Resume Writing Advice for Security and Fire Protection Jobs and Employment
There are many ideas regarding how to create a resume, what to put in it, what works and what does not. Talking to friends, colleagues and specialist recruiters can all be helpful. The aim of this section is to clarify whats important and to provide you with a framework to assist you in developing a resume that is commercially orientated for Security or Fire Protection jobs.
Resume Facts:
From a candidate’s perspective the resume is designed as a sales document. It should give the reader enough information to understand your background and how it relates to the position you have applied for.
From an Employers perspective the resume is used as a tool to selectively screen candidates for roles or opportunities. It can be used to select candidates for a short-list and also to exclude candidates from the selection process.
We recommend that you always tailor and fine tune your resume for different roles and organizations. Never rely on a cover letter attached to a generic resume. The person screening may not read the cover letter and simply rely on the resume to make their decision. This is quite common particularly when dealing with recruiters.
Relevance:
A resume that is relevant to a particular role or potential opportunity is the number one priority. Where you make a direct link between your background and a position via the resume you will substantially increase your chances of success. Tailor the resume to the criteria for the role through emphasizing key aspects of your background and the underlying competencies that make a direct connection between you and the requirements for the position. Sometimes it only requires subtle changes like emphasizing key roles you have held rather than a simple list of previous positions you have held.
Structure:
Generally work in reverse chronological order when presenting your career history. Use appropriate headings and keep the least important details at the back of the resume. Remember, HR practitioners, recruiters and line managers screen individual resumes within 10-30 seconds, so give priority to the most important information. The sign of a well structured resume is where the decision makers can assess you on the first page of your resume and treat the rest of the resume as supplementary reading.
Ensure that you use appropriate fonts, avoiding artistic typefaces and use bolding for headings. Use bullet points to outline responsibilities and past achievements.
Use adjectives and verbs to create energy in your resume. Make sure the information you include in your resume can be be validated at both interview and during the reference check stage. Avoid industry jargon - speak in the same language as the industry you are pitching to.
A two to four page resume is usually commercially acceptable to the marketplace.
Typical headings will include:
Name, Address and Contact details
Employment History (keep it relevant - usually 10-20 years maximum, leave no gaps)
Qualifications (Tertiary)
Licenses (relevant Security or Fire/Building Services Industry related)
Education (secondary schooling, usually not needed if completed prior to 1990)
Key Responsibilities of Relevant Roles
Major Achievements (outcome focused, detailing specific results)
Languages
Training Courses (particulary industry related)
Computer Skills
Memberships (professional and social)
Interests/Hobbies (keep it brief)
You may also wish to consider the inclusion of a Capability Statement (usually in the form of 4- 6 bullet points that describe your key relevant skills and knowledge), Career Profile (1-2 sentences on your background and areas of strength), Career Summary (a reverse chronological log of key organizations you have worked for, the roles you have held and length of time in each), Referees and details of your residency status.
It is unusual to include information such as date of birth, marital status, list of dependants, nationality or religion. It is often advised to leave such information off the document.