Cover Letter and Resume Advice

Cover Letter and Resume Advice

This section provides guidance on how to successfully apply for your next role. Get your cover letter and resume noticed with these tips on how to compose a winning application.

You might be tempted to ignore gaps in your career on your CV in the hope that employers won’t notice them.

If you’re to stand any chance of progressing to the interview stage, your CV needs to hook the reader within seconds.

A cover letter is more than just a formality or courtesy – it is an opportunity to impress. Research suggests that employers favour resumes that are accompanied by a cover letter, making it a critical component of your job-search strategy.

A cover letter is your first opportunity to attract the attention of a potential employer. A good cover letter convinces the reader that you are a serious contender, and that your resume is worth reading.

A resume is your personal marketing document, designed to ‘sell’ your skills and abilities to a potential employer. Research suggests that readers scan resumes within about 20 seconds, so it’s important to show them at a glance why you are the best fit.

Selection criteria are a common set of factors against which employers assess applicants for a role. The selection criteria outlines the experience, skills, personal attributes, qualifications, knowledge and expertise needed to do a job effectively.

Although mature age workers face certain challenges when looking for a new role, there are some key ways to maximise the chances of job search success.