Crafting a Standout Resume

It goes without saying that understanding how to successfully navigate job applications and interviews is vital. Today’s article will walk you through the key considerations needed to develop your resume as the first step in securing a meaningful role in the NFP sector.

In the world of work, it is a definite reality that many, if not most, resumes are not well developed and usually under-sell you. As a consequence, a well-structured resume and personalised cover letter significantly increase your chances of securing an interview. Even in circumstances where you might feel an interview is a very likely outcome, it is still worth developing your resume to the best it can be because it can turn an interview from “they’re ok, we’ll meet with them” to “this candidate looks amazing, we’re really going to have to sell this opportunity to them”.

Some basic resume tips to start:

• Use Clear, Simple Language – Avoid industry jargon from your past profession if it doesn't align with the sector you're applying for.

• Include Relevant Certifications – If you have First Aid, Mental Health First Aid, NDIS training, or any community-focused certifications, make them prominent.

• Keep It Concise – A clear, two, maximum 3-page resume is ideal. Even at CEO level, 4 would be the longest you should be aiming for.

If you are wanting to move into the NFP sector or perhaps are already here and are looking to move in a different direction, learning to highlight your key transferable skills is important.

If you have a background in customer service, project coordination, administration or any role involving communication and problem-solving, the transition into the NFP sector may be easier than you think. Equally, these skills can underpin career progression within the sector as well.

All of these are important but the most important aspect of a good resume is the inclusion of achievements.

All resumes contain information about the roles that people have done in the form of their responsibilities. This is fine however only up to a point. Responsibilities should not be a copy and paste of your position description but instead be a concise four to five bullet point summary of the role. The primary reason for this is that in reality, all the responsibilities inform the reader about is what was expected of the person in the job. It doesn't give any understanding of what that person actually delivered in the role.

The content in a resume that demonstrates the value that somebody adds, is the achievements.

Now whether we call it achievements or outcomes or simply think of it in terms of, “what have I done that I feel proud about” or “what have I done that I felt made a difference”, whatever the method, we have to think about it being the critical element we need to commit to the page and provide as many achievements (within reason) as possible. The information should be short and sharp, focusing as much as possible on the outcome and not the activities that were undertaken to achieve the outcome. Equally important is to strive to provide a measurement of that outcome. Being somewhat flippant, I would like to suggest that words like successful or significant should be banned from resumes, because what do they really mean? Ideally, we need to put measurements into terms such as dollar figures, percentages, comparisons to before and after, comparisons to other organisations and so on.

Some roles can be a challenge when thinking about what you have achieved but all roles from cleaning to the CEO’s office involve the potential for impact. So if you’re struggling, think about the responsibilities you have in your roles. What would undertaking those responsibilities look like if done poorly and then contrast that with what it would look like if done well. Think about what KPIs you have for your roles or what your manager has discussed with you at your performance reviews. Think about how you’ve impacted the organisation from a continuous improvement perspective.

Here is a range of example achievements suitable for various roles in the not for profit space:

Leadership & Strategy

• Led a $3M+ funding initiative, securing grants from government and private donors to expand service delivery by 40%.

• Developed and implemented a five-year strategic plan, increasing community engagement and service reach by 25%.

• Reduced operational costs by 20% through restructuring and implementing more efficient budgeting and financial management.

• Led an organisational transformation that improved staff retention from 65% to 85% over two years.

Fundraising & Partnerships

• Spearheaded a fundraising campaign that raised $500,000+ in donations, exceeding targets by 30%.

• Secured and managed strategic partnerships with corporate sponsors, resulting in a 50% increase in program funding.

• Designed and executed a new donor engagement strategy, increasing repeat donations by 35%.

• Wrote successful grant applications that secured $1.2M+ in funding for community programs.

Community & Program Impact

• Designed and launched a mental health support program that provided services to 500+ clients in its first year.

• Increased service delivery efficiency by 30% by implementing new case management software and workflows.

• Expanded outreach services to Indigenous and remote communities, increasing program participation by 40%.

• Developed a volunteer recruitment and training program, growing the volunteer base from 50 to 200+ in 12 months.

People & Culture (HR, Training, Leadership Development)

• Implemented an organisation-wide training program, increasing staff leadership capability by 60%.

• Improved staff engagement scores from 65% to 85% by developing a new Employee Value Proposition (EVP).

• Led a diversity and inclusion initiative that resulted in a 20% increase in workforce diversity over two years.

• Designed and facilitated mental health and wellbeing workshops, reducing employee absenteeism by 15%.

Governance & Compliance

• Led an organisation-wide compliance review, ensuring 100% adherence to NDIS and ACNC regulations.

• Successfully passed an external audit with zero non-compliance issues, strengthening organisational credibility.

• Developed and rolled out a risk management framework, reducing legal risks by 30%.

Marketing, Communications & Advocacy

• Managed a rebranding campaign that increased community awareness and engagement by 50%.

• Launched a social media strategy that grew audience engagement by 200% in 12 months.

• Led an advocacy campaign that resulted in government policy changes benefiting 10,000+ community members.

Operations & Service Delivery

• Implemented a client feedback system, improving service satisfaction ratings from 70% to 90%.

• Reduced wait times for services from six weeks to two weeks by optimising intake processes.

• Streamlined procurement processes, reducing expenses by $250K annually without compromising service quality.

Client & Support Work

• Provided one-on-one support to 10+ clients with disabilities, helping them achieve greater independence in daily activities.

• Assisted a client with high-complexity needs to transition from residential care to independent living, improving their quality of life.

• Developed individualised support plans for clients, leading to a 30% improvement in goal attainment.

• Organised weekly social inclusion activities, increasing participation by 40% and reducing client isolation.

• Assisted four clients in enrolling in education and employment programs, enhancing their independence.

• Provided trauma-informed support to individuals with mental health challenges, reducing crisis interventions by 25%.

• Trained in positive behaviour support (PBS), implementing strategies that reduced behavioural incidents by 40%.

• Maintained 100% compliance with NDIS and workplace safety regulations, ensuring a safe environment for clients and staff.

Standing out with a powerful resume is hard but with application, very doable and will underpin your entry into the not for profit space or moving your not for profit career forward.