How to Prepare a Resume for a Job: The Australian Guide

How To Prepare A Resume For A Job: The Australian Guide

Crafting a resume that lands you interviews can feel like navigating a minefield. With Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) and demanding employers, your resume needs to be more than just a list of past jobs. It needs to be a strategic document showcasing your value and convincing employers you're the right fit.

This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to preparing a resume that grabs attention and gets results in the Australian job market. We'll cover everything from formatting and content to tailoring your resume for specific roles and optimising it for ATS.

Understand Your Audience and Target Role

Before you even open your word processor, take the time to understand the job you're applying for and the employer's needs.

• Read the job description carefully: Identify the key skills, experience, and qualifications the employer is seeking. Highlight these requirements.
• Research the company: Understand their mission, values, and culture. Tailor your resume to demonstrate how you align with their goals. Look at their "About Us" page, social media, and news articles.
• Consider your unique selling proposition (USP): What makes you different from other candidates? What value do you bring to the table?

Example: If you're applying for a marketing manager role, and the job description emphasises experience with social media marketing and data analytics, make sure your resume clearly highlights your skills and accomplishments in these areas. Quantify your results whenever possible (e.g., "Increased social media engagement by 30% in six months").

Choose the Right Resume Format

The best resume format depends on your experience level and career goals. Here are three common options:

• Reverse-chronological: This is the most common format, listing your work experience in reverse chronological order (most recent first). It's ideal for candidates with a consistent work history and clear career progression.
• Functional: This format focuses on your skills and abilities, rather than your work experience. It can be useful for career changers or those with gaps in their employment history.
• Combination: This format combines elements of both reverse-chronological and functional formats, highlighting your skills and experience while still providing a chronological work history.

For most job seekers in Australia, the reverse-chronological format is usually the best choice.

Craft a Compelling Summary or Objective Statement

Your resume should start with a brief summary or objective statement that captures the employer's attention and highlights your key qualifications.

• Summary statement: This is a brief overview of your skills, experience, and accomplishments. It's best for experienced professionals.
• Objective statement: This is a statement of your career goals and how you hope to achieve them. It's best for recent graduates or career changers.

Example - Summary:

"Highly motivated marketing professional with 5+ years of experience in developing and executing successful marketing campaigns. Proven ability to increase brand awareness, generate leads, and drive sales. Expertise in social media marketing, content marketing, and data analytics."

Example - Objective:

"Recent marketing graduate seeking an entry-level position in a dynamic organisation where I can utilise my skills in social media marketing and content creation to contribute to the company's success."

Showcase Your Work Experience Effectively

Your work experience section is the heart of your resume. Make sure to:

• List your work experience in reverse chronological order.
• Include your job title, company name, dates of employment, and a brief description of your responsibilities and accomplishments.
• Use action verbs to describe your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying "Responsible for managing social media accounts," say "Managed social media accounts, increasing engagement by 25%."
• Quantify your accomplishments whenever possible. Use numbers and data to demonstrate the impact you made in your previous roles.
• Tailor your work experience descriptions to the specific job you're applying for. Focus on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role.

Example:

Marketing Manager, ABC Company, Sydney, NSW (2018 – Present)

• Developed and executed social media marketing campaigns that increased brand awareness by 40% and generated 150+ qualified leads per month.
• Managed a team of 5 marketing specialists, providing guidance and mentorship to ensure the successful completion of projects.
• Collaborated with the sales team to develop and implement marketing strategies that drove a 20% increase in sales revenue.

Highlight Your Skills and Qualifications

Your skills section should highlight your key skills and qualifications that are relevant to the job you're applying for.

• List both hard skills (technical skills) and soft skills (interpersonal skills).
• Tailor your skills list to the specific job requirements.
• Use keywords from the job description. This will help your resume get past the ATS.
• Consider creating separate sections for technical skills, software proficiency, and language skills.

Example:

Skills:

• Social Media Marketing (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn)
• Content Marketing (Blog Posts, Articles, eBooks)
• Data Analytics (Google Analytics, Excel)
• Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)
• Project Management
• Communication (Written and Verbal)
• Teamwork
• Problem-Solving

Include Your Education and Certifications

List your education and certifications in reverse chronological order. Include the name of the institution, the degree or certification earned, and the dates of attendance.

Example:

University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW

• Bachelor of Marketing (2014 – 2017)

Google Analytics Certified

Optimise Your Resume for ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are software programs used by many employers to screen resumes. To ensure your resume gets past the ATS, follow these tips:

• Use keywords from the job description throughout your resume.
• Use a simple, clean format. Avoid using tables, images, or fancy fonts.
• Save your resume as a Word document (.doc or .docx) or a PDF file.
• Use clear and concise language. Avoid jargon or slang.
• Check your resume for spelling and grammar errors.

Proofread Carefully (and Ask Someone Else To)

Typos and grammatical errors can make a bad impression. Before submitting your resume, proofread it carefully. Even better, ask a friend or colleague to proofread it for you.

Tailor Your Resume for Each Application

One size doesn't fit all. Tailor your resume for each job you apply for. Focus on the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role and use keywords from the job description.

Here's a checklist to ensure your resume is ready to submit:

• [ ] Have I thoroughly researched the company and role?
• [ ] Is my resume format appropriate for my experience level?
• [ ] Does my summary/objective statement grab attention?
• [ ] Does my work experience showcase my accomplishments with numbers?
• [ ] Does my skills section include relevant keywords?
• [ ] Is my education and certifications information accurate?
• [ ] Is my resume optimised for ATS?
• [ ] Have I proofread my resume carefully?
• [ ] Have I tailored my resume for this specific application?

Turn Your Resume into an Interview Magnet: An Action Sequence

1. Initial Draft: Create a first draft of your resume based on your general experience.
2. Target Job: Select a specific job advertisement you want to apply for.
3. Keyword Extraction: Identify 5-7 key skills and keywords from the job advertisement.
4. Resume Tailoring: Edit your resume to incorporate those keywords naturally within your experience descriptions and skills section. Focus on demonstrating how you've used those skills in the past.
5. ATS Check: Use an online ATS scanner (many free options are available) to check your resume's compatibility.
6. Refine and Proofread: Adjust formatting or wording based on the ATS scan results. Proofread meticulously, then ask someone else to review.
7. Submit with Confidence: You now have a highly targeted resume, ready to impress.

Get Expert Help Preparing Your Resume

Preparing a resume that gets results can be challenging. If you need help, consider working with a professional resume writer. At The Perfect Resume, we have a 96% success rate in helping job seekers win interviews. Our expert resume writers create ATS-friendly documents with strong messaging and tailored applications.

Ready to take your job search to the next level? Upload your resume below for a free review and personalised feedback. Let The Perfect Resume help you land your dream job.