Resume Content
What content should I include and what should I leave out?

In general, you should only include content in your resume that specifically relates to the job you are applying for. All content must support your targeted job and sell you to your prospective employer.

Don’t fill up your resume with content that doesn’t do this. Remember to highlight what they want, i.e. what are the key selection criteria for the position you are applying for? There may be a good reason to use 50% of your resume describing a work experience placement that took 2 weeks (as opposed to a casual job that is not related, but where you worked for 2 years).

Describe specific responsibilities. Highlight accomplishments by describing results, qualifying or quantifying the accomplishment wherever possible. Use positive language in describing your accomplishments, eg. Effectively, efficiently, and successfully.

For assistance with application and cover letters refer to the Covering Letters section of Essential Careers Resources on CareerHub.

If you are having difficulty writing your resume or have problems with grammar or sentence structure you may be able to get assistance from the Language & Academic Skills Unit.

Below are a list of core and optional topics for inclusion. Look through the list and have a look at the examples before you start writing your resume.
RESUME CONTENT

Click on the links for more information and examples.

Core = need to always include in your resume.

Optional = only include if you have the information.

 

PERSONAL DETAILS (core)
  • Full Name
  • Address
  • Telephone (work, home & mobile): Ensure that these are current and correct. If you only provide your home number or mobile you should have a messaging service. Also make sure you check your messages regularly.
  • Email address: Your email address is the primary method of contact with online applications so in many ways it is more important than your name. Ensure that it is correct, current and reliable and that you check it regularly (more than once a week). Also make sure that your email address is appropriate for an employer (e.g. avoid email addresses like hotkisses@hotmail.com)
  • View examples of personal details in a resume

CAREER OBJECTIVE OR GOAL (optional)

Your career objective indicates the functional area in which you want to work.  Be sure that everything in the resume supports it and nothing contradicts it.  This will give your resume a clear focus. Employers use a career objective to see whether your expectations of the job match their requirements.  It is great way to show an employer what is unique about you and it also gives you a focus to your resume. Further information about how to write a career objective is in this unit.


EDUCATION (core)
Tertiary
  • Degree name
  • University/Institution
  • Years attended
  • Highlight relevant to job your subjects, majors or achievements
  • Transcript of results attached (optional)
Secondary

COURSE PLACEMENTS / VACATION / COOPERATIVE POSITIONS (core)
  • Where were you placed?
  • For how long?
  • What were your responsibilities? (scope of the job, value to the organisation)
  • What were your achievements? (e.g what impact, value or difference did you make?)
  • View examples of placements in a resume

EMPLOYMENT (core)

Include full-time, part-time, casual, temporary, self-employment and voluntary employment details.

  • Job title
  • Name of Employer
  • Dates
  • Responsibilities (limit to key responsibilities and keep them relevant to the targeted job)
  • Achievements (optional but limit as for ‘Responsibilities’, see above)
  • View examples of employment in a resume

SKILLS (core)
  • Target your skills directly to the job requirements.
  • For assistance with identifying your skills, complete the exercises in Unit 2
  • If you are having difficulty writing your skills section or have problems with grammar or sentence structure you can get assistance from the Language & Acadmic Skills Unit.
  • To find out how to analyse job advertisements, address selection criteria and target your resume to the job requirements, go to Unit 3
  • View examples of skills in a resume

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS (optional)

It impresses employers if you are a professional member of the industry/sector in which you wish to find a career. But employers also understand that you may not be able to join professional associations as students. To get started, make sure you look at the list of links to Professional Associations (under 'Links' heading) on CareerHub.


AWARDS (optional)

Include prizes, awards or scholarships that are directly relevant to the job.


EXTRA CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES / INTERESTS (core)

Include community and university involvement, hobbies and sporting interests.


REFEREES (core)
  • Name of referee
  • Referee job title
  • Referee's organisation
  • Referee's contact details - Address/Email/Phone Number

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