Resumes / Curriculum Vitae

Today, there are exactly 43 Certified Master Resume Writers worldwide. The Certified Master Resume Writer (CMRW) is the first credential specialty designed to acknowledge excellence and it is only awarded to the best-of-the best global resume writers. I’m one of them.

To apply and qualify for the CMRW, applicants must already possess a recognised resume certification, have written in the market for some time (no newbies allowed), have a body of work that demonstrates contemporary representations, such as personal branding, positioning and strategising and have equal strengths in multiple disciplines. We are considered by many to be the elite resume writers. [Read more…] about When you shouldn’t use a Certified Master Resume Writer

There are quite a few options available when choosing a résumé format, the most common being the chronological, functional and combination.

Chronological Résumé

This format presents your employment history in reverse chronological order, with the most recent position first, followed by previous positions.  This format is the most common one utilised and is usually preferred by employers.     [Read more…] about Which résumé format should you use?

Most job seekers write a resume and then use the same version across different jobs. Now as a writer, I’m able to successfully customise a resume when there is a specific job target in mind, but there are still changes and ‘tweaks’ that need to be made, so I develop profiles that can be easily changed by clients.  

The reason these changes need to be made is that resumes are in reality marketing documents (not a record of your work history), and to market yourself effectively you need to focus on the EXACT employer’s needs. By focussing on employer needs, you set the stage for creating a resume that will meet the needs of employers, which in turn, will mean you will attract more interview and job offers.

[Read more…] about How to attract more interviews with a customised resume

Over 13 or more years, I’ve reviewed thousands of resumes. Most average, many tragic and one or two that stand out and really sell a client.

One thing the majority of resumes contain however is cliché’s. Some wording is so prevalent and over used that they have become trite, irritating and meaningless to readers (HR and Recruiters).  Take these few examples:

•  Excellent written and oral communication skills
•  Punctual & Reliable
•  Results-oriented

Now there is nothing wrong with this list, they are all excellent qualities, but they are used to such an extent across the majority of resumes, they have lost any significance and meaning.   [Read more…] about Is your resume littered with meaningless clichés?

Is it racism? Is it insecurity over not being able to pronounce a name, or is it employer’s aversion to risk and cultural diversity? Whatever the reason, like the United States and Canada, job applicants in Australia, find it easier to get an interview if they have an Anglo-Saxon name, according to research from The Australian National University.

A study, conducted by Professor Alison Booth and Professor Andrew Leigh from the Research School of Social Sciences, in conjunction with researcher Elena Varganova, sent out over 4000 fake CVs to employers in response to job advertisements in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney. [Read more…] about How your name on your resume can impact on your interview success rate