Resume tips
A good resume is your ticket to success!
A resume has a single purpose: to secure you an interview.
Be aware that the person who initially reads your resume will probably only look at it for a couple of minutes. Resumes should be specific to the company you are applying to. Although naturally employers will assume that, as a graduate, you are applying for a number of positions, don't make it too obvious by giving them a generic resume.
Your resume must demonstrate:
- your skills and abilities
- your awards and achievements
- what you will bring to the company
- why you should be employed ahead of other candidates.
Golden rule: keep it concise. Grads should not be writing more than two pages.
What if I don't have much experience?
Don't worry if you haven't had a paying job in the field you are applying for. Include any work experience you've undertaken, even if it's not directly related to the job. Work experience tells the employer that you have a track record of punctuality and reliability and that you have developed people skills and teamwork. You can also provide referees from all kinds of roles to add to your resume.
Draw from real-life experience — you may play an instrument in a band, volunteer for a charity or play sport. Employers are looking for well-rounded individuals, not just academic high achievers.
Golden rule: make sure you have a professional email address — no one wants to employ a graduate with a 'wacky' hotmail address that is popular with your friends.
Keep your resume simply — fancy fonts and designs only distract the reader. See below for a list of useful sites with resume tips and samples.
Cover letter
It is crucial to include a cover letter with your resume. The cover letter isn't just a rehash of your resume — it's an important selling mechanism. If the employer doesn't like your cover letter then they won't go on to read your resume.
The cover letter should:
- be concise — keep it to one page
- link your experience and suitability for the role
- be positive and interesting to read
- be specifically tailored to the company and job you're applying for.
Structure of a cover letter
Introduction
Introduce yourself and outline your reason for establishing contact. If you have a contact at the company, or you met the person you're applying to at a careers expo or something similar, mention it now to jog their memory. If they remember you they're more likely to get you in for an interview.
Body
This is the part where you sell yourself — tell the employer what skills, knowledge and experience you have that makes you the best person for the job. Use examples from real life, describe some achievements and outline why you want to work for the company. This is also a good time to show off some of your knowledge about the company from your extensive research.
Conclusion
Reiterate your interest in the job and end on a positive note with a hope that you will be meeting soon to discuss the job further.
Remember:
- include your contact details, including email address and phone number
- if possible, use the person's name and position title (check spelling!) instead of the generic 'To whom it may concern'.
Useful links
www.mycareer.com.au
Advice and tips on writing super-duper cover letters and resumes. Also has a graduate 2008 guide.
www.myfuture.edu.au
Great resume tips.
www.jobjuice.gov.au
Has a resume builder and sample grad resumes.