Step 5: Create your resume
An up-to-date resume What is a resume? What to include
is a very important tool
for finding cadetships, A resume is a description of your education, paid What you include in a resume depends on your individual career
and other jobs all employment, volunteer activities (including school goals and the needs of the employer. A resume provides:
throughout your career. activities), general interests and personal strengths. > initial information to an employer to get you an interview
Each resume will be slightly different depending
> a summary of your work history, skills, achievements and experience
on to whom it is written and which style of resume
suits your needs. It should be kept up-to-date. > information about how you perform in different work situations
> information about what you have accomplished.
Resumes can be submitted on paper or electronically.
A resume should answer the employer’s question:
‘How will I benefit from employing this person?’
Your resume is
a tool that you
will use across
your working life
to entice people
to hire you.
Finding yourself a cadetship: A GUIDE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
What not to include Handy hints What you need to get started
> Don’t say you have done something that you haven’t. > Modify your resume for each cadetship you Before you start writing, collect all the resources you need.
> Don’t include anything that relates to your apply for and include your relevant skills.
Resources checklist
personal life (except contact details). > Use a simple layout, headings and
> Don’t include age, height, weight, marital status, basic fonts such as Arial. Use this checklist to prepare for writing
number of children, condition of health, or religious > Use good quality A4 paper. your resume. You’ll need:
or political beliefs (except where religion or > Don’t put too much information on one page. job descriptions of past jobs you’ve had,
political beliefs are important to the position).
> Have someone check your resume before you send it. including part-time work or work experience
> Don’t include negative reasons for leaving
> There are lots of Internet sites which help,
previous employment such as ‘asked to an action word list to help you write your resume
such as www.myfuture.edu.au.
leave’ (fired) or ‘sick of travelling’. (go to www.myfuture.edu.au for an action word list)
> Use a spell/grammar check.
> Don’t focus on any barriers to getting a cadetship.
copies of performance reviews or reports
> Don’t make the resume too long. about tasks you’ve undertaken
records of your educational achievements
certificates or records of seminars/conferences
you’ve attended. Include courses undertaken
out of school hours (e.g. swimming
instructor, or computer courses)
letters of appreciation you’ve received. Don’t
forget thank you letters or cards.
Finding yourself a cadetship: A GUIDE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
Sections of a resume Types of resumes
The section headings of a resume match the job/cadetship There are three types of resumes:
advertisement. The most common headings are: > reverse chronological
> contact details > functional
> objectives > combination.
> summary of experience
The table on the next page sets out the characteristics,
> competencies
advantages, disadvantages of each type of resume, and
> education and training gives you some tips on when and when not to use them.
> work experience
> activities and interests
> referees.
However, there are alternative names that you can
use, such as ‘career goals’ for ‘objectives’
and ‘employment history’ for ‘work experience’.
8 Finding yourself a cadetship: A GUIDE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
Resume Reverse chronological Functional Combination
comparison Characteristics > Most recent work history is listed first. > Work experience and skills listed in > Combination of reverse chronological
a way that relates to the strengths and functional resumes.
chart > Provides a short and snappy
important to the employer.
picture of where you’ve been > Focus is on skills, accomplishments
Examples and what you’ve done. > Focus is on what you have and work history.
done, not where and when. > Usually begins with a profile or key
The example on the skills followed by work history.
following pages shows
Advantages > Easy to write. > Brief. > Highlights relevant skills that
a ‘combination’ resume. are supported by a strong
> Shows employment history. > Highlights accomplishments.
employment record.
> Most commonly used. > Groups together similar jobs.
> Emphasis is on transferable skills.
> De-emphasises unstable work history.
> Highlights accomplishments.
> Can use headings featured
in a job description.
Disadvantages > Emphasises gaps in employment. > Doesn’t provide a work history. > Longer than other formats.
> Doesn’t effectively reveal skills. > No emphasis on loyalty, continuity > Work history is usually on
or recency of experience. the second page.
Use when … > Showing career progression. > Entering the workforce for the first > Each position you have had involved
> Showing continuity in a time or after a long absence. a different job description.
particular career path. > Work history is varied or unrelated. > Demonstrating a depth
> Changing fields. and range of skills.
> Emphasising skills not
used in recent work.
Don’t use if … > You’re looking for a job for the first time. > You want to highlight career progression. > Experience is limited.
> You have employment gaps. > Your recent jobs have had limited > There are large gaps in
> You’ve changed jobs often. responsibilities and functions. your employment.
> You’re changing careers and your
work history does not relate to
the job you are applying for.
Finding yourself a cadetship: A GUIDE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
Kathy Porter
1 Looking Street
North Adelaide SA 500
6
Phone: (08) 8555 555
Own Car and Driver’s 5
Licence Contact details say who you
Career Objective are and how you can be contacted.
I am looking for emplo Make sure they are up to date
yment as a cadet in
my current studies in the
psychology. I enjoy wor human resource management field to and accurate.
to give 100 per cent complement
will be an asset to you king with people. I believe my positive
r business. attitude and willingnes
s
Objective tells an employer what
Summary
position you are seeking , the kind I am computer literate
,
skills are of an excelle have typing skills and experience in filin
of work that you are looking for and nt standard. I am flex g and reception duties.
ible, reliable and hig
hly motivated to suc My communication Summary gives the ‘big picture’
the next step of your career path. ceed.
Key Competencies very briefly, of what you do.
This section is optional.
Administration/Clerica
l Skills
> Experienced in
handling profit and loss
> Knowledge of ma reports.
nual pay
(taking out tax and doin roll duties
g pays for employee
> Able to work und s) as well as using MYO
er pressure and prio B.
> Knowledge of com ritise tasks.
puter packages, MS
> Sound typing and Windows, Word, Pub
keyboarding skills. lisher, Internet and
e-mail.
> Able to handle cou
nter enquiries in an
Competencies are about your > Experienced in efficient and profess
writing letters and typi ional manner.
> Highly developed ng up invoices.
abilities and are targeted to the job organisational and tim
> Experienced in e management skills.
you are applying for. This section general bookkeepin
> Able to carry out g and records keepin
convinces the employer that you general office functio g.
> Knowledge of con ns.
are capable of doing the job. fidentiality practices.
> Experience with
the use of multi-line
> Confident telepho phone system.
ne voice and manne
> Neat and legible r and experienced in Education and training show you
handwriting. taking accurate tele
phone messages.
> Able to fill orders have the educational requirements
and forms.
> Able to use variou to do the job. Include your most
s office equipment incl
Communication Skills uding fax and photoc
opier. recent educational qualification and
> Ability to commu
nicate with a variety subjects you have studied that are
> Ability to use com of people from all leve
mon sense and wor ls. relevant to the position.
> Experience in trai k through problems
ning new staff. .
> High standard of
written and oral skil
ls.
Education
Tertiary 2004 - current
I am currently in my
second year of a Bac
helor of Psychology
Secondary Senior Cer at Flinders University
.
North Adelaide High tificate 2003
School
> Business Maths
> Dance > Child Studies
> > Nutrition and Lifestyl
English e
0 Finding yourself a cadetship: A GUIDE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS
Work History
(casual): 2002 – current
Work experience explains past and Replacement Receptionist
Hoover Home Improvemen
ts taking messages
present work activities. It should > answering phones and
ices keeping and banking
include full-time, part-time, casual, > typing letters and invo > filing, book
MYOB
> assisting in payroll—
contract and temporary jobs; self
– current
employment; and positions you Kitchen hand (casual): 2002
have held as a volunteer or student. Mama’s Pizza House phone > taking phone orde
rs
face to face and over the
> customer service both > money handling
a dough
> making pizzas and pizz > general cleaning
transactions
> EFTPOS and credit card Activities and interests help
t (on call): 1999 – 2003 an employer build a picture of
Customer Service Assistan
s you. Activities and interests also
Jay’s Catering > serving food and beverage
highlight initiative, communication
> taking orders > washing dishes
> handling money and organisational ability and
> collecting glasses skills you have gained which
may be important if they are
Jan – Sept 2002
Clerical Assistant (casual): relevant to the job. Activities are
Protocol Crash Repairs > reception duties structured pursuits (e.g. clubs
> filing, sorting, photocop
ying ents, writing cheques
> banking, accounts paym and voluntary organisations). List
> money handling > doing the payroll— sorting out tax and
the organisation, your role and
> office cleaning pays for employees
> general bookkeeping
years of participation. Interests are
unstructured individual pursuits
Referees are people who can Activities and Interests (e.g. sewing, reading, running,
> reading
football). List the interests and your
provide details of your experience > Treasurer – North Adelaide > looking after young children
current involvement (i.e. writing poetry is
and can comment on your Hockey Club: Sept 2003 - > listening to music
personal qualities. It is common > going to the beach > going out with friends different from reading it).
to include three referees. Provide > cooking
accurate details of their name,
Referees rvisor
employer, phone number and Josie Plack – current supe
loyer
email address (if available), along Brian Dash – former emp Manager
with a brief statement explaining Owner Mama’s Pizza House
how the referee knows you. Protocol Crash Repairs Phone: 8999 9999
Make sure you have the referee’s Phone: 8922 2222 Email: j.plack@mama.com.au
.au
Email: b.dash@protocol.com
permission to provide their name
rvisor
and contact details. Ryan Morris - current supe
Manager
ts
Hoover Home Improvemen
Phone: 8333 3333
Finding yourself a cadetship: A GUIDE FOR INDIGENOUS STUDENTS 1