Important note:
If you have registered for an Individual Assistance appointment with UNSW Careers and Employment to review your resume, you must bring a completed copy of this checklist with you (ditto the Cover Letter Checklist, if appropriate). You can also download printable copies of this checklist in either Microsoft Word or Adobe Acrobat formats.

Resumes for overseas jobs:
If you are writing a resume to apply for a position outside of Australia, a different resume format may be required. Please see the book "The Global Resume and CV Guide", available in the UNSW Careers and Employment office.

For further advice and tips on applying for jobs:
Please see the Applying For Jobs section on our website.

Checklist Instructions:
Read each statement and check the box next to it ONLY if you have achieved the outcome mentioned. For a successful resume your aim is to be able to tick every statement (unless, for some specific reason, you attempted something different). Where you are not able to check a statement, re-read for ideas how you can further strengthen that aspect of your resume.

			Office Use Only
Overall	Resume has been drafted specifically for the person who will read it?
Resume Presentation and Layout	Overall presentation and layout looks professional?
	Headings and sub-headings clearly stand out?
	Fonts, dates and titles are written consistently throughout the resume?
	There is plenty of white space on every page?
	A footer has been included? (eg. Susie Graduate page 1 of 3)
	Only short paragraphs and bullet points have been used?
Structure	The most relevant sections appear first?
	(within each section) The most recent information is placed first, then the next-most-recent etc?
Language	Abbreviated sentences have been used? (except perhaps in the Career Objective & Skills sections, where full sentences and paragraphs may be best)
	Most sentences begin with an active verb? (eg. Initiated ... / Coordinated ... / Created ... / Organised ... / Demonstrated ...)
	Key words and phrases relevant to your target work area have been used?
	Grammar & punctuation have been checked?
	The past tense has been used for events that happened in the past; present tense for current activities?
	All spelling has been checked?
Section by Section review
Name & Contact Details	Only your name & contact details have been included in this section?
Career Objective	Adds relevant information about your future direction (that isn't found elsewhere in your resume or letter)?
Education	The average academic grade that you have achieved to date is highlighted? (if you have achieved credit average or better)
	Brief details of all relevant research, course work projects, thesis, subjects & assignments are included?
Key Skills and Attributes	The 4 - 6 most relevant skills and attributes have been selected as sub-headings - and placed in order of relevance?
	(for each skill or attribute) At least one specific example is provided - that clearly demonstrates your level of competence in that area?
Employment Experience	Details of all your work-based experiences are included?
	(for each position) There is a greater focus on the specific skills that you developed - and on the work-based contributions that you personally made - than on the general job duties?
Awards etc.	All recent scholarships, awards and recognitions are listed?
Professional Memberships	For each industry or professional association listed, your level of involvement as a member is clearly explained?
Other Training & Development	All relevant short courses, seminars, conferences etc. attended in recent years are listed?
Extra Curricular Interests and Hobbiest	The extent to which you have been actively involved with each area of interest is clearly explained?
Referees	(either) Only Available on request is written?
	(or) Full referee contact details are included, as well as a brief explanation of the relationship that each person has to you?

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