Getting your resume right for the job hunt: Older workers

Judy Higgins is the co-founder of olderworkers.com.au and concerns herself with ensuring mature age workers are well equipped for the job hunt.  Today she writes about getting your resume right so you are appropriately considered on the job hunt.  

The importance of a good resume should never be underestimated.  It is the tool that may, or may not, get you to the next step of an interview, at which time you get the opportunity to sell yourself face-to-face.  Below are some clues to check that your CV is the best it can be.

Choosing a resume format can seem like such a critical decision that it paralyzes some older job seekers. There are many free resume formats around on the internet.  Often the chronological resume is best however, for older jobseekers, a resume that highlights skills could be the best.  Go online and check out what is available and most suitable for you.

1. Include a career objective or summary at the top of your resume.

2. Include all your personal details at the beginning – your name, address, home and telephone numbers, and email address.

3. Don’t use the same resume for every job you apply for, employers can pick a ‘lazy’ resume in a heartbeat.  Tailor and tweak your resume for each different job so it highlights the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the role you’re applying for.

4. Keep it succinct and punchy, and use action words.

5. Ensure you outline tangible outcomes.

6. List your previous jobs for the past 10 to 15 years only; any later than that are not helpful.

7. Use keywords specific to the job or industry.

8. It is not necessary to include your birth date, education/graduation dates or marital status.

9. Ensure that your resume is easy to read – use bullet points, don’t use too small a font, and use bold or italics where appropriate (e.g. for headings or emphasis).

10. Ensure that the formatting doesn’t get changed when you send it as an email attachment – try sending it to friends to test it out.

11. Very importantly, check for typos or spelling errors.  Always proofread, and get someone else to double-check for you.  Use the spellcheck on your computer, and then proofread again.

12. Address the technology issue head on; state the experience and skills you have if they are up-to-date..

13. You also can’t ignore the fact that many employers, especially large ones, winnow the thousands of resumes they receive by analyzing the keywords they contain, especially for technical positions. With the help of a knowledgeable friend or co-worker, audit your resume to make sure it speaks your target industry’s current language.

14. Use the free service the Federal government has.  Go to www.deewr.gov.au  click into Experience+ and make a note of the free services available to older jobseekers.

I hope this information has been useful.  I will be writing about cover letters next time.

photo: CharlotWest