Just like any assignment, research comes before the writing. The internet makes it easy to research the hiring organisation and there’s really no excuse for not being informed. Information you discover through this process could be included in your resume and cover letter, and will arm you with the knowledge to articulate to them why you would be a good fit for their business.
Make sure you know and take note of what their mission statement is and what their values are. Gather some information before any interview on the history of the company. This is your chance to tell them how you can add value to their business. Your resume and cover letter are your marketing document, so sell yourself well.
Now plan the structure of your resume carefully. Consider using in-built templates within software applications or build your own. Keep the design theme clean, easy to read and neatly formatted.
List your education, work experience and skills but limit this to the most recent and relevant roles from the last 10 to 15 years. Only include the ones that demonstrate a particular skill or position held that resonates with the position for which you are applying. Summarise the others in a career history section if need be, and don’t be scared to use dot points for summarising. Watch the length of the resume; some advertised positions set limits for size and content, so be aware not to exceed those too.
Include a profile or objective at the beginning of your resume – this is your chance to grab your reader’s attention. Say something that tells them who you are, what you’re passionate about, and what you value and believe in.
Limit this to two or three sentences. Write this after you complete the other sections of your resume so that you have a good focus of what you look like as a prospective employee. This statement needs to align with the objectives of the role you’re applying for and the values of the organisation. Write this in the first person, i.e. using the pronoun ‘I’.
Grammar, spelling and punctuation are critical. Remember, this is a professional document that’s all about marketing you. Any prospective employee will discard a resume or cover letter with spelling and grammar mistakes and incorrect punctuation as soon as they read it.
Overusing words, being repetitive and using flowery language (i.e. too many adverbs and adjectives) should also be avoided as these read like a sentence or word-count fillers and are often generic and vague.
Proofread your cover letter and resume yourself, and get another person to proofread and check them again before you submit anything to make sure you’re submitting the best versions possible.
Always customise your resume and cover letters to fit with the job you’re applying for. Each job you apply for has a specific selection criteria, a position description and often a list of critical or desirable attributes that are attached to the role.
Where possible, focus on previous positions and describe how you satisfied these attributes in those roles by outlining the what, how and why of your achievements. Consider your own skills and ensure they’re relevant to the job and make sure to focus on the skills they’re looking for. If you don’t have these skills already, consider ways in which you can quickly upskill.
Upskilling can be as easy as signing up for a short course or micro-credential. Such courses can be a quick way to upskill, expand your knowledge and put you a step ahead of the rest when you go to apply for your next employment opportunity. Upskilling shows employers that you’re keen to learn new things and willing to adapt to changes in industries.