Jobseeker’s Toolbox

Jobseeker’s Toolbox How to write a resume and cover letter Jana Cameron Helen Pakhomov

In this webinar…. What to include in your resume Resume Hints and Tips Resume Do’s & Don’ts Cover Letter - to include or not to include? What should be covered in a cover letter Mistakes to avoid

What to include in your resume • Contact Details • Career Profile, Career Overview, Career Summary, Career Objective • Key Skills • Employment History • Responsibilities • Achievements • Education & Training • Referees

What to include in your resume • Professional training • Professional memberships • Professional affiliations • Licences and accreditations • Software you are able to use • Publications • Special accomplishments such as awards • Interests

Contact Details The obvious – name & address Phone numbers – home & mobile, including voicemail Email address – professional email addresses (partygirl@ is not appropriate for a resume). It is easy to set up on hotmail, yahoo, gmail etc. No need to include - date of birth, marital status, number of children, religion, health status or ethnicity

Career Profile/ Overview/ Summary/Objective Must be relevant to you personally and the position you are applying for Use a career objective if you only have 1 – 2 years experience in the workforce or if you have just graduated It is a brief summary or preview of your resume and outlines your career goals Maximum a couple of sentences in one paragraph

Key Skills Your Key Skills should be a couple of words or phrases Ensure you list technical skills, especially when these are required in the position Use bullet points and make these factual with evidence Instead of Excellent Leadership Skills use “Excellent leadership skills acquired whilst leading a team of 15 customer service staff”

Employment/Career History Your employer’s name (you can include the location and a link to their website and/or a short description of the company) Your commencement and exit dates (include month and year) Your job title Your duties/responsibilities Your achievements (quantify your them)

Achievements The single most important part of your resume Why? The real value you can offer to your employer is to have an impact on their bottom line Always quantify your achievements and when possible add a time frame If you cannot use $ value for confidentiality reasons, use a %

Education and Training Start with your highest qualification first. List in bullet point format including date of qualification Professional Training Include only those relevant to your career and job application List in reverse chronological order

Professional Membership, Licences Professional Memberships & Affiliations Include only those relevant to your career and job application. Licences Always list all relevant licences Computer skills List software that is relevant to your role

Referees You may or may not include (“Referees available upon request” ) Include names, job title, company, email address and phone numbers of referees Provide at least two referees and ensure these are recent and relevant to your work history and most importantly they know they are your referees.

Resume hints and tips • Keep It Simple & Easy To Read • Minimum 11 point clear font (Arial or similar) • Tailor your resume • Design your layout • Spelling and Grammar (organisation vs. organization) • “Text Talk”, abbreviations and slang (you vs. u) • DON’T SHOUT

Resume Do’s Be clear and concise Keep it simple Be consistent (if you start with bullet points don’t put dashes) Customise your resume for each application, include key words from the advertisement you are trying to target

Resume Do’s Prioritise your content Quantify your achievements Use at least 11 size clear font Spell check, spell check, spell check! And check for grammatical errors. Include your passport/working visa status if required

Resume Don’ts Put your photograph on your resume Use graphics or pictures (unless you are a graphic designer) Use “text talk” or acronyms Be dishonest. Always tell the truth about yourself in the most flattering light.

Resume Don’ts Include salary history or requirements. Include accomplishments that don't support your professional goals. Have unexplainable gaps in your work history and no dates Get someone else to write your resume for you

Do I need a cover letter? Cover letters are not essential No cover letter could be perceived as lazy or not serious Your cover letter should show genuine interest and understanding of the position.

Your cover letter should be… Short and to the point (max. 5 paragraphs) Tailored to the job Addressed to the person advertising Never use Sir/Madame or To whom it may concern Highlights from your resume that are relevant Inclusive of relocation or any other variables

Your cover letter The most import rule of all: Do not use a standard cover letter for all applications.

Let’s dissect….. Opening paragraph – Which job and why? Who you are and why you are writing this If you have been referred always mention their name The first sentence should be attention grabbing (for the right reasons!)

Let’s dissect….. Middle paragraph/s – Sell yourself! Summarise your previous experience and most important qualifications How would you benefit to the company (try to stay factual) Address selection criteria / job requirements Why you want this job / work for their company

Let’s dissect….. Final paragraph Suggest the next step “I look forward to discussing my application further” “I hope to have an opportunity to meet with you”

Mistakes to avoid Attach a wrong cover letter Use generic titles (Sir/Madame etc.) Making statements that can come across as arrogant or too pushy Stating opinions not supported by facts Not reading the advertisement properly and “selling” irrelevant skills

Final tips and Summary Read the advertisement well before you start writing a cover letter Resume is a life document Your social media presence LinkedIn profile and Resume Templates – email us

Any questions?

Jobseeker’s Toolbox