The first and strongest impression you can make with your future employer is your resumé. It’s an indication of how you present yourself, your greatest strengths, key attributes and selling points. With so many in the rat race hunting for a job, how do you engage with the employer on the other end and differentiate yourself from the competition?
Despite what most think, the primary purpose of a resumé is to get your foot in the door and into the next round of the interviewing process – it will not land you the job. You don’t need to pay for a template or hire someone to write it for you – a simple and succinct resumé is key. Over many years, various amendments and input from co-workers, I have detailed an essential layout that is required for a winning resumé.
Essential resumé sections
Full name
Centre and place it at the top of the page. There is no need to include a current job title (detail this later in your resumé) or a quirky name like “data guru” – have your personality come out in the interviewing process and when you speak to them in person.
Contact details
Include this on in your header and detail your e-mail address and contact number. If your e-mail address is something in the vicinity of “hot_sexy69@gmail.com” now is a good time to change it! If you have an updated
Career Profile or Career Overview
Treat the first section of your resumé as your “elevator pitch”. This section gains the reader’s attention and provides context and a ‘feel’ for who they are reading about. It is a brief 4-5 line paragraph succinctly telling the reader:
- Who you are
- How you got to where you are
- Where you are going
- What you want
- Why you have applied for the job
Education
This includes any formalised studies; TAFE, University and College. Structure this section as follows:
- Name of Establishment
- Start Date/ End Date (if applicable) – total tenure is suitable
- Name of Course/ Degree
- If you have a high GPA or grades, add them here (don’t overdo it, give yourself something to talk about in the interview)
For those with formal education add this at the front, for those without, play to your strengths and emphasize other sections e.g. skills and accomplishments.
Skills
Similar to education above, this section highlights any skills you have acquired whilst on or off the job. Categorise this into two parts; Hard Skills and Soft Skills:
- Hard Skills: Attainable and teachable skills that are required for the position. It can include proficiency in Microsoft suite, programming languages (Python and Java), experience in ERP/ SCM Systems (SAP and Oracle), a high typing speed, UX design, SEO/ SME marketing etc.
- Soft Skills: Personality traits and working attributes that make you good at what you do. It can include time management, stakeholder management, effective communication, teamwork, creativity, collaboration etc.
Career Summary or Professional Summary
This is a breakdown of your work history at a glance in a clear and succinct format – presenting the last 10 years of your work history. It provides the reader with a snapshot of your career and tells a story of your progress in your last few roles; what you have focused on or the direction that you are heading in. It will include:
- Name of the company
- Title of position held
- Start Date/ End Date – total tenure is suitable. If you have had several roles within one company, detail each under the one company heading.
Employment History or Career History
This is the bulk of your resumé and has the following layout:
- Name of the company
- A brief overview of the company – detail the size, industry and location.
- Start Date/ End Date – total tenure is suitable
- Title of position held
- Responsibilities
- Achievements
References
This may change according to the role – as a general rule of thumb include a standardised line…”Available upon request.” If you continue through the hiring process they will ask for references – sometimes they will ask for specific references. Choose the references best suited to boost your profile and make an impact, don’t assume ‘one size fits all‘.
Resist the urge….
Play to your strengths
Remember…one size does not fit all
A resumé is a way to sell yourself, you want it to ‘pop’, you want them reading this and saying to themselves “Wow! We need to get this person in!”. Add any detail that adds value, keeping it succinct and powerful. It’s your first impression; the better the resumé, the better your chances of an interview.