10 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Hey there, get ready to stand out for your next job 👊

5-minute read

When it comes to applying for a job, having a strong resume is key. A stand-out resume will help you get noticed and set yourself apart from other candidates. To make sure that your resume stands out, here are ten tips to keep in mind when creating your own.

1. Highlight Your Accomplishments - Make sure to list any awards or accomplishments you may have earned throughout your educational career or professional experience. This will show employers that you have achieved success in the past and can bring that same success to their organization.
2. Use Clear Formatting - Keep it simple and consistent when formatting your resume. This will make it easier for employers to read through quickly and understand what they are looking at. Some good ideas include using clear headings, bolded text, and consistent font sizes throughout the document.
3. Customize For Each Job - Don’t just copy and paste the same resume for every job application you send out; each one should be customized to the specific job you are applying for. Focus on highlighting any skills or experiences that would be beneficial for that particular role and leave any irrelevant information off of the page.
4. Incorporate Keywords - To ensure that your resume is seen by recruiters, make sure to incorporate the keywords used in the job posting into your own document as much as possible without making it sound unnatural or forced. Doing this helps search engines recognize relevant terms within resumes more easily so yours gets pulled from the pile faster!
5. Showcase Soft Skills - While hard skills such as technical abilities are important, don’t forget about soft skills either! Including these can help demonstrate how well-rounded of an employee you could be if hired by showcasing qualities such as leadership, communication, problem-solving, etc. All of these can come in handy when working with others on projects or dealing with customers directly!
6. Educate Yourself On ATS Systems - Many companies use ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems) software which helps them screen potential candidates more efficiently by scanning resumes for certain keywords and phrases relevant to their industry or company culture; if yours doesn’t contain enough of these words then chances are it won’t even be seen by recruiters! Educating yourself on what types of keywords these systems look for can help increase your odds of being noticed by employers significantly!
7. Use Numbers Whenever Possible - Quantifying results can really help make an impact on employers; whenever possible try to use numbers/percentages/etc. when describing successes from previous jobs or projects so they have a better understanding of how successful you were in those roles!
8. Include Relevant Information Only - Don’t waste space on things like hobbies or interests unless they directly relate back to the position you’re applying for; instead, focus on including only information that is relevant to this particular role so recruiters know exactly why they should consider hiring you over someone else!
9. Add Contact Information - Making sure contact information is included at the top of your document helps guarantee that recruiters won’t lose track of who sent them. Be sure not only to include basic contact info such as name/phone number/email address but also links or handles associated with any social media profiles if applicable (i.e., LinkedIn URL).
10. Proofread Twice & Get Feedback - Before submitting, always double-check your work for any typos or errors; nothing looks worse than a typo-filled resume full of mistakes which could easily turn off potential employers right away! Also, consider asking a friend/family member/colleague etc. to take a look over it before sending it out just in case there was something missing during initial proofreading sessions – second opinions never hurt anyone right?

Having a stand-out resume is essential when applying for jobs today since competition is higher than ever before now thanks largely due to technology advancements making it easier than ever before to apply online from anywhere around the world within minutes rather than the days/weeks required not too long ago. A standout resume is even more important than ever before in order to get noticed amongst the hundreds of other resumes potential employers might receive in a single day alone let alone a week, a month, etc. So keep all the aforementioned tips in mind to get the edge needed to succeed in today's market! Good luck everyone!

Yours Truly,

Michelle Parker

Talent Attraction Specialist & Professional Resume Writer