11 Aged Care Resume Mistakes to Avoid (And How To Fix Them) 

The 11 most common resume mistakes

1. Mistyping contact details

Triple check your mobile numbers, email addresses, and home addresses. A recruiter dialing a wrong number because of a simple typo might cost you a job opportunity. You'd be surprised how often this happens!

2. Uploading resumes in unusual formats

Stick to standard formats like Word or PDF. Some applicants mistakenly use JPGs or other challenging formats that are either tough to download or hard to read. Keeping it straightforward maximizes your chances of receiving a callback.

3. Overlooking the organization and its location

Quite often our aged care recruiters get applicants applying for a role in an aged care home that’s 2 hours away from where they live! Make sure you do your research on how accessible the home you’re applying for is. How far away is it? Can you get there with public transport? Is there parking available?

4. Relying too much on generic templates

Ensure you've customized every part of your resume template. It sucks to talk about your aged care passion and accidentally leave in a line about "joining McDonald’s." Always review your template before submitting.

Read on:

• Check out some our aged care job vacancies in Melbourne

5. Overlooking Seek auto-apply settings

While Seek auto-apply is a handy tool, there's a risk of sending outdated resumes. Regularly update and review your Seek resume, especially if you rely heavily on auto-applications.

Always double check!

6. Leaving out start and end employment dates

Growth in an aged care career is all about experience. But if you don’t properly list how much time you’ve spent in roles previously, it can be impossible for recruitment teams to know whether you’re right for the role, and more importantly, what you should be getting paid!

7. Losing track of organisations you've applied to

Sending mass applications might feel efficient, but it's crucial to track where and for what roles you've applied. Being clueless during a recruiter's call isn't a good look!

8. Overloading your work history

Highlight roles relevant to the position you're targeting. It's unlikely that aged care recruiters would be interested in your teenage stint at McDonald's. A good rule is to include your last two significant roles.

9. Not having enough of a work history

On the other end of the spectrum, while we don’t want too much of a work history, it’s important you have your most recent (and relevant roles) on your resume. 

If progression is something you want to pursue, make sure that the experience you provide lists the number of hours that you’ve worked for (if applicable) that can help give a recruiter a quick and easy summary of where you’re at in your career.

10. Excluding current employer details

Avoid gaps in your employment history by including your current employer. Rest assured, recruiters respect your privacy and won't reach out without your consent.

11. Not listing your current role

Similar to the above points, it’s incrediby important that you list what your current role is. If you’re an Assistant in Nursing (AIN) applying for a Registered Nurse (RN) role, we need to be able to see that clearly so that even if you’re not eligible for the role, we can help put you on the right path towards something that’s going to work for you.

Without a clear idea of your current roles and experience, recruiters can’t help you!

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While there are plenty of mistakes you can make in an application (and it all might seem a bit daunting), by correcting these you’re well on your way to putting together a great application that a recruiter will pick up and read easily. 

But there are also a few other ways that you can perfect your application that will dramatically improve your chances of getting a callback.

4 ways you can perfect your application in an aged care job 

1. Personalise your resume

Address your resume to the Facility Manager or Clinical Manager (or other relevant manager within the facility). You can call and ask who that is if you’re not sure!

Adjust your resume and cover letter to suit the role ie. Change up your work history or relevant skills and summary to match.

2. Include a great opening summary

When a recruiter looks at your resume, they have to work out in under a minute whether you might be the right person for the job. By writing a summary of your role, skills and certifications, you give yourself the best possible chance of being recognised as a suitable candidate for the role.

3. Showcase genuine motivation

You may not think it makes a big difference, but a resume and cover letter that has a great motivation for wanting to work in aged care and for that organisation can make a massive difference to whether you succeed in getting a callback.

4. Writing with good grammar and spelling

Having a well written resume or cover letter is hard enough for native english speakers, let alone if you know 2,3,4 or more languages! Tools like Grammarly are excellent for picking up issues with grammar, spelling and writing and you can even try it out for free.

Parting thoughts

While it can seem daunting putting an application for an aged care job together, by avoiding simple mistakes and highlighting your biggest strengths up front, you give your application the best possible chance of getting a recruiter to review your resume and put you in a great position to get a callback and interview.

Looking for a a role at St Vincent's? Why not check out our Careers page for our full list of up to date job vacancies.