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Need Help Creating A Resume?

If the answer is "Yes" you're in the right place!

At the start of our Help Creating a Resume Guide we gave you a heap of reasons why you need a great CV or resume to get noticed these days.

We also gave advice on CV and resume preparation and warned you against rushing in.

In a moment we'll describe 3 specific resume and CV formats and in our downloadable guide we'll give advice on when and when not to use each, with examples.

But whichever CV or resume format you use, you usually need to break down key information into these main areas:

1. Personal Details

Include:

Name and address
Home, work and mobile phone numbers
An e-mail address you check often

If someone else is likely to answer your main phone number, instruct him or her on what actions to take and make sure you get any messages that come in.

You don't need to mention your health or whether you are married, single, separated etc. You should also leave off other family details such as how many children you have. If these factors are likely to impact your ability to do the job you’re applying for, you can address this in the job interview. Leave the space on your CV or resume for something else that's more relevant and will actually get you that job interview in the first place.

2. Objective or Personal Summary

This is a short, punchy summary of why you want the job, why you're suitable and what benefit you'll bring to the role. Go back to page 4 for help creating a resume objective or personal summary.

3. Work History

For each job include:

The name of the previous company worked for
The title of your job
Your start and end dates of employment, listed as month and year
Your key responsibilities
Your achievements

If you have large gaps in your employment, provide a brief explanation as to why, on an appendix if you like.

If you've had continuous employment with one company, highlight any promotions or job role changes within that period of time. It's a positive sign if your current company has promoted you. One of our example resumes shows you how to do this.

Do not include reasons for leaving.

In your work history, only provide details for the last four or five jobs, over the last decade or so. If you feel you must include earlier positions, do so only briefly. As we mentioned before, if you need to include all of your career history and it's particularly lengthy, do this in an attached appendix instead of on the main CV or resume.

For more help creating a resume work history go back to page 3.

Looking For A Quicker Solution?

We know some of our customers want simplier, quicker help creating a resume or CV. If you're one of them, check out these alternatives:

There's the Amazing Resume Creator which guarantees to increase your interview opportunities, simply and easily -- great for those short of time or with writer's block!
Alternatively, ask a specialist to write your resume or CV for you
Or there's always Catherine. She reviews and writers resumes and CVs as part of My Services

4. Qualifications/Education/Courses/Skills

Education/Qualifications

List relevant qualifications first, with your best at the top of the list. Then follow with your less relevant qualifications if they are still good to most employers. Include the names of the qualifications, the level they are at and the university or organization which awarded them.

Courses

If you have attended any particularly relevant courses that relate to this particular job, make note of them here. Name colleges and universities you attended and dates. Mention the skills you developed while on the course, rather than listing the course content or simply naming the course title.

Unless a course it's particularly recognizable and/or of particular value, don't mention it. Simply mentioning the skills you learned will be enough, usually. If the course is particularly relevant and/or prestigious, mention it but be sparing in the description. You do not want your CV or resume crammed with unnecessary detail.

Skills

List these in bullet form, most relevant first. Remember what we said about building a resume using 'trigger' words on page 5.

5. Other Relevant Information

Very briefly provide any other relevant information you believe is necessary for this particular job -- if there is room. For example:

Professional Memberships

List applicable current memberships, but be very brief and sparing -- there's no need to mention every one. Relevant ones are best.

Languages

Mention only if you're quite fluent, and state your level of fluency.

Interests and Hobbies

This is optional and can be left off unless it is truly going to help you get an interview. When you get to this section, consider the following before you include any information:

Does the particular pastime indicate skills or qualities which the employer wants in a successful applicant? If yes, mention it.
Will the employer be worried that your interest might interfere with your work? If so, don’t mention it.