Planned Resources recruit across the niche markets of planning, engineering, architecture and design, property, and government support. We operate​ across private and public sectors in Melbourne, Victoria, and Australia. Here, Ash Fajerman gives her tips on writing or updating your resume. 

Writing or updating your resume can be a bit of a task, and to be honest, it’s daunting for most.

There are so many ways to write a resume these days, and while it depends on your career path, there are some basic rules to follow whether you are writing it on Word, Canva, or preparing a video resume/profile.

Your resume is the first point of contact for you and your future employer, so it’s important to take the time and allow yourself to express your success, background and knowledge with carefully selected words and phrases to present a concise resume with a consistent feel. But there are some common mistakes that people make on their resume, and even though I see hundreds of resumes each day we can all be guilty of making some of these mistakes!

So, let’s get started with some do’s and don’ts…

DON’T include too much irrelevant or personal information. Imagine reading 10 pages of a resume when you have hundreds of resumes that you see daily or per job advertisement. Most employers scan each resume for about ten seconds, so keep it clean, relevant, and consistent. And remember that personal details like hobbies, family, sports affiliations etc, can be something you discuss throughout the interview process.
DO provide relevant information that’s tailored to the advertisement/job. An employer will want to see what you can bring to the role, what you have achieved, and information that is specific to the job title, role, organisation or sector. Keep it concise and clear (sometimes less is more!)

DON’T send out generic resumes. Some professionals have a unique career path that may not need to be tailored to a certain extent; however for most of us, it is crucial to target your resume for each application.
DO tailor your resume to each application and sector. Consider and target your resume to the audience,  job, and sector. If you read the job description and notice that you tick most, if not all, of the advertisers’ boxes, you will be able to identify key words and phrases that can add to benefit your resume.

DON’T include lists of references/photos of yourself. Employers know that they can access references by asking the question, so it’s not required to list all your references on your resume. Using the phrase “references available on request” is acceptable, as employers will ask for your references throughout the hiring process if they see you to as a suitable fit for the role. Photos on the other hand are not required; if you add a photo of yourself, it should only be for positions that are relevant to your appearance (acting, modelling, TV work etc).
DO free up space. By removing references you free up at least 6 lines, and this is the same with a photo. So free up that space!  By not including these on your resume you can instead detail more relevant items like your qualifications, skills, informative details of your employment – and add links to your portfolio, LinkedIn profile etc.

DON’T list ALL your responsibilities and duties. Job duties and responsibilities are great to inform your future employer of what you have been successful in completing on a daily basis, and it’s tempting to bullet point all for them – but most employers probably already know what your job entails day-to-day.
DO provide accomplishments. Focus on your accomplishments in either bullet points or short paragraphs, and ensure that it’s easy to read and understand. Use action words, assess your achievements, and provide accurate data and numbers where possible to demonstrate your success.

DON’T wing it. Remember that your resume is the first impression a potential employer will have of you. Before hitting ‘send’ always proof your resume, ensure that it’s tailored to the job and sector, and think about what could be confusing and what’s clear to the reader.
DO get feedback. Be open to gaining honest and impartial feedback, it will help you to understand how your CV will be perceived by the reader – which in turn, helps to get your resume ahead of the pack. As recruiters, we also provide free advice as to what looks right/wrong on your resume – so feel free to send your resume to our team for feedback (and you can rest assured that it’s confidential!)

Stumped on where to start?

You can download our resume template here – use it as a base to get started on writing or updating your CV.

Good luck!

By Ash Fajerman, Local Government Consultant

Ash recruits within the Local Government sector, where she works with candidates and clients with understanding, commitment and professionalism. 

Connect with Ash on LinkedIn

Contact: 0449 938 399, ash.fajerman@plannedresources.com.au