Resume Writing- DBCT P/L’s Cheat Sheet
Resume writing can be a bit daunting – how do you know what to include and what not to?
What is a Resume?
A resume is a document that summarises a job seeker’s qualifications for the job they are interested in. A resume details your current contact and personal information and is a summary of your skills, education, work experience and achievements.
There is no correct way of presenting a resume, but there are ‘wrong’ ways.
A resume is a marketing tool – a resume does not get you a job, it gives you an opportunity to secure an interview. Use it to communicate your value to an employer.
There are a few simple guidelines for an effective resume:
Keep your resume to the point – do not create additional reading if not necessary
Keep the layout of your resume simple
Print your resume – do not handwrite it
Use a professional font (e.g. Calibri / Arial) and size 11 or 12
Do not make your resume too long – only include relevant information
Resume Format
What to Include
Name
Address
Contact Phone Number
Employment History
Place in order of the last role you have held through to the first role you have held
List the employer; the role you held; and the duties/responsibilities of the role
For a first role - include any work experience you may have completed
Education
Place in order from the most recent; highest qualification held or most relevant qualification – as related to the job applied for
Community Engagement or Volunteering experience
Optional Inclusions
Your Objective
o You can choose to write your objective into your resume or in a Cover Letter. An objective (whether stated in your resume or cover letter) is a brief, targeted statement that plainly outlines your desired career path focus as well as showcasing why you fit the position you are applying for (the objective may need to change depending on the job you are applying for).
Skills list
o A list of your core generic skills, for example time management; effective communication
Any relevant awards, accomplishments or achievements – this could be receiving recognition from a previous employer through a reward and recognition program; or you may have achieved a particularly outstanding goal in a short timeframe; or you may have worked on a project that saved the business money/productivity.
Referees
o An employer will need to confirm your referee details prior to contacting them
o You can add referee details to your resume or use the sentence “Referee details can be provided on request”.
What not to Include
Your Date of Birth
Your Gender
Family details, for example if you are married, or have children; or how many siblings you have
Irrelevant hobbies and activities
Review
Once you have drafted your resume look back over it and ask yourself:
Does it emphasise what you have achieved?
Is it clear and to the point?
Is irrelevant information left out?
Does it emphasise benefits and skills for a potential employer?
Is all the spelling and grammar correct?