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New Year, new job! So you've decided to go for it and make 2019 the year you take a leap of faith and apply for a new job.
If you've been out of the job hunting game for a while, you probably need to brush up on your resume writing skills.
Here's how to put together the perfect resume, according to our Director, Virginia Brookes.
Make your contact details easy to find
If your potential new employer has to send out a search party for your contact information, they'll probably just toss your application straight in the bin.
To avoid your resume landing in the reject pile, make sure your name and details are clearly visible.
"Put your contact details clearly at the top of the first page, and make sure these are correct. Ensure it's easy for the employer or recruiter to reach out to you via phone or email," Virginia says.
"It’s also a good idea to make sure you have a professional recorded voicemail message and ensure your email address is professional too."
List work experience chronologically
Work experience should always be listed in chronological date order, and you should also include your employment dates against each role.
"List your most recent positions including name and location of the organisation you were employed by, the title of the role you held and the dates you were employed.
"Put together a list of your responsibilities in point under each role (should be no more than 15) be sure to make sure you have a separate list of achievements under the responsibilities for each individual role," Virginia says.
Internships and volunteer work can also be mentioned here.
Keep it concise
You're writing a resume, not a novel, so you don't need to go into lengthy descriptions for every role you've ever held.
"Five to ten bullet points is all you need. Outlining your key responsibilities and achievements is a great way to do this," Virginia says.
Don't lie!
While it might be tempting to stretch the truth by pretending you're more qualified for the job than you actually are - don't.
"You can be assured that your recruiter and the future interviewer will do their research; ensure you don't leave jobs off, include any false information or over fluff your job titles and responsibilities," Virginia says.
Keep the formatting simple
Comic Sans only belongs on children's party invites - definitely not on your resume.
When it comes to formatting your resume, keep it simple.
"Ensure the final document is well formatted – try not to go over three pages, relevant content which you can expand on in the interview is key," Virginia says.
"Don’t worry about fancy fonts and formats, these can often get mixed around when your resume is pushed through a job portal which can make your resume hard to read."
Proofread
Probably the most important step of all - check, double check and triple check the spelling, punctuation and grammar.
Virginia advises having a second pair of eyes read over your application before you hit send.