BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE

OCTOBER 6, 2022

A great resume will push your name to the top of the applicants’ pile, sell your skills to the first person who reads it, and secure the interview that may just land you the job.

However, before all this happens, you need to compose this eye-catching document, and if you’re not sure where to start, or how to fit years of employment history into a couple of pages, then don’t worry! Tayce Scott is here to help.

Tayce is a career consultant and founder of CareerBlox, with years of resume-writing experience, and she has 10 tips to help your resume read well and get results.

1. Always tailor your resume to the role.

Although it’s tempting to use a standard resume for every job you apply for, and a ‘cut and paste’ makes things easy, it’s much better to tailor your resume to each application.

Tayce explains that, “Different employers are likely to have different needs, so take the time to review each job ad and identify the experience and qualifications specified for the role you’re applying for. Then, do your best to include these in your resume.”

2. Understand how resumes are sorted.

In 21^st Century recruitment, a software program very often sorts resumes before people do.

Tayce says, “Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) scan for keywords and other information to select potential candidates. An ATS may reject more than half the resumes they scan, and keywords relate to the qualifications and requirements that are important for a job.”

“This is why it’s important to look out for these key words when you’re reviewing job ads, then repeat them throughout your resume to ensure it gets seen.”

3. Know your page numbers

In Australia, resumes generally range between one and four pages, and the ideal length depends on your level of experience.

As a guide Tayce says, “it’s best to keep your resume to a maximum of two pages if you have less than 10 years’ experience, unless you have some really big roles to your name.”

4. Write your resume in a readable format.

Tayce recommends that you keep your formatting simple and professional using a sans serif font in size 11 or 12.

Futura and Lato are two sans serif fonts that are clean and contemporary, and Tayce says, “While it may seem like a good idea to use graphics and decorative fonts to make your resume stand out, elaborate resumes can be difficult to read and may be rejected by an ATS.”

5. Start with your contact details

Hirers need to know who you are and how to contact you, so make sure you include your full name at the top of your resume and consider using slightly larger or bolder text to ensure it stands out.

Tayce says, “While you don’t need to include your full address, it’s important to include a suburb, state and postcode. Also, be sure to include a contact number and email address.”

“If your email isn’t very professional (e.g. surfychic@gmail.com) then it’s a good idea to create a new one for job applications.”

6. Include a summary at the top of your resume.

This is a great way to make you – and your resume – stand out.

Tayce says, “This summary is a personal statement that tells people who you are, what you do and why you are the best person for the job. This short statement is an opportunity to sell yourself by highlighting your most valuable skills and experiences.”

7. Think about including a Key Skills section.

You can use dot points for this section, highlighting your top skills and strengths, and Tayce recommends that you, “Do your best to ensure that the skills you include are aligned to skills that have been identified in the job ad you are applying for.”

8. Definitely include a Qualifications section.

Whether you have first aid training or a Bachelor Degree in Early Childhood Education, it’s important to include all your relevant qualifications, listing the most recent ones first.

Tayce says, “For this section, it’s best to use a straight-forward heading, like Education or Qualifications, to ensure an ATS will be able to recognise it.”

9. Finish with a Work Experience section.

List your most relevant and recent work history first, providing a summary of the core responsibilities you undertook in each role.

Tayce encourages you to, “Tailor this section to the job you are applying for, if possible, reviewing the job ad to make sure you know what’s required. It is also a great idea to highlight any key achievements in this section giving specific examples where you can.”

10. Get someone to read over your resume.

You may miss a small typo or formatting error after labouring over your resume for hours or days, so it’s a really good idea to get some fresh eyes on the document before you send it anywhere.

Good luck and happy job hunting!