Over the years I have heard numerous stories of candidates setting themselves up for failure when applying for jobs or when interviewing with their potential new employer; whether they mean to or not is another question. I want to share some tips with you on self-management to help you survive the job hunt and the numerous interviews you will no doubt go through while on the search for your next big adventure.
Resume
A resume tells your professional story and should be no longer than 2 – 2.5 pages long. You should incorporate keywords you find in the job description for the role you want, be consistent in your formatting and layout and I believe reverse chronological order is the best option when knowing what to list first. Your resume should include:
Your personal details: your email and contact number, you would be surprised how many resumes I have seen without a current contact number.
Summary / Objective – a short sentence or two summarising your goal from your job search, this should be reflective of the specific role you are applying to so make sure this is updated before submitting your application for the next role.
Education/Qualifications – list relevant qualifications and certifications/completed courses. Do not list qualifications you have not completed; this does not add value at all.
Skills: list both soft and hard skills
Career History – (in reverse chronological order of course) this should show what you were responsible for and in charge of, including tenure and any relevant / important achievements for each position you have held.
Activities / Hobbies: A great opportunity to share more about who you are as a person and not just what you are professionally capable of doing
References: References should not be carried out without you knowing so technically are not needed so you can refer to “References provided upon request”, however if you are wanting to list your references three is enough.
Cover Letter
A lot of candidates do not take the time to generate a cover letter; A half to one page letter is all
that is needed to take the opportunity to speak directly about the role you are applying for and
highlight the specifics in your experience that align you to the role. Show your personality, your
passion and take this opportunity to start to build the rapport with the recruiter.
Stay tuned for Part 2 to be released shortly.
Want to talk about how we can help you hire better people? We’d love to hear from you!
Email: enquiries@ArcTree.com.au | Phone: 1300 ArcTree – 1300 272 8733
