BUILDING YOUR RESUME - Years 11 and 12...Resume as your skills, qualifications and experience increase. If you change your phone number, email or residential address remember to update

BUILDING YOUR

RESUME

Career and Life Planning

Section A, Unit 3

What is a Resume?

• A Resume can also be referred to as a Curriculum Vitae or ‘CV’.

• It is a summary of your personal and professional details.

• It is an advertisement and marketing tool – and you are the product!

• The purpose of a Resume is to give your prospective employer as much

relevant information about yourself as possible in a convenient format.

• It is a necessary document used for Job Applications (online, post, in

person), Job Interviews and ‘Resume Drops’*.

What is included in a Resume?

• Personal Details (name, phone numbers, email address, postal/residential address)

• Employment History and/or Work Experience

• Education and Qualifications (incl. Licenses)

• Skills and Attributes

• Hobbies and Interests

• Referees

Optional extras:

• Objective (of ‘Career Objective’)

• Availability (days/hours)

• Vehicle/driving status (‘Full license and own, reliable vehicle’)

• Educational Outcomes, eg; TCE, ATAR, University Results

• Professional Development

• Memberships and Affiliations

• ICT skills (as separate to Skills and Attributes)

• Headshot (professional photo)

• Reason for leaving (for each place of Employment)

What is NOT included in a Resume?

• Your gender, age, health, marital status, children, sexual orientation, political

views

• An inappropriate selfie

• Your life story – ‘oversharing’ in general

• Reasons for leaving that are particularly negative

• Personal judgements about previous Employers

Professional Formatting

Typed (NOT handwritten) Perfect spelling, grammar and punctuation

Word and PDF format Accurate information – no guesses or gaps

Plain Font, size 10-12, (no bigger or smaller) Ideally no more than 4 pages (2 double sided)

Sub-headings It is a good idea to include page numbers

Bullet points – avoid paragraphs

Hard-copy Resume

• This would be used for ‘Resume Drops’, interviews, applications via post and as requested

• Multiple copies (1 for you and enough for the interviewers/employers)

• Clean paper (consider colour IF appropriate*)

• No dog-ears, tears, smudges or folds

• Quality printing (check your printer ink)

• Double-sided or not

• Staple or paperclip in top left-hand corner

• Stored in a plastic sleeve or folder

Soft-copy (electronic) Resume

• This would be used for online applications, applications via email, registration with recruiters and online profiles.

• Word or PDF format

• Check your file is clean and can be received by others without any problems

• Saved with the File Name: ‘Resume – Name, Month Year’ *

• Choose a font that won’t be impacted by the receiving software, eg; older version of Word

• Is my Resume easily printed?

• Store an updated copy on a USB, in your email/cloud and on your hard-drive

Your Resume is a living document.

This means that it is always changing and

updating.

It is important to be vigilant in updating your

Resume as your skills, qualifications and

experience increase.

If you change your phone number, email or

residential address remember to update your

Resume.

If your Referees’ contact details change,

remember to update this.

As your bank of information builds, you will edit

and re-format your Resume as necessary.

RESUME EXAMPLES

With a partner, read through an example resume.

1. What is missing?

2. What is effective?

3. What could be improved?

4. If you were an Employer, would you be impressed with this resume?

Why/Why not?

What do Employers look for?

• Quick reference – important details first

• Easy to read

• Not too long

• Different than the other 100 people

• What’s In It For Me? WIIFM

• No errors

What do Recruiters look for?

If a Recruiter chooses to represent you, they will most likely re-format your Resume with their own branding.

• Do you live locally?

• Any gaps in years?

• Any short periods of employment? (less than 6 months)

• Any significant re-locations?

• Any major career changes?

Video Resumes (Applications)

• Video resumes are a way for candidates to go beyond traditional methods of applying, such as submitting only a resume, cover letter, and work samples.

• It is becoming more common for larger companies to ask for Video Resumes, eg; Retail chains.

• Employers are keen to get an idea of your personality, energy and ability to ‘sell’ yourself –therefore an ability to sell their product.

• It is an excellent way to express your uniqueness – this can be hard to do in black and white on paper.

• Often you will be required to answers a series of questions within your video.

http://videoresumesaustralia.com.au/

Resume Builder

• Use the Resume Builder to begin collating information for your Resume.

• This outlines the most straight forward format, however, you may want to

add some personal touches (consider some of the examples we have seen).

• By handwriting a draft first, you will find it easier and quicker to type up your

Resume.

• Any gaps you have today will indicate information you’ll have to find out

and/or confirm.

Objective

• Can also be called ‘Personal Statement’

• Keep it brief and appealing – 1 sentence (you can introduce yourself in more

detail in a covering letter).

• It should be relevant to the job you are applying for OR general enough for a

Resume Drop.

• Who are you? What type of work do you seek? What type of workplace?

• Remember to use WIIFM

Skills and Attributes

• Some employers use key words in resumes to shortlist applicants from their electronic resumes using an e-recruitment tool. So it is a good idea to use key words to describe your attributes e.g. hard working, motivated, attention to detail, organised, entrepreneurial, inspired, and autonomous*.

• Use dot points.

• Avoid being too generic – remember to set yourself apart.

• Use adjectives but be realistic (eg; use ‘outstanding’ sparingly)

• Some ideas……

Interpersonal skills Capacity for leadership Communication

(written/verbal)

Organisation Problem solving Telephone Manner

Time management Calm under pressure IT skills (describe)

Attention to Detail Compassionate Work ethic

Reliable Patient Determined and persistent

Trust-worthy Pride in appearance/brand Quick learner

Respond well to feedback Team player Safe – able to follow

instructions

Confident public speaker Committed Enthusiastic/Energetic

Employment History (Work Experience)

• Ideally, work for which you have been paid for OR Work Experience in a

professional environment.

• Include Month/Year you started and ended.

• Positon title – casual/part-time/full-time/volunteer

• Include details of the business – you can include a short description of the

business and/or website.

Responsibilities

• Avoid one-word dot-points – aim for a sentence

• Make it sound impressive!

• Eg;

“Meeting team sales targets through upselling and promotion of special offers”

“Visual Merchandising and taking pride in the appearance of the shopfront”

Volunteering/Community Engagement

• Church and community groups

• Sporting teams

• Babysitting and working with children

• Events (fairs, markets etc.)

• Environment

• Performing Arts

• Scouts/Guides/Volunteer Fire Brigade/Surf Lifesaving

• Cultural groups and associations

• Helping out at your Primary or High School

• Charity events

Hobbies and Interests

• Include things you do with your family and friends

• Avoid ‘shopping’ and ‘gaming’

• Consider what ‘message’ it sends to the reader

I got one of my first administration jobs in Melbourne because my boss was friends with the previous Director of Stompin’ Youth Dance Company.

I NEVER thought this would have an impact on my employment prospects, particularly in another state! You just never know…

Referees (2-3)

You MUST ask their permission first. They will need to talk about you over the phone (and occasionally

in person). They may provide you with a written reference, although this is becoming less acceptable.

PROFESSIONAL PERSONAL

Past employers – boss, supervisor or a co-worker

more senior than you

Adults who know you from a community setting:

Sports Coach, Dance Teacher, Pastor, Scout leader

etc.

People who have given you work or volunteer

experience

Family Friends (NOT a family member)

Teachers It is always positive if they are well-known and

respected in the wider community.