Winning resumes and winning the interview requires a professional approach, after all, you want to put your best foot forward and be the successful candidate. This is an easy guide to winning the prospective job.

1. Winning Resumes and Winning
The Interview
Gail Lockyer
Ph 0439 756 746
www.halfdaypa.com.au

2. Having a resume that stands out of the crowd without shouting is important if
you wish to be the best candidate sitting in the interview chair.
With a few key details included in your resume, that lucky person could be YOU.
Ensure it is clearly outlining your credentials and professional presentation as
being the key to getting your resume on the top of the "yes" list.
WHERE DO YOU START? Whilst some of the fundamental details like your age is
no longer required, they'll work that out for themselves, recruitment officers look
at many aspects. Is he/she a team player? Does the candidate move around from
job to job or town to town too much for the position? Are they job ready or do
we need to invest in training?
Winning Resumes

3. Career History
When writing up your career history, ensure the dates of
employment are accurate and there is no overlapping or
major gaps. If you were out of work for some time, explain the
gap. Were you travelling? Were you studying? Were you
caring for sick member of the family?
None of these are deal breakers but will give the potential
employer the best insight into who you are. Never state that
you were simply unemployed.

4. Getting the wording right
• The creative art of resume writing demands some specific achievement
words in your career history. Not just a job description but areas of
responsibility. Even a kitchen hand has areas of responsibility if only for
emptying the bins. Do you impliment something? Facilitate meetings?
Design a system? Manage a section? you get the picture.
• Some recruitment organisations will also run your resume through various
programs that highlight your achievement words and other specific words
to measure your suitability to the selection criteria. Have you covered all
criteria?

5. Education & Qualifications
• Your education and qualifications are a very important aspect
of a resume, after all you want to 'sell' yourself as the best
candidate. Consider every course that is work-related and
include that. Show the potential employer that you invest in
training to be the best candidate and keeping your skills up to
date.
• If you can quote the course coding i.e. BSB51107 Dip of
Management etc. it is easily recognised.

6. Referees
• Some people are reluctant to specify their referees however it will be one of the
first requests made once you get to the interview. In some circumstances, it may
make the difference of actually getting that interview as some companies will call
your referees prior to interview. If you can't be open with your referees, that could
create a problem.
• Always check with your referees and advise them that you are seeking alternative
employment so that they are prepared and not caught by surprise. Sometimes if
the referee is difficult to contact by phone, put their email address in as well. After
all, you want to make it as easy as possible for you to be part of their team.
• It is advisable to include minimum 3 business or work-related referees and
minimum of one personal referee.

7. How Long Is Your Resume?
• Your resume should only be 3-4 pages long depending on the
level of the position and your experience. When employers or
recruitment officers have many, many resumes to read, they
want you to keep it short.
• Don't write 'War and Peace' or your life history, only career
history for the past 8 - 10 years is sufficient. Prior to that it is
considered past tense and out of date. It will also reveal your
age if you have a 30 year history.

8. Writing The Winning Cover Letter
• Writing a cover letter is nearly more important than the resume itself.
After all, it is the 'cover' for your resume so it becomes the attention
grabber for your application. Why would you write a letter that nobody
notices? I'm not suggesting your go outrageous with almost shouting to
the recipient. No way! But to create a standout cover letter, or application
letter is essential to be put on the YES pile for interviews. So how do you
manage that?
• A cover letter should demonstrate to the reader that you have read the
job ad carefully and that you are truly interested in that particular job. You
will not even get a look at if you send a resume that does not come with a
cover letter.

9. Some Do’s & Don’ts
The cover letter should:
• Be to the point. Should clearly link your experience to the role being
advertised.
• Be no more than three to four paragraphs long.
• Be positive and upbeat. Make the hiring manager interested in reading
your resume.
• The cover letter should NOT:
• Be a summary or repeat of your resume.
• Be a uniform letter you send with all job applications

10. Resume Scanners
• A Resume Scanner is developed
software that is programmed to
search for key words and phrases
within your Resume. The scanner
enables your Resume to qualify for
the position, enabling it to get to the
HR Managers desk.
• It helps to have matching key words
and phrases, which mirror the advertisements criteria within you Resume.
This will guarantee you to withstand the Resume scanning process, and
the software's expectations and demands. This will mean that you will
have to edit your resume to suit the position description and criteria with
key words.

11. Key Words In Letter
It is essential to research your position thoroughly,
and familiarise yourself with all possible
phrases and key words.
For an example:
Position Criteria states:
• Must have OH & S knowledge - Your Resume key matching phrase: Strong
knowledge and practice of OH & S Position
Criteria states: Good
• Communication and interpersonal skills - Your Resume key matching
phrase: Highly developed communication and interpersonal
skills, providing advice to staff and management

12. Getting It Right
• Large organisations no longer look at the individual (You) walking through
the reception doors to an awaiting job position. You won't even know
what the décor is like, or if reception has a water fountain, unless you first
pass through their Resume scanning software.
• Yes, you're the best in your field! Yes, you're the absolute finest in your
field! This is not detected in the scanning process, as the software that
reads your Resume/CV starts before you even hit first base in your
application process.
• By getting this right, it will enable you to pass through the initial scanning
process, and it will get you through to the final selection stage.

13. Do Your Research
• It is advisable to also check the companies website (if known) prior to
writing the letter so you can reveal some enthusiasm and knowledge
about the company. It's all about making you the BEST candidate for the
position.
• Then if you are fortunate to secure the interview, you will also come
across as informed and therefore interested in the company. If you are
interested in the company, they should be a little more interested in you.
• Ensure you also research where the business is located if you have to
attend an onsite interview.
• Would you be prepared to relocate to accept this position? What impact
would that have on the rest of your life/family etc.?

14. Need a helping hand?
Want a truly professional Resume?
Contact
Gail Lockyer
Ph 0439 756 746
www.halfdaypa.com.au
info@halfdaypa.com.au