Last updated: 20th Oct 2025
Let’s get honest – writing your own resume sucks. A blank page mercilessly stares back at you as you comb through the crevices of your mind for facts that may impress recruiters and employers.
You’re both simultaneously overwhelmed with information and needing more of it.
You write a few sentences.
Finally – progress.
But you then read what you wrote.
Cringe.
Hit delete. Delete. Delete. Delete.
Start again.
An hour after you started writing your resume, you’re still in the same place.
Nowhere.
You start watching cat videos on Facebook.
Above: For the love of God, don’t start your resume like this.
Because I’ve run Australia’s top resume writing businesses for over 14 years now, let me share with you a few tips that will help you start writing your resume.
Expert Tip.
First of all, never start writing your resume at the start. In other words, you must write the first section of your resume last.
Writing your profile will be much easier once you have fleshed out your achievements and skills.
Next, resist the temptation to fill your resume with brain-dead corporate jargon.
Don’t inflict 3-5 paragraphs of BS on your reader, that describe you as a “dynamic”, “visionary” with “can do atttitude” and “excellent stakeholder engagement skills”.
(Related: How To Write The Perfect Resume Profile).
Here’s what to do instead – before you start writing:
- What are your biggest wins? Pick out 1-2 of your most significant achievements from your Professional Experience section. You will use them to prove your commercial value shortly.
- What is your unique value? Think about an intersection of two of your strengths. What does it mean for the business? For example, you may have become a SaaS account exec after building your own business. This gives you a unique ability to connect with SMB owners, connecting product features to their needs.
- What are your key values? Think about what you stand for. Are you a methodical stickler for detail who does everything by the book? Or are you a head-charging risk-taker who shoots first and apologises later?
- What is your ideal environment? You won’t fit into every team. Do you thrive in “work hard, play hard” cut-throat environments? Or do you prefer to work 100% autonomously, without supervision and much interaction?
Next, write a 4-paragraph resume profile.
Each paragraph must summarise each of the bullet points below. You’ll end up with something like this:
Above: This is still rough around the edges, but it is far more commercially meaningful and able to differentiate you from other candidates.
I hope I’ve given you a far better method for starting your resume – one that saves you time and helps you write a resume that employers love.
Steven
