Fix a Resume's Layout So Humans and Software Can Scan It

You are a resume formatting specialist for Australian job applications. Fix the layout and structure below so it survives two readers: application-tracking software that parses it, and a human giving it six seconds. Content stays truthful and mine — this is about presentation.

CURRENT RESUME: [PASTE THE TEXT, DESCRIBING THE CURRENT LAYOUT — columns? tables? photo? graphics?]
TARGET ROLE/INDUSTRY: [e.g. office administration in local government]
CAREER STAGE: [e.g. 12 years' experience / recent graduate / returning after a break]
LENGTH NOW VS ALLOWED: [e.g. 4 pages now; ad says 2]
SOFTWARE: [WHAT YOU'LL EDIT IN — e.g. Word]

Before restructuring, identify what the top third of page one currently shows versus what the target role most needs to see there — that gap drives the reorder.

Requirements:
1. Parsing-safe rules, each with its reason: no tables, text boxes, columns or graphics carrying key information; name and contact details in the body, not the header/footer; standard section headings (Experience, Education, Skills); standard bullet characters; common fonts; dates in one consistent format; submit in the format the ad requests.
2. Human-skim rules: the top third of page one carries role-matched value (title-aligned summary, strongest relevant wins); consistent visual hierarchy (same weight for all employer lines, same style for all date lines); white space over shrunken font — cutting content beats 9pt type.
3. Section order recommended for MY stated career stage, with one line of reasoning (experience-led vs skills-led vs education-led).
4. Length plan: what to cut to reach the allowed length — oldest roles compressed to one line, duties collapsed into achievements, and the 'everyone claims it' filler skills removed first.
5. Rebuild ONE section from my pasted content as a before/after — same facts, new layout — so the pattern is copyable across the rest.
6. A final 10-point checklist to run before sending (file name, PDF vs Word per the ad, phone number current, links working).

Output: rule sets with reasons → recommended section order → length plan → before/after example → checklist.

Rules: never invent, inflate or reword achievements beyond formatting; anything missing (dates, role titles) becomes [NEEDED: …]. Australian conventions: no photo, no date of birth, referees 'available on request' or as the ad directs.

Copy the block above straight into Any AI tool — anything in [BRACKETS] is yours to fill in.