5 Ways to Improve Your Resume: Advice from Recruitment Professionals

5 WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR RESUME

July 30, 2020

Have you recently been applying for jobs but have gotten little to no response?

Applying for a job may seem like a simple click of a button in this modern world. With sites such as SEEK, Indeed and Recruitment Agencies taking over the industry online, the thought and skills behind writing a new resume have been almost forgotten due to the simplicity of the process. Resumes are being reused for job applications and this is hindering your opportunity.

There are several other reasons why you may not be getting shortlisted for jobs. This may include, not using the correct resume format to make your work experience clear, your job search may not cater to your current situation or, you do not have valid references.

You may be immediately questioning your jobs application process after reading this and that is okay because this is where you can find help.

These are 5 ways to improve your resume.

Resume Format

What is the most important information on a resume?

Your work experience!

It is vital to make your work experience is clear on a resume. Most of the time it should be put before your education. This way it stands out to the recruiter and they can immediately understand your skills and experience. The proper formatting of your work experience is essential, recruiters need to know where you worked, how long you worked, what your position was and what your job duties were. It should look something like this example:

Forklift Operator, August 2016 - June 2020

Big Western Warehouse

Duties:

Order Picking
Unloading materials and merchandise
Identifying and reporting damages to goods
RF scanning
Transporting materials to workstations
Practice OHS and complying with company policies

With this formatting, your resume displays where you worked, how long for, what your position was and your duties.

On top of this, it is important to list your work experience from your most current role to your least. Your most current skills are more important to your job application than your job skills from 10 years ago.

List Relevant Qualifications

On top of your work experience, you need to list any relevant qualifications. When it comes to formatting your resume, you can put these qualifications such as "LO Licence" or "Master of Accounting" on top of your work experience.

Your work experience and qualifications are the two most important pieces of information on the resume (besides your name) so ensure they are eye-catching and clear!

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

As stated in the intro, it can be really easy to get caught up in the digital application process. Although you may be applying for roles that have the same job title, it is important to tailor your resume to the job description as most of them are different. Identify specific keywords that they use in the duties section and transfer those into your resume.

For example, if a job description for a Forklift Operator states:

Loading & unloading trucks or containers

Your duties should state that you have this experience.

You cannot lie on your job application but a lot of information is left off numerous resume. If you have the experience that is stated on the job description that is not listed on your resume, change something on your current one or add it.

If this is done, it will ensure you are meeting the brief of the job description, giving you a better chance at being shortlisted.

"Jobs Available Near Me"

This is a key term you should use when trying to find jobs through Google. Recruiters are more likely to hire someone closer to the job location. It may sound harsh but let's think about it this way:

You have applied for a job that is an hour away from your house in good traffic but you have all the right skills and experience for it. Someone with the same amount of skills and experience could apply, putting you on an even playing field, but if they live 10 minutes away from the role in heavy traffic, it is more likely for them to get the job over you.

When considering location a recruiter is going to chose the most appropriate candidate. The job is more convenient for the other applicant and they have less risk of being late to work, this is appealing to recruiters. If you apply for roles closer to home, you have a greater chance of getting them.

This isn't saying that you shouldn't apply for roles far away from you, just remember that it may hinder your chance of obtaining the job.

Resume References

Having a good reference is like seeing a good Google review. If you want to buy something on the internet and it has hundreds of good reviews, you are more likely to buy it.

Think of your reference like a Google review. If you have a good reference from a suitable reference, you are more likely to get the job.

References are important to a job application as they are the confirmation that your past work experience is true and that you are a competent worker.

On your resume, you do not need to list your references' names and numbers, you can simply add "References Available on Request."

If you chose to not list references, just be prepared for them to ask you for them. Your references need to be managers or leaders from a past workplace for them to be relevant, not a close co-worker or a family or friend.

Also, a great tip, make sure you ask them to be a reference! That way they will know what to say when receiving a call from the recruiter!

There you have it, 5 ways to improve your resume and increase your chance of gaining a job. To reiterate, the tips are:

Make your work experience clear and eye-catching.
List relevant qualifications.
Tailor your resume to the job you're applying for.
"Jobs available near me" search for jobs closer to home (if possible).
Have good references ready.

If there are any other job search or resume related questions you have that you want to get answered by a professional, ask them away! We will happily answer any questions you have about the process of finding a job. Just visit our Facebook page to ask us any questions or comment below.

If you are currently looking for work, you can see all the roles we have available through this link: https://www.capturerecruitment.com.au/advancedsearch.aspx?search=1

Good luck with the job search, we hope that this information will help you land a new job. If it does let us know!

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Hiring Challenges in the Warehousing & Logistics Sector: Why It’s Tough and What to Do About It

October 14, 2025

In Australia’s competitive logistics landscape, hiring qualified warehouse and logistics staff is becoming one of the biggest bottlenecks for growth. With issues spanning from acute labour shortages, high turnover, skill mismatches and shifting employee expectations, finding employees for business stability and expansion is getting harder. The Key Hiring Challenges Facing Warehousing & Logistics 1. Labour Shortages — Especially for Skilled Roles The demand for workers in warehousing, order picking, forklift operation, logistics coordinators and supply chain analysis far exceeds supply in many regions. The logistics sector in Australia is under pressure due to growth in e-commerce, increasing throughput and more complex supply chains. Many candidates, even those with warehouse experience, lack familiarity with advanced warehouse management systems (WMS), automation, robotics, or data-driven processes. This “tech skills gap” is especially problematic as warehouses modernise. 2. High Turnover and Workforce Instability Warehousing and logistics roles often involve physically demanding work, shift work (including nights or weekends) and seasonal peaks driving turnover. Replacing staff repeatedly creates spiralling costs in recruitment, onboarding, training, and lost productivity. 3. Competition for Talent Warehousing and logistics compete for candidates not only within the same industry but also with sectors like tech, retail or professional services. This means that these employers must work harder to make the roles compelling. On top of this, larger players and global supply chains often have deeper pockets for incentives, signing bonuses, benefits or brand recognition, making it harder for smaller or regional operators to compete. 4. Seasonal Demand & Fluctuating Volumes Warehouses frequently experience dramatic volume swings such as holiday seasons, sales events, or supply chain disruptions. Hiring enough staff quickly (and then scaling down) is hard. 5. Attracting & Positioning the Role Properly Warehousing roles often suffer from stigma: seen as “low pay, hard work, minimal career pathway.” That perception can turn off many candidates. Employers who don’t invest in employer branding will lose out. Candidates increasingly look at company culture, safety, career development, work–life balance, inclusivity and benefits. 6. Safety, Compliance & Candidate Screening Warehousing involves inherent risks. Employers must ensure candidates are physically capable, understand safety, compliant with WHS regulations and able to handle manual handling and repetitive tasks. Screening for these capabilities and not just experience is critical. Failing to properly assess candidates for safety and fitness leads to injuries, liabilities, and lowered morale. Strategies to Overcome These Hiring Challenges (Australia-Focused) Here are best practices and strategies to help logistics operators hire smarter. Build a Talent Pipeline & Upskilling Program Partner with training organisations and TAFEs to offer courses and funnel graduates into your operations. Internal upskilling and “learn-on-the-job” pathways can convert good general labour into skilled warehouse professionals. Talent mapping & succession planning. Don’t wait until roles are empty, identify successors early. Improve Employer Branding & Positioning Promote safety, advancement, and culture in your job ads (not just “heavy lifting”). Emphasise benefits beyond base pay: flexible shifts, overtime opportunities, shift premium, wellness programs, career progression, etc. Offer Competitive & Flexible Compensation Packages Benchmark your roles against local market rates to ensure offers are realistic. Introduce incentives like referral bonuses, sign-on allowances, shift premiums, performance incentives. Consider flexible work models such as part-time, split shifts, hybrid roles, etc. Streamline Hiring & Candidate Experience Use mobile-first application systems, as many candidates search/apply via smartphones. Automate parts of the recruitment process (e.g. applicant screening, interview scheduling) to reduce lag time. Outsource to a local recruitment agency who will take care of the hiring from step one to done. Ensure clear, honest role descriptions to set expectations which will help reduce mismatches. Use Mixed Staffing Models Retain a core permanent staff, supplemented by a flexible contingent workforce (e.g. casuals, labour hire or contractors). Cross-train staff across functions so they can shift roles during busy periods. Invest Heavily in Safety & Screening Integrate manual handling, safety and physical capability assessments into screening. Maintain robust WHS culture, continuous training, mentorship and feedback loops. Leverage Recruitment Partners & Niche Agencies Work with recruitment firms specialising in logistics or warehousing as they often have pipelines you don’t. During high-demand periods, partner with agencies who can supply pre-screened temp or casual labour quickly. In Australia, many logistics firms have already adopt this model. Localising to Your Region When you run a logistics or warehousing operation in, say, Melbourne, Victoria, or Brisbane, Queensland, you need local visibility. Candidates often search for roles near them. You’ll win when your job ads, website, and recruitment content rank highly in local searches like: “warehouse jobs Melbourne” “logistics roles Brisbane” “distribution centre recruitment in Adelaide” “warehousing staffing Sydney” To do this: Include geo-keywords in job titles and ad copy (city, suburb, region). Leverage local recruiting channels: Local job boards, community groups, local TAFEs, local social media targeting. Hiring in warehousing and logistics is tough but it’s not impossible. The key lies in being strategic, proactive, and candidate-centric. Build your talent pipeline, invest in training, modernise your recruitment experience and localise your reach. Need Help Finding the Right People? At Capture Recruitment , we specialise in matching logistics and warehousing businesses with reliable, skilled staff fast. Our Melbourne-based team operates 24/7, delivering local expertise and genuine customer service that sets us apart. Contact us today to discuss your hiring needs and discover how we can help you build a stronger, more dependable workforce. 👉 www.capturerecruitment.com.au | ✉️ info@capturerecruitment.com.au | 📞 03 9369 4459