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STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RESUME

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AUSTRALIAN RESUMES

- STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RESUME

By Nadine Myers

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AUSTRALIAN RESUMES – STEPS TO CREATING AN EFFECTIVE AUSTRALIAN RESUME

Published by:

Resume Australia www.ResumeAustralia.net

Copyright © 2014 Nadine Myers All Rights Reserved

Published by Resume Australia

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Publisher. Requests to the Publisher for permission should be addressed to australianjobsearch@gmail.com.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Nadine Myers is the Founder and Director of many of Australia’s leading job search assistance websites, assisting locals as well as migrants from all over the world to successfully secure employment in Australia.

Degree qualified in Business Management through the University of Queensland, Australia; Nadine took on further studies in Organisational Psychology, gained through the University of London, UK.

With more than 14 years work experience gained in Australia and Internationally in Human Resource Management, Recruitment and Job Search Strategies, across several industries, including Tourism, Engineering,

Government, Health Care, Engineering, Manufacturing, Skincare and Finance; Nadine has expertise in assisting people to achieve their career dreams. Nadine current runs www.ResumeAustralia.net, www.SponsoredJobsInAustralia.com, www.Me2Aus.com and www.findjobsinoz.com; as well as LinkedIn Group, Employer Sponsorship Australia (http://linkd.in/1ixncLP); is author of several books on the topic of job search in Australia (see Recommended Books & Websites for full list of books available), and has been featured twice in Australian & NZ Magazine, UK. Nadine not only assists locals and emigrants to prepare their CV and cover letter for the Australian job market, but also provides job search strategies and techniques to help people find jobs in Australia through the hidden job market.

COPYRIGHT © Nadine Myers 2014 – All Rights Reserved

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Table of Contents

About the Author .............................................................................................................................. 3

Introduction ...................................................................................................................................... 5

Why You Need an Impacting Resume ............................................................................................. 6

Australian Resume Secret #1 - First Page – Your Key to Success! ................................................. 7

Australian Resume Secret #2 - Personal Information – Less is More! ............................................. 9

Australian Resume Secret #3 - Career Objective / Career Summary – the “Hook” ..................... 10

Australian Resume Secret #4 - Key Skills – the “Line” ................................................................... 13

Australian Resume Secret #5 - Key Qualifications – the “Sinker” .................................................. 15

Australian Resume Secret #6 - Memberships – Show You Mean Business ........................... 17

Australian Resume Secret# 7 - Employment History / Work Experience ....................................... 19

Australian Resume Secret #8 -Job Title- WHO are you? ............................................................... 20

Australian Resume Secret #9 - Dates ............................................................................................ 21

Australian Resume Secret #10 - Full Time, Part Time, Contract, Temporary or Voluntary ............ 22

Australian Resume Secret# 11 - Company Information ................................................................. 23

Australian Resume Secret# 12 - Responsibilities .......................................................................... 25

Australian Resume Secret# 13 - Achievements ............................................................................. 28

Australian Resume Secret# 14 - Technical Skills and Personal Attributes .................................... 30

Australian Resume Secret# 15 - Additional Training ...................................................................... 31

Australian Resume Secret# 16 - Referees: the ‘Proof is in the Pudding’ ....................................... 32

Australian Resume Secret# 17 -Format and Font – ‘Simple is as Simple Does’ ............................ 34

Other Useful Tips - Common Resume Mistakes in Australia ......................................................... 36

Writing an Australian Cover Letter ................................................................................................. 41

Putting It All Together .................................................................................................................... 42

Final Word ...................................................................................................................................... 45

Recommended Books & Websites ................................................................................................. 46

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INTRODUCTION

There are definitely some secrets to writing a really good resume for the Australian job market, otherwise everyone would be doing it! If you knew the secrets to a really good resume, would you be applying them? Of course you would! This eBook will not only transform your resume, but it will also dramatically increase your success rate when applying for jobs in Australia – guaranteed! If you apply all of the secrets exposed in this eBook and do not have better results when applying for jobs in Australia, I will give you your money back. That’s how confident I am that you can now achieve the job that you want, just by changing a few key things about your job application. I have set this eBook out to showcase the key secrets of a successful Australian resume so that you can learn what they are, but also learn WHY they are important. This will allow you to take a completely new approach to your resume and your Australian applications, and ensure that you achieve success from now on. After exposing the key secrets of a successful Australian resume, I then provide you with some additional tips that will cement your success, if applied. Following the key secrets, I list the top “no-no’s” of what NOT to do on your resume. This will keep you out of ‘hot water’ and take you further down the road to success! Finally, we will put all of the information together and take you through some simple steps where you will actually write your successful resume as we move through this chapter and recap on all of the important points to remember. Here I have included my most proven successful resume templates for you to choose from. Your selection will be deliberate, based around your industry, your audience, and your taste. In a nut shell, your resume will be specifically tailored to your individual situation. TIP: You may find it useful to go straight to “selecting the right template” on page 52, so that when you reach the section of the eBook where I step you through the process of creating your CV segment by segment, you can add the information directly into your chosen template. I believe you’re worth that job and life that you really want in Australia, and I can’t wait to assist you in achieving it! SoRwhat are you waiting for? Let’s go and create an effective Australian resume!

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WHY YOU NEED AN IMPACTING RESUME

Just How Important Is the Resume When Applying for Jobs in

Australia?

Most people don’t realize the answer to this question – “just how important is my resume, anyway?”. These same people therefore do not put much thought or effort into writing their resume, and hence, they do not get the desired results when applying for jobs, especially in Australia. To put it into perspective, the resume is the first point of communication from you to your potential employer in Australia, and therefore your first chance to make an impression. We all know from experience that first impressions last – this is both a good thing and a bad thing. Wouldn’t you want your first impression to be a good one? The obvious answer is yes! This is why you need to write your resume very carefully and deliberately for the Australian job market. If you put yourself into the shoes of the hiring manager in Australia for a minute, imagine you are trying to fill a vacancy within your organization. You have put together a job description of the role you are recruiting for, you have written an advert based on this job description, to try and attract the right person for this job. From this job advert you receive maybe 100 or more applications both locally and from all over the world, which you now have to sift through to find the top 10 that you may like to interview. What sorts of things do you think will put your resume in the pile for “no” letters? How about these: ▪ the resume does not list the required skills for the job ▪ the resume does not list relevant studies for this job ▪ the resume does not illustrate the work experience that is required for this job ▪ the resume is poorly set out ▪ the resume does not give a lot of information ▪ there are large, unexplained gaps in the work experience on the resume ▪ there are spelling and grammar errors and poor formatting on the resume ▪ the resume is difficult to follow and read ▪ the font on the resume is not ‘easy on the eyes’ ▪ key information for this job is not brought to the attention of the reader ▪ there is a photo on the resume* And the list goes on! Did any of the above surprise you? When there is a large response from a job ad, it is amazing the types of things that will determine whether a person will be called in for an interview or not. Taking these points and more into account, let’s set out to write you an impacting Australian resume that will position you favourably for the all-important interview!

* some employers prefer photos on resumes, however, although there are laws in place to stop discrimination in recruitment, having a photo on a resume can leave the door open for discrimination whether you like it or not. The way a person looks has nothing to do with the job they need to perform (most of the time), therefore it is best to have just the relevant information on the resume that will position you favourably for the job you are applying for.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #1 - FIRST PAGE – YOUR KEY TO SUCCESS! The first page of your resume is the very first chance you have at making an impression. Quite often these days when applying for a job there is not an opportunity to write a cover letter. For example, when applying for a job through a job website, sometimes you are not given an option to attach a covering letter with your resume. Why is this? Some employers don’t even read the covering letter if there is one attached. They are more interested in the information on your resume!

Since the first page is your “key to success”, it acts as a teaser for the reader, so must give loads of relevant information about you that is specific to the requirements of the job you are applying for. Sounds obvious, right? You would be surprised to know just how many people do not acknowledge this fact when writing their resume! The resume is basically a marketing tool and therefore should be treated as one. You are the product you are trying to sell! You need to put yourself in the Australian recruiting manager’s shoes and think about what information they are looking for.

TIP: When writing your resume, keep in mind that recruiting managers read a resume by skimming through for the key information that is relevant for the job you are applying for. It is therefore KEY to bring all of the relevant information to the reader’s attention by writing short, sharp statements in bullet point format or very short and to-the-point sentences.

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A visual example of what a difference a high-impact first page can make to your resume (right), against a very poorly written first page of a resume (left).

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #2 - PERSONAL INFORMATION – LESS IS MORE!

Many people make the mistake of providing more personal information than is necessary on their resume. Anti-discrimination Laws in Australia were created to protect you from missing out on a job due to your race, gender, age, marital status, address, appearance, physical ability or other attribute that is unrelated the job you are required to perform. Therefore, it is not necessary for you supply this information, and I strongly suggest that you do not include this information on your resume if you want to increase your chances of being invited for an interview. Visit: http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/LAWLINK/ADB/LL_ADB.NSF/pages/adb_employers#anti for more information on Anti-Discrimination laws in NSW. The only personal information that the Australian recruiting manager requires from you is your name, your contact telephone number, and your personal email address. TIP: Do not provide an email address that is inappropriate or offensive. This could dramatically reduce your chances of progressing to the next stage of the recruitment process. Your personal information should be clearly positioned at the top of your first page. Usually you would commence with the title “Resume”, and underneath type your name. Some people prefer the term “Curriculum Vitae”, however I personally find this term old fashioned and overly formal. Do not, however, let this stop you from using it, this is just my personal opinion. I feel it is unnecessary to have a heading for each of your personal details such as “Name”, “Telephone Number”, “Email Address” etc., as I feel it is stating the obvious. You can therefore just list these items, for example:

RESUME

Nadine Myers

0415977743

07 3103 3833

australianjobsearch@gmail.com

Alternatively, you could have “T:” (for telephone), “M:” (for mobile) and “E:” (for email), if you prefer, which is a more modern method of listing your details.

It works fine to list your contact details aligned to the left, the right or centered. Although it is my personal preference to align them to the right, as I feel it balances the resume nicely, since most of the resume will be aligned to the left.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #3 - CAREER OBJECTIVE / CAREER SUMMARY –

THE “HOOK”

Since the first page of your Australian resume is where the recruiting manager gets their first impression of you, you need to give all the information that they are looking for on this page. By providing a ‘Career Objective’, or a ‘Career Summary’, you can quickly and effectively introduce yourself to the recruiting manager as the person that they want to hire! How do you do this? It’s simple. You write a high-impact ONE PARAGRAPH summary of your relevant experience to date, your relevant qualifications, and a statement of what you are now looking for (i.e., the specific job you are applying for). For example, I wrote a Career Summary for a client recently who was applying for a job as a Financial Planner. She had not worked as one previously, however she had worked as an Assistant Para-Planner for about two and a half years, prior to that she had worked as the manager of a retail store for 11 years, and prior to that, whilst she was studying her degree in business and economics, she worked part time as an accounts clerk for about seven years. This client also had a Diploma in Financial Planning, however she had never worked as a Financial Planner, and she was not being considered for interviews due to the way she was presented on her resume. She therefore came to me to increase her success rate in her job applications. The Career Summary that I wrote for this client was as follows:

“A Finance professional with a Business Degree and Diploma in Financial Planning, I

have gained nearly ten years’ experience within Finance and Wealth Advising

environments and I am now seeking a position that will enable me to expand my

knowledge in investing and promoting ethical investments.”

I have underlined the important points in the paragraph for you to take particular note of. Do you think the reader will be eager now to continue reading my client’s resume to find out what else she can offer their organization? Of course! They will be excited just by that one sentence, and they will have received a very positive first impression of my client that will stay with them as they continue to read the rest of my client’s resume.

The trick is to pull out the relevant points of information from your experience and skills and to write a very sharp and to the point summary that tells the reader what you’re about, where you’ve come from and why you’re now applying for a job with their organization. In essence: that you are the ideal person for this job! Another client of mine, who has had very varied experience across different industries, who had spent about $300 for an organization to write him a professional resume, and he had been using that resume for a few months and not had one call back for an interview. After speaking with him,

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I found out that he had been applying for jobs as a Facilities Manager, and also for jobs as an HR Manager. The problem I identified with my client’s resume was that it was not tailored to each of those types of jobs he was applying for, and therefore, he did not look 100% suitable as an applicant, and this is why he had not achieved success.. The resume that he had paid $300 to have rewritten, had a statement on the first page as follows:

“A dynamic, highly experienced Facilities and H.R. Manager with comprehensive international exposure

• 18 years management of diverse enterprises in Australia and internationally

• Currently company director with 9 direct reports

• Outstanding business acumen with strong results and client satisfaction focus

• Now investigating opportunities in large scale Australian based corporation”

The Career Summaries that I re-wrote for this client were as follows: For his HR-focused resume:

“A Human Resources professional with over 15 years international generalist HR

experience, gained in both private and public sectors, with specialties in Learning and

Development and Management. I am Tertiary qualified in Business, Management,

Workplace Assessment and Training, and Adult Teaching.”

For his Management-focused resume:

“After a career in the Police Service and the last 8-10 years’ experience in Facilities

Management, Small Business Management and Human Resources, I am now looking to

consolidate my skills and experience and secure a permanent role in the area of Office

Management or Facilities Management.”

When my client received his two focused resumes on his two careers of choice, he applied for jobs that weekend and had four interviews lined up over the next week. His first interviews in months! What an improvement from the resume he had paid $300 to have “professionally written” for him! Can you see what my competitor had done wrong in their career summary of my client? Can you see how my simple yet focused career summary has a higher impact and why my client went forward in leaps and bounds with his job applications?

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Action Point

Go through your resume now and analyse whether you have a clear focus. Imagine you are an employer - is it clear to the reader what direction you are heading in your career? Do you know what direction you are heading in? Now is the time to get very clear about it and to re-write your resume based on your career of choice. Research all the key skills you require for the career of your choice. Speak to a careers expert if need be, to help you with your list. What other personal attributes are necessary for this career? Do you need to have good organization skills, attention to detail or leadership skills? Write down what you come up with, because you will need to refer to this list throughout the process of writing your resume. Now, pull out all the skills and experience that you have gained so far that match your list. Are there many skills missing? Are there any short courses you could do to touch up on these skills and strengthen your resume and how you look on paper? Once you have written your second list of all of your skills, qualifications and attributes, have a go at writing your career summary, as a clear, concise statement that is focused and relevant to the job you are applying for. Now add this summary to your resume under the title “Career Summary”, or “Career Objective”.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #4 - KEY SKILLS – THE “LINE”

A very strong Australian resume will have a snap shot of your key skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for. After reading the career summary (the “hook”) which effectively sends the message to the Australian recruiting manager that you are equipped with relevant experience and qualifications for the job, following this with “Key Skills” (the “line”) will back up the statement with factual statements of your skills and experience that relate to the job. These statements can also include personal skills that are relevant to the job you are applying for, such as “the ability to rapidly build effective business relationships”; or “superior customer service skills”. A client of mine is studying towards a degree in Human Resources, however he has only ever worked in the fast food industry, so it was extremely important to strengthen his resume with key skills that are relevant to the jobs in HR that he is applying for. The Key Skills that were added to the front page of his resume are as follows:

� Training & development � Policies & procedures � Supervisory and management skills � Recruitment, selection & induction � Performance management � Occupational Health & Safety � Studying Bachelor of Business (HRM

& Tourism Management)

� Highly organised time management � Collaborative team work � Basic - intermediate computer

literacy � Exemplary customer service skills � Ability to communicate confidently at

all levels � Hard working and loyal

These key skills were based on experience he had gained within his previous roles, and as you can see, even though he has never worked in a job with HR in the job title, he has gained a significant amount of experience and skills that are relevant to the jobs he is applying for.

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Action Point

Using the list that you created in the previous section with all of the skills, qualifications and experience that you have that are relevant to the job you are applying for, narrow this down to a list of Key Skills that you can add to this section of your resume. Aim for a list of 10 – 15 key skills for this section. Add this list to your resume, directly under your Career Summary or Career Objective, under the title “Key Skills”

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #5 - KEY QUALIFICATIONS – THE “SINKER”

We’re still on the first page of your resume, and already your resume should be starting to look more focused, more clear and more powerful! You now need to add your Key Qualifications to your resume. Quite often, people add their qualifications / education to the back of their resume. This means that the recruiting manager is left wondering whether you have the necessary qualifications for the job you are applying for, until they reach that final page on the resume where it is listed. By this stage, they may have lost interest so the impact isn’t very high when they do discover your necessary qualifications and training. Your qualifications are very important to the job you are applying for in Australia, and therefore they should be one of the first things that the recruiting manager sees. Being on the front page, this further “backs up” your Career Summary and your Key Skills. TIP: Only list the qualifications here that are relevant to the job you are applying for. If you have qualifications that are not focused on the job you are applying for, you can add these to the back page of your resume under the title, “Additional Education and Training”, or something similar. The important information that you need to provide under your Key Qualifications section is the name of the qualification, the year that you completed the qualification, the institution through which you studied, and the location (particularly important if you studied overseas, however if the institution has the location in its name, for example, the University of London, then it is not necessary to state the location). For example, let’s say you have Bachelor of Business with a major in Economics, which you studied through the University of Vancouver, and completed this in 1997. If you are applying for a job within the finance sector, or a role in which this qualification is relevant, you would list this information as follows:

BACHELOR OF BUSINESS (Economics)

University of Vancouver, 1997

TIP: If you have a degree in business with a major in a subject area that is not relevant to the job you are applying for, feel free not to mention the major. Bachelor of Business is a fantastic base degree for any professional job that you apply for, therefore you need only list that you hold a Bachelor of Business.

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Action Point

Add the title “Key Qualifications” underneath your Key Skills, and list all of your relevant qualifications.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #6 - MEMBERSHIPS – SHOW YOU MEAN

BUSINESS

In your chosen career direction, there will no doubt be a body or organisation that is designed for people like yourself to keep up to date with relevant information and changes in the market, to do with your industry. For example, Real Estate Professionals have the Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA), Medical Professionals have the Australian Medical Association (AMA), Engineers have Engineers Australia, Maintenance Engineering Society of Australia, Environmental Engineering Society, etc. These organisations encourage professionals in that particular field, to become members of the organisation so that they can be at the ‘top of their game’ in their field. Usually such memberships have fees which cover useful services and information such as industry magazine subscriptions, invitations to industry events, networking opportunities, discounts on professional development and training in that field etc. There are also usually different tiers of membership that you can be assessed against, depending upon your level of experience, qualifications and regular professional development. Obviously the higher up the ‘tier’ you are, the most respected you are in your field, as the more equipped and knowledgeable you should then be on your subject matter. Are you currently a member of your Key industry organisation? If not, why not? Being a member of such industry organizations in Australia reflects your level of commitment to your career of choice, the value you place on continuous professional development, shows your commitment to getting “up to speed” with your industry in Australia and it also sets you apart from an individual who has applied for the same job and has similar work experience to you, however, has no industry memberships. I recommend that you list your relevant memberships after the Key Qualifications section, with the heading “Key Memberships” or “Industry Memberships”. The information you should include here is:

Your level or tier of membership (if appropriate) The name of the industry organisation

TIP #1: Generally being a member of one relevant organisation is sufficient for your continued career development, however if there are other industry memberships that interest you that are relevant to your career, feel free to join more than one – the worst that could happen is that you will impress your potential employer! TIP#2: Listing only the memberships you have joined in your home country will not benefit you so much because they are not Australian-specific. If you are not joined with any Australian industry organizations, I recommend you either join, or not mention your home country’s memberships at all.

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Action Point

If you are not a member of your relevant industry organisation, do some research to find out what memberships are recognised and respected in your field, and join it! Add this information to your resume as instructed above.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 7 - EMPLOYMENT HISTORY / WORK

EXPERIENCE

Now that you have completed your high-impact first page of your resume, the Australian recruiting manager will be eager to find out more about you and will now be looking for your work experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for in Australia. Have a look at your current resume. Is your work experience relevant to the jobs you are applying for? Perhaps your previous work experience has been in a different field, however are there skills and experience gained in those positions that is relevant to the job you are applying for? You need to highlight these now! Your employment history should be listed in chronological order – with your most recent work experience listed first, all the way back to your first jobs. This is very important because your employer may be turned off by the first few jobs that you have done and not realize that you actually have recent relevant experience that are listed on following pages. This may strike you out before the game is even over!

Accounting for Volunteer Work

Volunteer work is the same as any other job you have worked in except that you were not being paid for it. This experience should therefore be listed in the same way as your ordinary work experience is listed. By doing this, you are accounting for extra pieces of work experience you have gained that may be relevant to the job you are applying for. Further, the work you did as a volunteer shows the value you place on your career, among other things, so much so that you will happily work without being paid. This will often gain respect from your potential employer.

Gaps in Your Work History

If there have been any gaps in your employment, particularly long gaps of a couple of months or more, it is a good idea to have an explanation on your resume for these gaps. Otherwise, the recruiting manager may jump to conclusions and assume that you were unable to find work during that time, which they may then jump to the conclusion that you are not a very strong candidate if you were applying for jobs for so long. Something you want to avoid! Your explanation of your gaps should be valid points. For example taking time off to be a mother, to pursue further studies or volunteer work, or whatever the reason may be. I do not encourage false information on resumes as there is always the risk that you will be found out, and will therefore lose all credibility in the market. Believe me, word gets around! Therefore, if the reason for the gap is truly because you have been looking for work and you have been unsuccessful, perhaps it is best to not add an explanation. It may be that you require the services of a professional resume writer, or simply apply the secrets exposed in this book. TIP: If you have had loads of jobs over the years and the very first few jobs you had are not at all relevant to the jobs you are applying for (for example, working a paper run when you are applying for a role as a Fire Alarm Technician), it is not necessary to list this on your resume.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #8 -JOB TITLE- WHO ARE YOU?

When listing your work experience, you should always start with your job title. This is the first thing that the hiring manager will be looking for – job titles that have synergies with the role you are applying for. It is best not to use false information in this section, because when your potential employer contacts your references, one of the first things they ask the referee is what your job title was. If they state a job title that is different to the job title you have listed on your resume, they will automatically wonder why you were being dishonest, what else you have been dishonest about on your resume, and whether they would like to hire a dishonest person in their company. HOWEVER, there is an exception to this rule. If you have been working in a role that is commonly known as a different job title in Australia, it is OK to change the job title to the title it is most commonly known as in Australia, and then have the title you were actually known as in brackets. This way you are making it clear to your potential employer that there was something not quite right with your job title, and they can question you on this when they meet up with you. You want the right words to stand out on your resume and if your official job title does not contain the right words, you should get advice on changing it. Sometimes previous employers would be ok with this, so it wouldn’t hurt to speak to them about it so they are prepared when our potential employer contacts them for a reference. TIP: It is always best to be honest.

Action Point

Go through your work history and make sure you have been honest with all of your job titles.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #9 - DATES

Next to your job title, you should list the dates that you were working in that position. It is very important to list the month and the year that you were working in the role, because it is difficult to determine an accurate length of time you have worked in a role if you have only listed the years. It is not as important to include the day, so long as you have the month and the year. If you honestly cannot remember the months that you commenced and finished each employment, make an estimate, being as accurate as you can.

Action Point

Go through all of your work history and accurately record the months and years that you worked in each job.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET #10 - FULL TIME, PART TIME, CONTRACT,

TEMPORARY OR VOLUNTARY

Next to your job title, you should list in brackets, what the status of the job was, if it wasn’t a permanent full time role. If these aren’t listed, the recruiting manager will assume that you were working full time, which is deceiving. Listing these facts also covers yourself if you were working for only a short period, by providing an explanation as to why you were only in the role for short period. An example of how you can set out your job title, status and date are as follows:

Electrical Engineer (Contract) January 2005 – February 2007

Action Point

Go through all of your work history and mark beside each role whether it was full time, part time, contract or temporary.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 11 - COMPANY INFORMATION

This is one area that can sometimes let you down without you realizing it. We all know that we need to list the name of the company in our work history, however, just listing the name of the company assumes that the recruiting manager knows all about the organisation you worked for. This is very often not the case! It is difficult for the employer to get a good understanding of the job you did if they do not know anything about the organisation. For this reason, I suggest including a company summary, stating such things as: the size of the organisation, such as whether it is global, national, or a small family run business, for example. How many employees are / were in the organisation and within the site you worked at (if necessary) What is the industry of the organisation What is the main product or service What you were brought into the business to achieve If you have progressed into different roles throughout your time with this organisation, you can explain your progression here Whether you had / have any direct reports Anything else that you feel would paint the picture for your potential employer, of what kind of organisation it was. The main purpose of this summary is to make the job easier for your potential employer to select you as an ideal candidate. For instance, if you have worked for a very similar organisation to the one you are applying for a job with, this will obviously be of value to your potential employer that you have experience and a good understanding of a similar organisation, and therefore would integrate into the organisation a lot quicker than someone who has not worked in a similar organisation. This company summary is best placed directly underneath the company name. An example of a good company summary is listed below:

Electrical Engineer (Contract) January 2005 – February 2007

Company X

Company X is a family run business that was established in 1977 by its current owners. The

business specializes in providing electrical services to large local businesses, and has been

the market leader in city X for the past 20 years. Currently with a employee-base of 400, I

joined Company X to assist with a large-scale electrical engineering project for a major

commercial development on the north side of the city.

This summary states all the relevant information to allow the potential employer to get a good understanding of the kind of environment this person was working in. This kind of information, as stated above, makes the job of screening resumes much easier for the recruiting manager, and will effectively bring your resume towards the top of the pile!

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Action Point

Develop Company summaries for each of your employers in your work history, and add the company names and summaries underneath your job titles and dates of employment as shown above.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 12 - RESPONSIBILITIES

Next we need to list out all of your responsibilities of each of your jobs that you have held in your work history. These responsibilities should be in brief bullet point form, so they are easy to read and process, and should include all information, no matter how irrelevant you feel it is. Over the years I have read responsibility listings that are great summaries, almost essays, of everything a person did in the role they were working in. These are cumbersome to read and it is very difficult to pick out the important points of information that are relevant to the job the person is applying for. Since this is making the job of screening difficult for the potential Australian employer, this will in fact make it easy for the employer to push the resume aside and not read any further. On the other hand, I have come across many resumes that only list two or three duties that the person performed in a role over 3 or more years. This can bring the recruiting manager to one of the following conclusions: This person did not have many responsibilities for such a long period – they must be either lazy, or not have any ambition to take on more responsibilities This person is not very serious about this job, and therefore they have not put much effort into preparing their application (resume) Again, this is a sure-fire way to have your resume ‘screened’ out for a “rejection” letter. The trick here is to sit yourself somewhere in the middle – provide enough information to give your potential employer a good understanding of what your job entailed, but not too much information as to scare them away. The trick is in the presentation of the information. An effective way to list your responsibilities is by listing them under the bolded title, “Responsibilities”, or some may prefer the term, “Duties”. I feel the word, ‘responsibilities’, sounds more impressive and brings the information forward as things you were personally accountable for. For example, an Executive Assistant may have the following responsibilities listed out:

Responsibilities:

� Managing the Company Secretary’s diary on a daily basis

� Screening all telephone calls for the Company Secretary, and first point of

call for all company secretarial-related enquiries

� Maintaining databases such as personnel listings,

� Coordinating regular business meetings, including booking meeting rooms,

ordering refreshments, travel arrangements where necessary

� Coordinating reports and preparing Board Papers for monthly Board

Meetings

� Regular liaison with the Executives and Non-Executives

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Another effective way to lay out your responsibilities, is to split up your responsibilities under specific sections. This works well for someone who wants to highlight specific areas of their experience that is relevant to the job they are applying for. An example of this would be for my client whom I mentioned earlier, who has been working most of his life in the fast food industry, and is now applying for a job in human resources administration. This client has gained specific HR skills and experience within these fast food jobs he has worked in, however because the job titles do not indicate that he has been carrying out HR duties, it is in his best interests to showcase his relevant experience to make the job easier for the recruiting manager to find the relevant information, and to increase his chances of being invited for an interview. For example, where my client had just listed out his responsibilities as Assistant Manager at KFC, he now has listed all of his HR related experience under the bold title, “Human Resources and Management”, and his further duties under the title “Administration”, so as to demonstrate the administration skills and experience he has gained that is relevant to the types of jobs he is applying for. If my client had failed to do this, he would not have been considered for the job as an HR administrator, it would have been too difficult to process the information and ‘draw’ out the relevant skills and experience. TIP#1: Keep responsibilities information brief and very relevant to the job you are applying for TIP#2: List all the responsibilities that are relevant to the job you are applying for at the top of the list TIP #3: In your responsibility statements, give examples so the Australian employer can grasp what you mean by each statement

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Action Point

Go back to the list you prepared earlier, when you were reviewing the responsibilities of the job you are applying for and comparing it with the experience and skills you have gained in each job. Are there relevant areas of each job you worked in that you can showcase, but dividing up your experience under separate headings? Once you have established your list and whether you can divide up your responsibilities under separate headings, develop your responsibilities list for each job in your work history, taking into account the instructions and tips provided above.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 13 - ACHIEVEMENTS

Secret# 13 is one of the most important secrets for you to take on board. Why? Because, whilst Secret#12, your Responsibilities, may indicate to your potential employer that you have the relevant experience for the job; your achievements indicate how well you performed in that job. In other words, your achievements will indicate to your employer what value you can add to their organisation, and also the types of things that are important to you and motivate you. This secret, if applied, will push your resume even further up to the top of the pile; and coupled with the rest of the secrets exposed in this eBook, will most certainly ensure that you are invited for an interview! You’re probably wondering what sorts of things you could list as achievements in each of your jobs you have worked in. TIP: Achievements do not have to be massive accomplishments (although please feel free to list these!), however they can be as small as creating a database that organized information and reduced time in searching for information on X, receiving a compliment or commendation from your manager or client, or successfully organizing an event from start to finish. Whatever it is, what is important is that it felt like an achievement to you, or was something that you feel particularly proud of. It is also good to list numbers here, for example if you achieved your KPIs, decreased budget by x%, or saved the company $x.

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Action Point Go back through each job that you worked in at a time, and think hard about things that you were proud of achieving in each role. You can list as many as you like, however it is best to keep this number to around 5, making sure you list what you feel are your biggest achievements, first. If there are jobs that you just cannot think of any achievements for, don’t worry too much about it. The main thing is that you list achievements that may be relevant to the job you are applying for.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 14 - TECHNICAL SKILLS AND PERSONAL

ATTRIBUTES

Congratulations! You have finished the bulk of your successful Australian resume! Now that you have prepared the body of the resume, it is time to “sum up” with any final pieces of information about yourself that may set you apart from the other candidates. This information may or may not be relevant to the job you are applying for, however it will “round off” your resume and perhaps provide a talking point for your potential employer at interview.

Action Point Technical Skills and Personal Attributes is the next heading on your resume, underneath your Work History. Here you will list the remainder of your skills and personal attributes that were not listed on the front page of your resume. This will include such skills as relevant computer skills, language skills, technical or specialized skills such as ‘short hand’, and other relevant work information.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 15 - ADDITIONAL TRAINING

If you have additional training courses that you have been on in your line of work, or have additional qualifications that may not necessarily be relevant to the jobs you are applying for, you can list these in this section. For example, if you work in IT and have done refresher courses, had additional technical training or have attended seminars or workshops in your line of work, but too many to list on the front page under your ‘Key Qualifications’, you can list these out here. Now that I have you thinking about additional training courses you attended, you may remember some short courses you completed as part of your employment, or to learn a particular skill for your work. If you think of training courses that are very relevant to the jobs you are applying for, include them on the front page of your resume with your “Key Qualifications”.

Action Point I want you to now pull together all of your remaining qualifications, details of courses and seminars you have attended and other workshops or in-house training you have attended over the years. Ensure that you not only list the name of the seminar or course, but also the training institution or organisation and the year completed or attended. List these under the title “Additional Training and Qualifications”, unless some of these are more suited to the front page of your CV, as mentioned above.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 16 - REFEREES: THE ‘PROOF IS IN THE

PUDDING’

It is all good and well to list out all of your relevant skills and experience on your resume, however this is the section where your background and experience is validated: “Referees”. I recommend getting in touch with all of the people who you would like to list as a referee on your resume. Choose your referees carefully and ensure that you select the referees who would provide the most positive reference for you. Feel free to actually discuss with your referee what they might disclose to potential employers, if you are concerned about anything negative being said. Most Australian employers will require at least two valid references from past employment, and it is always best to list 3-4 referees under this section. This way if the employer needs to make a quick decision and cannot get hold of one or two of your referees, they will have others they can contact to get a quick reference and make a decision. Providing 3-4 references also gives the potential employer the option to select who they are most interested in receiving a reference from. Further, providing additional references can allow an employer to obtain more than two references if it is their policy, or if they require further verification of your experience and skills. I always recommend staying in touch with people you would like to include as referees on your resume. It is a great idea to do this as it keeps a good positive relationship with that person so that they are happy to do this favour for you, and it also builds respect from that person and encourages a positive resume. If you are listing international referees on your resume, be sure to include at least one telephone number and a valid email address. For convenience you should also include international dialing codes with your international telephone numbers. Sometimes, due to time differences between Australia and other countries, Australian employers will opt to contact international referees by email and send them a questionnaire to complete and return. Some people prefer not to list their referees on their CV, as they are afraid that the Australian employer may contact their current employer, who may not know that they are looking to emigrate to Australia. In this case, it is OK to simply state ’Available upon request’ under your “Referees” section.

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Action Point

Have a good think about who you believe would provide the most positive references for you if contacted about your work experience, and aim to make a list of at least four referees. If you haven’t already, get in contact with these people and ensure that they are happy to provide references for you.

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AUSTRALIAN RESUME SECRET# 17 -FORMAT AND FONT – ‘SIMPLE IS AS

SIMPLE DOES’

Presentation of your information is key when preparing a high-impact resume, and it is something that you should definitely take time to consider. For your convenience, I have included with this eBook a selection of my most successful resume templates, so that all you have to do is enter all the information you have gathered straight into these templates. However, it is good to give you some background on why aesthetics and ‘white space’ are so important when presenting an Australian resume. As I have explained previously in this eBook, the Australian employer is best pleased if you make their job as easy as possible for them to assess your resume. They will be looking to scan through the information presented on your resume, seeking specific key words and information, and wanting to find it fast. Font plays a key role in presenting information. A resume should use a professional font that is easy to read and scan. Clean lines and simple structured letters are very important here, and I will make an example of what I mean here by illustrating some sections of text in different fonts to see if you can see what a difference font makes for resume purposes. Scan your eyes quickly over the sentences below and decide for yourself which paragraphs are easier to scan and pick up information, depending on the different fonts used.

A professional Graphic Designer with 25 years experience specialising in design for print and web, with a passion for packaging, typography, retouching and enhancement. I intend to secure a position in Australia in a creative environment with versatility and professionalism. A professional Graphic Designer with 25 years experience specialising in design for print and web, with a passion for packaging, typography, retouching and enhancement. I intend to secure a position in Australia in a creative environment with versatility and professionalism.

A professional Graphic Designer with 25 years experience specialising in design for print and web, with a passion for packaging, typography, retouching and enhancement. I intend to secure a position in Australia in a creative environment with versatility and professionalism. A professional Graphic Designer with 25 years experience specialising in design for print and web, with a

passion for packaging, typography, retouching and enhancement. I intend to secure a position in Australia in

a creative environment with versatility and professionalism.

Can you see the difference between the different fonts above and how some are easier to scan over and pick up information than others? You should have noticed that the third paragraph above was the most easiest and clearest to read out of the four above. Fonts that I tend to stick to and recommend others to use on their resume are listed below:

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Arial

Trebuchet MS

Century Gothic

MS Reference Sans Serif

Verdana

Calibri

Franklin Gothic BookFranklin Gothic BookFranklin Gothic BookFranklin Gothic Book

Tahoma

You must also remember not to use an unusual font that only some programs offer, as this could mean that your resume will not be readable when received by the Australian employer. Stick to using common, simple fonts, such as those I have recommended above. Arial is usually the safest and one of the most commonly used and accepted of all fonts in Australia. You will be able to see the full picture on the different Australian resume templates what each font style looks like. You can also change the font style used on the templates to suit your own personal preferences. Also be careful to select Australian grammar/spell-check as your document spell-check setting when creating your resume so that you are sure to use the Australian spelling of words. Generally, Australia has similar spelling to Britain, for example, using “u” in the word ‘colour’ (rather than the American ‘color’). TIP: Certain fonts are considered unprofessional to use on a resume, and Comic Sans is definitely one of these!

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OTHER USEFUL TIPS - COMMON RESUME MISTAKES IN AUSTRALIA

In this section I have provided a list of the most common resume mistakes in Australia so that you can learn some additional tips on what NOT to do on your resume. Listing the reason you left each job – pro’s and cons Some people choose to include information on their resume to explain every time that they leave a job and move on to a new one. There are reasons for and against including this kind of information, and it all depends on your personal circumstances. I personally feel that this kind of information can be explained during an interview. Years ago it was expected that a person would get a job after studying and create a career with that company until their retirement. These days it is expected that a person will have worked in a few different roles over their career. Particular now that “Generation Y” is well and truly in the workforce. For those who don’t know a lot about Generation Y, in Australia they include 4.5 million people who were born between 1978 – 1994. They are described by some as confident, impatient, tech-savvy and are the future of Australia’s workforce. They have high expectations and are difficult to retain for longer than 2 years, and the Australian employer is no longer as concerned about a person “jumping around” from job to job these days, as this often encourages adaptability as well as well-rounded skills gained from working in different workplace environments and across different industries. For more information and an interesting slant on Generation Y in the Australian workforce, read, “Managing the Gen Y Workforce” (http://bit.ly/1s6Cgpa). Listing reasons for leaving jobs on your resume, that you feel are quite valid, will not always be perceived that way from the Australian employer. I therefore feel that it is often better to refrain from including this kind of information on your resume. Too much information Packing your resume with too much information is not looked upon favourably. What I consider too much information, is writing mini-essays when describing your work experience and skills – there are a lot of candidates, particularly from countries other than Australia, who write lengthy resumes with bulk, or large ‘chunks’, of information. Remember, the employer wants to scan your resume for relevant information and will ask further questions at the interview. Therefore, keep the information brief and in point form where possible. You need to leave the employer wanting more, and to actually have questions to ask you at the interview! Poor spelling and grammar Always always always have a trusted person with above average English skills to review your resume for spelling and grammar errors, particularly if English is not your first language. If your resume has a lot of errors, the employer will most probably assume that your English, both spoken and written, is not of a high standard. Even if your English could do with improving, in order to open opportunities to be able to “sell” yourself to an employer in person, you need to do everything you can to get past “first base”, and to the interview stage. One or two spelling errors have the power to close the door to any opportunities in an Australian organisation – do not underestimate the power of proper English and correct spelling in a resume for Australia.

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Listing too much personal information In Australia, we are protected by anti-discrimination laws, which mean that employers are not allowed to make any decisions for employment based upon race, gender, marital status, colour, ethnic background, religious affiliation, or anything at all that does not affect a persons performance in a job. What this means when applying for a job, is that you do not have to disclose any of this type of information that tells the employer nothing about your experience or skills in the particular job area. In fact, you are protecting yourself even from discrimination even further by not providing such information on your resume. Keep in mind that just because these laws are in place, does not mean that Australian employers are not abiding by them. For this reason I discourage you from including any information that is not relevant to the job, and this includes a photograph of yourself, of which I will go into more detail about below. Including a photograph As per my comments above on Anti-Discrimination Laws in Australia, it is in your best interests to not include any information on your resume that has nothing to do with the job you are applying for and how you will perform in that job. Some people feel that they should include a photograph of themselves on their resume, and in their home countries, perhaps this is common practice when applying for a job. However, we all know that unfortunately in this world, people make judgments about a person, particularly with the way they look. Some judgments are good, and some judgments are bad. To avoid the risk of a bad judgment, I highly recommend not including any pictures of yourself at all. Mind the gap! – not explaining the breaks between employment Most Australian employers will want to see a progression of your career and if there are any gaps, they would like to know just what you got up to during those periods of unemployment. The reason being, this tells them a lot about you. If you were unemployed for long periods – why were you unemployed? Did you try and increase your skill-set during that period? Did you do any additional training or work experience? Or did you take some time off to have children or chase a passion, such as travelling? If you were unable to find employment for a long period and you used that period to your advantage, i.e. you up-skilled or did voluntary work experience, the time off will say a lot of positive things about you as a person. I have mentioned previously that it is not ideal to lie on a resume, however sometimes it is better to omit certain pieces of information, so just make sure you think it through clearly before you fill in any gaps. Some reasons may open up opportunities to discriminate and it is better to leave blank until you are questioned in your interview (for example if you were in jail for a period), however if there are a lot of gaps in your resume it can look suspicious so it is a good idea to include some kind of explanation for this, even if the info is provided in your cover letter.

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I provide an example of how I explained a gap of five years on a CV for a client who had taken time off to migrate to Australia, travel, study and start a family. As you can see, I have focused this break on how it has benefited my client’s career, and did not mention the fact that she started a family, as this information is irrelevant to the job she was applying for, and it also falls at risk of discrimination if it is mentioned.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

FEBRUARY 2006 – CURRENT STUDYING FULL TIME

TAFE, Queensland

After completing my travels and enjoying the experience, I enrolled in some relevant courses, to further my career in the Airline industry. The courses studied during this period include:

▪ Certificate II Aviation Flight Operations – Cabin Crew (graduate December 2009) ▪ Responsible Service of Alcohol Certificate ▪ Dangerous Goods Certificate ▪ Galileo Online & First Class Certificate ▪ Billing & Settlement Plan (IATA) Certificate ▪ Diploma – Tourism (deferred) ▪ Certificate II - Hospitality

AUGUST 2003 – JANUARY 2006 TRAVELLING

Australia, Asia, Pacific Islands

I migrated to Australia in 2003 and used the opportunity for a “career break” to travel and explore Australia, Asia, Pacific Islands so that I would be better equipped to continue my career as a Flight Attendant.

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Applying for several contrasting jobs through the same Australian recruitment agency This is a tip that is very useful for you to know, as it is a very common mistake that people make when applying for jobs in Australia, which can be extremely disadvantageous to you. Ensure that you keep note of the jobs you are applying to and what agency these jobs are through. This includes applying for jobs in different regions of Australia. Having had a lot of experience working in the area of recruitment myself, this is first hand knowledge, and further research I have conducted has confirmed my findings: If you find several jobs in your field, advertised by a single recruitment agency, and you apply for them all, you may not be considered for any of the jobs. The reason being, it can make you look desperate, and it certainly makes you look as though it is not clear what kind of job you would like to be doing. Recruiters want to see focus in your resume, and you have to back that up by being focused on what is that you want to do with your career. If you find that there really are a lot of jobs that interest you, and they are all advertised through the same recruitment agency, the absolute best thing for you to do would be to analyse them all and apply for the best role out of the lot, then give a follow up call to the agency to confirm that they received your application, and that you note that they have several jobs advertised in their field and if your background is suitable, you would like to have the opportunity to speak with someone in more detail about each of the roles. You may then be invited to attend and interview (whether by telephone or in person, depending whether you are in Australia or not), or it could mean that you end up having a pre-interview chat with a recruiter, which is an excellent door opener for you! TIP: Ensure that you select the person whose name is on the job advertisements the most, as this is the person who is looking to fill the most roles you are interested in, and therefore the person with whom you need to develop a relationship with.

Not tailoring your CV to each job you apply for I touched on this point previously and would like to just draw your attention back to this point as it is underestimated. When an employer is looking for the right person for the job, they usually have a checklist of qualities/experience they are looking for in their ideal person. For example, relevant education, a certain number of years’ experience, a distinct career progression etc. If you have all of these things in your background, however you have also a variety of fields you have worked in (such as some periods working in hospitality, some studies in areas of interest that are not necessary relevant to the jobs you are applying for, be choosy in what you include on your resume. I reiterate: the employer will be looking for key information, focused information in the area of the job vacancy. You may be perceived as unsure of your career path or chosen field if your resume does not have more of a focus in the area of the job you are applying for. TIP: Omit information from your CV that is not relevant to the job you are applying for, such as short periods of work in a field not relevant to the job you are applying for or your career path; or studies in history, for example, if your career is in the area of science.

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Being too formal Over the years I have seen this mistake being made and it is usually made by cultures that continue to remain formal in a world that is becoming more and more modern. I have most often noticed excess formality or outdated language used from those people applying for jobs from Asia. Please note: excess formality is not consistent with Australian culture. It is acceptable to be polite and courteous in your correspondence with Australian employers, however if you are overly formal in your dealings, you may be considered not a ‘cultural fit’ for certain more modern and progressive organisations in Australia. An example of being over formal, or using the incorrect language when applying for jobs is addressing the recruiter as “Sir” or “Madam”, or “Respected Concern”. This is very old fashioned and not commonly used in Australia anymore. It would be more appropriate to address correspondence directly to the name of the person who has advertised the position vacant, or if this name is not given, to address the person as “To Whom It May Concern”. Another error that is often made and can give a bad impression, is addressing correspondence to “Dear Sir”, when quite often in Australia recruiters are female. This can be more damaging to your application than a lot of people realise. I am not suggesting that you should use an ultra-modern tone with slang and shortened words (SMS style), however you just need to be mindful of being overly formal. Keep your language relaxed and neutral to warm, and just be cautious of using old-fashioned language. If you’re unsure, seek advice from someone with close connections with Australia to ensure the language you are using in your CV is suitable. Providing copies of references, certificates and more In Australia, when applying for a job, the recruiter is not wanting an essay from you with complete documentation of your work and educational history. In the past it was common to include copies of reference letters from past employers, educators, and personal friends, as well as copies of transcripts of your education and certificates. This is no longer a requirement for applying for jobs in Australia and it would be incorrect to assume that it will strengthen your application. My tip is to not include these documents with your initial application as they are only necessary for the final stage of the recruitment process, i.e., following the interview. All you need to include in your application is a brief cover letter (which isn’t always necessary, and some application websites do not allow for this to be included) and your resume, as per my instructions.

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WRITING AN AUSTRALIAN COVER LETTER

Times have changed and there is less emphasis on the Cover Letter these days. A cover letter isn’t always requested when applying for jobs in Australia, many of the job search websites these days do not allow for the attachment of a cover letter, and many Australian employers and recruiters don’t even take notice of your cover letter. However, you have to account for those instances when Australian employers and recruiters do take notice of your cover letter, since this is the first thing they those particular hiring managers would read. You should also note that the cover letter is used for explaining anything in your resume that is not clear, such as gaps in employment, and specific criteria that the job you are applying for requests of you. Your accompanying cover letter is another eBook on its own, which you would have received when you purchased this eBook. You can download this eBook at: http://www.resumeaustralia.net/153-2. However, if you feel you require professional assistance with your cover letter, you can contact us at: australianjobsearch@gmail.com . TIP: Ensure that the font you use in your cover letter is consistent with the font you have used in your Australian CV. For example, if the font you have used in your CV is Arial, size 11, then your cover letter should also be written in Arial, size 11.

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PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER

Selecting the Right Template Included with this eBook you have access to find the most successful CV templates in my experience, all designed with Australian employers expectations in mind. These templates will give you the edge that you need in the Australian job market, and all CV templates have been tested and proven to increase your success rate when applying for jobs in Australia. There are a few different styles of CVs that you have access to, and it is important that you select a style that not only reflects you, but also that is suitable for the field of work you are in and the nature of audience that will be reviewing your CV. Here are my suggestions for selecting the right template for you. Creative Profession, Retail, Hospitality or Similar Successful Australian Resume Template 2 Successful Australian Resume Template 8 University Graduate / School Leaver Successful Australian Resume Template1 Successful Australian Resume Template 5 Professional Business / Administration Occupation Successful Australian Resume Template 2 Successful Australian Resume Template 5 Successful Australian Resume Template 6 Successful Australian Resume Template 7 Management / Senior / Executive Successful Australian Resume Template 2 Successful Australian Resume Template 5 Successful Australian Resume Template 6 Successful Australian Resume Template 7 Trades / Construction Occupation Successful Australian Resume Template 4 Successful Australian Resume Template 5 Medical Industry Successful Australian Resume Template 2 Successful Australian Resume Template 5 Successful Australian Resume Template 6 IT / Technical / Engineering Successful Australian Resume Template 3 Successful Australian Resume Template 5 Successful Australian Resume Template 6 Although my recommendations are based on my experience within the Australian job market and the psychology behind colours; if you see a template that you feel is more fitting to your personality,

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and it is not one I have suggested for your occupation, do not be afraid to use it if you feel it is the right fit for you. To learn more about the significance of colour on your resume, visit: http://bit.ly/1kRe1bY.

To download your successful Australian Resume Templates now, go to: http://www.resumeaustralia.net/153-2

Following the Step-by-Step Successful Australian Resume Formula

Once you have selected a suitable resume, writing your resume to the template is easy, following the step-by-step formula for a successful Australian resume, as set out in this eBook. It is easy to be given a template for you to fill in the blanks, but if you don’t fill in the blanks with the right information, it’s almost not worth the effort! The resume is about presentation, yes, but the information that is presented in the resume is the most important thing. Just slowly work your way through the workbook, following all of the simple instructions and in no time you will have a high-impact resume that is ready for applying for jobs in Australia! Applying For Jobs in Australia Now that you have a stunning Australian resume, the hard work is done! Applying for jobs is the exciting part and included with this eBook is an Australian Job Search Guide, listing the major job search websites in Australia, reputable recruitment agencies in Australia and a list of some of the more prominent Australian businesses who have their own careers websites, and will allow you access into the “hidden job market”. Australia’s largest job search website by far is www.SEEK.com.au, and you will most probably find all that you require on this website for your job search needs. However, I do recommend doing research on the other companies I have listed in the job applications contact list.

To download your Australian Job Search Guide now, go to: http://www.resumeaustralia.net/153-2

Australian Job Search Strategy

Now that you have a high impact resume, you have set yourself ahead of other job seekers and will have a much higher chance of finding employment in Australia. However, if you want to really set yourself apart and step your job search up to the next level, I recommend that you create a successful Australian Job Search Strategy that is tailored to your specific background and experience.

If you require employer sponsorship, you can learn more about how to supercharge your job search here: www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com.

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If you are a citizen of Australia, have Permanent Residency or a work permit, you can learn more about how to supercharge your job search here: www.findjobsinoz.com.

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FINAL WORD

Resume Australia’s number one resume tip: It’s all about the first page!! Resume Australia’s number one resume mistake: Do not include a photograph!! I am sure you have found this eWorkbook to be very useful in your preparations for applying for jobs in Australia, and I encourage you to remain connected to both www.resumeaustralianet and www.me2aus.com, which are both very helpful resources for staying up to date on the Australian job market, and getting tips on finding an Australian job as well as jobs that offer sponsorship in Australia. I wish you all the best in your search for jobs in Australia! Kind regards,

Nadine Myers Managing Director & Emigration Job Search Strategist Resume Australia www.resumeaustralia.net Me2Aus www.me2aus.com Find Jobs in Oz www.findjobsinoz.com Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia www.www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com

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RECOMMENDED BOOKS & WEBSITES

Books Nadine Myers is author of the following books which are recommended for assisting you with your job search in Australia: Mission: Find a Job in Australia – Free book available on Kindle (www.amazon.com) CVs for Job Sponsorship in Australia – Available on Kindle (www.amazon.com) How to Write a Successful Australian Cover Letter – Available with this purchase, on Kindle (www.amazon.com) and at www.resumeaustralia.net How to Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia – Available at www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com and on Kindle (www.amazon.com) LinkedIn Advantage for Job Search – Free book available on Kindle (www.amazon.com) Find Jobs in Oz – Available at www.findjobsinoz.com and on Kindle (www.amazon.com) Websites Resume Australia – www.resumeaustralia.net Me2Aus – www.me2aus.com Find Sponsored Jobs in Australia – www.sponsoredjobsinaustralia.com Find Jobs in Oz – www.findjobsinoz.com Social Media Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Facebook – Nab That Job - https://www.facebook.com/pages/Nab-That-Job/9735347303

NB - please note that this page will soon be changed to Me2Aus. If you therefore cannot find the Nab That Job page, please search Me2Aus.

Twitter - Aussiejobsearch - https://twitter.com/aussiejobsearch LinkedIn - Employer Sponsorship Australia - http://linkd.in/1g2eCKP