Give yourself a competitive advantage – tailoring your resume to suit the job

Whether you are between jobs and looking for work or have a job that you are ready to move on from, having a solid resume is essential. Almost all jobs in the market still require a resume or CV as part of the application. As a result, your resume is the first impression an employer will have of you, so it is important to not make it their last impression of you. When you are applying for a job, tailoring your resume to the job description can make all the difference in setting you apart from others.

From a recruiter’s perspective, whilst it is great to read a list of diverse skills and qualities, if these skills don’t pair up with the advertised skill sets, it will do little to help you get your dream job. Generally speaking, employers spend less than 30 secs on each resume! Although a big fancy list of previous experiences and skills may look impressive to you, employers will most likely overlook any unnecessary and irrelevant information regarding the available position. Keeping your CV brief and relevant to the job will not only save time for both parties but is vital to help you stand out amongst your competitors. Always remember quality over quantity!

Here’s an example. You’ve just found an advertisement online for a full-time Lead Physiotherapist and this really sparks your interest. The advertisement stresses the importance of working in a multidisciplinary team and being an effective communicator. You send in a great resume filled with experiences and skills; however you forget to sell yourself as an effective team-player, with excellent communication skills. Instead, you choose to emphasise your abilities in working autonomously and managing your time effectively. Another applicant with the same level of experience as you mentions their teamwork and communication skills. Instantly, they have placed themselves higher on the hierarchy of ‘who is most qualified’ for the available role. And, just like that, you’ve minimised your chances to grab the opportunity!

It is even advisable for you to go one step further and conduct your own research into the company to find relevant information that is not written on the job advertisement which you can include in your resume or cover letter. For example, if the company has a client base in a rural area, you may mention any experience you have in regards to practicing in a rural location. The key is to include any skills or experiences that you think may add additional value to you as a potential candidate for an advertised position. 

Applying for jobs can be a challenging, time-consuming, and at times, almost futile exercise. However, by ensuring that you tailor your resume specifically to suit each job you are applying for, you can ultimately save yourself time and gain a competitive advantage over other applicants. That has to be worth your effort!

10 Things Employers Never Read in a Resume

The average employer spends around six seconds reading over your resume before they make the decision whether to read on, or to throw it out. Even after they decide to read further through your resume, there are some sections that are unnecessary and won’t be read over. Here are the ten things an employer won’t read in your resume, and why keeping your resume short is better.   

1. A lengthy promotional paragraph

This will not attract an employer to read further as this will take much longer than six seconds. Instead, aim this section at the specific job you are hiring for.  For example, include the name of the company that was listed on the job description, how you would fit into that company, and what benefits you would bring them.

2. An ‘objective’ section

Employers generally aren't interest in reading what you want to do or where you want to go, but they want to know how you will fit into the job role and what relevant skills you can bring. If you do include this section, ensure that it is tailored correctly to the job you are applying for. 

3. Irrelevant experience/skills

An extremely detailed and extensive work experience or skills list might look amazing, but an employer will not commit the time to carefully examine this. Aim to only include those skills that are relevant to the position you are applying for to attract the employer’s attention. As an example, four years of labouring work experience will not help if you’re applying to become a podiatrist.

4. Unrelated and detailed responsibilities

Try to keep your responsibilities at previous jobs to a minimum (four dot points max per role) so you don’t discourage the employer from reading on. In addition, don’t include any responsibilities that are not related to the current job you are applying for.

5. Paragraphs

Although you may find it easier to express yourself in paragraph form and demonstrate your vocabulary skills, avoid using them. Dot points will attract interest to your resume as it is easier to read and the relevant information they are looking for is clearer. 

6. Extensive past work experience

An extensive work history looks fantastic if you’ve worked in a number of industries over a long period of time. However, unconnected past experience (especially those over ten years ago) do not need to be on a resume. This just adds more bulk and creates a less appealing read for an employer.

7. Chronological work experience

As a potential employer will only glance briefly at your resume, don’t put your previous work experience in chronological order. They have no interest in what you did over ten years ago and will not read this. Instead, present your work history in reverse chronological order showing your most recent role on the front page. 

8. An over share of personal information

It is always nice to include a small section at the end of a resume detailing your interests so that potential employers have a brief personal touch, but too much information is not wanted. As a rule, keep this information to no more than four hobbies. Sharing on a resume your favourite TV show or your passion for yoga will not help you get the job. 

9. Long cover letters

Some employers don’t even read cover letters, but it can be a worthwhile addition alongside your resume. Like your resume, short and simple is better. As a guide, aim for a cover letter no longer than one A4 page. A long cover letter is unlikely to get a second glance from an employer, so keep it concise and make sure it contains information that is specific to the job you are applying for. 

10. High school information

For anyone who has graduated from high school, this is unnecessary information. An employer doesn’t care what high school you attended, or how talented you were there. Avoiding this section will save space and make your resume smaller.

Writing a resume can be daunting, but following these ten tips will help to make it clear and concise. Keeping your resume short means an employer is more likely to read through it, and increases your chance of earning the role you are applying for. If you would like further information and advice on resume writing, please see our Resume Tips.