If you’re a job seeker in Australia, you’ll know that the job market is competitive. Some advertisements attract hundreds, or even thousands, of applications. With so many resumes to read, it’s easy for yours to get lost in the crowd if you don’t grab the attention of recruiters. These four simple changes you can make to your resume will make sure yours stands out from the rest.
1. SELL YOURSELF WITH AN EYE-CATCHING HEADER
We all know that first impressions are important! When it comes to resumes, you need to make that first impression count. A great way to immediately catch the eye of a recruiter is to include a header at the beginning of your resume. A header should always include your name, phone number, email, and address. Go a step further by adding a byline that includes your most recent job title or most relevant skills. Your header should let a recruiter know exactly who you are as soon as they open your resume. Make sure you sell yourself and your skills so they decide to keep reading.
2. TAILOR YOUR RESUME FOR EACH JOB
Creating one resume and sending it to multiple companies may save you time, but it could cost you a job offer! When you’re job hunting, it’s a good idea to create a resume that lists all of your skills and experience. Then, for each job you apply for, adjust your skills so they directly address the selection criteria, and remove skills that aren’t relevant to the job.
Another step you can take to tailor your resume is to use the same language the recruiter uses in the advertisement. If a company is looking for someone diligent, reliable, and adaptable, make sure you include those words in your resume! This shows a recruiter that you’ve thoroughly read their advertisement, and that you’ve taken the time to send them a unique resume. If the company you’re applying to filters their applications digitally, including these words will give yours the best chance of making it through.
3. CHOOSE FONTS AND COLORS WISELY
There’s no better way to immediately catch the eye of a recruiter than to make a design statement. The colors, fonts, and layout you choose will be the first thing a person reading your resume notices. Choose a font that is easy to read like Arial, Times New Roman, or Calibri; and a font size that doesn’t make the reader squint! Keep your text primarily black and your background primarily white. Don’t be afraid to use a little color for headings – just make sure the text is readable. No pastels or fluorescent yellows!
If resume design isn’t your forte, not to worry! There are plenty of resume templates available for free if you know where to look. Microsoft Word and Google Docs both include resume templates. Canva, a graphic design software, also offers free templates. Have fun making these templates your own by changing the colors to suit you.
4. PROOFREAD!
We seriously can’t overstate how important this step is! Typos and grammatical errors can make or break your job application. They can indicate to a recruiter that you don’t have strong attention to detail – and if you’ve read lots of job advertisements, you know that this is a common trait that employers look for.
To make sure a typo doesn’t ruin your chances, read your resume over multiple times before submitting it. Enlist the help of a friend, and ask them to read it over too – two sets of eyes are better than one! If you still don’t feel confident that your resume is error-free, we recommend making use of free editing software. If you’re writing your resume using Microsoft Word or Google Docs, spot typos with the help of their in-built spell checkers and thesaurus. Or, you might prefer to use an app like Grammarly to edit spelling, grammar, and tone. Whatever you do, don’t let any sneaky typos make it into a resume you send to a potential employer!
Now you know how to make your resume stand out in a crowd. So, go out and get writing! If, after following this guide, you still feel your resume is missing something, studying with Careerline Courses can help set yours apart. Learn new things and develop skills that will help you find your dream job by studying with us. With so many courses to choose from, you’re bound to find one that interests you. Get in touch with our friendly and knowledgeable team, and we’ll set you on the path to success! 🙂
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