Create a delicious resume that will appeal to future employers

Writing an effective resume is like cooking a dish worthy of the Masterchef kitchen… the right combination of elements and a spotless

presentation will give you the best results.

For a successful resume recipe you need to:

Use the right ingredients

Combine the ingredients in the right amounts

and order while adding personal flavour

Finish with a spotless

presentation

REMEMBER: the right combination of elements and a spotless presentation will give you the best results.

You already have the ingredients you need to create your resume:

» Your skills and qualifications » Your education » Your work history / experience » Any awards you have achieved » Referees

But remember, the key to any great recipe is to use the freshest ingredients.

You wouldn’t use expired ingredients, so don’t use outdated or irrelevant information.

Once you have selected your freshest ingredients, you need to add them in the

right order and in the right amounts.

A well executed recipe could be the difference between: ‘You’re through to the next round’ and ‘I’m sorry, but you’re heading home’.

Remember, the right combination of elements and a spotless presentation will give you the best results.

Follow the right method:

» Use important information such as contact details and skills as the base of your resume

» Bind the ingredients – work history and education will hold your resume together

» Add some flavour – show your personality with your achievements and hobbies

Use the right amounts:

» Too much of something can be overwhelming while too little can make your application forgettable, so find the right balance

To ensure you create a resume a potential employer will like, target your information

specifically to the job or organisation.

This is critical to your application’s success as it demonstrates initiative and focus.

To target your resume, incorporate key words and skills listed in the advertisement or job description.

It’s said that people first eat with their eyes, so a dish has to be visually appealing and have a spotless presentation.

The same is true for your resume:

» Your resume should be in a clear, easy-to-read format

» You should double check your spelling and grammar and get someone else to proofread it

» If you really want your resume to stand out, consider a custom designed resume

When an employer is looking to hire someone, it’s like the first round of Masterchef – dish after dish being put forward for judging.

Your goal is to make the employer channel their inner Matt Preston by taking a second bite.

You want to make them read your resume from start to finish and to want more in the form of a face-to-face or phone interview.

And since we live in a digital age, don’t forget to also create a tasty LinkedIn profile

for employers to view online.

The information on your LinkedIn page should mirror the content listed in your paper resume.

When creating your resume, treat it like you would a recipe and think like a Masterchef

because the right combination of elements and a spotless presentation will give you the best results.

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social.usq.edu.au

Need a master class?If your resume skills aren’t what you’d like them to be, contact the team at Student Services to see what they’ve got cooking.

They also have lots of helpful information about cover and application letters and writing selection criteria.

Onlineusq.edu.au or visit the CareerHub

On-campusFraser Coast +61 7 4194 3125 frasercoast.studenthub@usq.edu.auIpswich +61 7 3470 4400 studentservicesspringfield@usq.edu.auSpringfield +61 7 3470 4400 studentservicesspringfield@usq.edu.auToowoomba +61 7 4631 2372 stsv@usq.edu.au