Read our tips, tricks and guidelines for resume writing.
Looking back as early as the 1970’s, it was estimated that ONE BILLION applications and resumes were screened each year. Whether you have years of experience under your belt or are freshly joining the workforce, your chance of landing an interview is far more likely if you have a well-written resume to show off your education, skills and experience.
So, how do you make your resume stand out?
Length
We’ve all heard the saying ‘it’s not the quantity that matters, it’s the quality’. Well, that’s definitely the case when it comes to your CV. According to a famous study by The Ladders, the average recruiter takes only six seconds to determine whether to scrap or keep your resume. ONLY six seconds!
Courtney, a Programmed Professionals’ Recruitment Consultant, suggests you keep your CV simple. “Keep your resume easy to read, because most recruiters skim read for key characteristics”, she said.
Hot Tip: To avoid the layout of your resume altering when viewed on different devices, convert your resume to a pdf. And avoid using complicated or cluttered layouts with headers, footers or too many tables.
Content
We all know that organisations want many years of experience under your belt. However, what are recruiters really looking for?
Arron, an Account Manager at Programmed Training Services, told us that many recruiters start by reading the ‘interests’ section of the CV to understand the personality of the applicant.
But how do you know what to cut out and what to keep?
- Experience: Courtney explains that you “don’t need to go back any further then ten years, as usually, it’s not too relevant” adding that “if you have been in a role for 20 however, ensure you still put that in”.
- Cater to the job: This is what your Cover Letter is for! Courtney articulates to “make sure your resume works from your most recent role to your first role, DON’T put your resume in order of what you think is relevant to the job!”
- Skills: “If you are applying for a role that needs a key skill, ensure that it is easy to see, preferably at the start of your resume”, she said.
“Most of the time recruiters skim read through resumes focusing on specific information to the role” Courtney reiterates. “If I’m looking for a candidate who requires SAP (Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing) qualifications, I’m going to consider an applicant if they have listed SAP over someone who hasn’t, even if it is their skill set”.
What comes next?
Your resume is updated, and you’ve applied for your dream job. You received the call and your interview is set. Read our recruitment consultants’ advice on how to prepare for an interview!
Good luck!
Programmed is a leading Staffing and Maintenance organisation, providing staffing, professional, technical, training and maintenance services across Australia and New Zealand with more than 20,000 employees supporting industry.
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