How to create a winning resume An employer may only take a few seconds to look over your application. Therefore, having a resume that is easy to read and creates interest, as well as relevance, is essential to help employers spot your suitability for a role at first glance application process through their website, others use the standard cvMail online application system. Cover letters are not always required and may sometimes by optional. Be sure to check. • It is also a good idea to take a look at what is happening in the legal industry by keeping abreast of current issues. Regularly browse websites such as www. lawyersweekly.com.au, and stay up to date with legal affairs through reading newspapers that have specific legal sections, such as the Financial Review and The Australian. Step One: Preparing to write your resume • Read the criteria and application requirements carefully to make sure you are eligible to apply. If you are unsure about your eligibility for a summer clerkship, read the conditions of participation available on each of the firm’s websites. Analyse the job by highlighting the selection criteria mentioned in the job advertisement or description and assess how you meet these. The firms in this guide have described their criteria for clerkship recruitment; you are encouraged to read these descriptions carefully. Draw up an inventory of ‘evidence’ of how you meet each one from your collective experience (skills, roles, other experience, achievements, specific examples) and address this directly in your resume (see main resume headings section on next page for structuring an inventory of evidence). Focus on what you have to offer that makes you a good candidate for the job. Think of your skills in terms of data (organisation, research, evaluation), ideas (conceptualisation, discovery, creativity), people (assisting, informing, teaching, entertaining, motivating) and practical things (construction, repairing, etc.) Extend your knowledge of the firms by examining their websites, attending Careers Fairs and talking to peers who have secured clerkships previously. Take the time to understand the different practice areas, be it Intellectual Property, Insolvency or Construction. Consider what interests you the most and why. Analyse why you want to work for a particular firm in light of your findings. This is particularly important, as firms often want to know what has attracted you to their firm and why they should offer you a position. Read each individual law firm’s application requirements carefully; some have their own Step Two: Writing your resume • First impressions count! Invest time in creating a good layout. Make sure to use consistent formatting (sections, dot points, margin spacing etc), as well as consistent font size and styles throughout. Use headings and dot points to draw the reader’s attention to information and avoid heavy text. Avoid providing biological information such as date of birth, gender, race, religion, etc. Give it a ‘sales appeal’ – engage the reader through action words (e.g. implemented, maintained, organised), positive language and specific examples to create interest in what you can do for them so that they want to know more in an interview. Make sure you provide strong evidence to address selection criteria, such as relevant qualifications, skills, experience, achievements employment, extracurricular activities, etc. Highlight your achievements as well as your responsibilities. Remember to incorporate the end result of your actions (eg. how this helped the business/customer or what you received as a result – award, promotion, positive feedback). Customise your content - don’t use the same resume for every job you apply for. Rather, create a master copy for which you target and modify the resume to suit the job criteria. Proofread carefully - ask someone to review your resume and provide some feedback so you can remove any spelling, typographic, or grammatical errors. This is very important, as employers place strong emphasis on attention to detail. • • • • • • • • • • • • Clerkship Guide 2013 11