RESUME GUIDE

Write a resume that makes your experience clear.

A recruiter needs to understand the work you have done and the role you want next. Make those facts easy to find, using clear examples rather than a long list of adjectives.

By TAP Jobseeker · Published 17 October 2026

Start with the role you are targeting

Read the vacancy and identify its main responsibilities and essential requirements. Choose examples from your own experience that relate to them. If you are approaching a recruiter without a specific vacancy, state the role types, level and locations you are considering. Tailoring means selecting relevant, truthful information; it does not mean claiming skills you do not have.

A straightforward resume structure

1. Contact details: your name and a reliable email address and phone number. Check professional links before including them.
2. Short introduction: summarise your relevant experience and the type of work you are seeking.
3. Key skills: list capabilities you can support with examples, using the terms employers in your field understand.
4. Employment history: show employer, role title and dates, followed by concise responsibilities and achievements. Put recent relevant experience where it is easy to find.
5. Qualifications and development: include relevant education, credentials and training with accurate dates or current status.
6. Additional relevant experience: projects, volunteering or portfolio work can help explain your skills, especially when changing careers.

Show what you contributed

Replace “responsible for customer service” with a concrete description of the work and your contribution. For example: “Handled customer enquiries across email and phone, documented recurring problems and helped the team improve its response process.” Add numbers only when they are accurate and you can explain them. Never invent performance figures to make a bullet sound stronger.

Explain unfamiliar job titles briefly. If your internal title was unusual, describe the work in ordinary language while retaining the actual title. Make gaps or career changes understandable without sharing private information you do not want to disclose.

Keep the document easy to read

Use consistent headings, readable text and a simple layout. Check spelling, dates and contact details. Follow the employer's requested file format; otherwise choose a format the recipient can open and read reliably. Check that exported text remains selectable and that the file opens correctly before sending it.

There is no guaranteed keyword score that wins an interview. Use accurate role terminology naturally and prioritise useful evidence. Keep confidential employer, client and candidate information out of examples.

Send it with context

Tell the recruiter which vacancy or type of work interests you, where you can work and your availability. The agency registration guide includes an introduction you can adapt. Keep a record of who has received your CV and discuss a particular employer introduction before agreeing to it.

Your free TAP Jobseeker profile can support recruiter conversations, but creating it does not automatically send your resume to agencies or employers. Review profile visibility and CV sharing, and use the interview preparation checklist when a conversation progresses.