Read the text below to find out what information you should include in your resume.

General Tips

- You should update your resume continuously.
- Try to be concise and relatively brief. There is no right or wrong length although 2-3 pages is a generally accepted length.
- Put your name and page number on each page of your resume. Employers can mix up sheets when photocopying large numbers of resumes.
- Your resume is an attempt to create an accurate picture of yourself which highlights your strengths.
- You will not be hired on your resume, but a bad one may cost you an interview.
- Your resume should be printed single-sided.
- When making multiple copies of your resume, ensure they are of the highest quality.
- Ensure there are no spelling and grammatical errors in your resume.

EXAMPLE RESUME

Personal Details

Address:
Telephone:
This is important. Clearly label whether the number is for your home address or work and set out the hours you will be available for contact. (If necessary leave details with a friend or family so that someone can take a message) Also include mobile, fax and email if available.
Date of Birth:
Optional. Either write your date of birth or your actual age (generally date of birth is preferred).

Career Objective:
This is important if you are applying to a large company or sending a speculative application and you wish to emphasise your career aim. Individuals with considerable work experience may wish to follow the Career Objective with a Relevant Skills and Achievements section.

Educational Background

Work Experience
- Essentially you are trying to demonstrate by your experience that you have abilities most employers would seek.
- For those students with less experience you may have to rely on your vacation or part-time work.
- If you were given any responsibilities at all, then highlight them. Even such things as being trusted with money are important and should be included. Also highlight transferable skills acquired through part-time work. Skills like team work, leadership, interpersonal and communication skills and provide examples - don't just list the skills.

Key Skills

Here you would include any special skills you may have that make you a more outstanding applicant eg: computer skills, typing speed, fluency in other languages. This category allows you to summarise the key skills which you wish to promote to the employer. Think about your professional skills, generic skills and computing skills.

Personal Qualities
Refer to written references, school reports, awards and certificates to access brief comments made about your personal qualities.

Extracurricular Activities / Interests
- These are the most significant for those with little work experience. Ideally they show you to be a well rounded individual who has received a broad education. They can also indicate transferable skills as shown above. Any special awards you have achieved are also worth highlighting.
- Your years away from high school determine how many of your school achievements you include. Outstanding achievements should always appear.
References
- Employers will prefer to speak with your previous employers.
- Include if possible both academic and professional referees. (Here you should use their titles eg: John Smith, Dean of Faculty of Engineering etc). Try for more than one - three would be considered ample.
- A personal referee or anyone who is familiar with your general skills can also be used.
- Always tell your referees that you have included their names and provide them with a copy of your application and position description is you can but certainly they should have a copy of your resume.