To make the shortlist and get an interview for that job you want your resume needs to be short and to the point. It must be easy to read and no longer than two pages. Get straight to the point.
A potential employer is not interested in your long-term goals at the application stage so there no need to have a “Career objective” as it is never read credentials.
Layout
Keep the lay out simple and use bullet points as long winded paragraphs never get read. Also, ensure there is plenty of white space and avoid flowery or small fonts.
Work experience
- Chronological order, beginning with the most recent
- Include employer name, date, positions held and primary responsibilities
- It’s recommended not to leave gaps in your CV. If you took a year off, carried out an interim assignment, or travelled for six months, say so.
Education and qualifications
Keep it concise by listing the qualification obtained, year it was completed and the institution you studied through.
References
It is also important to include details of two references, such as former employers.
Final checks
Don’t forget to spell check your resume.
Remember, it is the first impression your potential employer will have of you, so take the time to get it right. If possible, ask someone to proof read your resume to check for any spelling, layout or typing errors.
General Tips
‘Can work independently’
It’s very common to see ‘I work well both independently and in groups’ on a resume. But this is a given in today’s workplace. Rather than writing ‘I work well independently’, eg: ‘I independently designed and implemented a new strategy that increased sales by 25%’.
‘Hard worker’
Instead use an example to prove how you go the extra mile to get work done, such as creating a successful product launch in a short time frame or never missing a deadline in two years in your last role.
‘Work well under pressure’
Rather than write you ‘work well under pressure’, state how you managed your time to meet multiple deadlines while keeping a clear head and remaining organised.
‘Good communicator’
It’s preferable to give details of a presentation you gave that won a client or meetings you chaired that you kept on schedule.
‘Enthusiastic’
In lieu of ‘I’m an enthusiastic worker’, describe a task you threw yourself into and your successful outcome.
‘Team player’
Instead show how you worked in a team to meet a specific goal. For example, ‘Worked with our international and local marketing teams to implement a global rebrand across 12 countries.’