Shaping Your Futures - Applying For Jobs - Make It Happen Toolkit

Aug 30, 2026

A practical job-application workbook focused on moving candidates to the next stage of recruitment. It guides users through building a stand-out resume, clearly summarising strengths, and presenting experience and achievements in a way that employers can quickly scan. The toolkit supports crafting an effective cover letter, answering application requirements, and aligning responses with government selection criteria. It also provides concrete resume writing tips, including what to include or avoid in personal information and how to tailor content for each role.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResumes

FormatDOCX

Pages22

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Putting together an excellent resume

Identifying and summarising your strengths

Highlighting experience and achievements

Crafting an impressive cover letter

Answering application requirements

Meeting government selection criteria

Your resumé

10 tips to writing a winning resumé

What makes a good resumé?

Activity to practise: Personal information

Your career statement

Your competency statements

Shaping Your Futures Applying For Jobs Make It Happen Toolkit RecruitAble randstad.com.au/recruitable Contents In an increasingly competitive market, this workbook looks at how to make sure your job application gets you to the next stage in a recruitment process: Putting together an excellent resume. Identifying and summarising your strengths. Highlighting your experience and achievements. Crafting an impressive cover letter. Answering the application requirements. Meeting government selection criteria. Your resumé Writing a stand-out resume ensures that you become a shortlisted candidate — it provides you with the unique opportunity to sell your experience, achievements and value. Employers get so many resumés that they only spend a short time scanning each one. You could also think about whether you can enhance your resumé digitally, such as using video resumés and online portfolios, which are excellent options for jobs in advertising or other creative industries. 10 tips to writing a winning resumé Provide all your details Include your name, address, mobile number, email address, LinkedIn and other relevant URLs. Include a summary statement An at-a-glance summary of your qualifications and experience at the top of your resumé helps employers see what you’ve got to offer in seconds. Tailor your resumé for every role Show how you’re qualified for every single role by matching your qualifications, skills and abilities with the job requirements. Outline your education Include your degrees, qualifications, training seminars and courses. Detail your work history and experienceList job titles, responsibilities and achievements for all your key roles up until now, with your most recent experience at the top. Highlight relevant personal and professional achievements You can show your achievements in the ‘Interests, Activities or Awards’ section. Say that ‘references are available upon request’ Have your referees’ contact details ready (and give your referees the heads-up) so you can hand them over at your interview or on request. Check what you have done is correct Make sure your grammar and spelling is perfect. Using a professional-looking design, bolding, subsections and dot points will help information stand out. Quality not quantity Keep your resume no longer than 3 - 4 pages. Get a second opinion Have someone you trust to proofread your resumé, then give feedback on the style and content. What makes a good resumé? A resumé is usually divided into six or so sections that cover different parts of your experience and background. Here’s what to include in each: Your personal information This goes at the top of your resumé. Include: Your full name at the top of your resumé in bold. Your current residential or postal address. Your main email address (check it regularly). Your contact number (make sure you have a professional-sounding voicemail message). The URL of your LinkedIn profile. Don’t include: Your age, date of birth, marital status or religion. A photo. Activity to practisePersonal information Use the space below or grab a piece of paper and write down your up-to-date contact details: An example: John Stevens 34 King Street Brisbane, QLD, 1567 Mobile: 0455 599 222 Email: HYPERLINK "mailto:jstevens@gmail.com" jstevens@gmail.com LinkedIn: HYPERLINK "http://www.au.linkedin.com/in/johndtevens" www.au.linkedin.com/in/johndtevens Your career statement There are two ways to start your resumé, depending on your goal and the role you’re going for: Career statement: a paragraph summary of your career expertise and experiences. Career objective: a summary of your career and the direction you want to go in, especially if you’re looking to change careers.What to include: Your professional title/role (or the one you’re seeking). Your relevant skills or competencies. Your previous work experience. Use the template below to get started on your own career statement. A (your professional title) with (you

FAQs

How does the workbook help improve a job application outcome?

It focuses on creating materials—resume, cover letter, and responses to requirements—that position a candidate for the next stage in a recruitment process.

What are key tips for writing a winning resume?

Provide complete personal details, add a summary statement, tailor the resume to each role, outline education and work history, highlight achievements, and ensure quality through correct grammar and a professional layout.

What should be included in the personal information section of a resume?

Include full name, address, email, contact number with a professional voicemail, and a LinkedIn URL, while avoiding age, date of birth, marital status, religion, and a photo.

Aug 30, 2026

Upload by Arica Lee