Your future employer may receive hundreds or even thousands of applications for the position you want, especially if the job listing was posted online.
With so much competition, how can you stand out in the crowd? Writing a top-notch resume is the first step. After all, your hiring manager will likely see your resume before he or she meets you in person. It is your chance to make a good first impression.
Check out the following resume writing tips designed to help your resume stand out.
Tip No. 1: Pick an Eye-Catching Design
Is your resume simply text on a blank page? While not being too over-the-top, many modern resume templates use blocks of color, textured backgrounds, and lines and headings that make for an easy flow from one important section to the next. Select a format that suits both your personality and the culture of the company to which you are applying.
For more information on formatting your resume to get just the right look, you can use an online resume builder like this one.
Tip No. 2: Find Those Keywords
Today, most resumes are scanned by a computer program before reaching human hands. They’re looking for keyword matches. You’ll probably find those keywords in the job listing. Be sure to use them in your resume!
Tip No. 3: Use Reverse-Chronological Order
With few exceptions, list your work experience and education beginning with the most recent.
Tip No. 4: Keep It Short
In most cases, you shouldn’t allow your resume to exceed one page.
Tip No. 5: Use Simple Fonts
Don’t choose a font that’s fancy or hard to read. Serif fonts like Cambria or Times New Roman are classic choices; sans-serif fonts including Calibri and Arial also work.
Tip No. 6: Personalize It
Don’t use the exact same resume to apply to a dozen jobs. Tailor the content – your experience and keywords – to each job you apply for.
Tip No. 7: Omit the Unnecessary
Don’t include an objective statement or references. These take up valuable space and can make your resume seem dated.
Tip No. 8: Don’t Include a Photo
If they need one, they’ll ask for it.
Tip No. 9: Lean on Statistics
If you can provide statistics on how past projects succeeded, this paints a more vivid picture than simply listing a skill.
Tip No. 10: No Cute Graphics
That means you, clipart. Additionally, charts or similar media can be confusing to the reader.
Tip No. 11: Use a Professional Email
If your email address is cute or silly, create a new one centered on your name.
Tip No. 12: Use LinkedIn
Include your LinkedIn profile in your contact information. Additionally, make sure none of your other social media accounts have questionable material you wouldn’t want your boss to see.
Tip No. 13: Include a Summary Statement
Use the top real estate on your resume to highlight your strongest selling points.
Tip No. 14: Don’t Include More than 10 Years of Experience
Older experience may not be considered relevant. It could also lead inadvertently to age discrimination.
Tip No. 15: Stay Up-to-date in Your Field
Stay up-to-date on business and technology news related to your field. You can observe trends (new technology, software, etc.), stay in the know, and display the latest important skills on your resume.
Tip No. 16: Proofread
Misspelled words, grammar mistakes, and other typos can make you look bad. Use software like Grammarly, re-read it, and have someone else read it.
Tip No. 17: If You Submit Online, Use PDF
If you created your resume online, odds are the file you downloaded was already in PDF format. That’s good. But if you used a word processor such as Microsoft Word or Google Docs to write your resume, you need to transform it into a PDF file. Why?
PDF files have fixed formatting. When your hiring manager opens the file, it will look exactly like it does on your computer. Other file types, including .doc and .docx, can lose their formatting when opened on another device. This might mean an unpleasant jumble of words.
Depending on the program you used you can “export to PDF” or “save as PDF” to create the correct file type.
Tip No. 18: If Submitting a Hard Copy, Use Nice Paper
If you are mailing or handing in a printed copy of your resume, print it on nice paper, such as linen business paper or paper that is marked “resume paper.” This paper is usually thicker, textured, and off-white. It shows you really care about the job you are applying to and gives a positive and professional first impression.
In Conclusion
Perfecting your resume is very important to get the job you want. By applying each of the 18 tips above, you can polish your resume and stand out from the crowd.
