Is your resume costing you job interviews?

If you interview well, you'll usually get the job, but what about getting a foot in the door to start with? It all comes back to your resume.

Before applying for any job, many people tend to run through a list of the different factors that might hinder their chances - a lack of experience, the wrong qualification, and so on. What springs less readily to mind, however, is the quality of your resume.

In reality, this can have far more of an impact on success or failure than most people realise, and it's completely avoidable with a bit of assistance. You may not be able to gain experience immediately or a qualification without study, but a resume can be improved very easily - all it takes is a bit of knowledge.

Fortunately, we were able to sit down with Steven Jobson of Talent Canberra, to get the inside scoop.

Why your resume matters

For any candidate, the objective of a resume is to get an interview. From there it's up to you to impress the client and secure yourself a great position. None of this is possible though, if you can't get in the room to begin with.

"If you've got a good resume, you'll get an interview. If you interview well, you'll get a job," says Steven.

The Canberra IT&T market is booming thanks to a fresh wave of government focus on the digital sector, but Steven is quick to point out that doesn't mean candidates shouldn't simply expect to be offered a job off the bat. The biggest reason that he sees for candidates not getting a job is their resume doesn't quite work.

"Your resume can be handed to somebody who might not necessarily know what the candidate actually does. They can glance across it, and even though that candidate may be the best person for the role, it may not come through".

Finding a solution

So, how should your resume look then? Steven's advice is simple - language is everything.

"The industry is all about delivery, and clients want to see that type of language in a resume. 'I did this, I led that, and my team achieved the right outcome.' If you talk in the same language as everybody else, you're far more likely to get a job than using simple bullet points,' Steven says.

He also recommends going into detail. A single line about prior experience as a developer is all well and good, but it's far more engaging for a recruiter if you explain the type of work you did, and some of the successes you had in more detail. You can really shine in these summaries, and showcase your experience, skills and strengths,

For more information and resume advice, contact Steven or get in touch with our team today.