Writing that all-important CV (and cover letter)

When it comes to applying for the first job of your future career, the one thing that projects your very capable abilities is having EXACTLY what your employer wants to see, in your resume. I.e. All of your relevant skills and abilities to the job you’re applying for.

But sometimes selling yourself isn’t as easy as everyone makes it out to be. Regardless of how confident you feel; the nerves are still real. Professional resume writer Gail Lockyer at Half Day P/A says it is important to understand a standout resume includes being legible, logical and linked.

“The job search is an extremely competitive field,” she says. “It needs to be easy to read and not like a novel; recruiters want you to sell your skills and cut to the chase.”

Gail also says despite the common thought that resume writing is a struggle, it comes a lot closer to a student’s abilities than they think.

“It can be difficult for the untrained eye to understand how to write about your skills because too often we are too close to the core,” she says.

“[But] a resume can be similar to an essay. They’re both stories in their own right; a resume needs to be written in chronological order… [and] it may include a career summary or skills summary whereas an essay may also have a brief conclusion or final summary.”

Places you can look to find evidence of your skills can be anything from employers, university or even friends and family.