Employment tip four – resume writing
We encourage you to think of the big picture, when compiling your resume. Here are seven tips for creating a resume that will get you the best chance of getting to the top of the recruiter's list.
Heavily edit and reduce content to keep the resume to TWO pages.
Choose every word carefully. Do not duplicate words and do not repeat content. Every word counts.
Keep the detail focused on the events from the last ten years only.
Events beyond ten years can be listed in heading form only, without the detail. It is tempting to list everything and provide comprehensive detail, to fully highlight our capabilities. However, resumes also demonstrate our ability to write clearly and succinctly.
Use bullet points
Be sure to extract the key points only from each of your past roles and note where ever possible two key achievements in each role. Use of bullet points over sentences. They are an effective way to reduce words and assist the reader to not be overwhelmed by slabs of text.
Carefully edit each draft.
Ensure there are no spelling and grammatical mistakes. These small errors can suggest that document preparation and written communication are not your strength. Nor your attention to detail.
Consider a trusted sighted friend to look over the visual presentation of your resume
Look out for appropriate placement of text, spaces, indents, capitalisation, bold etc. The recruitment team may be sighted, and presentation can be a reason to eliminate a candidate when faced with hundreds of applications.
Consider your social media footprint.
Will recruiters discover a version of you online, that does not fit with their organisational culture? Be mindful of what you post on social media about your life and weekend exploits and what first impression this may form for a recruiter.
Consider also your email address and social media handles
Something like crazyweekendfun@gmail.com might have been appropriate when you were 17 but does not convey a professional/responsible image.
Read our previous employment tips: The importance of volunteering, Why you need an ATS friendly resume, Maximising your connections.
