If you’re thinking of changing jobs or careers this year, it is essential to first review your resume.

Our consultants view thousands of resumes each year and continue to be surprised by the common mistakes made by people at every stage of their career across a variety of disciplines, despite extensive online tools and advice. So many people have a compelling career story yet fail to tell it in their resume.

A compelling story has a narrative voice with a clear message, and includes an introduction, increasing action and a climax. It also aims to resonate with the audience and elicit a response. This is exactly what needs to happen with a resume. Now if you’re thinking your career is just starting, or it isn’t interesting, consider putting your experiences in the context of your purpose or motivation, achievements and impact to make it come to life.

To get started, review your resume as if you’re the hiring manager (the audience) to determine what your resume may or may not say about you. Does it send a clear message about your experience and career aspirations? Does it introduce you and your experience, promote key achievements (increasing action) and illustrate why you are suitable for the role (climax). Does it provide a narrative, or leave holes in your story that may lead to negative assumptions? And most importantly, does it make the hiring manager want to keep reading?

While in some ways a resume is about checking the right boxes, it generally needs to achieve more. Despite advice to the contrary, an Australian resume can be between 2 – 5 pages, subject to the depth of your experience, so use this space well.

Common scenarios where this approach enhances a resume

There are three common scenarios where resumes often fail, all of which can be corrected by telling a compelling story.

1.      You understate your experience

Not surprisingly, as many people understate their experience in their resume as those who overstate it. However, a resume is certainly not the time or place for humility! And for the record, listing your job description does not necessarily showcase your experience.

It is essential to not just list core skills gained, but demonstrate that  and , and list key achievements in the role that should be specific and measurable. These achievements ideally will be relevant to the jobs you are applying for, not generic.

2.      You want to shift or change careers

It is increasingly common for people to shift or change careers, which can be difficult when your resume focuses on the past, not the future. In this scenario, you need to provide a clear view of why you are looking for a career change by placing a career goal at the beginning of your resume, and by focusing on transferable skills.

Adding a volunteer experience or internships section into your resume can help to highlight the experience you have gained in this new field and demonstrate your commitment to this change. In this scenario, working with a specialist recruitment consultant can also be advantageous, because they have the opportunity to promote you to potential employers.

3.      You have undertaken freelance, gig or casual work

This is an area traditional resume templates haven’t addressed well. If you list everything chronologically in your resume, a hiring manager may interpret this as a lack of commitment or ability to hold down job. Or worse, where timelines overlap, the hiring manager may think you are being dishonest about the length of time you’ve worked at each job.

Our recommendation – create a section in your resume entitled Freelance Work, Project Work, Consulting or Casual Work, providing a brief explanation underneath the heading before listing core projects. This may include detailing that side projects were employer sanctioned or were undertaken while you were studying or working casually/part time. This avoids hiring managers assuming you will continue to do this and not give 100% to a full-time role. Also highlight the broad skills and experience gained by working with a variety of different clients.

To further help you with your resume and application, our specialist consultants have developed a resume hub with tips that answer the following questions:

• Resume basics: what should my resume include?
• How long should my resume be?
• How much effort should I put into the design of my resume?
• Should I include referee details?
• What should I leave out of my resume?
• How do I respond to key selection criteria?

Bayside Group’s resume hub also has free resume and cover letter templates and further practical advice resulting from common mistakes our consultants have observed.

Contact us to discuss your career goals with a specialist consultant or find a job.