Recruiters and Hiring Managers work through a huge volume of CVs for each role. Your CV is your very first chance to impress and move forward in the process — so make it count!
If you’ve been applying for roles and not hearing back, it might be time to refresh your resume.
Here’s our guide to help you structure a strong, relevant, and readable RESUME that highlights your experience in the best possible light.
1. Start with a Strong Introduction
Open with a short profile at the top of your CV summarising your career background, years of experience, and the type of role you’re targeting. This sets the tone and gives the reader an instant understanding of who you are and what you’re looking for.
2. Separate Responsibilities from Achievements
In your most recent roles, clearly outline key responsibilities and key achievements as separate bullet-point lists. This makes it easy to see what you were tasked with versus what you accomplished. Add a one-line summary of what the business does before you describe your role — it gives immediate context to the reader.
3. Keep It Relevant
Your CV should reflect the position you’re aiming for. Summarise any older experiences or skills that aren’t relevant to the role. You might have a rich and varied background, but if certain roles or skills don’t serve this application, it’s best to leave them out.
4. Make It Readable
Use keywords relevant to your industry and highlight them in bold. Avoid large blocks of text — make your CV easy to scan so the most important information jumps out.
5. Focus on Your Contribution
Whether you’re a Developer, Designer, or Marketer, highlight the specific languages, frameworks, tools, or methods you used. Be clear about exactly what you built, created, or delivered — not just what your team achieved. Wherever possible, quantify results (e.g., “Increased customer retention by 18%”) to make your impact crystal clear.
6. Tell a Career Story
Your CV should read like a logical, engaging career narrative, each step making sense in the context of where you’re headed. Start with a strong profile summary, clearly map your progression, and keep it no longer than four pages so it stays focused and relevant.
7. Let your Personality Show (Professionally)
Use a clean, modern layout with an easy-to-read font. Keep it polished and professional.
Final Tips
• Always proofread your resume before submitting it. Spelling errors show a lack of attention to detail, this is a massive detractor for employers.
• Don’t forget to update your Seek, LinkedIn, and other job profiles so that recruiters can find and contact you easily, even before you apply for a role.
