CONTACT DETAILS

Are your contact details up to date?

While very simple, this section is extremely important. Why?

If your contact details are not up to date, or you email address is [email protected], you’re practically sealing your fate with an outcome smothered in failure.

Perception is everything, and any professional resume writer will tell you the same thing.

In short: Ensure your contact details are professional and accurate.

OPENING PROFILE

Recruiters and employers want to measure your worth in a succinct snapshot.

Let’s be real for a second. You don’t really believe you’re going to sell them on page four of your resume because that’s where all your best content is?

Resume content should be consumed quickly and easily, and you must tailor your resume with the reader in mind.

Sell yourself on the very first page, and then elaborate on important points later.

Your opening statement should read like a short narrative, be sharp, precise and to the point.

Be mindful of certain language your potential employers want to hear. The inclusion of a small handful of buzzwords is a great way to capture attention, and affirm your knowledge and experience within any industry.

In short: Summarise your talent in a short and precise narrative.

EXPERIENCE

A winning resume is nothing without a detailed table of your overall experience. But everyone knows to include their work experience and history, right?

Create a table of your overall experience, and divide your sections into role, responsibilities and achievements.

IMPORTANT: Make sure this section does not read like a position description. You’re not educating recruiters on what the position is, you are educating them on your experience, and why you are the best candidate for the role.

Also, be sure to only include relevant experience. You probably don’t want to include any work you may have done at your parent’s shop, the family restaurant, or that paper round you did on your push bike as a teenager.

In short: Include relevant experience and ensure it reads in a way that sells your skills.

KEY SKILLS

Employers want to see that you possess or are capable of learning important skill sets that are vital to finding success in your next role.

Aside from the standard customer service, money handling and communication skills you will have picked up from any retail role, think about the more intricate skills you might have learned.

Did you learn to multitask in stressful situations?

Have you learnt how to handle difficult customers and reach a viable solution for the business and customer?

Think about the sorts of things that are unique to you, and that can only have been learnt in the roles you have worked in.

Remember: A winning resume is always relevant. Don’t write about inventory management if you’re going for a role as a receptionist.

In short: Include unique and relevant skill sets which highlight your worth as an employee.

QUALIFICATIONS

This is the section to list any relevant courses, certificates or attainments.

Be mindful that you only want to include recent or relevant items in this section. If you completed a short course ten years ago, you may want to omit the date, or not mention it at all.

This is why continued upskilling goes a long way.

Most employers only care about what you’ve done in the last few years. By continually taking courses, learning from past experiences and improving your skill set, you’re proving your dedication and commitment to absolutely nailing your next role.

In short: Only mention relevant and/ or recent qualifications. Plus, have the certificates to back them up.