Are you missing out on interviews? Your resume could be letting you down.

Your resume is the most important part of the application process. It’s a chance to showcase your skills and experience and is a reflection on your ability to communicate in writing. You only have a few seconds to impress the recruiter, so how do you stand out from the crowd?

What to include in your resume:

• Your current contact details
• A list of your relevant skills, achievements and attributes
• Education, qualifications and training
• Employment history beginning with the most recent Employer
• Current references who are easily contactable

Keep it relevant and current

It’s important that you tailor your resume to suit the job you’re applying for.  If you’re applying for an administration role, it’s not necessary or beneficial to include your hospitality work experience from 15 years ago. It’s equally important to make sure your work history is current, including accurate employment dates. And avoid listing work history that goes back beyond 10 years ago. 10 years is a long time ago, and the systems and skills you used back then will most likely be irrelevant to the workplace now.

Keep it simple 

Your resume should only be 2 -3 pages long and should be structured in a way that is easy to read. Choose a font type that looks professional and use the same font all the way through. You should also use bullet points to list skills, qualifications and work duties for a clean, easy to read resume.

Attention to detail is a must!

Nothing looks more unprofessional than a resume with spelling mistakes and poor grammar.  Take the time to read through your resume to make sure there are no errors.  How you write your resume will be a reflection of your written communication abilities and attention to detail.

Be honest

Lying or “stretching” the truth of what your skills, experience and abilities are, will either come out when questioned in an interview, through the reference checking process, or once on the job.  If you can talk the talk, make sure you can walk the walk.

What to avoid

Although illegal, unfortunately discrimination still exists with some employers.  Information such as political affiliation, date of birth, religion, nationality, age and marital status will make it easy for employers to judge you in areas other than your work experience. Avoid including any personal information that is not relevant for the position and photos are an absolute no no!

So they were our top tips for how to create a resume that will help you stand out from the crowd.

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