What is a Resume & Why Do You Need One?

Do you want to get a job? Well, the very first thing you’ll need is a resume! 📄✨

In this video, we kickoff the first major module of the Get Hired program: Building Your Resume.
Many people feel overwhelmed by the idea of writing a resume, but our job coach Eleanor breaks it down into simple terms. Think of your resume as your personal brag book—a one-to-two-page snapshot of your skills, achievements, work experiences, and journey that shows recruiters exactly why you are awesome!

Because your resume is often a recruiter’s very first impression of you, having a clean, high-quality layout can dramatically boost your chances of getting noticed and landing that crucial job interview.
Let’s build a resume you can be proud of, together!

💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ What a resume actually is (and what it isn’t)
✅ Why your resume is your personal “brag book”
✅ How a great resume creates a winning first impression with recruiters
✅ How a strong resume increases your chances of getting a job interview

🛠️ HOW TO FOLLOW ALONG:
1️⃣ Grab your support person (family member, friend, or support worker).
2️⃣ Download the Resume Template here: [INSERT LINK TO TEMPLATES]
3️⃣ Watch the video, pause when needed, and start thinking about your own unique skills and achievements!

Gathering Your Work History for Your Resume

Ready to start building your resume? It all begins here!
In this video, our job application coach walks Emily and her support worker, Chris, through the very first step of the resume-building process — collecting all of your information. Using the Resume Information Collecting Template, Emily has gone away and gathered her work history, training courses, workshops, skills, and experiences all in one place.

And the result? A list that even surprised Emily!

This video is a powerful reminder that you’ve accomplished more than you think. From workplace training to everyday skills, it all counts — and it all belongs on your resume. If you’re worried you don’t have “enough,” Emily and Chris show us that the people around you — family, friends, managers, and support workers — can help you remember the things you’ve achieved along the way.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ How to use the Resume Information Collecting Template
✅ Why asking others for help is a valuable part of the process
✅ How to recall training, workshops, and skills you may have forgotten
✅ Why seeing your accomplishments on paper can be a confidence boost
✅ Transferable skills — why life experience counts just as much as formal work experience

GET STARTED:
1️⃣ Download the Resume Information Collecting Template: www.access2work.com.au/resources
2️⃣ Sit down with your support person (a friend, family member, or support worker)
3️⃣ Talk to people who know you well — ask family to help with dates and details, and ask your manager or HR for support if needed
4️⃣ Fill out the template with as much detail as you can
5️⃣ Once complete, you’re ready for the next video!

Write a Powerful Professional Summary for Your Resume

Ready to make a strong first impression on employers?

In Video 6 of our resume-building series, Emily reads the professional summary she wrote for the top of her resume. With support from Chris and guidance from the job coach, she shares a warm, authentic statement that highlights her personality, strengths, and the type of role she’s seeking. Watch as Emily confidently reads: “I’m a warm and friendly person that loves to make people feel welcome. I like to keep things organized and help others with any administrative needs. I am seeking a reception or administrative role where I can be part of a team and provide excellent customer service.”

The coach explains why this summary works so well — it clearly communicates Emily’s values (teamwork, organization, quality, and helping others), making her highly relatable to recruiters.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ How to write a concise, authentic professional summary
✅ How to highlight your personality and soft skills
✅ How to clearly state the type of role you want
✅ Why your summary should help recruiters “see” who you are
✅ How to turn personal qualities into desirable workplace strengths

This video shows that your resume summary doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs to be honest, positive, and targeted.

🛠️ YOUR TURN:
Review the information you collected in earlier modules
Write 3–5 sentences that describe who you are, what you’re good at, and the type of role you’re seeking
Read it aloud to your support person and ask for feedback
Refine it until it feels like you

How to Identify Your Strengths & Skills for Your Resume

Welcome to Video 7 of our step-by-step job readiness program. In this video, our job application coach discusses a crucial step in building a standout resume: identifying your unique strengths and skills.

Emily shares how she reached out to her mom and sister to ask what they thought her greatest strengths were. Their answer? A positive attitude and a natural ability to make others feel good about themselves.

Our coach explains the “socket effect”—when you find a job that aligns with your natural strengths, it’s like being plugged into a power socket! You have more energy, perform better, provide excellent customer service, and stay in your job longer.

If you are a job seeker with a disability, recognizing your strengths is the key to building confidence for your resume, cover letter, and future job interviews.

WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ Why we often overlook our own greatest strengths
✅ How to ask family, friends, or support workers to help identify your skills
✅ The power of a positive attitude in the workplace
✅ How aligning your strengths with your job leads to energy, happiness, and long-term success
✅ How to translate these personal strengths into valuable assets for employers

YOUR TURN (With Your Support Person):
1️⃣ Ask for feedback: Sit down with your support worker and reach out to 2 or 3 people who know you well (family, friends, past teachers, or supervisors).
2️⃣ Ask them: “What do you think my greatest strengths and positive qualities are?”
3️⃣ Write them down: Add these strengths to your resume information template so we can feature them in your resume and cover letter!

What Lights You Up? Adding Hobbies & Interests to Your Resume

Welcome to Video 8 of our step-by-step job readiness program! In this video, Emily shares some of the hobbies and interests she loves outside of work — from watching movies and TV, to reading and researching her passions for Egyptology and ancient Rome, to travelling to England and discovering Heartbeat Land!

Watch Emily’s face light up as she talks about the things she’s truly passionate about — and that’s exactly the point!

Our job application coach explains why including hobbies and interests on your resume is a great idea:
🔑 It shows recruiters who you really are beyond your work experience
🔑 It highlights what gives you energy and makes you passionate
🔑 It can create a personal connection between you and the employer
🔑 It gives insight into qualities like curiosity, dedication, and enthusiasm While hobbies and interests are technically optional on a resume, this video makes a strong case for why including them can help you stand out — especially when your passions align with the kind of work you want to do.

💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ Why hobbies and interests are worth including on your resume
✅ How your passions reveal qualities that employers value
✅ How talking about what you love can build confidence for interviews
✅ Why recruiters pay attention to the “whole person,” not just work history
✅ How to use the resume template to add your own interests

🛠️ YOUR TURN (With Your Support Person):
1️⃣ Make a list: Write down the things you love doing outside of work — sports, games, movies, reading, cooking, volunteering, travelling, crafts, music — anything!
2️⃣ Talk about it: Share your list with your support person. Notice what lights you up when you talk about it!
3️⃣ Add to your template: Choose 3–5 hobbies or interests to include on your resume template
4️⃣ Think about connections: Do any of your hobbies connect to skills that could be useful in a job? (e.g., research skills, creativity, teamwork, dedication)

Emily’s Finished Resume Review & Final Tips

The moment every job seeker waits for — seeing your completed resume! 🎉

Video 9 of this resume-building series, Emily reviews her finished resume alongside her support worker Chris and the job coach. She shares how proud and “ecstatic” she feels seeing all her skills, training, experiences, strengths, and passions captured on one page — including many things she had forgotten she’d done.

Emily’s reaction says it all: “It feels great… this is better than awesome.” Chris agrees it’s wonderful to see everything presented in black and white. The coach celebrates her achievement and reminds viewers that a well-crafted resume helps employers immediately see your value — especially important for people with disabilities facing prejudice in the job market.

Emily and Chris also offer practical advice for anyone following along at home:
Take it step by step
Pause and rewind the videos as often as you need
Don’t rush — build your confidence gradually Always put your best foot forward (and keep that positive attitude!)
This video marks the successful end of the resume program and teases the next series on writing a strong, convincing cover letter.

💡 WHAT YOU’LL LEARN IN THIS VIDEO:
✅ How it feels to finish a resume you’re truly proud of
✅ The confidence boost that comes from seeing all your achievements in one place
✅ Practical tips from someone with a disability who has just completed the process
✅ Why support people and pausing videos are so valuable
✅ What comes next: writing a powerful cover letter

🛠️ YOUR TURN (With Your Support Person):
1️⃣ Review your completed resume with your support person
2️⃣ Rate how proud you feel (1–10) and celebrate your achievement!
3️⃣ Add any final touches with help from family, your support worker, or HR if needed
4️⃣ When you’re ready, move on to the Cover Letter series in this playlist