Resumes OR CV : Get That Job

Your resume is your sales document. It tells the world of your achievements, capabilities and roles you have enjoyed. It should standalone and represents you well. To impress your potential employers there are a few guidelines that will help you create an amazing resume.

Create a captivating covering letter - use friendly language, refer to the job advertised and allow some of your personality to show through this document.

Don't present it in plastic folders - these are bulky and expensive and your interviewer will discard the unsuccessful applicants anyway. Keep it simple, clean and stapled.

Keep it short - no more than 2-3 pages maximum. Only refer to the past 10 - 15 years experience of your career, regardless of how long you have been working.

Keep it relevant - only include details that are significant and important to help sell you.

Start the resume with a Personal Capability Statement. This is 2-3 sentences or bullet points on what you are good at, your skills and knowledge. Place it right at the top of the document so it is the first thing people see.

Place your contact information in the footer of the document so if they print it out your details are on every page. Don't dedicate a whole page to your contact information. You only need to list your name, address, mobile and email contact numbers.

Don't use italics or underlining. These can be hard to read and will make your document look messy.

Use a common 12 font i.e. Times New Roman or Arial are safe. Avoid fancy fonts that also may not work when emailing documents.

Don't use gimmicks or present it as a PowerPoint presentation - interviewers don't like this.

Use white space - don't cramp the document and this will allow the interviewer to also write notes on the document.

Avoid jargon or industry terms and acronyms. If you use acronyms always list an explanation of what that it. Not everyone is familiar with all the terms.

Don't list your job description - don't bore the reader with everything you did in the job.

List your responsibilities - make a short and relevant list of the responsibilities you had in each role.

List your achievements - many people only list their responsibilities in the resume, make sure yours stands out by listing your achievements.

Make the achievements specific - use statistics, client testimonials and comments and targeted information i.e. increased sales by 21%, received 97% on customer satisfaction survey.

Show others and get their feedback about the document - find people who understand resumes and can give you constructive feedback on your resume.

Get it edited - pay for someone to edit your document and check for spelling and grammar. This small cost will give it a professional finish.

Don't send academic transcripts, work samples - save this for the face-to-face interview.

Use positive and energetic words in your resume. Avoid cliché's and look for creative ways to package what you want to say.

This document should sell you, be honest, get feedback on it and then send it out confidently for the jobs you desire.

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