Your future – Our focus

1. Brisbane NorthInstitute of TAFE Overseas Qualified Engineers Tips on how to create a great looking CV by Anita Lamb-Nicholls Your future – Our focus

2. Recruiters will spend less than 30 seconds looking at your CV, so it has to be clear, concise and consistent! • You don’t want to end up or, in The Shredder!!

3. Layout is very important – it needs to be clear and easy on the eye • Avoid unnecessary text and punctuation – less is more! • Dates need to be clearly listed so they can be scanned quickly and easily - on left hand side • Size 10/11 Arial is a good, standard font – make sure all same colour – black • Avoid heavy underlining

4. Qualifications on first page • Correct name of qualifications – e.g. Master of Engineering (not Masters) • Name of qualification first – institute second 2001 – 2003 Bachelor of Engineering University of Queensland Brisbane, Australia • Separate your formal qualifications from additional training or certificates • Make sure your headings match the content

5. Phone number spacing 0415 415 934 or (07) 3333 2222 • Spacing – be consistent, set a pattern and stick to it throughout • Professional Affiliations – use current, not outdated ones • Dot points – don’t use full stops on end • Footer – name and phone number

6. Use correct grammar – action verbs - past tense for previous experience - present tense for current roles •  Don’t include: photo, age, date of birth, nationality, marital status or religion No! Pick me! Pick me! Or me?!

7. Skills listed should be transferrable, not specific only to that role eg. ‘Showering, toileting and feeding aged patients’…or ‘helping customers to decide what topping to have on their pizza’ • Think: leadership qualities, an ability to work in a team, an ability to work autonomously and responsibilities that demonstrate you have a position of trust • Skills should be measurable not just listed

8. Apply specifically for each role – have one generic CV and then change each version to suit the role you are applying for (keep a record of each version!) • Use language from the job advertisement

9. Interests / extra-curricular activities – think team activities! • Referees – supplied, or available upon request • Importance of Australian referees 2-3 referees, if possible (think about volunteering!) • Have the contact details for your referees ready and available – it’s about making it easy for the recruiter! • Difference between ‘referee’ and ‘reference’?

11. Standard headings: • Personal Details, including visa status • Career Objective (an aspiration statement – what do you want to achieve in your career?) • Career Overview (if you have had professional experience) • Education/Qualifications/Educational History • Summary of Key Skills • Employment History • Additional Employment History • Additional Training • IT Software Skills • Professional Affiliations • Key Achievements • Interests / extra-curricular activities • Referees

12. Final Tips • Be consistent! Attention to detail is important! • Spell check • Get someone else to proof read it • Word Options – Proofing – spell/grammar check • Before you send it - Close your document down, and reopen it to make sure there’s no squiggly lines Good luck! 