Resume writing tips for HSE professionals

Writing a resume is still a vital part of any job search process, but translating your vast experience into a document can be a perilous task at times. Read on to brush-up on some quick, helpful tips that will turn your resume into a resum-yay!

Concisely capture 'you'

A solid approach to any good resume is grabbing the attention of your prospective employer in the first page. Good formatting can help, but the most important part is always the content – clearly defining who you are, a snapshot of your experience and relevant qualifications on this first page is what will draw the reader in to the rest of your resume.

A professional summary

It is always good to start your resume with a quick paragraph as a personal summary. This is an opportunity to quickly present who you are and outlining your professional aspirations, short and long term. Concision is key here – it doesn’t have to be War and Peace. 

Let your qualifications shine

It is surprising how many jobseekers hide away their qualifications at the end of a resume – you’ve worked hard to gain these, so why not show them off? Pick out the most relevant qualifications and list them on the first page (ie Degrees, Diplomas, Cert IV). You can list further training and qualifications at the end of the resume. 

Follow this up with a simple table giving a career overview (company, role, dates). Make sure to highlight any contract roles. 

Convey your career

Now comes the time to really put meat on the bones, with your career experience;

• Begin with your most current role, clearly outlining company, title and dates worked. 
• Depending on what you are applying for, a quick line under each role explaining what the company does can help, including size and geographical spread.
• You can begin describing your experience by briefly explaining your remit for the role ie; As the WHS Business Partner, I reported to the National Manager and was responsible for ensuring a strong safety culture at 12 sites across NSW & ACT. 

Highlight responsibilities & achievements

When it comes to successful resumes, a big crowd pleaser is clearly laying your experience into two sections: responsibilities and achievements. This will help to represent what your day-to-day role was, as well as what you accomplished. Outlining tangible achievements is a huge boost to your resume as it highlights the value-add you will bring to a new employer. 

Hopefully you find the above tips helpful, but as always feel free to contact the The Safe Step team  We will be more than happy to review your CV with you or discuss your next career options.