Your resume is your first introduction and it is primarily responsible for selling your skills. Your resume’s highlights direct the reader to your most important accomplishments and skills. It should be tailored to your career level and presented in the appropriate style of either functional/skills based or academic. The key to a good resume is its ability to provide evidence and examples of your skills. It should convey a clear and concise ‘story’ of your history and achievements. 

A cover letter is also a good way of introducing yourself. It should include the following:

• why you should be selected
• what and how you can contribute
• an example of your skills match
• personal information that demonstrates your personal traits
  

Your covering letter and resume will lead the interviewer’s questioning and the subsequent interview should validate your claims. Carefully consider what you wish to demonstrate, avoiding clichés and exaggerations. Give yourself time to review and update you resume; target it to each position with a realistic expression of your suitability.

Submission to Jenny Barbour & Associates should include a technical skills matrix, be formatted in a word document and kept to approximately 4-6 pages. References are only required at later stages and do not need to be included in the initial application.

For more resume advice, read ‘Mistakes to avoid’.