how to stand out on paper: resume writing strategies for property and construction jobs.
Are you ready to take your career in property and construction to the next level? Crafting a standout resume is key to landing your dream job in this competitive industry. But where do you start?
In this post, we'll share our top tips for creating a winning resume that showcases your skills, experience, and personality. We'll cover the key sections to include in your resume, from your profile to your personal interests and hobbies. We'll also discuss how to focus on the "big three" within each of your roles: your responsibilities, projects, and achievements. And, of course, we'll share how to make your resume targeted and succinct, tailoring it to each role you apply for. Plus, we'll share a few insider secrets to help you stand out, including the big question: to headshot or not to headshot?
Get these tips down and you'll be on your way to creating a winning resume that gets you noticed in the property and construction industry. Trust us, we read a LOT of these things.
format for success: key sections to include.
You may have already realised by now that writing a resume can be tedious. Well if you want to know the honest truth, reading them can be too!
So when it comes to creating a standout resume, you want to create signposts that point the employer to the key sections they’re looking for so they can skim to their hearts content and still get all the pertinent information.
What you should include:
Profile
This is your chance to introduce yourself and make a strong first impression, by summarising the skills, experience and personal attributes you have that make you the best fit for the job at hand.
Education and training
Naturally, this provides important context for your skills and experience, and for most roles in property and construction you will require a relevant Bachelor's Degree. You might also consider including the highschool you graduated from, as this often provides a point of connection if the employer has an association with the school. Make sure to include any relevant certifications and licenses as well. Finally, it is not necessary to include the grades you received in any of your courses unless otherwise specified, so consider leaving themA bio or profile off if they’re less than top-notch.
Key skills
These should be included to demonstrate what you can bring to the role, so make sure they are specific and tailored to the job description. For example, it’s a huge benefit if you have strong skills with a particular software program you will be required to use in the role, whereas including the generic “communication skills” may in fact indicate that your written communication skills leave something to be desired…
Experience
This is the most important element of your CV and where you should put the most thought and time. We’ll go into more detail later in the post so read on, but to begin with structure, make sure to list your experience in reverse chronological order, so your most recent (and relevant) role is at the top!
Volunteering experience can also be valuable, as it shows your commitment to making a positive impact in your community.
Personal interests and hobbies
Don’t go into enormous detail here, and keep things professional, but we believers in the power of including hobbies and interests to help you stand out from the competition and show your personality. They also provide an opportunity for the employer to connect with you on a personal level, particularly if they happen to share any of your hobbies!
writing a great experience section for your CV: Focus on the big three.
The experience section of your resume is one of the most important sections, as it gives employers a clear picture of your professional background and accomplishments, and is generally the place they will naturally skim to first.
To make this section stand out, it's important to focus on the "Big Three": responsibilities, projects, and achievements.
Responsibilities are the day-to-day tasks and duties of your role, and help the reader understand what you actually do all day.
Projects are the larger initiatives you worked on. Generally in property and construction roles this will mean the physical projects you have contributed to. Here you want to include all the pertinent points that give the reader context about the scope of the job including asset class, end value, size (eg. number of units), and any unique features or challenges. You should also identify the role you played in delivering the project, for example were you there for the full project lifecycle or did you just work on the front-end.
Achievements are the tangible results of your work, such as meeting sales targets or implementing a new process that saved time and money. Try and think of 1-2 real standout achievements for each role you’ve had.
When writing about your experience, it's important to keep it concise and relevant. We’d highly recommend using bullet points here to break up the text. Focus on quantifiable results wherever possible - for example, instead of simply saying you "improved sales," include a percentage increase or a dollar amount. This helps demonstrate the impact you had in your role and makes your accomplishments more tangible.
be targeted.
It’s very likely that if your resume is in front of an employer, they have at least a dozen others to look over too. In an age where attention spans have us swiping past memes that are too long, it’s more important than ever for you to make sure your resume is targeted and tailored to the specific role you're applying for.
This means keeping things succinct and only including relevant skills and education. A common mistake job seekers make is trying to include everything they've ever done on their resume, regardless of its relevance to the role. This not only makes your resume longer and harder to read, but it can also detract from your most important qualifications.
Instead, take the time to read the job description carefully and identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is looking for. Then, make sure to highlight those skills and qualifications prominently on your resume.
Remember, the goal of your resume is to get you an interview, not to get you the job. By tailoring your resume to the specific role, you increase your chances of getting noticed by the employer and securing that interview where you can then expand on your resume in more detail.
I’m not a robot: take steps to show who you are and build empathy in your audience.
In addition to highlighting your professional qualifications and experience, it's also important to take steps to show who you are as a person. This can help you stand out from other candidates and give potential employers a better sense of your personality and interests.
One way to do this is by including a professional headshot on your resume or LinkedIn profile. This not only helps put a face to the name, but it can also make your profile more memorable and personable. Make sure to dress professionally and choose a high-quality photo that showcases your personality.
Another way to show who you are is by including a few dot points on your hobbies and personal interests. This can help paint a fuller picture of your personality and interests, and can also help you find common ground with potential employers. For example, if you're applying for a job in marketing and you enjoy photography, this could be a point of connection with the employer.
check your work people!
When it comes to creating a great CV, attention to detail is key. Even the smallest typos or errors can detract from your professional image and make you appear careless or unprofessional. That's why it's important to take the time to carefully proofread your resume and get feedback from others before submitting it to potential employers.
Start by reading through your resume carefully, checking for spelling and grammar errors, formatting issues, and other mistakes. It can be helpful to read your resume out loud, as this can help you catch errors that might be missed when reading silently. You might also consider using a grammar and spell-check tool to help identify any errors you might have missed.
Once you've reviewed your resume yourself, consider getting feedback from others. This could be from family members or friends who can offer a fresh perspective, or from your friendly neighborhood recruiter (wink) who can offer more targeted feedback. Be open to constructive criticism and be willing to make changes based on this feedback.
If you follow each of the tips we've shared (and have a basic grasp of the English language), you’re practically guaranteed to produce a winning resume that showcases your skills, experience, and personality.
Looking for more tips on how you can take your career in property and construction to the next level, reach out to one of the scouted team!
And in the meantime, follow us to stay in the know.