Careers and Employment

www.deakin.edu.au/careers

Create a successful resume

Introduction
The aim of this leaflet is to provide a guide to tailoring your resume to effectively demonstrate your relevant skills and abilities to each prospective employer. A resume summarises and highlights the most positive and relevant characteristics about you and your experiences. Your resume should help the employer to distinguish between you and other applicants; therefore it must be an honest and individual document that tells your story and not anybody elses. An employer may only spend two or three minutes scanning your resume, so make it clear, concise and targeted to the job or occupational field for which you are applying. This document will take you through the following areas: The basic sections a resume includes Tailoring your information to each employer by matching your skills, experience and accomplishments to that employers requirements Assessing your skills and using examples to improve your resume content.

1. Resume basics
You may find Resume Builder <www.deakin.edu.au/resume> a useful tool when starting a resume. After you fill in your details, select from the five resume styles and generate a Word document formatted as a standard Australian resume. The following are suggested headings under which you can include your information and some basic examples of what to include: Personal Details Career Objective or Personal Statement Education or Qualifications Relevant Skills and Abilities Employment and Work Experience Professional Development Special Skills and Achievements Interests Referees

name, address, email, telephone, mobile What do you want to do? What do you have to offer? dates attended, name of institution/course, subjects/majors teamwork, problem solving, communication, research skills dates, name of employer, job title, roles/responsibilities, skills dates, name of qualification and institution, brief description other relevant examples to enhance your resume give examples that indicate that you are a well rounded person name, job title & contact details of 2 or 3 referees

Edit and proof read

Your resume should be concise and well organized - keep it to 2 or 3 pages. Blocks of text that are more than 4 lines belong on a cover letter, not your resume. Edit carefully for meaning, clarity, grammar, and spelling.

Get it critiqued
Bring a copy of your resume along to one of the Careers & Employment resume checking sessions check for details on when they are held on your campus.

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2. Improve your resume content

Research employer requirements
Employers say that applications that impress them the most demonstrate your knowledge of their business. Employers prefer cover letters and resumes that address their requirements not general documents, so to increase your interview chances expect to tailor your resume for each position. To do this effectively youll need to have a good understanding of the position you are seeking as well as having an appreciation for the key goals, products and customers of the company and challenges of the industry. Its also is beneficial to understand the culture of the organization as it helps determine your fit for the work environment. During your research keep these questions in mind: What does the employer really want and need? (Read more than just their ad.) What abilities do I have that make me a suitable candidate? How can I demonstrate that? How can I be of benefit to the organisation? How can I communicate my suitability?

Link your experiences with employer requirements

Through your research on the organisation, youll be able to identify 4 to 6 key skills, experiences or knowledge areas important to that employer. Your resume and cover letter should address these areas. Think about the employers point of view, and present information about yourself in a way that answers their question What can this candidate offer my organisation? By linking examples that demonstrate your relevant experience and skills, youll create an application that will get their attention. The table below is an example of an organised approach to documenting skills and experience against each one of an employers requirements.

Skills and experiences the employer wants

Planning & Organisational skills Professional oral and written communication skills Initiative & leadership skills

Sallys experiences
Organised project on customer needs in banking sector; balanced job, study & social life Presentation on deregulation for business course; financial reports for University Independent research on W.A. financial institutions; introduced new accounting system for tennis team

When you understand why you are a good fit, it will be much easier to communicate that to employers. Understanding your own skills, knowledge and behaviours will make your interviews easier too!

Assess your skills, knowledge and experience

It is a good idea to make documenting your skills an ongoing project. Its much easier to remember what you have done in the last few months than trying to recall details of projects you did a year or more ago! Even when you are not actively job seeking, keep adding to your notes on your skills and achievements.

Careers and Employment

www.deakin.edu.au/careers Once you start identifying your skills, technical knowledge and personal qualities with examples to demonstrate your experience, it becomes easier to see how you match the employers requirements and/or fit the culture of the company. The following table identifies a range of transferable skills and attributes regarded highly by employers. Consider which of these skills and attributes are most relevant for the position to which you are applying.

Skill
Communication

Example
Written and verbal communication: Are you able to communicate your ideas clearly? Have you had to explain specialist information? Can you adapt your approach for different audiences? What type of communication? ( e.g. presentation, reports, brainstorming, formal discussion) Providing a service for the general public or internal clients: Do you have an aptitude for sales? Do you understand the needs of internal and external customers? Can you persuade or negotiate effectively? Can you empathise with customers? Working effectively with others: How do you handle conflict? Can you assume different roles? Do you know how to define a role as part of the team? Managing time, resources and priorities: Have you set time lines, co-ordinated tasks for yourself and with others? Can you adapt plans to cope with unexpected changes? Have you collected, analysed and organised information? Have you planned or organised events? Your ability to plan, assume responsibility, delegate tasks, take action and achieve set targets, demonstrate foresight and set direction: Can you organise peoples activities and time? Can you resolve conflict? Can you make maximum use of people and resources to achieve objectives? Have you coached staff or provided constructive feedback? Working to deadlines, balancing competing priorities: Can you organise your work and prioritise tasks? Can you produce work to deadlines? Effectively balance study and part time work? Identify and critique problems, create strategies and develop creative, innovative or practical solutions: Have you identified problems and found a solution? Have you used budgeting or financial management to solve problems? Do you test assumptions taking the context of data and circumstances into account? Have you resolved customer concerns in relation to complex projects or issues? Your ability to evaluate and monitor your own performance: Have you identified your weaknesses and addressed them? Are you able to articulate your ideas and visions? Do you take responsibility for your development? Technical knowledge of tools or your profession: Are you skilled in using specialist tools? Do you have knowledge and experience of IT systems, programs and languages? Have you used IT as a management tool or to organise data? Have you applied OH&S knowledge? Adapting to new situations, developing a strategic, creative, long term vision: Have you identified opportunities not obvious to others? Can you translate ideas into action? Can you generate a range of options or initiate innovative solutions? Building and maintaining effective professional relationships: Are you able to relate to other people, can you mix well with a broad range of individuals and groups?

Customer Service

Teamwork

Planning & Organising

Management/ Leadership

Time Management

Analytical/ Problem Solving

Self Management

Technical

Initiative & Enterprise Interpersonal

Careers and Employment

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3. Use examples to stand out from the crowd

Key skills section
When describing your skills under the suggested headings avoid generalised statements such as Excellent communication skills. Show how you have actually used those skills through examples from your work, studies or extra curricular activities. When generating examples of your experience, a good guide to follow is the S.T.A.R. principle. This means you aim to include in your example the Situation, Task, Action and Result. Start by noting down the key information for each area. For example, if you need to demonstrate your planning and organisational skills, you might use an example of something you organised for the student society or club you are involved with: Situation ( a brief outline of the situation or setting) Task (outline what you did) Actions (outline how you did it)
My sports club was organising a fund raising party

I was responsible for the promotional materials I planned what kind of promotional materials were needed; designed posters, flyers and a slide for our facebook page; got the posters and flyers printed, told club members where to put them up. Posters and flyers were up by the deadline the club president gave.

Result (describe the outcomes)

To describe your skills most effectively on your resume you want to create a short, concise statement only 2 or 3 lines long that focuses on the actions you took. Use the verbs list on the next page to give you some ideas of work related action words. For example: Planning and organisational skills Planned and designed original artwork for posters and other promotional materials to advertise sports club event, coordinated printing and distribution, and successfully completed the project within the desired time scale. Where possible, quantify examples with figures e.g. Produced 18 monthly newsletters with readership of over 200 has more impact than Produced monthly newsletter.

Describe unrelated work experience through relevant examples

If any of your previous positions worked are not directly relevant to the position you are applying for, then listing your duties will not be effective in attracting the new employers attention. Below is a common example of employment history that DOESNT tell the employer anything useful about you:
02/2003 - 07/2005 Myer o o o Retail Sales Assistant Handled cash Served customers Set up displays

Careers and Employment

www.deakin.edu.au/careers Instead of a grocery list of duties, catch employers attention by focussing on the skills you used that are relevant to the position to which you are now applying. Show what makes you a good employee. Create short descriptive statements using S.T.A.R.. For example instead of writing Served customers you could break down the steps how you delivered good customer service in that position: Managed customer relations by understanding their requirements, making recommendations and providing solutions to problems Include any employer awards you have received and demonstrate accomplishments that were directly attributable to your work. For example: Improved sales within the department by 15% and awarded Employee of the Month April, May and August 2005.

4. Tailor your career objective to each position

Most employers expect to see a career objective or an experience summary at the start of a resume. It is essential that the statement is tailored to each individual employer as it is the first impression you give of your suitability for the job. A general or poorly written career objective will suggest laziness, disinterest or a lack of understanding- not really the way you want to market yourself! A well thought out and genuine career objective can influence the way an employer considers your resume. Preferably it will have them thinking right away: This person is a good fit for the job. An effective career objective highlights what makes you right for the role. It should: 1. provide a summary of your suitability to that particular position; 2. link your abilities to the key attributes sought by the employer; and 3. show how your mid term goals fit with the employers expectations. Consider it a marketing slogan that pinpoints why you are a perfect fit for the advertised position. It may be easier to write after you have worked on matching examples of your skills to the position requirements, tailored your resume and written your cover letter Example: To attain a graduate position with an innovative marketing firm that provides the opportunity to use both the knowledge gained through my degree and my customer service skills. In some technical fields a professional profile or an experience summary may be more commonly accepted than a career objective. Conciseness and relevance are always essential. Make it concise! 2 to 3 lines only. More detailed information belongs in your cover letter. Identify the position you are applying for, key skills or experience you have to offer, and what you hope to gain or achieve in the position

Careers and Employment

www.deakin.edu.au/careers Here are some examples of work related action words you may wish to use: Management Verbs Administered Coordinated Increased Analysed Delegated Organised Assigned Developed Planned Attained Directed Produced Chaired Evaluated Reviewed Consolidated Effected Strengthened Contracted Improved Supervised

Communication Verbs Addressed Edited Persuaded Research Verbs Categorised Interpreted Collated Incorporated Documented Investigated Examined Summarised Extracted Surveyed Identified Systematised Inspected Verified Arbitrated Formulated Presented Arranged Influenced Promoted Appeased Interviewed Publicised Collaborated Lectured Recruited Convinced Mediated Translated Drafted Notified Wrote

Technical Verbs Assembled Fabricated Teaching Verbs Adapted Facilitated Creative Verbs Acted Integrated Helping Verbs Advocated Led Clerical Verbs Approved Executed Retrieved Authorised Issued Screened Catalogued Monitored Specified Classified Optimised Streamlined Collected Prepared Tabulated Compiled Processed Utilised Dispatched Recorded Validated Assessed Motivated Assisted Referred Counselled Rehabilitated Diagnosed Represented Educated Supported Guided Volunteered Created Invented Customised Originated Dramatised Performed Established Outlined Illustrated Revitalised Initiated Shaped Advised Informed Clarified Instructed Coached Mentored Enabled Stimulated Encouraged Trained Explained Tutored Constructed Maintained Calculated Operated Computed Overhauled Designed Repaired Devised Solved Engineered Upgraded

Careers and Employment

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Example of a customised resume

Your career objective needs to be genuine and tailored to the organisation you are applying, (see p. 5 of Create a successful resume.)

Set up a clear and professional answering machine message, and voicemail.

RESUME FOR SALLY SAMPLE

1/23 Proposal Rd, CARLTON, VIC 3068 Ph: 03 1111 2222 Mobile: 0444 111 222 Email: s_sample@hotmail.com.au

No humorous email addresses! Dont include gender, marital status, date of birth, or anything else that might be used to discriminate.

CAREER OBJECTIVE To work as a finance specialist with an organisation offering consultancy services and corporate finance where I can maximise the use of my communication and customer service skills to build relationships with both existing and prospective clients. EDUCATION 02/2007 - current Bachelor of Commerce Majors in Commercial Law and Finance Deakin University Only include additional information if it Achieved distinction average. highlights your strengths! Decide Awarded Bates Scholarship for academic excellewhether it tells the employer something nce.

In each section, list your current 02/2005 - 11/2006 or most recent information first.

Victorian Certificate of Education Seaford Secondary College ENTER Score 94.3

useful about you. House captain, prefect, awards, scholarships, or distinctions in relevant subjects are strengths you could consider.

COURSE RELATED EXPERIENCE 05/2008 - 08/2008 Auditor Internship Big 4 Accounting Firm Participated in the annual audit of XYZ Holdings, including development of the final certification report. Participated in quarterly audit of ABC Corporation, including identification and correction of over twenty major accounting errors. Created Excel spreadsheet macros currently in use for reducing entry time and automatic cross-referencing to avoid errors.

Sally has included her contributions during her internship. This is stronger than only describing skills learnt or developed.
EMPLOYMENT 09/2007 - current

Administration Assistant Management Ltd., Melbourne Check customer accounts for accuracy and make adjustments. Prepare and administer client invoices and coordinate the distribution of customer mail outs. Respond to internal and external client enquiries providing information or referring to senior staff where appropriate. Achievements: Increase in responsibilities to working unsupervised and overseeing new staff.

Your first page should show your key strengths for the job. It might be a related placement, work experience, or evidence of the key skills the employer has specified.

Careers and Employment

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Jobs that arent directly relevant can still demonstrate what makes you a good employee. Cash handling and planning are skills useful to the position for which Sally is applying. If she applies for a client service role she could change the focus of the information.

2 02/2005 - 11/2006 Crew Trainer & Customer Service Hungry Max, Elsternwick Reconciled cash takings at close of shift accounting for refunds, complimentary items and petty cash. Supported new employees by explaining policies, demonstrating use of equipment and providing guidance. Planned schedules to ensure staffing levels were maximised for busy shifts. Achievements: Awarded Employee of the Month in January, June and November 2006. Promoted to Crew Trainer June 2005.

Remember to use S.T.A.R. to provide full examples of your skills! (See page 4 of Create a successful resume)
KEY SKILLS

Planning and Organisation

Include work achievements that show what makes you a good employee. Make sure your previous employer will confirm this information if they are asked.

Managed and coordinated all stages of a university project to determine customer needs within the banking sector. Effectively balanced part time employment, social activities, and the demands of academic study for the past three years while maintaining high academic scores.

Communication

Professional Development refers to additional training related to the field in which you are applying.

Prepared and delivered presentations to university peer group on issues of financial deregulation and financial analysis techniques. Designed a Power point presentation and utilised handouts to encourage group participation. Wrote a series of financial reports as part of academic study, securing high grades for accuracy and content.

Initiative and Leadership Conducted independent research into financial reporting by financial institutions in Western Australia, spanning over 6 months. The Western University Library now holds the final report. Introduced new accounting systems to Burwood Tennis Team which increased accuracy of records and the efficiency of fund disbursement.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT 03/2006 Bookkeeping - Advanced Box Hill TAFE Training included: general ledgers to trial balance, preparation and analysis of profit and loss and balance sheets for both trading and service businesses and relevant GST issues.

05/2005

Introduction to MYOB Box Hill TAFE Training included: creating new company files; create chart of accounts; setting up inventory; invoicing techniques; MYOB and GST; business activity statements.

Careers and Employment

www.deakin.edu.au/careers Order your resume sections from most relevant to the job you are applying for, through to least relevant information appearing just before your referee details.

Include only memberships that are related to the field of work you are applying for. Many professional associations have student memberships with useful information and networking events. 3

VOLUNTARY EXPERIENCE 02/2006 - 02/2007 Accounts Assistant PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS 02/2008 - current Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia Student Member Oxfam Australia, Melbourne, Victoria Assisted accounting team with preparation of Business and Activity Statements. Prepared reports for meetings.

EXTRA-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

You dont have to include sections such as Interests or Achievements. However they can inform the employer of your attributes. Can you show through these areas that you are creative, driven, dedicated or energetic?

02/2005 - Current

Tennis Team Captain Burwood Tennis Club Supported and motivated team members prior to and during competitions. Delegated responsibilities to team members based on their interests and abilities. DUSA4U (Deakin Student Association) Guided and advised new Deakin students from a variety of cultural backgrounds in an official capacity. Organised and promoted DUSA4U membership and related activities. Supported new students in their transition to university in Australia.

02/2008 - 11/2008

Student Mentor

ACHIEVEMENTS 2007 Kokoda Trek for Cancer Research Fundraiser and Participant 2006 Raised $900 through networking and coordinating various fundraising activities to fund own participation in Kokoda Trek. Collaborated with trek group to publicise fundraising effort, and successfully meet team goal of raising $30,000 toward cancer research. Participant Promoted sponsorship of participation in 8km fun run and raised $560 for breast cancer research. Academic Professor Judy Abadia Accounting Lecturer Deakin University TEL: 03 1234 6789 FAX: 03 1111 3334 Email: judy@deakin.edu.au

Mothers Day Classic Fun Run

REFEREES Professional Ms Jillian Don Internship Supervisor Big4 Accounting Firm TEL: 03 1234 5678 FAX: 03 1111 2223 Email: jillsemail@Big4.com

Most employers will expect at least 2 referees (except for part-time jobs that dont carry much responsibility). Choose referees carefully and keep in contact with them. The best referees have a good opinion of your work ethic and can answer questions about your work performance. Send your referees a copy of your resume before you go to an interview, so they can easily answer questions about you.

Careers and Employment

www.deakin.edu.au/careers

Checklist for your resume

Structure
Is your name at the top of the page and easy to see? Are your current address and telephone numbers included? Does your career objective appear immediately below your personal details? Is your highest educational level shown first in the education section? Are your key strengths relevant to the position clearly described early in your resume? Have you highlighted specific achievements and experiences?

Career Objective
Does your career objective clearly show what sort of work you want? Have you succeeded in telling the employer what you will give as well as what you want? Is it short and to the point?

Composition
Do you demonstrate results you have achieved, problems you have dealt with and important learning experiences you have had? Have you mentioned community- based activities that show your planning, teamwork, organising and communicating abilities? Have you used short statements and paragraphs? Is your punctuation and spelling correct? Do most of your statements begin with positive action words? Have you really sold yourself well?

Appearance
Is your resume neatly and accurately typed? Is it free from errors and marks? Is it clearly set out and concise? Is it free from borders, pictures underlines? Do your key accomplishments stand out through the use of bold or underlines? Have you used good quality paper? printing? Have you taken copies for reference? Have you provided copies to your referees? Have you avoided double sided