Employability

When preparing a job application, it is important to identify what the employer requires. They may require a resume or a curriculum vitae (CV). The main differences between the two are the length and purpose.

CV or resume?

A CV is a detailed chronological list of your whole career to date, whereas a resume is a brief summary of your skills, experience and achievements. A resume also has the capacity to be tailored for each individual position you apply for, making it more flexible.

Prepare your resume

If you are looking to write your first resume or update an existing CV there are a variety of resources from Careers and Employability that may help you. Careers and Employability assists students highlight the skills and experiences that will enhance their employability after graduation.

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many companies use automated software to scan your resume. It helps the company streamline the recruitment process but it also means that your resume may never actually be seen by a person. How to get your resume past the robots has tips for what to do to get your application through the process, including:

• Identify and use the keywords — read the job description and make sure you include the relevant keywords in your application when you describe your skills
• Use text —  don't use graphs, images, photos, graphics or logos that the software can't read
• Use straightforward headings — such as Education, Qualifications, Experience
• Language — use exactly the same language that is used in the ad or by the company and spell out any acronyms.

Privacy caution! There are free online tools available that can analyse your resume against job descriptions. However, be very cautious about using them as these tools can gather your personal details and work history and you won't know how that data will be used. Check our Privacy information to learn more about protecting your data.

Resume writing courses

• Writing a resume (LinkedIn Learning, 2h39m) — Learn how to write a resume that stands out and makes employers take notice
• Fundamentals of an awesome resume (LinkedIn Learning, 10m27s) — Create an incredible, on-point, "you had us at hello" resume!

Tools for creating resumes

These websites offer templates you can use to construct your resume or CV:

• Microsoft Office provide resume templates that you can download and adjust.
• LinkedIn provides a resume tool based on your LinkedIn profile that you can download as a PDF. It's formatted to be compatible with resume scanning software used by recruiters.
• Canva provides customisable resume templates that allow you to personalise your resume and a Resume Builder. If you're applying for jobs that value design skills and creativity it might be a good tool to use. Check how to make a resume using Canva. Note: This type of resume may be incompatible with resume scanning software. It is probably preferable to use it if you are emailing your resume to individuals rather than for online applications to large companies.
• Stackoverflow is primarily used as a website to promote IT and programming skills, Stackoverflow has a feature known as developer story which allows the user to create a CV while demonstrating their IT skills.