Melbourne CVs & Resumes

This initial conversation helps me understand your situation and suggest which package is the best fit.

During the call, I explain how the process works and the level of support and communication you can expect. The aim is to ensure you feel confident that your application will be positioned to improve your chances of securing interviews.

When you are ready to proceed, select a package and complete payment by card or request details for bank transfer. We then arrange a call to discuss your role, experience, and requirements. From there, we work together to refine your resume and any included documents until you are satisfied with the final result.

The job ad usually spells out what the employer is looking for and should guide your choice of package. Most applications involve three core components: the resume or CV, a cover letter, and sometimes LinkedIn. A resume on its own is rarely enough to secure an interview.

The cover letter is used to draw attention to the parts of your background that matter most for the role. In many cases, you will also need to respond directly to selection criteria, either within the cover letter or as a separate document.

• Resume or CV - A clear summary of your qualifications, skills, experience, and achievements, written to reflect the role’s requirements.
• Cover letter - Often submitted online as a short written statement, this turns your experience into a focused pitch for the role.
• Addressing selection criteria - Many roles require responses to essential and desirable requirements, covering skills, experience, and outcomes.
  • In government, education, health, and not for profit roles, a separate selection criteria document is commonly required.

Even when selection criteria are not explicitly requested, your application should still reflect what the employer values. For example, a strong professional network may be important to the role, even if it is not stated in the job ad.

The role of the cover letter and LinkedIn

Both the cover letter and LinkedIn profile are built from your resume and reinforce your application. LinkedIn is particularly important for roles where visibility, networks, or commercial presence matter, such as sales or marketing. It is less critical for entry level or general roles.

I bring hands on experience from senior roles in marketing, HR, and recruitment, including work with major mining, HR, and resources organisations in Australia. Over time, I have helped applicants pursue roles across Australia, the UK, and the United States. With a degree in Information Science, I also understand how digital recruitment systems assess and filter applications. I hold dual UK and Australian citizenship and work across both markets.

Sectors and organisations

My consulting work and previous employment spans a broad mix of public and private organisations, including power utilities, universities, police services, zoos, major mining and resources companies, state government bodies, information services providers, and biotech and pharmaceutical firms. I regularly work across sectors such as:

• Mining and resources CVs or resumes, including oil and gas
• Pharmaceutical, health, and nursing CVs or resumes
• Primary, secondary, and tertiary education CVs or resumes, including leadership roles
• Corporate management and C suite CVs or resumes, including international roles
• Political, chief of staff, and party pre selection CVs or resumes
• Government CVs or resumes at local, state, and federal level
• Franchisee and commercial operator CVs and applications
• Capability statement CVs for professionals and contractors
• Marketing and sales leadership CVs or resumes
• IT, AI, and digital leadership CVs or resumes
• ADF and former ADF CVs or resumes

Certification and Memberships

I am a founder member of the UK based CVRA, an organisation dedicated to the professional certification and ongoing education of CV and resume writers worldwide.

• Video
• Website

Corporate engagements

I have delivered resume writing seminars and outplacement workshops for employees of Australian state and local governments, as well as universities.

My role is to guide and support you with clear, honest advice as your resume develops. It must sound like you, because you will need to stand behind it at interview. If you are not targeting a specific role, I shape your resume around broader industry expectations to suit a range of employers. Where a particular role is in focus, a tailored resume will always produce stronger results.

How we create your resume together

Here's how it goes:

If you have not updated your resume in yonks, the rules are very different now. One of the biggest changes is the move away from using the same generic resume for every job, with all the tailoring left to a cover letter.

Today, your resume needs to be tailored for each role. That means understanding the job description, highlighting the most relevant skills and experience, and using the right language so it can pass automated screening systems, commonly called Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS.

The way resumes are shared and reviewed has also changed. Most applications are submitted online, and many are read on phones or tablets. Your resume needs to be easy to open, easy to read, and compatible across different devices and systems. Format matters too, as resumes built in outdated software or templates are often not read properly by ATS tools.

One of the main reasons people never hear back is the format, content, and structure of their resume. In many cases, it never gets past the digital gatekeeper, the ATS.

For many employers, including large retailers, mining companies, and government agencies, selection criteria form a formal part of the application process. It is not enough to list where you have worked. You need to show how your skills and experience line up with what the role actually requires.

Whether the criteria are clearly stated or need to be worked out from the job description, tailoring your application to them can make a real difference.

Selection criteria describe the skills, experience, and personal qualities and skills an employer is looking for. They are used to check how well a candidate will perform in the role and fit into the organisation. Common examples include:

• Relevant qualifications, training, or work background
• Experience supervising others or managing tasks or projects
• Job or industry specific knowledge
• Personal qualities such as reliability, flexibility, and communication

These criteria, sometimes called position requirements or job specifications, help employers narrow down applicants. They cover both technical capability and personal fit.

Addressing selection criteria directly is critical if you want to progress to interview. Sometimes they are obvious, but often you need to read between the lines to identify what really matters. For example, a job ad may ask for "strong communication skills", but what the employer usually wants is evidence, such as dealing with customers, coordinating with others, or handling issues on the job.

Ignoring ATS screening

The biggest issue is automated screening. Most employers now use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to filter applications. If your resume does not reflect the language and requirements in the job ad, it may be screened out before a human ever sees it.

Using a generic resume

Sending the same resume for every job is one of the fastest ways to miss out. Employers expect to see how your experience fits their role, not a one size fits all summary. At a minimum, your resume and cover letter should be adjusted for each application.

Missing the job requirements

If your resume does not clearly show the skills, experience, and licences listed in the job ad, it is likely to be overlooked. Matching the job requirements is not optional, it is the baseline for being considered.

Overdesigned resumes

Highly designed resumes sold online often prioritise looks over function. Columns, graphics, colours, and unusual layouts can confuse ATS software and make your resume unreadable. A clean, simple layout is far more effective.

To improve your chances of reaching interview, your resume needs to be clear, relevant to the role, and written in a way that works with ATS screening, not against it.

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