A resume, or Curriculum Vitae, better known as a CV, is a vital tool in your professional life. When applying for a job, your resume is a crucial part of that process – it can make the difference between making it onto the short list, or being rejected outright, regardless of whether you’re sending it directly to an employer, or a recruitment agency or job agency. Writing your own resume can be a daunting process. Here are some tips on how write a cracking resume.

Layout

First and foremost, it’s important to spend some time in getting the look and the layout of your resume right. Use a nice clean font, such as Times New Roman or Arial, between 11 to 13 point. Use bold type for headings rather than underlining them, make sure the spacing between sections and listings is consistent and clear, and never captialise whole words or titles, unless using an acronym. Title case (using a capital letter at the start of each word) for job titles and company names is the correct format.

Include the right information

Your resume should start with your name, address and contact details, including address, phone numbers and email address. It’s also a good idea to include these on each page, in case pages are separated once printed. Email addresses should be professional ones, and not crazy wacky hotmail or gmail addresses. It’s a good idea to include a brief paragraph outlining your career overview and objective, including your key strengths in dot-point form. Make sure this section addresses the job and the required experience specifically – this is what prospective employers are looking for, so give it to them up front. Keep it brief, punchy and to the point. Include key words relevant to the position.

Keep it simple

Next, list your work experience in chronological order, starting with the most recent and most relevant. Opinions are divided about whether to include every job you’ve ever had, or just the relevant ones, so keep the position in mind, and include what experience you think is relevant. For instance, your first job as a waiter probably isn’t necessary if you’re going for an accounts manager role – but you don’t want to leave time gaps either. Include your position title, the company, the dates you started and finished, and a brief description of your responsibilities and achievements. Use bullet points for these. Also include your education and training experience, starting with your highest qualification.

Added extras

There are some things that are good to include on your resume, and some things that are better left off. There’s no need to include your date of birth, age or relationship status. Including any volunteer work you’ve done can be a good thing – skills and experience are always valuable, regardless of where they were obtained. Hobbies however can be a bit trickier. Some employers and placement agencies may see these as irrelevant, but they can also make you sound more interesting, and not ‘just another applicant’. Professional memberships are also good to include, along with awards and recommendations you may have received. Referees and their contact details are essential.

The length of your resume will of course depends on the amount of experience you have, but anything longer than four or five pages is pushing it. And before you send it off, remember to proofread it more than once to make sure all information is correct, all names are spelt correctly, and there are no spelling or grammar errors. These, more than anything, will deter employers from taking your resume seriously. Good luck!