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How to write a modern Australian resume

Jun 18, 2020

How to write a modern Australian resume

If you haven't had to apply for a job in a really long time you might have no idea what a modern, professional resume looks like. How long should your resume be? What sections should you include? You may have heard that resumes these days are only meant to be 1-2 pages. BUT... you'll be pleased to hear that in the Australian market, 3-4 pages is okay if you are a mid-late career professional. [In north America, 2 pages is expected.] However you might have you heard of the 'on

Does your resume tell a story?

May 14, 2020

Does your resume tell a story?

Everybody loves a good story; we naturally understand our world via stories. Therefore having a story or narrative in your resume and job application will help a recruiter or employer to easily understand who you are - and why they should get you in for an interview. This is particularly important if your career history is a bit confusing, you have had a variety of jobs, or if you are trying to move into a different sector or job-type. When an employer or recruiter is reading

Be prepared: A motto for our times

May 6, 2020

Be prepared: A motto for our times

If we've learned anything from the pandemic it's that things change fast - very fast! One day you have a seemingly stable job, and the next you're stood down, or made redundant, or your business income drops to nearly zero. Or maybe you still have a job but are concerned about the future, given the economic climate. No matter what your current employment situation is, it's so important to have your resume and LinkedIn profile up-to-date and ready to go for when a job opportun

Keywords 101

Apr 22, 2020

Keywords 101

Keywords are super important when you are applying for jobs. In order to get past HR - both the computer version (Applicant Tracking Software; ATS) and human version - you'll need to make sure all aspects of your job application contain keywords from the position description or job ad. If you fail to incorporate key words you won't even make it to the 'maybe' pile! The keywords you need to include in your application are the skills (key selection criteria) the employer is see

Apr 15, 2020

Who are you? 4 steps to a standout professional profile

So, who are you? It might sound like a silly question, but an employer needs to understand who you are, and they need to figure it out fast. If an employer has to read four pages of detail in your resume to figure out who you are and work out if you could do the job, it's pretty likely that they won't bother and you'll end up in the rejection pile. To ensure you get an interview you need a fabulous professional profile at the top of your resume. A professional profile is a st

The 1 page resume?

Apr 6, 2020

The 1 page resume?

When I tell people what I do for a living, the first question is always 'how long should my resume be?'. They usually also ask if it's true that modern resumes are only meant to be one page. (This is usually said with mild panic... how on earth are you supposed to get a resume down to one page?!) Well, the good news is that in Australia resumes are normally longer than one page. (Fun fact: In North America a one to two page resume is common.) So why have you heard of a one pa

Do you need to list parental leave on your resume?

Mar 12, 2020

Do you need to list parental leave on your resume?

Taking time out from your career to have babies and look after children is common. But the big question is, how do you represent this on your resume? Do you even need to list it? What do you call it? Everyone has a different and valid opinion on how to represent a career break on your resume. It's going to depend on your particular circumstances and how much time you've had away from the workforce. If there are noticeable gaps in your resume it's best to say what you were doi

6 biggest resume mistakes

Oct 28, 2019

6 biggest resume mistakes

Are you using the same resume template that you used when you finished school or uni, which you hastily update each time you apply for a job? You wouldn't be the only one. Most people haven't had their CV professionally reviewed for a very long time, if ever. And this could be a problem, as times have changed, and what was considered professional ten years ago will not cut it in 2019! So here are some tips for bringing your resume into 2019! 1. Too many personal details DON'T

Split personality

Aug 20, 2018

Split personality

Most people have had varied careers. The focus may have shifted slightly (for example a finance manager moving from the private sector to a not-for-profit) or dramatically (such as a photographer moving into an accounts role). Having multiple hats will obviously result multiple versions of your resume. However, many of my clients have several completely different resumes depending on the type of role they are applying for. It doesn't have to be this way. While I'm a huge advo

Just how long should your resume be?

Jul 18, 2018

Just how long should your resume be?

When I tell people what I do for a living, the first question is always 'how long should my resume be?'. They usually also ask if it's true that modern resumes are only meant to be one page. (This is usually said with mild panic... how on earth are you supposed to get a resume down to one page?!) Well, the good news is that in Australia resumes are normally longer than one page. In North America a one page resume is common. And a North American resume is different from a CV,

3 simple things to get your application noticed

Jul 5, 2018

3 simple things to get your application noticed

Employers often receive hundreds of job applications for a role, and will probably interview only four people. That's about a 2% chance of you getting a job interview. Scary odds! So, how do you get your job application noticed? In addition to making sure you use the language from the position description throughout your CV and cover letter, and clearly selling how you meet the key selection criteria (which I have talked about in multiple previous posts), here are two simple

3 simple steps to an achievements-based resume

May 10, 2018

3 simple steps to an achievements-based resume

To truly market yourself in your CV you need to list your achievements or accomplishments. You need to demonstrate that you have the skills that you claim, and that you have used these skills (and your initiative) to solve a problem in a workplace. Many of my clients say that they can't think of any achievements to put on their CV. They also quite commonly say that they hate talking about how good they are! Women in particular seem to dislike 'boasting' about their accomplish

Here's why you should update your CV and LinkedIn even if you aren't job hunting

May 3, 2018

Here's why you should update your CV and LinkedIn even if you aren't job hunting

Here's a funny story: This week I started volunteering in the resume hub at a not-for-profit organisation and the coordinator asked me to email through my CV. It had to be sent through that day as I was starting the next day. No worries, I thought. However, a quick search of my files revealed that my most recent CV was over a year old. In that time I had completed a 9-month project management contract role, then started my own business. However, I hadn't updated my CV in that

Everyone loves a good story

Apr 8, 2018

Everyone loves a good story

We naturally understand our world via stories, so having a story or narrative in your job application is very useful to help a recruiter or employer easily understand who you are. This is particularly important if you have had a variety of jobs or are trying to move into a different sector or role. When an employer or recruiter is reading your job application you need to captivate their attention. A story can help them make sense of what can easily be a dry (dare I say borin

Keywords are your friend

Mar 29, 2018

Keywords are your friend

Keywords are powerful things in the job hunt game. In order to get past HR - both the robot version (document trawling software) and human version - you'll need to make sure all aspects of your job application contain keywords from the position description or job ad. Otherwise your job application won't even make it to the 'maybe' pile. Keywords are generally the skills the employer is seeking. Some examples: leadership, innovation, communication, project management, teamwork

Think your CV is fine? Think again

Mar 22, 2018

Think your CV is fine? Think again

Have you been applying for jobs and not getting anywhere? It's probably because your CV is... well, let's just say less than optimum. Recent conversations I've had with a recruiter and some (currently recruiting) employers have surprised me. It seems the vast majority of job applicants submit terrible applications! I've compiled their top 5 gripes. If you are guilty of any of the following, then you are in desperate need of resume/job application assistance! 1. No cover lette

Mar 3, 2018

Pimp your profile: wow verbs

'Power' or 'wow' verbs are a great way to put a finishing touch to your professional profile, the statement that describes who you are on your CV, LinkedIn profile and in a job application cover letter. They are also great for adding variety to all your amazing accomplishments. It's a good idea to do a stock-take of your current resume to ensure you are using action verbs at the start of each achievement statement, and also making sure you aren't using the same verbs over and

Feb 28, 2018

Crafting your personal brand

Personal branding may sound a bit marketing-speak, but the reality is that you do a have a corporate personal brand; this is your reputation or how people perceive you in the workplace. This may or may not be in line with how you perceive yourself or would like to be perceived, particularly if you are trying to make a career change. Contrary to the above picture, looks are not the most important part of your personal brand, although how you present yourself will impact on how

The parental leave conundrum: What to put on your CV?

Feb 24, 2018

The parental leave conundrum: What to put on your CV?

Taking time out of your career to look after children is common in Australia. But up there with private versus public schools, the topic of what to put on your resume when you've had a career break due to children can get quite heated. Everyone has a different and valid opinion on how to represent a career break on your CV. It will depend on your particular circumstances and how much time you've had away from the workforce. Technically, that you have had children and time off

Resume do's and don't's

Feb 19, 2018

Resume do's and don't's

Are you using the same resume template from when you finished school or uni, which you hastily update each time you apply for a job? You wouldn't be the only one. Most people haven't had their CV professionally reviewed for a very long time, if ever. And this could be a problem, as times have changed, and what was considered professional ten years ago will not cut it in 2018. DON'T put in a personal details section. In particular, leave out your date of birth (unless you are