How employers use resumes
Think of yourself as an employer for a moment …
What would you look for in a resume when selecting an applicant for interview?
Here are some suggestions (in priority order):
- Your skills or experience match the skills required for the job. These are clearly communicated and you have given examples of when you have demonstrated these skills in other situations
- Other people have enjoyed working with you and speak highly about your skills and abilities (usually found through reference checks).
- You have a unique twist – an interesting combination of skills, or interests, strengths or achievements. What have you done that is different? Travelled overseas, community work, introduced improvements to your workplace, managed people, started your own business, played an instrument for 10 years etc.
- Evidence of your written communication skills. Spelling and grammatical errors show poor attention to detail, or suggest laziness or apathy – you didn’t spend the time checking your application, because you are not really interested in the role.
- A professional and positive first impression. If the style and layout are clear, employers can see that you have strong presentation skills and can bring things together.
- A way for an employer to structure an interview. Your resume can direct the interviewer’s attention to specific strengths and achievements. Make sure these fit the job requirements and you should do well.
- Preparing your resume is also useful when preparing for an interview. The process of examining what you have, researching the role and the organisation ensures that you have material prepared to assist with the interview. So make sure you read over it before you go for your interview.