{"id":21642,"date":"2023-06-08T13:51:02","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T05:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/?post_type=oasis-news&p=21642"},"modified":"2023-06-08T13:51:04","modified_gmt":"2023-06-08T05:51:04","slug":"capture-your-audience","status":"publish","type":"oasis-news","link":"https:\/\/www.curtin.edu.au\/news\/oasis-news\/capture-your-audience\/","title":{"rendered":"Capture your audience"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know that, on average, hiring managers spend less than thirty seconds<\/a> reading a resume? That\u2019s not a lot of time to make a positive impression and stand out from other applicants! So, what can you do to grab the reader\u2019s attention?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Your resume needs to be succinct<\/strong>, easy on the eye<\/strong> and readable<\/strong>. Your aim is to articulate to the reader your career journey so far and explain how you not only meet the specified role requirements, but also why you would be a good fit for their team.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s important to begin with an effective opening to grab the employer\u2019s attention. You may decide to begin your resume with a \u2018personal statement\u2019, sometimes referred to as a \u2018professional profile\u2019. If you do, your opening statement should talk about what you have to offer to a potential employer and provide some insight into who you are as an individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I often read students\u2019 personal statements that sound a lot like the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental Science and Marine Biology graduate seeking a graduate role where my knowledge of sustainability practices and marine welfare in a real-world environment will be utilised. A self-driven and highly motivated individual who aspires to make a positive impact.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This doesn\u2019t give the reader much of an insight into the applicant as an individual. It\u2019s probable that most graduates in this area aspire to have a positive impact, or they wouldn\u2019t have studied this in the first place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, what about the following:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I grew up on the beach which is where my love of the ocean and its importance as a vital eco-system began. This fascination led me to become a surf lifesaver in my younger years and, more recently, a volunteer with various marine organisations. As an Environmental Science and Marine Biology graduate, I look forward to immersing myself in a graduate role, as I am keen to learn from and work alongside like-minded people. I have a wide range of related interests, including green energy, species conservation, climate change solutions and coastal restoration, and note that your organisation also champions a number of these areas. As such, I believe I could make a valuable contribution to your team.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This version gives the reader a stronger impression of the applicant as an individual. It provides information on their interests and motivations, as well as demonstrating that the applicant has an understanding of the reader\u2019s organisation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Curtin Careers team provides a range of support to help you build the most effective resume you can. You can:<\/p>\n\n\n\n