There are so many resources available to assist you with resume writing and many will provide different advice. Searching the internet for "Resume writing" in Australia alone found 2,270,000 hits. The amount of information available is mind blowing. Whilst some of this advice is valid, there is a lot of misinformation such as "resumes should be no more than 2 pages". The bottom line is you need to be able to sell yourself quickly and succinctly to the particular job you have applied. 

Here are some steps to get you on your way to a Stand-Out Resume

Step 1: Take the time to write down your major duties and strengths from your current role. Dot points are preferred as it is easy to read. Never presume that the reader knows that you did a specific task. Now do the same for your previous roles. If you are applying to a specific position, ensure the first 3 bullet points in your job duties correlate to the important skills/experience that the job is requiring. If the position you are applying for is different to your current role but is similar to a previous role, limit the amount of page space to the non-relevant job and boost the exposure to the position with the relevant experience.

Step 2: Think of a career goal. Many people add a generic career goal which is a good addition to your resume, however if it says to gain a "customer service position within a large organisation" and you are applying for an administration position within a small company, you really need to change your career goal for each position to which you are applying. 

Step 3: Make a list of all the education you have undertaken. From a formal education perspective you only need to list the highest level of education ie: Year 12 or Post Grad Degree or Doctorate. For courses, only courses undertaken in the last 5 years should be listed.

Step 4: Make sure your dates of employment are correct and that you have the Month and Year that you worked in positions. Look for any gaps of employment. Does each position date lead directly to the next date? If there are any gaps, you should explain these.

Step 5: Add a "Reason for Leaving" for each position. Don't leave this to the employer's imagination. If your experience is a little "hoppy" there should be good reasons for you moving from one job to the next ie: contract employment or moving interstate. Generally speaking, "career progression" is a good reason if you have spent over 2 years in the one position, however if you have spent less than 12 months in a number of positions, having career progression as your reason for leaving for each position will create the image that you are no more than a 1 year option for the employer. Many employers are seeking a minimum of 2 years from an employee.

Step 6: Remove any irrelevant details from your resume ie: tax file numbers, parent's / children's names, how long you have lived in your house, if you have a reliable car, your current and past illnesses, photos of you with your friends, family and pets. It is also not necessary to add a page of strengths and weaknesses. 5-6 good bullet points will suffice.

Step 7: Referees: It is common practice now not to list your referee's names on your resume. Many job seekers have been burnt by employers or recruiters calling referees when it has not yet been determined your interest in the position being offered. Have a separate copy of your referees with you at interview to provide to the interviewer. In regards to who to list as a referee, be sure that you have the referee's permission to be contacted. Do not presume that just because you have worked for someone they would be happy to be a referee. It is common courtesy to ring your referee and ask if they are happy to be your referee and the best contact number. Referees should always be your direct working manager rather than a work colleague.

Putting it all together

Page 1: Name, Address, phone number / mobile number, email address (make sure it is professional), career goal, education, courses, skills, packages utilised. If you have recent testing results, add the results next to the packages utilised so the employer knows your exact skill level and can determine your match to the job more easily. You can use graphics or add a photo to make your resume more memorable, however be careful as to the size and ensure if using a photo that it is a professional shot and not one with friends or a casual weekend shot. Select a font that is easily read by your audience ie: Arial or Times New Roman. 

Page 2/3/4: List your jobs with detailed dots points of duties undertaken for each job, dates of employment and the employer name. It also does not hurt to outline what industry the company is in and a brief (2 lines) overview of the company if it is not a well known brand name. You should be able to fit 2-3 jobs on each page. At the end of the last page add a note outlining that referee names are available upon request.

Rules for applying for jobs and standing out from the crowd

(1) Change your career objective on your Resume to match the role to which you are applying.

 (2) Write a compelling Cover Letter that is no more than 3 paragraphs and fits on one page. The cover letter should only outline the specific criteria for the position ie: what the employer is seeking. You do not need to cover your work history again. Only "sell" yourself to the specific job criteria and add additional information that answers any questions the employer may have ie: if you live a long way from the positions, your willingness to relocate etc. If you have applied for a role that requests an immediate start, ensure your cover letter states that you are available for an immediate start. 

(3) Considering the number of applications being received by employers and recruiters, you will stand the best chance of being called for an interview if the position you are applying for is relevant to your background and skills. Ask yourself, would I really be successful in this role and do I have the necessary skills and qualifications for this role? If you want to apply for a data entry role that requires 12,000 keystrokes per hour and your recent test completed last week shows you have the ability to enter data at 4,000 keystrokes per hour, would you give yourself the role? Of course not! Now is not the time to look at stepping up into a role 1-2 steps higher than your current role. You are competing against too many other candidates and you are wasting your time. Applying to a smaller number of specific/relevant positions also means that when the employer or recruiter calls to speak to you, you know the role you have applied for and you are better able to sell yourself on the phone to that job.

(4) Once you are happy with the finished result, ask your friends or family for an honest opinion. If you have any friends who are employers or recruitment consultants, ask their opinion. This will not ensure you get the job but a good friend will assist you in getting it right before sending it off. They can also check for any spelling errors which are not looked at favourably especially when you are applying for an administration position.

Good luck in landing the job of your dreams or in this economic environment a secure job!

Click here for further information on creating your Resume