Writing a good resume is a crucial step towards landing your dream job in Australia.
It’s your chance to make a great first impression and showcase your skills and experiences.
This guide will walk you through the essentials of crafting a resume that stands out in a competitive job market.
What is a Resume?
A resume is a concise document that summarises your educational background, work experience, and skills.
You send it to potential employers to let them know why you are the best candidate for the job.
Think of your resume as your personal marketing brochure, highlighting your professional services and what you can offer employers.
How to Format Your Resume
The format of your resume plays a pivotal role in ensuring it looks professional and is easy to read.
Proper formatting makes it easier for employers to spot the information that matters quickly… And helps you to make the right first impression.
Use a document tool like Google Docs to create your resume, and follow these formatting tips…
Length
A resume should ideally be no more than two pages, so that time-strapped recruiters can read it in full.
It’s about quality, not quantity. Focus on relevance to the positions you are applying to, rather than listing every single job you’ve ever had.
Tailor your resume to include information that’s pertinent to the role, making sure every word counts.
Font
Choose a clean, professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
A font size of 10 to 12 points is ideal for readability.
Keep the font consistent throughout the document to maintain a tidy appearance and don’t be tempted to go for an elaborate font that will give readers a headache!
Colour-scheme
Stick to a simple colour scheme using black text on a white background.
This classic combination ensures that the content of your resume is super-easy to read.
If you want to add a touch of colour, do so sparingly, such as for section headings or your name, but always ensure it remains professional looking.
Divide Sections
Clearly dividing your resume into sections improves readability for hiring managers.
Use bold headings (or even borders) to differentiate each section and maintain a logical flow, helping the reader easily navigate through the document and find the info they want easily.
Photos
Including photos on resumes is not standard practice in Australia, but some creative fields like to see them nowadays.
If you decide to include a photo, ensure it is a professional headshot that presents you in a favourable and appropriate manner – and keep the image small on the page.
How to Structure Your Resume
Structuring your resume properly is key to making sure potential employers can easily find the information they need.
A well-organised resume also reflects your ability to sort and prioritise information logically.
Name and Contact Details
Start your resume with the most basic and essential information: your name and contact details, so that recruiters can easily contact you.
This section should be at the very top and clearly visible.
- Name: Your full name should be the first thing on your resume, typically in a larger font size than the rest of the text.
- Professional Title: Then, include a professional title that reflects your current role or career ambitions (e.g. Management accountant or Business graduate)
- Phone Number: Ensure your phone number is current and one where you can easily be reached.
- Email Address: Use a professional email address, preferably one that includes your name. (don’t use an old embarrassing one with a school nickname)
- Location: Simply list your city or general location (e.g. Brisbane or Melbourne) there’s no need for a full address at this stage.
- Links to Relevant Profiles: You can optionally include links to professional websites or profiles, such as LinkedIn, which can provide further proof of your skills and knowledge.
- What Not to Include: Avoid including personal information such as your date of birth, marital status, or gender – recruiter’s don’t need to see them in order to decide if they want to interview you.
Resume Summary
Your resume summary is an intro paragraph and should serve as an elevator pitch to grab the attention of recruiters and hiring managers.
In a few concise sentences, it should highlight what makes you the perfect candidate for the position.
What to include in your summary
- Overview of Experience: Summarise your years of experience and main areas of expertise.
- Overview of Qualifications: Highlight your highest or most relevant qualifications.
- Relevant Skills: Briefly mention key skills that are important to the jobs you are searching for.
- The Benefits You Bring to an Employer: Explain how your specific skills and experiences make an impact for employers, e.g. saving them time, or increasing their revenue.
Example summary
Tips for Writing a Good Summary
- Keep it Brief: Summarise your professional persona in no more than a few sentences, to ensure that busy recruiters can digest the message quickly.
- Tailor to Your Target Jobs: Make sure your summary aligns with the job you’re applying for by packing it with key skills from the job adverts.
- Avoid Cliché Phrases: Are you a “hard working team player”? This may be true but those phrases are overused and meaningless. Use specific examples of achievements rather than vague statements.
Core Skills Section
This section should be a concise bullet pointed list of your key skills that are directly relevant to the job posting.
It helps recruiters to see how suitable you are from the moment they open the resume.
Work Experience Section
Detail your past jobs in reverse chronological order, focusing on the last 3-5 years if you are an experienced candidate.
For junior candidates, including volunteer work and school placements can help fill out your experience.
Include plenty of details in recent jobs, and less in older jobs.
How to Structure Each Job
Each job listed should clearly outline the position you held, the company’s name, and the dates of your employment in the title, followed by these 3 sections.
- Outline: Start with a brief overview of your role, who the company is and where you sit within the organisation.
- Key Responsibilities: List your main duties and responsibilities in bullet points to make them easy to read, and draw out plenty of skills and knowledge.
- Key Achievements: Highlight significant accomplishments with measurable outcomes if possible. For example “Introduced new customer management system which reduced wait times by 40%”
Education Section
List your educational background in reverse chronological order. Include degrees, diplomas, and certifications relevant to the role.
Experienced candidates should keep this section brief, focusing on higher education and specific qualifications, while junior candidates can go into more detail to compensate for less work experience.
Additional Info Section
This optional section can include personal elements that might give you an edge in your applications.
Only include them if they are likely to make a recruiter more likely to interview you.
- Hobbies and Interests: Briefly mention interests that are relevant to the job or showcase transferable skills.
- Awards: List any recognitions or awards you’ve received.
- Publications: Include articles or books you’ve published, if relevant to the job.
- Memberships: Mention professional organisations you are a part of.
- Technical Skills List: Itemise any technical skills not covered in the core skills section.
- Languages: List any additional languages you speak and your level of fluency.
Frequently Asked Questions About Resume Writing
Writing a resume can seem like a mammoth task, and you probably have tons of questions.
Here are answers to the most common questions we hear, to steer you in the right direction.
1. How long should my resume be?
The ideal length for a resume in most industries is two pages. This provides enough space to showcase your most relevant experiences and skills without overwhelming the reader. For those with less experience or applying to more straightforward roles, a one-page resume may suffice. Ensure every section contains only pertinent information tailored to the job you are applying for.
2. Should I include an objective statement on my resume?
Objective statements are largely outdated. Instead, consider a professional summary or profile that highlights your skills, experience, and what you bring to the potential employer. This change reflects a more proactive approach, focusing on what you can offer rather than what you are looking for.
3. What should I do if I have gaps in my employment?
Be honest about employment gaps and, if possible, fill them with any constructive activities you engaged in, such as volunteering, studying, or freelance work. If questioned during an interview, be prepared to explain what you learned or how you improved during those periods.
4. How can I make my resume stand out?
To make your resume stand out, use a clean, professional format and tailor the content to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the job. Quantify achievements with specific data or examples where possible. Also, include keywords from the job description to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and catch the hiring manager’s eye.
5. What is the best way to format a resume?
A reverse chronological format is generally best, starting with your most recent job and working backward. Use clear headings, bullet points for descriptions, and ensure your font and layout are easy to read. For creative fields, a more unique layout might be acceptable, but clarity should still be a priority.
6. Should I include references on my resume?
It’s now common practice to leave references off your resume unless the job posting specifically asks for them. Instead, prepare a separate list of references to provide upon request. This approach saves space for more relevant content and also gives you control over when your references are contacted.
7. What is the importance of keywords in a resume?
Keywords are crucial because they align your resume with the job description and ensure it passes through ATS filters. Use job-specific terms and skills mentioned in the job posting. This not only helps your resume get picked up by electronic screening systems but also shows the hiring manager that you’re a good fit for the role.
8. Can I use a template for my resume?
Using a template can be a good starting point, but customize it to reflect your individuality and suitability for the specific role. Ensure that the template is appropriate for your industry and is flexible enough to be tailored to your experiences and the job you are applying for.
9. How often should I update my resume?
Update your resume regularly, ideally after completing significant projects, learning new skills, or achieving professional milestones. Keeping your resume current is crucial, not just for job applications but also for potential opportunities that may arise unexpectedly, such as networking events or referrals.
Over to you
Your resume is a tool to get you in the door and up to the interview stage. Take the time to tailor it for each application, keep it updated, and most importantly, make sure it reflects your professional abilities and career accomplishments accurately.
Good luck!