What should my CV look like?

[SLouw]

Hi there,

Anyone that can guide me or direct me to a link (or good example ) of where I can see exactly what our CV's should look like to be in accordance with Australian standards of CV's.

This is something I can start doing and preparing while my husband - the main applicant concentrates on IELTS.

Much appreciated,

Suri

[Wannagonow]

Same boat SLouw, have heard they have a specific style but have yet to have laid eyes on such.

Any tips or examples would be appreciated.

Also any links to reliable, reasonable costing, professionals out there whom other forumites have used with success?

[EDurand]

Hi Guys

These are some websites you may want to check out

http://www.migrationnews.com/australia/how_to_prepare_your_cv

http://career-advice.careerone.com.au/resume-cover-letter/sample-resume/sample-resume-chandler-macleod-a/article.aspx this is a sample resume layout

http://career-advice.careerone.com.au/resume-cover-letter/resume-writing/resume-writing-the-basics/article.aspx

hope this helps

[SLouw]

Thank you!!!

I will go check them out

[miran]

I borrowed the books "Resume writing for dummies" and "Cover letters for dummies" from an Australian library....... great! Still in SA, definitely use the links above. Achievements and awards are quite important on the resume, make sure to add everything!

[Riekie]

Many recruitment agents and private CV writers offer services to re-write your resume optimally and in the accepted format and style.

Your cover letter is equally (if not more) important!

They hate lengthy 10 page CV's - about 3 pages is the average accepted length. They don't want to know that you were staff member of the month in 2001. Keep it recent and relevant.

[SLouw]

Thanks all for the feedback - I am going to start working on this soon. Still have time since we are yet to lodge our EOI. Husband first want to go for IELTS assessment - we need 8's to get the necessary points to apply.

Appreciate all this feedback! XX

[Waylander]

PM me your email add - I have just rewritten my CV in what seems to be the accepted format - I can let you have a gander at it. Otherwise just use Google, you can get hundreds of samples and tips off the net.

Good luck with gettting 8's on IELTS - I was in the same boat and made it on the fist go, but you can also have more than go to get the score you need.

[monsta]

Recruitment is a dodgey industry here. In most countries, you apply to a recruiter..he interviews you and he finds a few jobs from his list that you might be suitable for.

In Aussie, there are way too many recruiters. So they all try to beat the system. They place a job advert online for a very good job. They don't bother to advertise their other positions. When everyone applies for the fantastic sounding job, they just put the CVs in a a big database. Then when a real job comes along they search their database for an obvious match. They call you up for a 5min conversation. That's mostly to check to see if you are still looking. Then they put you forward.

They need you to be an obvious match because they won't even interview you properly. They rely on the fact that you have the exact skills the company requires, so the employer won't say no to interviewing you even though the recruiter didn't.

The key thing from your point of view is your CV needs to be an obvious match to job postings. Go read job adverts on seek.com.au and try to make your CV sound like you have the skills to do jobs on that site. For example, you might see a few jobs for a restaurant manager where they needed someone who can work a credit card machine. You may have not even bothered to mention that you can do that you did that. So mention it.

Aussies may call your job something else..e g. "Accounts receivable" instead of "debtors clerk". Remember recruiters just search your CV for keywords.

Lastly, LinkedIn! Create a profile and get a few colleagues to emndorse your skills. Then put a link to your LinkedIn page on your CV. Once you get your 1st job here, connect with your Aussie colleagues. Recruiters nwill find you by looking on your colleague's page.

Cheers

Edited March 24, 2015 by monsta

[SLouw]

Thank you Monsta,

This is really good information to have ... I will keep all this in mind.

Much appreciated,

SLouw

[Guest]

Hi SLouw,

two companies that I would highly recommend are :

http://www.resume-solutions.com.au/ and http://carolynsmith.com.au/

I know a few on this site that have had their resumes done by Itouch with really great results and job offers.The They are very busy though and in this case they may refer you to Carolyn Smith. A fantastic resume writer! My husband had his cv done with Roland of itouch and he has had some great feedback from jobs in Oz. It is really important to get this done professonally as there are certain key words that you need to incorporate into your cv and a professional resume writer will know what to do. It is expensive but in my opinion well worth it.

Also agree with monsta, open a linkedin account (if you dont already have one) and start networking with people in your field, make contacts that way, thats what recruitment agencies do anyway and its a good place to start to get yourself out there. Linkedin is hardly used here in SA but in Oz its extremely important.

Good luck

[SLouw]

Thanks Emma,

I will definitely make use of them.

My husband has been on LinkedIn for over a year and has build up a nice profile - just need to build up some Oz contacts.

SLouw

[monsta]

SLouw,

My company has an in-house recruiter. He has worked for recruitment companies in Sydney for a few years. What I told you was what he told me about the industry.

Oh and our in-house recruiter spends a lot off time on linkednin.

[ottg]

You may have not even bothered to mention that you can do that you did that. So mention it.

Cheers

The not so obvious....you may even need certification to "drive"a broom!! Then it gets called for Occupational Health and Safety :-)

[NatalieB]

Hi Emma,

I have contacted Roland from itouch and his prices sound a bit high.... I really hope its worth it... has your husband found a job in Aus yet? are you planning on relocating after you have landed the job or are you already there?

Natalie

[monsta]

Hey guys,

I did an interview and the guy interviewing me commented on my CV. I had described my roles, e g "I lead a team of engineers...". But later on I summarised the technologies I used in the role into a list.

It turns out the recruiter used software to reformat my CV. The software took the summarised list of technologies and highlited them in bold above each role. So, it was lost that I ran the team of engineers using those technologies. Clearly, the recruiter didn't even read the reformatted CV.

I got some advice from an American friend. He told me what he was tought during his MBA...

The first page is for the recuiter. You need to make it simple for them. They will just glance over your CV. So, on the first page, list your objective. I.e. what you do, why you need a job and what job you want. E.g. " I am an experienced waitress who has just moved from South Africa and am looking for my first Australian role in a fine dining establishment in the CBD or xxx".

In the next section list your skills. The most important ones come first. List quite a few skills here as having an unusual skill may land you an interview. Look at job as on Seek.com.au to see skills in demand.

Then to finish off your first page, list your top 4-5 skills in a table and summarise your experience using that skill. If you said, "Waitressing in fine dinging establishments", in the column next to it put, "I worked as a waitress for 5 years at Dumsane's fine african quisine". The recruiter could read your work history and see that, but you are making your CV iddiot proof.

The remaining two pages can be your usual work history.

Remember, its about "controling the narative". The recruiter needs your CV to be a no brainer. i.e. a clear match to her job advert. So, the employer wouldn't be likely to turn down an interview with you. The recruiter probably has CVs from a 100 waitrons, but because you were very clear that you specialise in fine dining, she will select you from the pile of 100 CVs.

P.S. I can't wait till the day that computers make recruiters obsolete... Ebay figured out a way for me to safely and reliably buy a cell phone cover from a little shop in remote China. I hope silicon valley comes up with a way for me to never have to use a recruiter again! Aussie recruiters really don't add much value!

Cheers

Edited April 9, 2015 by monsta

[ottg]

Aussie recruiters really don't add much value!

Must second that as many of them are junior, never worked in the industry and seldom recognise transferable skills. If it doesnt match their brief you out - and their best reason is "because you dont have local experience"! The only way around this is to target companies directly.

[SurferMan]

In my opinion one does not need a CV writer. I redid mine and it worked just fine. What you need to know is that the SA format and Aussie format are MILES apart. If you need to see an example of mine (If you are I in IT) then PM me.

[Batsie]

I used Roland as well and the responses to my applications have been exponential compared to the interest before redoing the CV. My only challenge is that I am not yet in Australia. I am satisfied with how Roland ran the process and the quality of the final product.

[NatalieB]

Batsie when are you planning on relocating? have you had any interviews since you got your resume refurbished?

[Batsie]

NatalieB we are moving at the end of June and yes I have had several interviews over the phone and on Skype.

[Kay79]

Hi everyone. I have researched tips on tailoring a resume to fit Australian standards - before I continue, I wanted to ask if there is a kind soul on this forum who would be willing to have a quick look at my resume and offer advice, please. I am trying to avoid paying a resume writer as I don't really see the benefit - or would you advise me to just get one to do it? Thanks in advance!

[HansaPlease]

I don't really believe there is a true Australian style, as all employers vary in terms of what they prefer. I think I've honed my resume to a pretty good standard and helped others with theirs, I'd be happy to take a look at yours if you like.

[Sunnyskies]

Kay79, I've looked at many resumes in Aus so happy to have a look as well. Just pm me if you want.