Crafting an attention-grabbing resume requires careful attention to detail and strategic planning. A well-crafted resume is not only a reflection of your experience and skills but also an advertisement for your capabilities, demonstrating your value to potential employers.
Consider these five terrific resume-writing tips to ensure that your resume stands out in a competitive job market. These tips will help you create a standout document that impresses hiring managers and increases your chances of landing an interview.
1. Eye-Catching Appearance: Make a Bold First Impression
Your resume’s visual presentation is the first thing employers notice. A visually appealing document is more likely to catch a hiring manager’s attention in a sea of resumes. Just as a product package’s design can influence a consumer’s purchasing decision, your resume’s appearance can impact whether your skills are noticed.
Formatting Tips:
Clean Layout: Stick to a simple, professional design with clear sections and ample white space. Avoid cluttered formatting that may overwhelm the reader.
Consistent Font and Style: Choose a professional font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman. Keep the font size consistent throughout, with the name and section headings slightly larger for emphasis.
Summary Section: Place a compelling summary section at the top of your resume. This section should succinctly highlight your qualifications and show how they align with the employer’s needs. It should act as an elevator pitch, briefly summarizing who you are, what you’ve accomplished, and what you can bring to the role.
For example:
“Dynamic marketing professional with over five years of experience in digital advertising and content strategy. Proven track record of driving brand awareness and engagement through innovative campaigns. Seeking to leverage expertise in SEO and social media marketing to contribute to ABC Company’s growth.”
Visual Enhancements:
While design is essential, ensure that any visual elements (like lines, bullet points, or icons) do not distract from the content. Simple, subtle embellishments can make your resume appear polished without being overwhelming.
2. Organized Information: Streamline for Readability
Employers only scan each resume a few seconds before deciding whether to read further. Therefore, organizing your resume in a logical, easy-to-read manner is essential. A resume that’s easy to navigate allows hiring managers to identify your strengths and qualifications quickly.
Tips for Organizing Content:
Use Headers and Bullet Points: Clearly defined section headers (e.g., “Work Experience,” “Education,” “Skills”) help break up the content. Bullet points make your experience more scannable, highlighting key achievements or responsibilities.
Reverse Chronological Order: List your most recent experience at the top of each section, particularly in the work experience and education sections. This helps employers quickly identify your most relevant and recent roles.
Prioritize Key Information: Tailor the content to the job description. Ensure that your most relevant skills and accomplishments appear near the top, allowing hiring managers to spot them immediately. Use keywords strategically to align with the job role and applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Example:
If you’re applying for a marketing position, prioritize your achievements in digital marketing over unrelated tasks. For example:
“Developed and executed an SEO strategy that improved website traffic by 40% in six months.”
By presenting your experience clearly and organized, you make it easier for hiring managers to see why you’re the right fit for the job.
3. Compelling Content: Showcase Your Achievements
The content of your resume is critical to convincing employers to invite you for an interview. To stand out from other applicants, your resume must demonstrate your skills and the results you’ve achieved in your previous roles.
Highlight Achievements, Not Just Duties:
Focus on your contributions to your previous organizations rather than simply listing your responsibilities. Employers want to see results, not just tasks. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to show your impact.
For example:
- “Increased annual sales by 25% by developing and implementing a customer retention program.”
- “Reduced customer service response time by 30% through process optimization.”
This approach shows that you’ve made a tangible impact in your past roles and gives potential employers an understanding of your value.
Tailor Your Content to the Job:
To make your resume even more compelling, tailor it to match the job you’re applying for. Carefully review the job description and include relevant skills, qualifications, and keywords in your resume. This increases the chances of passing through an ATS and helps the employer quickly see how you meet their specific needs.
4. Reflect Your Personality: Show Who You Are
While professionalism is essential, letting your personality shine through in your resume is also important. Employers are more likely to be drawn to candidates who demonstrate enthusiasm and authenticity in their resumes.
How to Incorporate Personality:
Professional Language, Personal Touch: Use language that reflects your enthusiasm and passion for the role, but keep it professional. Avoid overly formal or stiff language and opt for a more engaging tone.
Include Soft Skills: Besides your technical skills, highlight soft skills like leadership, communication, and creativity. These traits give employers insight into your work style and how you’ll fit within the company culture.
For example, instead of just listing “team player” under your skills section, you could write:
“Collaborative team member, consistently fostering strong relationships with colleagues to achieve shared goals and deliver high-quality results.”
Demonstrate Alignment with Company Culture:
If you know the company values innovation or creativity, include examples showcasing those qualities in your experience. This will help demonstrate that you have the necessary skills and align with the company’s values.
5. Professionalism: The Finishing Touches Matter
Your resume’s professionalism reflects your attention to detail and respect for the hiring process. Ensure that every aspect of your resume, from the content to the format, communicates high professionalism.
Practical Professionalism Tips:
Proofread Multiple Times: Spelling and grammatical errors can leave a negative impression. Proofread your resume multiple times, or even better, ask a friend or colleague to review it. Tools like Grammarly can help catch mistakes, but human eyes may spot issues that software overlooks.
Use High-Quality Paper: If submitting a hard copy of your resume, opt for high-quality paper, preferably in white or off-white. This adds to the impression that you’ve put thought and effort into your application.
Cover Letter Etiquette: Always include a tailored cover letter addressed to the hiring manager by name. A cover letter is an excellent opportunity to showcase your personality and explain why you’re particularly excited about the job.
Final Tips for a Polished Resume:
No Photos or Personal Details: Stick to relevant information like your name, phone number, email, and LinkedIn profile link. Avoid adding personal information such as age, marital status, or a photo unless required in specific countries.
Limit Length: While it’s essential to include your most relevant experiences, a resume should ideally be one page for those with less than 10 years of experience and up to two pages for more experienced professionals. Be concise and leave out anything irrelevant to the position you’re applying for.
By following these resume writing tips, you can create a compelling and professional document that effectively showcases your qualifications, demonstrates your personality, and persuades employers to consider you for their job openings. With an eye-catching appearance, organized content, compelling achievements, a reflection of your personality, and an overall sense of professionalism, your resume will stand out and increase your chances of securing the desired job.
We look forward to partnering with you in the future,
Candace Alstad-Davies ACCC, CRW, CIC, CPRW, CEIP, CECC
Review Candace’s credentials here.