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Your resume should be easy to read. Your prospective employer should find it easy to extract the relevant information. Your resume should be more than two to three pages long — the purpose of the resume is not to get you a job; it’s to get you an interview, so make it snappy and punchy. The interview is your chance to go into detail with your prospective employer, not your resume! To help you with this, try to use bullet points where applicable to and keep the statements short and to the point.
Make sure you use the keywords which appear in the job description as this will make the job of matching your resume to the position a lot easier. If you’re including qualities and strengths about yourself, it’s best to back these up with examples of how you demonstrate this day to day.
Proofread your resume twice. Print it out on paper; don’t check it on the screen. Look at every individual word on its own to make sure the spelling is correct. If in doubt, look it up. Candidates have been overlooked for less than a typo, so make sure you do the easiest part the best. If using numbers, one to nine is displayed in words and anything from 10 and above is displayed in numerals. Ensure your font is legible, for instance in Arial or Helvetica and make sure the font size is at least 10.
Include information that outlines what your long term professional goal is. This can help you by giving employers an idea of where you are going and how you want to arrive there. You don’t need to have a special section devoted to your professional objectives, but overall the resume must communicate it. If you decide to list them, make sure they are not generic.
There are three essential parts to any resume; personal details, work history and references. Always include copies of your licenses, any other qualifications you hold and any supporting documentation.
Each section should contain the following details:
Personal Details
Name:
Address:
Suburb:
Phone:
Email Address:
LinkedIn Profile URL:
Education:
Qualifications:
Interests:
Work History
Position Title:
Company:
Start & Finish date:
Overview:
Duties:
Reason for leaving:
References
Work References
Name:
Title:
Company:
Contact details:
Personal References
Name:
Contact Details:
Relationship:
(Note: it is acceptable to state “referees can be provided on request”)
The information included in a cover letter should be clear and concise and most importantly, relevant. Your letter should be easy to read and the information contained should be relevant and in response to the criteria stated in the advertisement.
Whilst you must tailor every letter to the advertisement you are responding to there is a basic template you can use which includes the following:
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The purpose of your letter
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Your previous experience addressing the technical criteria, including years of experience
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Your personal attributes relevant to the role
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What relevant material requirements you have
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Always include your availability and contact details
A cover letter should be addressed as requested, be typed, one page in length and be attached to your resume or any supporting documentation requested.
Tips for Cover Letters
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Be clear and concise
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Address all the criteria included in the job advertisement
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Guarantee there’s no grammatical mistakes or spelling errors
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Make sure the formatting of the letter is clean and neat
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Include your full contact details
Your ability to demonstrate your interest in the organisation and enthusiasm for the position you are targeting requires considerable research and preparation. There are some basic and effective ways to prepare for a successful interview. These include:
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Researching the company/organisation, their values and mission statement
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Match your strengths and attributes to the company profile
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Read the job description and memorise it
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Prepare to answer difficult questions in relation to your previous experiences, competence, abilities and knowledge
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Prepare questions to ask and list them so you don’t forget
Common Interview Questions
Here are some frequently asked interview questions. Read through them briefly and prepare quick notes for each:
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Tell me about yourself?
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Why did you leave your last position?
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Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
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What are your strengths and weaknesses?
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Tell me what you know about the company?
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What skills and attributes can you offer the organisation?
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What is your most significant achievement?
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Describe the sort of culture you are looking for in an organisation?
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What is your expected salary?
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Why should we hire you?
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Why haven’t you found a position before now?
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What is your ideal role?
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How would you evaluate your present/last company?
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What do you think of your current/previous boss?
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Do you work better in a team environment or own your own? Why?
Remember: When you are in an interview, the interviewer is usually interested in the following:
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Can you do whatever he/she wants done?
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Will you solve her/his problems? Are you motivated enough to do that?
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How well do you fit in with the organisation?
Behavioural Based Questions
A job interview is designed so an organisation can gather further information about your skills and experiences in relation to a particular role. In addition to the commonly asked questions, companies are now asking behavioural based questions that focus on your past experiences.
The questions may be based on your past performance, hypothetical problem solving scenarios, case studies, demonstrated interest in the job, knowledge of the organisation and industry, or professional ethics and values. Examples include:
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Accountability & Performance
Describe a time when you took on additional work to help your team meet a crucial work goal?
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Analytical Ability
Have you ever been in a real dilemma at work? What did you do to get out of it?
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Attention to Detail
Give me an example of an assignment that you found difficult to finish? How did you go about it?
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Communication
Tell me about a time when you delegated a project/job/task effectively?
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Conflict Management
Describe a time when you had a disagreement with a colleague at work. How did you manage to work it out?
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Customer Service
What is your definition of "excellent" client/customer service? Tell me about a time when you went beyond the call of duty to help a client/customer?
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Decision Making
Describe one of the most difficult decisions you have had to make in the workplace. How did you overcome some of the hardships? What alternatives did you consider? What were the key elements that triggered your decision?
Interview Tips and Etiquette
Bluestone would like you to take note of the following suggestions to help further your opportunities to obtain positive feedback and future permanent opportunities when attending an interview.
Remember first impressions last!
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Arrive at least 5-10 minutes early before your allocated interview time.
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Always attend each job interview appropriately dressed. A suit is always preferable within a corporate environment, otherwise appropriate clothing must be worn to suit the client.
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Introduce yourself to the receptionist or secretary.
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Be courteous and show respect to anyone you meet. More than one applicant has fallen short in their job application because of a rude remark or patronising manner at the reception desk.
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Make sure you give a firm and steady handshake upon meeting the interviewer. Everything from your appearance to your body language sends signals to interviewers about you and your fit in the company. They're looking for anything to distinguish you from the pack, so they will let the handshake set the tone for the rest of your meeting.
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Maintain an “open” body position and lean into the interviewer slightly to show interest.
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Look at the interviewer when making contact and talking. Direct eye contact is important.
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Maintain a warm and friendly demeanor and treat the interviewer like a potential colleague. Establish rapport as you would with a peer.
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Relax, be confident in your answers and remember that you can make a valuable contribution to the organisation.
Things to Avoid:
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Irritating habits like chewing gum, staring outside the room or on the floor, drinking coffee during your interview.
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Avoid playing with your hair, pen clicking, pencil tapping, foot swinging.
Recruitment Bluestone Timesheet
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Word Resume Templates
Word Cover Letter Templates