Writing Your CV

Your resume is your first opportunity to present yourself to a person who will potentially employ you. A recruiter usually spends 60 seconds on a first review of a resume. Your resume MUST stand out from other applications!

Here’s a few tips on how to do this:

  1. Write what the employer wants to hear: tailor your resume/application letter to the job description in the ad
  2. Focus on points that support your job objective
  3. Focus on your strengths and achievements
  4. Prioritise the information - list the most significant information first
  5. Make it easy to read. Use bullets, white space and short sentences
  6. Absolutely no spelling errors!
  7. List experience starting from most current employment
  8. Do not provide references until they are requested (someone may call your referee without your permission)
  9. Do not include a photograph of yourself in the resume
  10. You are not required to disclose your age, marital status or health
  11. Save your resume in a Word document
  12. Do not use personal pronouns (I or we)
  13. It is not necessary to keep the resume to 2 pages, however it should be of sensible length (eg. 8 pages)
  14. Ask someone to comment on your resume
  15. Make the suggested changes only if you are 100% certain they will improve your resume!

Useful Tip:

In order for your resume to stand out, it doesn’t need to be colourful or very complicated. A resume that is clear, easy to read and highlights details of your career that are relevant to the job you are applying for will catch the recruiter's eye and will ensure that your application will get more attention than the initial review.