A resume is a document that summarises your education, work experience, skills, and achievements. It’s typically the first thing an employer sees when you apply for a job, so it needs to make a good impression quickly. Think of it as your professional highlight reel – you’re showing potential employers why you’re worth interviewing.
Most resumes are one to two pages long, though when you’re just starting out, one page is usually plenty. The goal isn’t to list everything you’ve ever done; it’s to show you have the skills and experience relevant to the job you’re applying for.
What goes on a resume?
A typical resume includes your contact details (name, phone number, email address), a brief summary or objective statement, your education history, work experience, and relevant skills. You might also include sections for volunteer work, achievements, or hobbies if they’re relevant to the position.
Your work experience section should list your jobs in reverse chronological order (most recent first), with bullet points describing what you actually did in each role. Rather than just saying “worked in retail,” you’d write something like “processed customer transactions, managed stock inventory, and resolved customer complaints.”
What if I haven’t had a job yet?
If you’re applying for your first job and don’t have formal work experience, focus on what you do have. School projects, volunteer work, sports team involvement, part-time caring responsibilities, or even running a successful social media account can all demonstrate valuable skills. The key is showing how these experiences have helped you develop abilities that employers value – things like teamwork, time management, problem-solving, or communication.
For example, if you’ve been treasurer of a school club, you’ve got experience with budgeting and record-keeping. If you’ve helped look after younger siblings, you’ve developed responsibility and patience. If you’ve organised events or fundraisers, you’ve got project management experience.
How do I make my resume stand out?
Keep the formatting clean and consistent. Use the same font throughout, make sure your headings are clearly distinguished from body text, and ensure there’s enough white space so it doesn’t look cramped. Avoid using templates with graphics, photos, or unusual layouts unless you’re applying for a creative role where that’s expected.
Tailor your resume to each job you apply for. This doesn’t mean rewriting the entire document every time, but you should adjust which skills and experiences you emphasise based on what the employer is looking for. If a job advertisement mentions customer service skills three times, make sure your resume clearly shows your customer service experience.
Proofread carefully. Spelling mistakes or grammatical errors on a resume suggest you don’t pay attention to details, which isn’t the impression you want to give. Ask someone else to read it over – they’ll often spot mistakes you’ve missed.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Don’t lie or exaggerate. If you say you’re proficient in Excel when you’ve only used it once, you’ll likely be caught out if you get the job. It’s fine to stretch the truth slightly by using strong action words, but outright dishonesty will come back to hurt you.
- Avoid using a unprofessional email address. If you created your email account when you were twelve and it’s something like “skaterboi2007@email.com,” it’s time to create a new one using your actual name.
- Don’t include irrelevant personal information like your age, marital status, or a photo (unless specifically requested). These details don’t help your application and can actually introduce unconscious bias.
- Remember, your resume is a living document that you’ll update throughout your career as you gain new experiences and skills. What works for your first job application will look quite different from what you’d use five or ten years later – and that’s exactly how it should be.
