Writing your resume

Your resume is one of the most significant tools associated with your job search. It’s your opportunity to create a positive first impression with your potential employer, resulting in an invitation to an interview.

A good resume is simple yet comprehensive. The reader should be able to get a good understanding of your technical abilities and overall qualifications in just a few minutes, translation, your entire resume should be easily read within a few minutes.

If you are just starting your career, your resume should be approximately one page, after a few years into your career, two pages will suffice, at the executive level, 3 pages will suffice. There is never a need to have a 4-5++ page resume; chances are the resume will include repetitions of a similar role.

Important items to include on your resume:

		Name of your employer(s);
		Employment dates (Do include the months and years);
		Job titles;
		Responsibilities / duties;
		Special projects and assignments that you have completed;
		Education, including special courses and year of graduation, also include current enrollment in any courses.

Order of items on your resume:

		Start your with objective/purpose;
		Present a quick summary of your skills, no more than 5 lines in bullet format;
		Next is your work experience starting with your current position, most employers want to review your current role first, as opposed to reviewing all your previous positions before getting to your current role;
		List your education;
		Finally, list your volunteer experience and hobbies, no more than 2-3 lines; these are not the most significant items that an employer is looking for.

If you require further advice on how to write your resume, please speak to a consultant for additional assistance.

It’s important to note that a good resume can open the door to an interview and grant you that opportunity to shine in person, while a poor resume will prevent you from getting that interview.