her first impression. Make it count. Start your résumé off with a profile or professional summary section that tells the reader exactly what you offer. Make sure this section is targeted to the type of role you are applying for so you immediately appear relevant and potentially valuable. It should showcase your expertise in a nutshell and be no longer than a paragraph.
What personal details should I include?
Don’t waste valuable résumé space, or the employer’s time, with details they no longer need such as marital status, date of birth, hobbies or nationality. What employers want are good contact details including your phone and email address in a prominent place (eg. the header or footer of each page), so they can reach you. Double check that these details are right as the last thing you want is an employer trying to reach you and finding one of the digits in your telephone number is wrong.
How long should my résumé be?
In Australia our résumés tend to be a bit longer than the rest of the world where 1 to 2 pages is the standard. Having said that, Australian employers still don’t have time to wade through pages of information. Most Australian résumés today should be between 2 to 4 pages depending on your experience. This gives you enough room to sell yourself without drowning the reader in non-essential information.
How far do I go back in my employment?
There is no hard and fast rule for this as this may vary particularly if you have early experience that is highly relevant to the role, but as a general rule of thumb most résumés should go back no more than 10 years. Focus on your most relevant and recent experience. You can use an early career highlights section to concisely bring out any early experience.
How do I know what to put first?
Basically you want to load your front page with the important stuff. Make sure all relevant information is prominently placed. If licences and tickets are important have these on the front page. If your qualifications are not relevant bring your employment to the forefront instead.
What should I include in my employment section?
When it comes time to describe your past roles, avoid telling employers only standard information on your duties, and instead tell them what they most want to hear about - your performance. Ensure that your employment overview focuses on the challenges you were given in each role and then impress them with the proof of how well you handled these challenges and what your successes meant to the business. Hone in on the important areas. For example in some roles safety or productivity may be paramount so achievements in these areas would be highly valued by employers. If they know what you have done in the past for other employers and can see a strong and consistent record of success they will quickly be able to grasp what you potentially offer them in the future.
How do I make sure my résumé will come up well in employer's and recruiter's databases?
A lot of recruiters and large employers use databases to store and manage their candidate résumés. They then input keywords to select résumés relevant to their job target. Ensure your résumé is scanner friendly by including keywords for your industry and avoiding text boxes, tables or shading that can make it difficult for scanners to read your résumé.
How should I design my résumé and should I include a photo?
A well designed résumé should be clear, logical and free from jargon with a simple layout that is well structured and professional. Avoid graphics, keep fonts simple (just 1-2 at the most) and keep plenty of white space. Is it error-free? Check for mistakes in grammar and spelling. Photos are not usually advisable for much the same reasons as we don’t include personal information.
Finally remember your resume is a personal document and you need to use your judgement when putting it together. None of the above guidelines are set in stone and you should build your resume in the manner that best sells you. As some final tips - always proof read your résumé, ensure you prepare a powerful cover letter to go with it, and make sure your referees are briefed and ready. If you have done all of the above – congratulations, you are now ready to start your job search. Good Luck!