RESUME AT THE READY

UPDATING a resume is the chore all workers should do every six to 12 months to ensure they are prepared for their next opportunity.

It also can be the most common task in the job search process for jobseekers to get wrong.

Relaunch Me career and interview coach Leah Lambart says it is normal to find looking for work intimidating and overwhelming.

“Resumes have changed significantly over the past five to 10 years, with resumes now more like a marketing document than a list of everything you have ever done,” she says. The top priority is to include contact details.

“This one seems obvious but you’d be surprised at how many people don’t include their phone number or email address on their resume,” she says.

A career summary, rather than a career objective, should outline experience and key strengths relevant to the role.

Most people list their current responsibilities but listing their achievements instead provides greater insight, Lambart says.

“To capture the employer’s attention, we suggest detailing achievements that can be quantified where possible – numbers, percentages, etc – to clearly demonstrate the impact you have had in each of your previous roles,” she says.

Resumes should be tailored to each job, and skills and experience obtained more than 10 years ago are unlikely to interest the employer.

Avoid a heavily designed, creative resume that may look visually pleasing, as it often cannot be read by the applicant tracking system (ATS) technology that is increasingly used by employers to vet applications.

Lastly – check for typos, but do not rely on software to correct spelling and grammar.

“Even a single mistake can be enough for your resume to land in the ‘no pile’, especially if you address the cover letter to the wrong company,” she says.