Will Your Resume Get You the Interview?

I’ve briefly outlined some of the dos’ and don’ts of writing your resume to make sure you properly represent yourself.

Formatting
You’ll most likely send your resume via electronic means. Therefore it’s important that you send it in a standard file type that most people can open. Word or PDF are the most widely used. Some companies have electronic application systems that capture information from your resume and require it only be in these formats. Resumes in Excel, Note Pad or HTML format will not be readable.

Layout
The golden rule with the layout of any resume is to keep it simple! Keeping your resume easy to read and flowing well is the key. The font should be 11pt Arial or Times New Roman with uncomplicated alignments and paragraphing.

Contact Details
Details should be at the top and centered on your front page. The information should detail all your private contact details. Only list your current work phone number or e-mail address if you have your own office and you’re able to take calls privately. If your email address looks unprofessional such as crazyprincess@.... you should create a more professional e-mail account with your name or initials within it.

Photo
When applying for work locally in your own country, (to migrate to Canada, New Zealand, Australia etc.) you would not require a photo as you would be meeting the employer face-to-face sometimes several times. When applying internationally it’s different. However in some instances you may not see the employer until you arrive at the job. When I work with international candidates their photo acts like a logo to their resume. It’s a visual reminder to the conversations and interviews held with that person.

Career Objective or Career Summary
For graduates and younger people it may be necessary to state a career objective as your experience is limited and your career not as defined as yet. Older applicants may want to list a Career Summary instead. A brief snapshot of the work and positions you’ve held to achieve your current position. When applying for international work you should also list some of the reasons of why you’re applying for work within that country.

Work History & Experience
The information listed should be easy to read detailing in chronological order from Present to Past. Include the Company Name, Job Title held, Dates and where relevant location/country. You should detail the duties of the work you did including specific tasks and projects you worked on. Always put the most information about the role you’re currently doing. Don’t worry about too much detail from positions held over 15 years ago. It’s important to note that the more senior the position you’re applying for, the more information will be required. If you’re applying for a Project Management role, you may wish to have an appendix section detailing one or two of the last projects you’ve worked on in more detail. Elaborate on your level of involvement, learning and outcomes achieved.

Education
A general guide is to list more information on qualifications more recently achieved and less information on less relevant qualifications to the role you’re applying for. List the school/college/university you attended, the type of Course, Level Achieved and Length of course and year attended. High School subjects and grades are generally irrelevant unless you’re just entering the job market.

References
Lettered references are now being phased out. Create a listing of your previous line managers Company Name, Contact Name, Title and Phone Number (preferably a work landline) will suffice. List referee’s that you’ve spoken to and agreed to supply you with a reference prior. You may also list your references as available on request but make sure that if you secure an interview you take these with you.

In essence make sure all the information is relevant, easy to read and tailored to the job you’re applying for. Ultimately, a resume will not get you the job but simply secure you an interview.

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