Ultimate Resume Guide; Tips to stand out in 2024 & Checklist

A few tips I try to follow when writing my resume:

DESIGN

• I recommend using a free resume template on Canva

• Try to have a resume design that is eye-catching and will stand out among thousands of other resumes. Employers only spend 6 seconds looking at a resume!

• Lot's of white space by making sure the text is concise and spaced out, making it easy for the hiring manager to skim to read.

• Use a readable font - you can download a free font from Font Squirrel. A few fonts I'd recommend Lato, Roboto and Montserrat.

• Lastly, I find saving it as a PDF makes it look more professional.

Contents

• In the contact section, include a link to your LinkedIn Profile (make sure your Linkedin is up to date).

• Use a professional email address that doesn't suggest your age because it is irrelevant to you being able to do the job.

• A brief description is provided for each job.

• I included the month and year start and end date of each job.

• Include any passion projects or extra courses that you have completed. This will demonstrate your are a self-starter and willing to do other study outside of just a uni degree.

• Here are a list of ways you can learn new skills, without having to spend a fortune on university fees.

  • Lynda.com (could be free through your university)

  • Linkedin

  • Skillshare

  • Udemy

  • EdX /MOOC

  • Digital Marketing Certifications - Free

    Facebook Blueprints, Google Analytics Academy, Google Adwords, Google Digital Garage,AWS, Hubspot, MOZ and Shopify courses.

• I don't have a section with just a list of skills. I try to incorporate the skills/ job criteria from the job ad in my previous work experience and also give examples in my cover letter. For instance, I don't just say I can work in a team. Instead, I say I demonstrate teamwork by xyz.

• Some companies use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to screen resumes, so it is essential to use keywords from the job advertisement in your resume and cover letter.

• Keep achievements and career experience recent and relevant. I no longer include jobs I had in high school or jobs unrelated to the position. I only list relevant jobs or long-serving roles.

• It's ok to mention hobbies if it demonstrates a skill required for the job.

• Search LinkedIn for Inspiration

• References can be on request. That way, if you get to the reference stage, you can give your referees a heads up.

• It's less than two pages.

• Proofread, I use Grammarly, 10/10 would recommend. Or give it to friends and family for feedback.

• Avoid buzz words and clichés

• Avoid too many I's. (I use to be guilty of this until someone pointed it out!)

• Avoid acronyms/abbreviations. Instead, write out the whole thing and put the acronym in brackets if you want to use it repeatedly.