Whether you are leaving the university nest and flying into the big world of scary jobs or you are looking for a casual pub job to cover textbooks, you will need a resume.
Here are some helpful hints for writing a good one, but be aware that there are not many hard and fast rules. You need to make it work for you.
No more than two pages
Please. The most qualified person in the world, does not need more than two pages, let alone a law graduate applying for their first job. The only exception to this would be if you were submitting an autobiography to a publishing company for consideration as a novel.
Proofread
No one wants to see spelling errors. It’s irritating and unprofessional. They’re also very easy to miss. Have a couple of people read it for you before submitting it. A spelling mistake could mean the difference between getting an interview and never hearing from a company ever again.
Keep it current
Future employers do not care about the fact you USED to play sport, or got selected for a representative team in year 9. They do care if you currently play sport or participate in extracurricular activities because it shows that you’re a well-rounded person. Just keep it current, and keep it short. If an interviewer wants more information, they’ll ask.
Keep it relevant
Tailor your resume specifically for the job you are applying for. Applying for a casual job as a bartender, will require a different set of skills to applying for a job as a solicitor, so make sure you highlight what is most important for a particular job by placing it towards the top of the document, and taking out things that are irrelevant.
Don't forget a cover letter
If you have no experience to speak of, don’t panic. Do include a cover letter. Even if you do have experience, a cover letter is always a good idea. This will allow a potential employer to get to know you a little before an interview. It is also a great way to show that while you don’t have a lot of experience on your resume, you are still worthy of the job.
Font matters
Finally, make sure you put it in an easy to read font. Corsiva looks delightful! ...on a wedding invitation. If a resume is unreadable, there is a good chance no one will read it.
Happy job hunting!
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