Resume Guide v4 5

8/4/2019 Resume Guide v4 5

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incorporating The Australian Rsum Writer

Rsum GuidePersonal Rsum - Your Personal Marketing Tool .. 2

Information In Your Rsum 2Personal Details 3Profile (containing Career Objective) ... 5Key Competencies 6Key Technical Skills . 8Education .. 8

What To Include ... 9Employment History . 9

School Leaver / Graduate ..10What To Include ... 10Different Circumstances ... 13

Voluntary Involvement . 13Personal Achievements . 14Referees .14Out Of The Ordinary . 15

Page Length .. 16

Presenting Your Rsum ...16Emailing Your Rsum . 17

Alternative Section Headings ... 18

What To Do Next .. 19Im An Individual . 20Delivery Methods ..22A4 Cover ... 23

Action Words 24

Page 1 - 2002-2003 Aussie Rsums. All Rights Reserved.


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the Aussie Rsums Rsum Guide

Personal Rsum~ Your Personal Marketing Tool

The Aussie Rsums Employer Survey highlights the necessity for correct information in yourrsum.

I think that is important to receive as much relevantinformation as possible, as a rsum is usually all you have togo by prior to an interview.

Employer Survey Morinda International (Australia) Pty Ltd

Just as ones tastes differ from another, so too do the opinions expressed by employers. Ultimately,only you can weigh up what is best for the position(s) youre applying for. Your application (rsumand cover letter combined) should be tailored for each respective position. This is particularlyimportant for those who are applying for positions in either a) varying industries; or b) differing roles(eg. full time administration worker looking for part time bar work, etc). This is explained later infurther detail.

This comprehensive guide contains information as to what employers request in a rsum - based onthe most recent survey results available, and over a decade of experience in the compilation andpreparation of professional rsums for clients.

Most applicants do not seem to read the advertisement.When requesting specific skills and / or qualifications I wouldexpect applicants to address these requirements specifically intheir rsum. It is not always possible to read a cover letter soall important information should be listed in the rsumitself. Employer Survey (Confidential)

Information In Your RsumThe following sections can be included in your rsum, with the particular order of relevance evaluatedfor each position. For instance, you may need to highlight your employment history and skills beforeyour professional development. A senior executive would highlight his / her employment history andaccomplishments, with their educational detail last. Whereas, a graduate would highlight educationaldevelopment and achievements, with transferable skills listed underneath. This will need to bedetermined for each particular circumstance.



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Personal Details

This section goes first and contains personal information such as:

Your full name

If you have a middle name, include it. What if an applicant had the same name as you? It doeshappen! Your immediate distinguishing factor could be your middle name.

Your postal addressIf your postal address differs from your residential address only state your postal address, includingpostcode.

Your contact detailsInclude telephone number, with area code, mobile number and email address. (Tip: send an email to

yourself. This ensures you have listed the correct email address.)

The applicant must set up a professional email address. I donot want to be replying back to someone with the [email protected] etc.

Employer Survey (Confidential)

Your date of birth ~ OPTIONAL ~Note: Legally you dont have to provide your DOBResults from the recent Aussie Rsums Employer Survey were quite surprising: an overwhelming60% stated yes, they did like to see date of birth listed; and 38% stated it doesnt matter. If you

dont include your date of birth, you are only catering to the 2% of employers who dont wish to seeit! Although employers shouldnt discriminate on age, it does unfortunately happen - so only youcan decide what is best for your particular circumstance. Dont always look upon your age as abarrier. For instance, you are 50 and believe this to be against you - not necessarily so. Its allrelative to what youve achieved and what youre wanting to achieve. Dont always jump to theconclusion your age was against you, and thats the reason why you didnt get the job. In most casesthere are other factors involved. The feedback received from employers in the Aussie RsumsEmployer Survey indicated that providing your date of birth can help an employer put yourachievements into perspective. Survey respondents also stated that if an applicant does not list theirdate of birth, they can usually estimate your approximate age by moving backward through the datesand information in your rsum. If you are applying for junior positions it may be in your best

interests to list your date of birth, ensuring a prospective employer immediately ascertains youreligibility for such a role. Ultimately, its your decision whether to include it.

DOB is used in conjunction with years ofexperience in roles. Employer Survey

The Marketing Department Group

(more employer comments continued next page)



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Although (DOB) is not a consideration inthe final assessment gives the recruiter an

idea as to their length of work experienceswhen considering a written application.


Sometimes it IS important to assess theage of the applicant in relation to their level

of experience. Eg: have the applicantsachievements occurred over a short or longperiod of time? Employer Survey (Conf.)

Most times you can work it out it is notan issue what age they are the issue is canthey do the job and do they really want todo the job. Employer Survey (Confidential)

Languages

If its to your advantage, include other languages spoken. In this instance include English as yourprimary language. Example: English, Italian, conversational French

MembershipsInclude current professional affiliations only. You would not include membership of the localfootball club if this had no relevance to the position youre applying for.Example: Fellow, Institution of Engineers (for an Engineering Consultant)

Licences

This section is only relevant for an applicant whose profession relies on a licence of some kind (eg.driver, tradesperson, etc). In this instance, include any licences you hold such as car, heavyarticulated, motorbike, boat, forklift, etc. Tradesmans tickets do not get listed under Licences, asthese have been attained through Further Education and as such are listed under the appropriatesection.

Your interests / hobbies

Previous survey results were positive, but the recent survey highlighted this area as either a low ormedium priority (only 5% stated this as a high priority). Its recommended you list some. Dont gooverboard with 2 or 3 lines of hobbies. Keep in mind that a particular position may call for anenthusiastic pursuit of a like-minded hobby or interest. An example of this could be bird watching

for a park ranger position.

Citizenship / Visa Status:

If required.



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Some applicants prefer to split this Personal Details section, with contact information provided at thebeginning (or in the header) with the remainder of personal information contained at the end of thersum. Format your rsum to suit your circumstance and / or preferences.

Profile (combining Career Objective):

Overwhelmingly, 81% of surveyed employers stated this section as one of a high priority. Previoussurveys highlighted the need for a career objective, but our most recent results have found the trendshifting toward a profile, incorporating career objectives.

This is imperative to see personal aspirations and whetheryou can accommodate them into your business. If a person

has goals, they are more likely to want to achieve companygoals and are familiar with setting measurable objectives.


Your profile is a short statement describing your area of expertise (including industry, if applicable),along with your career goals and aspirations. Ordinarily this would be the second section in yourrsum. Due to the overwhelming response in the latest employer survey, dont overlook this vitalsection!

Considering your career objective is included in your profile, you may need to tailor this for eachrespective position applied for. Your profile shouldnt state Looking for a rewarding position in a

good company as this does not give an indication of your skills, what you want to do, and where youwant to go.

If you are stating your 5-year goals, it is prudent to only include these if your application is being sentto a bigger company, or if you truly believe there is advancement (in a smaller company). If your 5-year goals dont match the employer, your application could very well be overlooked.

Sample Profiles with a Career Objective:

An Environmental Engineer involved in program development and regulation, highly experienced instrategic development and completion of projects to objectives. Seeking to contribute to anorganisations bottom line, empowering people to achieve and excel.

A dedicated Administration Assistant who provides superior executive support and administrativemanagement, ensuring best practice for the organisation. Seeking a challenging and diverse multi-skilled role, managing the office and developing procedures to desired outcomes.



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An experienced Senior Finance Executive who leads by example, is proactive and positivelyimpacts on business growth. Multi-skilled in finance and general management principles, I bringvaluable expertise to a progressive company.

A loyal and committed Registered Nurse who undertakes improvement and excellence in careprovision. With 10+ years experience and a genuine passion for the medical industry, I am seekingto further my career within XYZ Company.

A highly skilled Travel Consultant who is passionate about the travel industry, with provenachievement of goals above expectations. A people person, my strengths lie in assisting people,extending my experience and knowledge, and always striving for improvement and excellence.

Demonstrated Project Management experience in differing business environments. Bringing diverseskills, determination and enthusiasm to an employer offering a challenging role within the corporate

finance sector.

Key Competencies (or Key Strengths):

Generally, key competencies follow your Profile.

So what are Key Competencies? This area should demonstrate your core strengths, whether they bepersonal attributes or your skill base and should be no more than 6 bullet points. Mostadvertisements will have a brief description of the type of person they are looking for, in addition tothe broad skill base required. Without these statements an employer may only have a vague idea of

who you are. Remember, sell yourself sight unseen. This isnt being boastful or showy, simply statingfacts in a descriptive succinct manner. There is a difference! If you are unsure of your result, asksomeone you trust to give you an unbiased review of your written competencies.

Its a good idea to tailor your attributes / competencies around the position criteria in the jobdescription and / or advertisement (if applicable).

The recent Employer Survey revealed that 70% of employers rate this section as high.

An applicant who can summarise and sell their strengthsis always impressive.Employer Survey (Confidential)

Following are some sample Competencies. Use them as a guide only your competencies need toreflect you and should be in your own words. Dont get carried away. Keep it brief. We suggest listingno more than 6 key competencies.



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Excellent communication skills I am able to effectively liaise with clients and other professionals.

My time management skills are highly tuned, enabling efficient prioritisation of a workload.

Flexible and adaptable, being open to change and learning new tasks quickly.

Reliable, always arriving at work on time.

My word processing skills are highly developed, enabling effective and efficient typing ofdocuments and necessary correspondence.

Efficient and conscientious approach to my work ethos and values.

Friendly, outgoing person - an asset when interacting with clients and other personnel.

Having worked in offices for a number of years, my general knowledge of overall office duties isone of a high standard.

Having leadership qualities I can effectively lead and motivate a team.

Having a high level of self motivation, this allows me to set goals and then achieve them.

Strong management expertise, spanning 20 years, incorporating business planning, market analysisand business development, resulting in increased profitability.

Proficient computer skills, allowing a high degree of competency with day-to-day tasks.

I value success, which gives me the motivation and drive necessary to achieve personal andcompany goals.

To gain a better understanding of who you are and what to include with your personal attributes, usethe following checklist as a guide - alternatively, if you have participated in a personality test, this willmore than likely give the information you require. Keep in mind this area should be tailored for theadvertised position.

! Good communication skills ! Strong management skills

! Excellent organisational skills ! Ability to identify and resolve problems

! Effective in completing projects ! Excellent leadership skills

! Effective financial planning skills ! Outstanding decision maker



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! Exceptional troubleshooting skills ! Ability to motivate others

!Work well as a team member ! Excellent public relation skills

!Work well with a wide range of people ! Ability to work unsupervised

! Possess a high level of self motivation ! Dependable follow through

!Work well under pressure and stress ! Ability to learn new skills rapidly

! Ability to utilise available resources ! Energetic and ambitious

! Ability to prioritise and manage time ! Strong ethical values and honesty

Key Technical Skills:

This area of your rsum generally applies to IT related roles or roles requiring a high degree ofcompetency in various machinery. For other roles your computer skills should be demonstrated inKey Competencies.

Include your skills and knowledge in areas such as programming, platforms, software, databases,hardware, etc.

Education:

You should be listing all educational development - work related, and a sprinkling of personal coursesattended, if desired. Include courses, workshops, seminars, tertiary education and, if you feel itnecessary, secondary schooling. It is advisable not to include partial (incomplete) degrees or degreeswhich have been deferred, unless you are currently studying or will be resuming the study in the verynear future. The other exception is a prerequisite course required for employment. If you have enrolledin this course but have not yet started, list the year you are to commence. Otherwise, keep this sectionfor completed education only. Ideally, your education should show a particular focus to a particulararea.

Demonstrates ability to learn, flexibility and possiblyother opportunities within the role.Employer Survey- The Marketing Department



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What To Include

List your educational detail in reverse chronological order (i.e. current or must recent education first,

then work your way back).

Only include year completed, not the entire date range.Example: incorrect: 1991 1996 correct: 1996

Full course / degree name (and major, if applicable).Example: incorrect: B.A. (Journalism) correct: Bachelor of Arts (Journalism)

Name of the training provider / learning institution (eg. Murdoch University).

Special Achievements - primarily related to a degree (eg. thesis, scholarship, etc.)

Generally, there is no need to list the course / subject content. The only exception is for school / TAFE/ tertiary graduates, who may not have adequate or suitable work experience and need to demonstrateacademic qualifications. Hence, the subject matter may be more important to the employer.

Can give an insight into someones goals, change in career, canhighlight an all-rounded person where different education isinvolved. Listing pages and pages of one day courses and seminarscan be a bit much though (particularly things like Introduction toWord, etc).Employer Survey (Confidential)

Employment History:

The vital ingredient is to explain / demonstrate what you do. This section allows an employer togauge your skill level for the position being applied for.

List your employment in reverse chronological order (your current or most recent position first, thenworking your way backwards). 56% of surveyed employers stated they like to see up to 15 years ofemployment history, and 41% stated they like to see all history.

If you do wish to list all employment history, it is suggested you list comprehensive detail for the last10-15 years only (or the last three roles), with the rest kept as brief as possible.

Past five years is all that I am interested in. I dont really care ifthey worked as a storeman when they were 15 if they are applyingfor a management position.Employer Survey - (Confidential)



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School Leaver / Graduate

Recent school leavers or graduates may not have an employment history as summarised here, but a

Work Experience section (please see further detail under Different Circumstances). Although a schoolleavers academic qualifications will be scrutinised, it is just as important for a school-leaver to havesome basic work etiquette skills, which can generally be demonstrated in the Work Experience section.(Included with your software is a School Leaver and Graduate Rsum Template for this purpose.) Onthe other hand, a mature age student may very likely have a detailed employment history, in addition totheir academic qualifications. In this instance your employment history would be detailed as per theexplanation here.

What To Include

The start and finish dates, with months. Your current position should be displayed appropriately.

Example: incorrect: 2001-2002 correct: Jan. 2001 - March 2002incorrect: 2001-2003 correct: Jan. 2001 presentListing years only can not adequately explain your period of employment. For example, in the abovewe listed employment from 2001-2002. This means you may have been employed for 2 months(December 2001 to January 2002) or 2 years (January 2001 to December 2002). Obviously, from anemployers perspective the difference is substantial.

The employers name and location. (eg. XYZ Company, Melbourne, Victoria)

Company / industry description. Unless you are working for a well-known organisation, such asTelstra, it may be to your advantage to include a brief description. For instance, there are numerous

like-minded job titles, but varying industries with differing company objectives. You could include abrief summary of what the company does, in addition to turnover in sales and employee numbers (ifreadily available). In most cases you can find this information on a corporate website. Listing a briefcompany description will help quantify the scope and responsibility of your position for aprospective employer. Keep it brief - no more than three lines of text.Example: Leading edge supplier of XYZ Gadgets with 20+ stores, nationally, sales in excess ofAU$5M, and a staff of 200.

Company description need only be very brief. The more detail ondates of employment the better. Sometimes a reason for leaving canbe helpful as well.Employer Survey - (Confidential)

Your job title. Job titles can be very misleading, particularly within certain industries. Most job titlesgive no indication (at a glance) as to what you do - or worse, it inadvertently gives the wrongimpression! If you dont believe your job title is accurate consider altering it slightly to reflect yourtrue role. The Commonwealth Department of Education, Science & Training has published JobGuide 2002 (http://www.jobguide.thegoodguides.com.au) - which includes hundreds ofoccupational titles and profiles.



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Duty statements, as per the description below:

Guideline to your Duty Statement:

Your duty statement needs to describe your average working day (or week) to the hiring manager.When you think about it, each business is different (not to mention differing industries), so duties /responsibilities / accountabilities may differ slightly for each establishment. Firstly, we suggest youmentally work through your day (or week) and list everything you do, then sort through the list andexpand or delete as necessary. Here is an example:

A prepared list of a general day:

On arrival turn off alarm

Open storeTurn on computers and registersGet front desk ready for dayAnswer phones and general queriesTyping for ManagerBook appointments in diary for ManagerCall other departments re consignmentsSupervise juniorsFile away receiptsStamp incoming and outgoing mailPhotocopying

Collate incoming materialMake sure cash in till is adequate and then balanceInvoice out to clientsTurn off computer, close and lock the storeTurn on alarm

This duty statement is not powerful or positive. By utilising Action Words (contained within thisguide) you can describe what you have achieved, and create a positive and descriptive statement. Runyour eye down the list of Action Words to transform your sentences! Weve altered the above to thefollowing descriptive duty statement, utilising Action Words.

Responsible for open and close of storeLiaise with management and team membersEstablish and maintain contacts in the printing industryCommunicate with designers and typesetters in relation to clients instructionsAttend to clients enquiries and offer advice when requiredControl of an eight line switchboardProgressive marketing of company productsCreate presentation material and letters for management



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Organise Managers diary and appointmentsDistribute incoming and outgoing material

Process cash receipts and payments and invoice accordingly

Supervise and train junior staff membersManage day-to-day office responsibilities

Notice we didnt list every duty on our original list, but rather described the general day - starting offeach sentence with a descriptive positive action word. If you were to list every responsibility during thecourse of your day, the hiring manager reading your rsum would well and truly be bored!

The detail you wish to include in your duty statement is entirely up to you - but it must demonstrateyour suitability for the position applied for. Dont waffle! Quality rather than quantity is the rule.Ideally, you should be tailoring your rsum for each individual position applied for, and, if need be,altering your duty statement accordingly. (eg. for one position you may need to highlight your word

processing abilities, and in another your marketing abilities.) Executives would not list (as per theabove) but rather state key accountabilities and achievements of significance.

... dont list part time or only short term jobs of two weeks if listing allemployment history - unless its relevant to the position. Listing your wholeemployment history to every last detail is BORING. Give a general overview so theemployer can see where you have come from and where you have progressed to.

Employer Survey - (Confidential)

You may have been given a Job Description with previous or current positions. This can be a great

starting point for you. As they tend to be wordy you may need to cut down their version for yourduty statement. (Keep in mind, Job Descriptions can have up to three sentences per responsibility! Youcan generally scale this down to a concise one liner.)

When compiling a duty statement your current employment should be in present tense, and previousemployment in past tense.

Example: Attend to client enquiries is in present tense for your current job; and Attended to clientenquiries is in past tense for your previous job.

Key Achievements. Remember, you need to sell yourself sight unseen - put everything in your

favour. This particularly applies for something extraordinary youve achieved at work. In this caseyou would have a sub-heading under your duty statement titled Key Achievements. Detail thefantastic things youve achieved. For example it may be a Customer Service Award you received; 0sick day performance; perhaps you were instrumental in taking the company profits from $500,000to $1M; or you were part of a team who took the company through a successful ISO Standardsprocedure. Keep in mind that achievements should be of significance or quantifiable. Eachachievement should include the year achieved / awarded.



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Job status. If you were / are employed on a part time or contract basis, state this, in brackets, afteryour job title. This is particularly important for IT related roles - in this instance, state whether youremploy was / is contract or permanent.

Example: Systems Analyst (contract)

Different Circumstances

Unemployment: Job gaps of more than three months need to be explained. Dependable on the gap,your explanation could read:Example: Travelled extensively overseas Studied full time to enhance my skills

Re-entering the Workforce: Again, this job gap needs to be explained.Example: Your job title could read Domestic Engineer and your statement could read After

successfully raising my family I am now re-entering the workforce.

Work Experience: Only applicable for recent school leavers. This can be an entirely new section (or,in some instances, the only section), or be incorporated under your employment history. (In thiscase, school work experience will need to be stated.) The same detail for your employment historyapplies to work experience, excluding industry description; job status; and in most cases job title andachievements.

Voluntary / Community Involvement:

Voluntary / Community Involvement is not a vital section of your rsum so keep it brief. Anemployers impression of this section in your rsum: 23% said current involvement only; 31% statedpast and present involvement, 33% said it didnt matter one way or the other, and 13% didnt like tosee it at all.

Chronologically list volunteer work you perform in your local community and / or learning institution.Include the year (or years) you volunteered your time, the name of the organisation (eg The Anti-Cancer Foundation) and a brief summary of your role.

As a rule of thumb, only include current and previous volunteer work two years hence. Prior to this, weonly recommend listing volunteer work if it would be advantageous to do so.

I like to see voluntary information if it has really beenvoluntary, not if it was a requirement of the school theyattended.Employer Survey - (Confidential)



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Personal Achievements:

Utilise this section for any personal achievements you are proud of. This does not contain work

achievements, as these should be demonstrated in your employment history. Your personalachievements could be sporting, academic, creative, scientific, etc but should not be repeatinginformation (such as successfully completed my degree) or information such as passed a dressageexam. Just as key achievements under employment history should be of significance, likewise soshould personal achievements. Over two thirds of surveyed employers like to see personalachievements in a rsum, but only 18% stated it is a high priority.

Your detail should be listed in reverse chronological order and, if possible, include a date.

This area can assist if it shows an interestand skills which are not presented in otherparts of the rsum, but again only if it isrelevant otherwise put it with the interestsection if you really want to put it in.


Work achievements in more detail, butpersonal achievements also important, aslife is not all about work! Employer Survey -(Confidential)

Phone Referees ~ OPTIONAL:

If including referees, this should be the last section in your rsum.

Only 7% of surveyed employers stated this section as low, with 67% requesting a list of 3 referees.

Ideally, you should have your current manager (or supervisor) listed as a referee. If this isnt possible(because you dont want your boss to know youre looking for another job), list a close work colleagueor someone of standing in your local community (eg. your local Priest, a business person you knowpersonally, etc). In the case of a self-employed business person, a client you work closely with willsuffice. Once youve chosen your phone referees you should obtain their permission to act as yourreferee. It is not advisable to include immediate relatives such as mum or dad, and relatives with thesame surname as you.

Alternatively, you may wish to provide testimonials from clients / employers, which is usuallyobtained from written references / letters.

Example: Jims consistent efforts and expertise in obtaining new business is rewarded by hisachievement in excess of 12% each month. His commitment has made the team what it is. - Mr JSmith, XYZ Company

Bear in mind that some employers look upon testimonials as nothing of importance.



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If neither option is suitable for your needs, your referees section will need to state I am happy to

facilitate the contacting of referees or similar.

Photocopies of written references arent generally includedwith the rsum. 55% of employers said they didnt like toreceive them. If you have a super reference ask the person whowrote it if they will act as your phone referee.

Written references meannothing who would include abad one?Employer Survey

Frucor Beverages Australia

Your list of referees should include the following information:

The contacts name (eg. John Smith) Their position in the company - relationship to you (eg. General Manager)

The company name (eg. XYZ Company) The contacts telephone number, including mobile The contacts email address (if they have one)

Referee names and contact details shouldbe provided. Failure to do so indicatessomething to hide. Employer Survey -(Confidential)

Provide email address if referee residesoverseas with differing timeframes (i.e. UKdifficult to contact during standardAustralian working hours). Employer Survey

Wellington Shire Council, VIC

Not have referees listed makes you askwhy and you dont have time to waste. IFyou have to make a choice betweensomeone who has given the list and anotherwho has not you are making the

interviewer work when you should beshowing how you can work for them.


Out Of The Ordinary:

For particular roles you may need to add certain sections in your rsum, such as: Publications, ProjectsCompleted, etc. If this contains a great deal of information it may be prudent to include this as anAppendix.

Likewise, for a position requiring creativity, such as a graphic designer; photographer; art director; itmay be a good idea to include an appendix demonstrating some of your work.

Remember, your rsum is a reflection of you. Keep it as concise as possible. Dont waffle. Keep inmind the hiring manager doesnt have a lot of time! Your objective is to get an interview via yourrsum. At the interview you can expand on information contained within your rsum and really letyour talents shine!



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Page Length

In most instances your rsum should be no longer than 4 pages. An exception to this is those applyingfor senior roles, where up to 6 pages is acceptable.

Preferences resulting from the employer surveyed indicated: 1 page = 0%; 1-2 pages = 9%; 3-4 pages= 53%; 5-6 pages = 5%; 6+ pages = 1%; 32% stated it didnt matter as long as relevant.

Presenting Your Rsum

Results from the recent Aussie Rsums Employer Survey revealed that over three quarters of

employers prefer your application via email and, when emailing, 95% prefer it in Microsoft Wordformat. The job advertisement will state their preferred method (eg. email or post).

If youre sending a hard copy (that is, via post) do not send it in a folder or spiral bound. Instead stapleor paper clip the application.

We highly recommend choosing a stylewhich is plain, but stylish. Unless youare applying for a role which needs todemonstrate creative flair, do not includefancy borders, graphics or photos. We

suggest you print your rsum on topquality white parchment paper or similar(unless you are applying for a creativerole, whereby coloured paper may beappropriate).

In the recently advertised position we received over350 rsums. The rsums that were automaticallyexcluded were the ones that had spelling mistakes,unprofessional email addresses, any that had aninappropriate photo attached (i.e. one taken of them at

the school formal), any where they had used Monster orSeek rsums.Employer Survey (Confidential)

You may wish to consider using coloured headings in your rsum, allowing easy section scanning forthe employer.

Also, consider your rsum title. You may wish to call it Personal Rsum, Confidential Rsum,Personal Portfolio or Curriculum Vitae. (The preferred title in Australia is Rsum.)

When preparing your rsum we suggest the following professional presentation detail, asdemonstrated in the rsum templates supplied with the software:

Margins set to 2.54cm (1 inch) left and right; 1.5cm (.59 inch) top and bottom. An easy-to-read font, such as Arial (11 point), Times New Roman (12 point) or Verdana (11 point).

The font we have used here is Times New Roman. The font in the rsum templates is Arial orVerdana. Keep in mind that a font on your computer may not necessarily be on another.



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Full justification (most programs such as Word default to left). Three hard returns between each section (Personal Details, Career Objective, etc). After the last line

of text (in a section), hard return three times from that point

Three hard returns between each employment detail (eg. in between jobs) Your name and page number on each page (in a header and / or footer) Personal Rsum typed on each page (in a header or footer)

When submitting your application it should be in the following order:

Covering letter Your rsum Photocopies of written references (if you wish to include them) Photocopies of any applicable licences or certificates (applicable for tradespeople)

Double-check your rsum for any errors, including:

Dates - are there any gaps? If so, why? Do you need to explain the reason? eg. overseas holiday Employer details Telephone numbers Spelling and grammar. Ensure your default Language is set at English (Australian) or English

(UK), not English (US). There are numerous words which differ such as:Australian or UK spelling American spelling- itemised is with an S - itemized is with a Z- colour with a U - color without a U- cheque - check (as in personal cheques)

Punctuation Presentation errors

Spelling is critical. I often short list by the people who can spellliaison / liaise correctly. Everyone seems to use this word but so manyspell it incorrectly. To me it demonstrates their attention to detail.Also, if I receive a rsum without a covering letter I dont evenrespond to it.Employer Survey LJ Hooker

Emailing Your Rsum:Communicate correctly. Advert forSecretary (stated) to be emailed or faxedto me. 50% couldnt be opened. 30%couldnt get the specific job title right, and70% of those received had no relevance.

Employer Survey PRD Nationwide

If emailing your application, attach the file. Do notinclude it in the body of the email.

The cover letter and rsum should be one document(file) only. To do this open your rsum. Insert your



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cursor at the top of the document (i.e. in front of Personal Details). Press control and enter (at the sametime). This will insert a hard page break, giving you a blank page to either a) start typing; or b) copyand paste your existing letter.

Emailed is preferable, as long as the CV is not so long or fancythat it takes a long time to download.


After youve completed your rsum, we suggest you take the short rsum quiz (contained within thesoftware) to see how your rsum stacks up. We also recommend you seek an unbiased opinion withsomeone you trust - a family friend or work colleague. So often you can be too close and overlook

minor detail, which can ultimately lead to major headaches later on. Alternatively, for peace of mind,Aussie Rsums offer an inexpensive critiquing service for your completed rsum and / or coverletter.

Time spent in preparing your rsum will certainly be recuperated in your high rate of interviews. Firstimpressions do count, as testified by our survey results - when asked how important do you rate thefirst impression an application has on you? 86% rated it high or very high. Dont leave your rsumto chance - stack everything in your favour.

Usually I have already begun to place them in piles presentation is so important.Employer Survey (Confidential)

Alternative Section Headings

Personal Details; Personal Data; Personal

Profile; Objective; Ambitions; Aspirations; Goals; Personal Mission Statement; Work Philosophy

Key Competencies; Key Strengths; Core Competencies; Career Assets; Contributions I Can Make;Demonstrated Abilities; Major Skills; What I Can Offer My Employer

Education; Professional Development; Further Education

Employment History; Career History; Career Overview; Employment Highlights; ProfessionalBackground



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Personal Achievements; Personal Accomplishments

The possibilities are endless! More often than not your headings will more than likely remain the same,

but it may not hurt to change them for a particular position.

What To Do Next

Now youve completed your rsum its time to look for a job.

Were you aware that a high proportion of vacant positions are never advertised? Have you wonderedhow some people seem to have all the luck in landing a job, with relative ease?

To give yourself the best possible chance of securing an interview, you need to keep all avenues wideopen. There are thousands of vacant positions, Australia-wide, and you can gain access to these by:

Looking in state, national and community newspapers Searching Internet job sites - a link is contained on the software to visit major sites Registering with your local recruitment or temping agency - such as Employment Plus, Skilled,

Kelly Services, Manpower, Drake, TMP, etc (Tip: listed under Employment Services in the YellowPages)

Networking: advising friends and family members of your job-seeking efforts. This also includesmembers of a group you may belong to. The adage its not what you know, but who you knowcertainly applies in many instances.

Community noticeboards. Why not utilise free advertising? For help on how to get noticed, checkout the great ideas under Im An Individual. Cold calling, or good old foot-slogging! Photocopy your rsum, including a brief introductory

letter, and call in to businesses. Ask to speak to the Manager, and if not available, leave your rsumwith the receptionist. For help on getting noticed, check out the great ideas under Im AnIndividual. Literally hundreds of people have gained jobs this way.

Although the list is not exhaustive, it is an excellent starting point. The majority of job-seekers sit backand wait for a position to be advertised... if youre one of the minority who actively seeks a positionyou will be seen as a go-getter, someone with initiative and drive.

So how do you get noticed above all the rest?



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Im An Individual

In some cases, a rsum and cover letter may not be required. For example: a notice on a noticeboard,or placing an advertisement in your local paper.

Included below are some ideas to help you on your way ... the key is to be creative and enhance yourpersonal attributes and work skills in an effective succinct way. Remember: you are your ownadvertisement.

A work wanted advertisement.In some papers, such as your community newspaper, you canadvertise for free.



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Efficient Word Processor OperatorDo you require a Word Processor Operator who can not onlytype fast and accurately, but also answer your phone politelyand promptly, file away your correspondence in an organised

manner, and give a friendly smile to your clients?

If so, then I am the person your office is looking for!

Please contact me on (02) xxxx xxxx

Alice Citizen, 202 East Parade, Brunswick, 2020 Your personal calling card

# #a STAR performer!First Class Graduate, with high distinctions, majored in:

Accounting & Management Information SystemsWith work experience in:auditing and tax returns

I am available for immediate employment.

Please contact me on (02) xxxx xxxxAlice Citizen B.Com., 202 East Parade, Brunswick, 2020

You can use this as a fantastic marketing tool when cold calling (as an alternative to leaving yourrsum) or networking. You can fit four to an A4 page, and if you have a colour printer, utilise this foryour headings and marketable points. Red is an excellent attention colour. Many people have attaineda job through this process.



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The same marketingprinciple can be applied to

anA5 flier for your localnoticeboard(s). There aremany possibilities!

Delivery MethodsFor Your Rsum:

To make a difference andstand out, you can deliver

your application in anumber of different ways.

Of course, the traditionalway is to send yourapplication in an A4 typedenvelope, via AustraliaPost, or electronically byemail.

But you may wish toconsider the following:

ReceptionistFor Sale

Dear Employer:

I am a hard-working, honest receptionist who wouldbe an asset to your company.

Exceptional telephonist, command of a

16 line switchboardCompetent typist, 75wpm with an 85%accuracy rateOutstanding organisational skillsCalm attitude when under pressureExcellent communication skills

I am available for immediate employment.

Please contact me on (02) xxxx xxxx

Alice Citizen, 202 East Parade, Brunswick, 2020

%

Special delivery via courier (Dependable on the position) Signature required on delivery - via Australia Post or courier. In some

instances, this may annoy an employer, so weigh this up carefully Personal delivery by you, with something special for the receptionist, i.e. a rose, etc. Publishing your rsum on the web and providing an URL for your employer (particularly if you are

involved in the IT industry).(Note: some of these methods are more costly than ordinary postal services.)

Regardless of which individual style or method you choose, what really counts is your Attitude,Attributes and Skills. Combined with your uniquely crafted rsum and cover letter, you can beassured of interview and job success.

We wish you every success in your chosen endeavours.

Best regards,the team atAussie Rsums



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An A4 Cover for your rsum. This will only suit certain positions (i.e. requiring creativity on yourbehalf, or if you really need to stand out). You would definitely not send this to a company who is onthe conservative side.



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Action Words To Describe What You Have Achieved

finalisedeffectedcreatedcitedassuredabated

financedelaboratedcritiquedclarifiedattainedabolishedfine-tunedelectedcurtailedclassifiedattendedabridgedfixedeliminatedcutclearedattuned toabsolvedfocusedemphasiseddecreasedclosedauditedacceleratedfollowedemployeddefinedcoachedaugmentedaccomplishedforecastedempowereddelegatedco-authoredauthoredaccommodatedforgedenableddeliveredcollaboratedauthorisedaccounted forformalisedenacteddemonstratedcollatedautomatedaccruedformedencourageddepartmentalis

edcollectedavertedaccumulated

formulatedengagedco-ledavoidedachievedfoundedengineereddeployedcommandedawardedacquiredgainedenhanceddesignatedcommissionedbalancedacted

gatheredenjoyeddesignedcommunicatedbeganadaptedgaveenlargeddespatchedcomparedbelievedaddedgeneratedenlisteddetailedcompetent withbenchmarkedaddressedgovernedenricheddetectedcompiledbilledadjustedgroupedenrolleddeterminedcompletedbolsteredadministeredguaranteedensureddevelopedcomposedboostedadoptedguidedentereddevisedcomputedboughtadvancedhandledenticeddiagnosedconceivedbrandedadvisedharmonisedequateddifferentiatedconcentratedbridgedadvocatedheadedequippeddiffusedconceptualisedbroadenedaffirmedheldestablisheddirectedconductedbrought

in/aboutaided

helpedestimateddisbursedconfiguredaligned

hiredevaluateddiscoveredconnectedbudgetedalleviated hostedexamineddiscussedconservedbuiltallocatedidentifiedexceededdispatchedconsolidatedcalculatedallottedillustratedexecuteddispensedconstructedcalibratedallowedimaginedexerciseddisplayedconsultedcapitalisedamassedimplementedexhibiteddissectedcontactedcataloguedanalysedimprovedexpandeddisseminatedcontainedcategorisedansweredimprovisedexpediteddistinguishedcontemplatedcementedappliedincorporatedexperienceddistributedcontinuedcertifiedappointedincreasedexperimenteddiversifiedcontractedchairedappraisedindexedexplaineddivertedcontributedchallengedapprovedindoctrinatedexploreddocumentedcontrolledchampionedarbitrated

influencedexpresseddoubledconvertedchangedarranged informedextendeddraftedconveyedcharacterisedarticulatedinitiatedextracteddrew upconvincedchargedascertainedinnovatedfacilitateddroveco-operatedcheckedaspiredinspectedfamiliarisedearnedco-ordinatedchoseassembledinspiredfashionedeasedcopiedchosen asassessedinstalledfieldedeconomisedcorrectedchronicledassignedinstigatedfilededitedcorrespondedcirculatedassimilated

fillededucatedcounselledcircumvented institutedassisted



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telephonedsavedrealignedofferedinstructedtheorisedscheduledrearrangedofficiatedintegratedtook partschooledrebuiltopenedinterpretedtrackedscreenedrecognisedoperatedinterviewedtrainedsearchedrecommendedoptimisedintroducedtranscribedsecuredreconciledorchestratedinventedtransformedselectedreconstructedorderedinventoriedtransitionedsequencedrecordedorganisedinvestedtranslatedserved asrecruitedoriginatedinvestigatedtransmittedservicedrectifiedovercameinvitedtravelledsetredesignedoverhauledinvolvedtreatedsettledredirectedoversawissuedtrimmedshapedreducedowneditemisedtripledsharedre-engineeredpackagedjoinedtroubleshotsimplifiedreferredparticipatedjudgedturned aroundskilledrefinedpartneredkeptuncoveredsoldrefocusedpenetratedlaunchedundertooksolidifiedregulatedperfectedlearnedunderwrotesolvedrehabilitatedperformedlecturedupdatedsortedrelatedpermittedledupgradedspecialisedrelocatedpersuadedleveragedupheldspecifiedremodelledpilotedlicensedusedsponsoredrenderedpioneeredliaisedutilisedstandardisedrenegotiatedplannedliquidatedvalidatedstimulatedrenewedplayedloweredvaluedstoredrenovatedpreparedmadeverifiedstraightenedreorganisedpresentedmaintainedvotedstreamlinedrepairedpresided overmanaged

wonstrengthenedreplacedpreventedmanoeuvredworkedstructuredreportedprioritisedmanipulatedwrotestudiedrepositionedprocessedmanufacturedyieldedsubstitutedrepresentedproducedmarked

suggestedreproducedprogrammedmarketedsummarisedresearchedprogressedmastermindedsupervisedreshapedprojectedmaximisedsuppliedresolvedpromotedmeasuredsupportedrespondedproposedmediatedsurpassedrestoredprotectedmergedsurmountedrestructuredprovidedmoderatedsurveyedrestyledpublicisedmodified

switchedretainedpublishedmonitoredsynthesisedretrievedpurchasedmotivatedsystemisedrevampedquadrupledmultipliedtabulatedreversedqualifiednavigatedtackledreviewedquantifiednegotiatedtaughtrevisedrannominatedteamedrevitalisedraisedobservedtestedrevolutionisedrated

eg:

Achieved a 25% increase insales for the year 2000

Designed the office premisesto effect an efficient workingenvironment

Conducted a comprehensivesurvey, yielding a 95%response rate

obtained

Documents

Resume Guide v4 5