Resumes

Your resume showcases your accomplishments. We look at what's in a resume, how to write one and tips for drafting a resume that will impress prospective employers.

What's in a resume
How to build a resume
Choosing referees
Resume tips

What's in a resume

A resume (or 'curriculum vitae' or 'CV' - these terms all mean the same thing) is a summary of vital information about you. Its purpose is to showcase your accomplishments to the employer, so that they can assess whether you're an appropriate person for the job. Resumes are made up of a number of different sections that contain different kinds of information, such as:

• personal and contact details, eg. your name, address, phone numbers and email address. Some people also include their place of birth and age - but these are optional
• educational history, eg. from high school onwards
• work experience, eg. your employer, job title, job duties and achievements
• extra-curricular activities and achievements
• relevant skills
• career objectives, if appropriate
• list of referees

How to build a resume

How to Apply for a Job: Building a resume [PDF]

Writing My Resume contains more information about the different sections of a resume and examples of what to include in them. When you've had a look at our examples, have a go at writing your own. Once you've drafted a resume you can use it as a template the next time you put together a job application.

Choosing referees

Referees are people you have worked for or who know you well. These days it's not necessary to get a written reference. On your resume include the contact details of two or three people who you decide to use as referees. First make sure that they agree to be your referees and give them as much information as you can about the position you are applying for. It is also a good idea to provide them with your resume.

Resume tips

There is no right or wrong way to write a resume. Here are some tips that should help you to make your resume impressive.

• Put the most relevant information on the first and second pages.
• Use highlighting and dot points to make your resume easy to skim read.
• Check your resume for spelling and grammatical errors. Do not rely on spell checkers - they are not accurate.
• Keep the length of your resume to around 2-3 A4 pages, or 3-4 pages if you have considerable work experience. Employers often only spend a couple of minutes on each resume, so it's important to keep it brief.
• Use an attractive layout; use clear, easy-to-read font type and clear headings; leave white space for notes; put your name and the page number in the document footer.
• Use good quality white paper to print or photocopy your resume. Staple the document together.

Ordering the sections

The order of the sections in your resume will vary depending on the stage of your career and how relevant particular information is to the position you're applying for. As a new graduate you're likely to put Education before Employment, but as an experienced graduate or postgraduate, a summary of your skills and experience on the first page is more likely to engage the employer.

Put yourself in the position of the employer who has certain selection criteria in mind, and ask yourself: 'What information needs to be put on the first page that will make the employer want to look at the second page?'