Writing An Effective CV

There is a lot of conflicting advice out there in terms of how to write the perfect resume, and whilst there are rules to follow you do have room to adjust your resume to how you see fit. Below we outline general tips and rules to creating a resume that catches and keeps the attention of the prospective employer. Ultimately your resume is representing you, don’t sell yourself short, and create a good resume.

General Tips

• If you have yet to meet someone in person your resume is your first representation to an employer. It is a selling tool and is one that will get you invited to a meeting therefore it is important that you sell yourself well on paper.
• Resumes are often screened for candidates appropriate for the role, therefore there is often a list of criteria and skills that candidates need to have before an interview is set up. Be aware of this when preparing your CV so that you are screened 'in' as opposed to 'out'.
• When you get to the interview, your resume can act as the topic for your discussion. It is acceptable to bring it with you and keep it in the interview however, you should only refer to it when it is needed. When in the interview relate your work experiences listed to the job you have applied for – make them see why you are a good fit for the role.
• Presentation matters!

Layout & Content

Layout

It is best to keep the resume layout and design legible, consistent and easy to follow. Below are some helpful hints to ensure your resume is well presented and easy to read.

• Use a font that is professional such as Arial or Times New Roman.
• Have consistent and clear headings.
• Use good quality, plain paper. (Borders and pictures do not add any value unless the role requires creativity)
• Orientate your resume towards specific achievements, duties and responsibilities. The resume should tell a prospective employer things that might interest them.

Contact Information

Your resume should have you name and address, and at least one contact phone number that you can be reached on during working hours. It is often useful to give your mobile number and an email address that you check on a regular basis. These personal details should be placed at the beginning of the resume.

Personal Information

It is up to your discretion as to what you disclose, if it is not really important to your resume then it is usually best to leave out, however if you feel they are important put them in.

You do not have to disclose the following:

• age or date of birth
• martial status
• details of your family
• gender
• religion
• current salary

Giving your residency/visa status is a relevant detail as it shows your availability to work.

Interests, hobbies and any clubs you are involved in are best put at the end of the resume.

Qualifications

List your qualifications (professional and tertiary) in order or chronological order –either or- so long as they are listed with dates. What is important is that you actually have them. It is also important that you have the documentation to support what you list because in interviews you could be asked to present them.

Job Skills

You should summarise your working experience and skills early on in the resume, in most cases it is best to do a skill’s table. The purpose of doing this is to attract the readers attention from early on and encourage them to read further.

Employment History

List your working experience in chronological order as it makes it easier for prospective employers to read. When you detail your work history write in the company, dates worked, the job title and then go into detail about your responsibilities, duties and skills attained.

It is often good practice to write the technical environment in which you were working for each job/contract you did.

Explain the gaps in your resume, it is not unusual to have gone travelling for a year, so if you were off from work explain why.

It is a good idea to continually update your resume, and once you have, send a copy to your consultant to ensure you are identified of new positions that fit your skill set.

References

At some point during the recruitment process your referee’s will need to be identified. It helps if you have relevant contact details and their job title. It is also important to seek permission to include someone as a referee and let them know the recruiter will be contacting them.

Be sure your references support your application for a role, explain the details of the role and let them know why you think you will fit it.