How To Write a Killer Resume

Understanding the Australian Resume Landscape

Before we dive into the specifics, it’s crucial to understand what makes a resume effective in the Australian context. While some global best practices apply, there are nuances to be aware of.

Key Differences in Australian Resumes

• Emphasis on Conciseness: While detail is important, Australian recruiters often prefer a concise resume, typically 2-3 pages maximum for experienced professionals. Get straight to the point and highlight your most relevant achievements.
• Professional Tone: Maintain a professional and straightforward tone. Avoid overly casual language or slang.
• Focus on Achievements: Quantifiable achievements are highly valued. Instead of just listing duties, focus on what you accomplished and the impact you made.
• No Photo or Personal Details (Usually): Unlike some regions, it’s generally not necessary or even recommended to include a photo, marital status, or date of birth on your Australian resume. Focus on your professional qualifications.
• References Available Upon Request: Instead of listing references directly, a simple statement like “References available upon request” is standard.

Tailoring Your Resume for Sales and Tech Sales Roles

The specific requirements for sales and tech sales roles will differ. Highlight achievements and skills relevant to each field.

For Sales Roles:

• Emphasise your sales targets achieved, revenue generated, and deal closures.
• Showcase your communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Highlight experience with CRM software and sales methodologies.
• Quantify your success with metrics like percentage growth, market share increase, or customer acquisition rates.

For Tech Sales Roles:

• Demonstrate your understanding of technology and your ability to translate technical features into business value.
• Highlight experience selling specific software, hardware, or cloud solutions.
• Showcase your ability to work with technical teams and understand complex customer needs.
• Quantify your success with metrics like deal size, contract value, or adoption rates of technical solutions.

Structuring Your Killer Resume: Essential Sections

A well-structured resume is easy to read and allows recruiters to quickly find the information they need. Here are the essential sections:

Contact Information: Make it Easy to Reach You

• Full Name: Clearly stated at the top.
• Phone Number: Professional and reliable. Double-check for accuracy!
• Email Address: Use a professional-sounding email address (e.g., [email address removed]).
• LinkedIn Profile URL: Essential for professional networking. Ensure your profile is up-to-date and reflects the information on your resume.
• Location: City and state/territory are sufficient. No need for a full street address.

Professional Summary (or Career Objective): Your Elevator Pitch

This is your opportunity to make a strong first impression. Choose between a professional summary or a career objective depending on your experience level and career goals.

Professional Summary: For Experienced Professionals

• A brief (3-4 sentences) overview of your key skills, experience, and career highlights.

• Tailor it to the specific role you’re applying for, highlighting the most relevant qualifications.

• Emphasise your achievements and the value you can bring to the potential employer.

  • Example (Sales): Highly driven and results-oriented Sales Manager with 8+ years of experience exceeding targets in the SaaS industry within the Australian market. Proven ability to build and lead high-performing teams, develop strategic sales plans, and cultivate strong client relationships. Seeking to leverage expertise to drive revenue growth at [Company Name].

  • Example (Tech Sales): Strategic and technically astute Tech Sales professional with 5+ years of experience selling enterprise software solutions to Australian businesses. Deep understanding of the technology landscape and a passion for helping clients achieve their objectives. Seeking to contribute expertise in [Specific Technology Area] to [Company Name]’s growth.

Career Objective: For Entry-Level Candidates or Career Changers

• A concise statement outlining your career goals and how your skills and enthusiasm align with the target role.

• Focus on what you can offer the employer, even with limited direct experience.

• Highlight transferable skills and your eagerness to learn and contribute.

  • Example (Entry-Level Sales): Enthusiastic and motivated recent graduate with strong communication and interpersonal skills seeking an entry-level Sales Representative role at [Company Name]. Eager to learn and contribute to a dynamic sales team while developing a successful career in the Australian sales industry.

  • Example (Career Changer to Tech Sales): Highly adaptable professional with 7+ years of experience in customer relationship management seeking a transition to a Tech Sales role at [Company Name]. Possesses a strong aptitude for technology and a proven ability to build rapport and understand client needs. Eager to leverage these skills to drive sales of [Specific Technology].

Professional Experience: Showcasing Your Accomplishments

This is the core of your resume. List your previous roles in reverse chronological order (most recent first). For each role, provide the following information:

• Job Title: Your official title.
• Company Name: Name of the organisation.
• Location: City and state/territory.
• Dates of Employment: Month and year (e.g., June 2020 – Present).
• Bullet Points (3-5 per role): Focus on your key responsibilities and, more importantly, your achievements. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your bullet points and quantify your impact whenever possible.

Power Verbs and Quantifiable Achievements

Start each bullet point with a strong action verb that showcases your skills and responsibilities (e.g., Managed, Developed, Implemented, Increased, Reduced, Negotiated, Led, Trained).

Quantify your achievements with numbers, percentages, and data to demonstrate your impact.

• Instead of: Responsible for increasing sales.

• Write: Increased sales by 15% year-over-year through the implementation of a new customer engagement strategy.

• Instead of: Managed a team of sales representatives.

• Write: Led and mentored a team of 5 sales representatives, consistently exceeding team sales targets by an average of 10% quarterly.

• Instead of: Provided technical support to clients.

• Write: Resolved over 95% of client technical issues within the first call, resulting in a 20% improvement in customer satisfaction scores.

Tailoring Your Experience to the Role

Carefully review the job description and tailor your bullet points to highlight the skills and experiences most relevant to the specific role you’re applying for. Don’t just copy and paste generic descriptions.

Education: Your Academic Foundation

List your educational qualifications in reverse chronological order. Include:

• Degree Name: (e.g., Bachelor of Business, Master of Information Technology).
• Major/Minor: (if applicable).
• University Name: Name of the institution.
• Location: City and state/territory.
• Graduation Date (or Expected Graduation Date): Month and year.
• GPA (Optional): Only include if it’s strong and relevant to the role.
• Relevant Coursework or Academic Achievements (Optional): Especially for recent graduates.

Skills: Highlight Your Key Competencies

This section allows you to showcase specific skills relevant to sales and tech sales roles. Categorise your skills for clarity.

Hard Skills (Technical Skills):

• CRM Software: Salesforce, HubSpot, Dynamics 365, etc.
• Sales Methodologies: SPIN Selling, Challenger Sale, Solution Selling, etc.
• Data Analysis Tools: Excel, Google Sheets, Tableau, Power BI.
• Programming Languages (for some tech sales roles): Python, SQL, etc.
• Cloud Platforms (for tech sales): AWS, Azure, GCP.
• Specific Software or Hardware: List relevant technologies you have experience selling or working with.

Soft Skills (Interpersonal Skills):

• Communication (written and verbal)
• Negotiation
• Presentation Skills
• Relationship Building
• Problem-Solving
• Time Management
• Teamwork
• Leadership
• Customer Service
• Active Listening

Awards and Recognition (Optional): Showcase Your Achievements

Include any relevant awards, honours, or recognition you’ve received that demonstrate your excellence.

Professional Development and Certifications (Optional): Continuous Learning

List any relevant professional development courses, certifications, or training programs you’ve completed. This shows your commitment to continuous learning and professional growth.

Interests (Optional and Brief): Adding a Personal Touch

Keep this section brief and focus on interests that might be relevant to the company culture or demonstrate positive personal qualities (e.g., teamwork through sports, community involvement). Avoid controversial or overly personal interests.

Formatting Your Killer Resume: Readability and Visual Appeal

A well-formatted resume is easy to read and visually appealing.

Font and Formatting: Professional and Consistent

• Font: Choose a professional and readable font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman) in a consistent size (10-12 points for body text, slightly larger for headings).
• Margins: Use reasonable margins (around 1 inch) to avoid a cramped look.
• White Space: Use white space effectively to break up text and improve readability.
• Bullet Points: Use consistent bullet point styles.
• Bold and Italics: Use sparingly to highlight key information (e.g., job titles, company names, key achievements).

Length: Keep it Concise

Aim for 2-3 pages maximum for experienced professionals. For entry-level candidates, one page may suffice. Focus on quality over quantity.

File Format: Save as a PDF

Always save your resume as a PDF to preserve formatting across different devices and operating systems.

Optimising Your Resume for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many Australian companies ¹ use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to scan and filter resumes. To ensure your resume gets through these systems:

• Use Standard Formatting: Avoid complex formatting, tables, graphics, and unusual fonts that ATS may not be able to read.
• Use Keywords: Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description naturally throughout your resume (especially in the skills and experience sections).
• Use Standard Section Headings: Stick to common headings like “Professional Experience,” “Education,” and “Skills.”
• Avoid Headers and Footers: Information in headers and footers may not be read by some ATS.
• Submit in the Correct File Format: Always submit your resume in the requested format (usually PDF or Word).

Proofreading is Paramount: Eliminate Errors

Typos, grammatical errors, and inconsistencies can create a negative impression.

• Proofread Carefully: Read your resume multiple times.
• Use Spell Check and Grammar Check: But don’t rely on them solely.
• Ask Someone Else to Proofread: A fresh pair of eyes can catch errors you might have missed.

Crafting a killer resume takes time and effort, but it’s an investment that will pay off in your Australian job search. By understanding the local market, structuring your information effectively, highlighting your achievements, and optimising for both human readers and ATS, you’ll significantly increase your chances of landing those coveted sales and tech sales interviews. Good luck!