How To Write A Resume

Having a great resume doesn’t necessarily guarantee that you’ll get the job you’re after, but having a poor one guarantees that you won’t.
Your resume is a marketing document to promote you, so we’ve compiled some key points to help you get started.

What to include
Your contact details, list of key skills, relevant experience, qualifications and employment history are all vital components of any resume. Don’t forget to include key achievements, employers want to see these and it will help your resume stand out from the crowd.

What NOT to include
You are not legally obliged to include your marital status, age, religion, date of birth, photo or dependants on your resume. In fact, it is illegal for employers to ask you any of these questions, so it there is no need to offer that information up voluntarily, as something you reveal may give an employer cause not to hire you.

Keep it relatable
You should always tailor your resume according to the job you’re applying for to demonstrate that you are a good fit for their requirements. There’s no need to include every job you’ve ever had if they are not relevant to the position applied for.

Keep it brief
Employers are usually inundated with applications, particularly for desirable jobs, so keep your resume concise – two pages is ideal.

Keep it straightforward
Outline your skills in short, bullet point format, and make sure they are relevant to the job you are applying for. Give more space to your most recent roles and the ones that are closest in nature to the advertised role, rather than the ones from the distant past.

Be professional
It seems obvious but you’d be amazed how many people apply for jobs using an old, inappropriate email address. Make sure you have a professional looking email address that just contains your name and if you can avoid it, use an email address that does not include underscores or numbers, as they can make employers type it incorrectly when responding. Use a formal tone and avoid the use of jargon or abbreviations.

References
Be sure to speak with your intended referees to get their permission to be used and contacted prior to including them on your resume (and ascertain whether they are going to give you a favourable one!).

Fulfil all the requirements in the ad
If the ad asks you to include a cover letter with your resume, provide them with one. Also make sure you have covered every other requirement of the application, such as detailing relevant experience, providing the requested amount of referees, and so on.