Having an impressive resume is one of the key factors that will land you an interview and then a job. Needless to say, it’s very important for graduate students to have a well-written resume that stands out from the crowd. In this article we will share with you the top secrets to write a perfect resume.
1. Determine the right purpose of your resume
Many people write a resume as if the purpose of the document was to land a job. Therefore they end up with a really long and boring document that makes them look like desperate job hunters. The purpose of the resume is to land an interview first, and the interview will land you the job.
The resume is the first impression of you as an applicant to the employer, so it is important that you highlight the qualification and experience that are relevant to the position and the company.
2. Connect with real experience
Instead of creating a long list with all your skills (e.g. active, creative, key learner) you better connect them with real life and work experiences. In other words, you need to back these skills and strengths up, else it will appear that you are just trying to inflate things. Be as specific as possible when describing your skills and experience. For example:
- Advanced level of computer skills including Word, Excel and Powerpoint
- Excellent customer support skills acquired via community work at ABC club and service desk support role at Global organisation.
3. Use the correct keywords
Almost of companies (even small companies) are using database to search for candidates or search the title of emails. That means the HR staff will use specific keywords to query and select suitable resumes for their recruitment. Thus, in your resume and the subject of the email that you send should contain keywords related to the job that you are applying. The best practice to make sure you mention the right keywords is looking back to the job advert especially the advert title.
It is also recommended that you make use of power keywords such as experience, management, project, development, business, professional, knowledge, team, leadership. Avoid using these words such as me, myself, need, chance, hard, learning.
4. Do not write long paragraph
Employers will not have patience to read long paragraphs of your resume. Therefore, using bullet points and short sentences to describe your experiences, educational background and your skills. For example:
- 5 year experience in Java programming language
- Lead a team of 4 members to successfully implement a migration project
5. Proof-read your resume carefully
High accuracy and attention to detail are good personal traits that many employers are looking for. Therefore, make sure there are no spelling and grammar mistakes in your resume. It should be written in a consistent tone and tense and in logical order such as Objective, Educational Background, Skills, Work History and References.
It’s always a good idea to have your resume checked by someone else so they can point out unclear points that you do not realise.
In summary, even though it takes time to write a good resume, and tailor it to suit each job position that you apply, having a great resume will put you closer to get an ideal job that you want.
Many companies in Australia now make use of psychometric tests to screen their candidates especially graduate applicants. Therefore, it is highly recommended that graduate students practise as much as they can on these tests so they are well prepared when asked to perform one. Revelian (formally Onetest) is a popular psychometric test provider in Australia. You can practise Revelian’s cognitive ability tests here.
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