how to make your resume stand out in 2023

How to Make a Resume That Stands Out in 2024: A Guide That Stands Out

In This Guide:

What makes a resume stand out in 2023, key takeaways.

So you want to know how to make your resume stand out to recruiters?

You’re here because the generic “best practices from recruiters” advice you got until now was not very helpful. You already knew it all. You know what the baseline is .

But do you know how to write a visually appealing resume that makes you stand out from the crowd?

What makes a resume pop?

We, at Enhancv , asked ourselves the same questions. To find the standout factors, we did some research and testing.

We started by analyzing our clients’ resumes that helped them secure jobs at the likes of Amazon, Spotify, PwC, Verizon, and other top companies. We identified all the resume components that catch the eye of employers and recruiters. Then, we performed solid A/B testing, and finally, put together all our findings into one test resume . This test resume gathered over 1 million views, got covered by CNBC and Business Insider, and was praised by Mark Cuban .

BUILD MY RESUME LIKE THIS

To put it simply – it stood out and attracted attention.

The following advice helped thousands of candidates get interviews and land jobs at leading companies. We’ll share their resumes as case studies and explore different ways to make your resume stand out from the rest.

Here’s what you’ll learn from this guide:

• How to make a resume that both stands out and gets you interviews in 2023
• Case studies, tips, and professional examples from candidates that successfully landed jobs at top companies
• What resume layouts are getting more interviews and which are getting less
• How to pass automatic HR filters when creating a stand out resume

At the end of the day, you want your resume to stand out and land you a job, not raise HR’s eyebrows or get shared on Reddit for the sake of it.

So we won’t be using fancy fonts or inserting funny pictures. Every example we provide and each template we use has been thoroughly tested with HR systems to pass automatic filters.

This guide will take your resume from good to great, and here’s how.

• First, for every section we’ll cover a baseline, a bare minimum you need to do in order to have a competitive resume. Unfortunately, the majority of career guides stop at that.
• From there, we take it one step further with specific advice on how to make every section of your resume even more engaging and remarkable with out-of-box techniques.
• Finally, we’ll talk about the power of formatting and layout in creating an outstanding resume.

Along the way, we’ll provide case studies and real-life examples that helped candidates land real jobs at the companies they wanted.

Create attention-grabbing header section

The Header is the top section of your resume. It includes your name, location, job title, and contact details.

• Baseline: provide clear, typo-free contact and location details so that recruiters could contact you with zero effort.
• Stand out: include a link to your developed LinkedIn profile, add a custom headline, consider adding a photo.

Looking for ways to make your header stand out? See how you can perfect your resume header and get noticed .

Link to LinkedIn and/or personal portfolio website

Here’s a thing: 70% of recruiters will be checking your social media profiles. But the real bummer is that 79% of employers can reject candidates based on their social media.

Let’s turn this into our advantage and put a link to your LinkedIn profile in your Header section.

This will earn you extra points with recruiters and guide their attention to where you want them to be.

If you have a personal portfolio website that you want recruiters to see, link to it as well.

Gal included a link to his personal website to guide the recruiter’s attention, but also to keep his resume one-page without having to describe all the projects he’s worked on over the decade.

Pro tip: when applying for code-heavy jobs, consider linking to your Github.

Custom headline

Recruiters will spend most of their time analyzing the top third of your resume, and a custom headline is one of the most influential and often overlooked ways to grab their attention.

Headline goes immediately after your name on the resume and can include anything from your job title to a personal slogan.

However, you can do much better than simply putting your job title there., e.g. “System Administrator”.

Below are two amazing standout resume examples of a customized headline in action:

In the past, Daniel had two different jobs: Customer Support Engineer and Systems Administrator.

So he combined both qualifications in his headline, emphasizing experience with both people and systems.

This way he framed his diverse experience as an advantage before the recruiter even got to see the rest of the resume.

Result? Intercom hired Daniel. Check out the resume template that got Daniel the job.

For other jobs, you might want to get even more creative with your headline. For example, how are you going to stand out from hundreds of other marketers?

Wrong example : PPC specialist with 5 years of experience.

Right example : Fighting shady, aggressive marketing.

In his headline, Louis took a strong stance against something that was at the time a massive problem for established brands: shady viral marketing tactics of competition. Later he was hired by Hotjar. Check out the template that Louis used to get his dream job.

Custom headline allows you to frame the rest of your resume however you need, providing a halo effect. Daniel framed his work experience as an advantage for his next job, while Louis stood out from hundreds of marketers with the same skillset.

And the best part? Headlines can be easily tailored to every job you’re applying for, so you can easily switch between experience-based headlines, slogans, or anything related to your next job. Learn more about how to craft your headline here .

Should you include a photo in your resume or not?"?

Short answer: it depends. The best practice is to check company and government policy (including photos is illegal in some countries). For the long answer, head over to our helpful post on the topic .

Sam wanted to switch careers, but her extensive investment banking background made her resume look a bit boring for a startup-tech world.

So she used one of our resume templates, including her photo and adding some personality to her resume , to successfully score a job at Spotify.

To sum it up – you’ll need an attractive header section to make your resume stand out from the crowd. What you’ll also need is a special Summary section…

Use summary that captivates recruiters

The summary section is a short paragraph or bulleted list that briefly describes your professional experience before the rest of your resume.

Sometimes Summary is called an “Objective”, especially if you are using it to explain why you’re applying for the job.

• Baseline : short, easy-to-read, and impactful description of your professional experience
• Stand out : make your Summary memorable, use a proper layout .

Think of your Summary section as a cold email you’re sending someone you don’t know. If it’s a long, boring, and self-centered cold email, no one wants to read that.

But if you research your recipient, create an engaging and short cold email, you have a much higher chance of someone responding to it.

The Summary section, when done right, is one of the most powerful ways of “aligning” you to the position.

Sometimes you’ll hear the opinion that the Summary section takes too much space on your resume.

First, there’s an easy fix to it.

Let’s look at Daniel’s resume once again.

He puts the Summary section to the right of his Experience section. Why?

When recruiters scan your resume, they are checking your experience section first, but that doesn’t mean they don’t want to learn more about you after.

With his Summary, Daniel once again frames the recruiter’s perception, highlighting that he did the majority of his work experience remotely. It helps a lot given that the company he applied for, Intercom, is a fully remote organization.

At the same time, he also provides some insight into his personality, as he knows how important culture fit is in remote companies.

Learn as much as you can about the company you’re applying for to know what’s important to them, and use this information to make your Summary more memorable.

Another great way to use the Summary section is when you’re switching careers, have no work experience, or have gaps in your work history.

Seeing your experience section, recruiters will immediately ask themselves questions: why are they making the career switch? Do they have enough experience?

Be proactive and address the elephant in the room yourself.

Akshay S. Rao put a brief summary section before his experience section to explain why he wants the internship with Tesla in the first place.

Check out the job-winning resume layout that Akshay used to land a promising internship.

Okay, so you’ve mastered the Summary, and you are one step closer to making a creative resume that stands out from the rest. Now, it’s time to understand how to tie results with responsibilities and present your work achievements on your resume.

Always provide quantifiable achievements

One of the most common pieces of advice we hear from recruiters is “provide results, not responsibilities”.

Well, yeah, it’s great advice. But we can do even better than that.

• Baseline: when describing your experience, demonstrate the impact of your work and contribution to the bottom-line of a company
• Stand out: Add quantifiable achievements to other sections of your resume, creating a cohesive “rainmaker” narrative.

Compare these two Experience sections from our job-winning Tech resume guide.

The first example may seem clean and concise, but in reality, it’s generic and doesn’t bring impact.

When you provide quantifiable achievements in your resume, it’s not about bragging with numbers.

It gives recruiters the impression that the person knows the impact of their work and their value to the company. And knowing your impact makes you more effective and loyal, a recruiter’s dream.

Here’s a formula we are using to describe our experience in an engaging and impactful manner:

Accomplished [A] as measured in [B] by doing [C]

Just remember that quantifiable achievements don’t necessarily mean “numeric achievements”. Simply adding numbers to something doesn’t make it impactful.

As long as what you did makes an impact and benefits the company, it will resonate with recruiters.

The best part is that you can demonstrate impact throughout other sections of your resume, instantly making them more engaging and effective: Summary, Projects, even your headline.

Maximilian Malterer, who now works at Amazon, used our “Most Proud of” section and moved it right next to his experience section.

No matter how recruiters will be scanning this resume, they will notice the impact you made.

Access the job-winning resume of Maximilian layout at our library of top-performing templates .

Now, let’s discover what the Achievement section is and how to use it wisely.

Highlight awards and recognitions

• Baseline : candidates rarely have this section in their resumes
• Stand out : adding an Achievements section to your resume sets you apart from the majority of candidates in the hiring pool.

If we were to summarize what sets apart the majority of our customers whose successful resumes we’ve used throughout this guide, we’d say custom sections.

“Achievements”, “Awards”, and “Most Proud” sections are all great examples.

Adding them within our resume builder is a one-step drag-and-drop process, but the most important part is that you can quickly change the whole layout based on your particular needs.

As mentioned before, Maximilian put his most impactful Achievements right next to his Experience section, amplifying the overall impact, which is critical when you work with Amazon partners.

But Julian Prim, who now works with PwC, took a different approach. His high-stakes analyst job required extra attention to detail and next to perfect time-management skills.

After all, that’s what PwC had in mind for their operations specialist.

So Julian put his skills first to let recruiters know he checks all these boxes and added his “Most Proud” section below.

While Maximillians’s resume narrative is an ambitious and impactful account manager, Julian Prim is an efficient and timid analyst. The layouts of their resumes work great for both of them.

Pro tip : with simple drag and drop you can quickly change layouts and thus how your resume narrative.

Julian can easily become an ambitious superstar data wizard and apply for some hot BigData startup by simply dragging his “Most Proud” section to the top. Experiment with resume layouts by using the top-performing templates directly in our resume builder .

Surely, sharing awards and recognition is a way to make your resume stand out from other applicants and land you the job. But if you want to get things to the next level, you’d spend some time tailoring your resume and make it more specific to the position you are applying for.

Tailor your resume

Tailoring your resume to the job description is an extremely effective strategy for landing more job interviews.

Just don’t overdo it, otherwise, your efforts might seem too obvious.

• Baseline : include in your resume skills and keywords from your target job description
• Stand out : group skills and provide context for your core skills to maximize the impact and prove that you actually have these skills.

There are several ways to feature both technical and soft skills on your resume.

The majority of candidates will simply list them, but for recruiters, it’s as engaging as reading someone’s shopping list.

Instead, we have a few more easy-to-read and effective options you can use.

Daniel is a technical person. It was important for him to showcase his technical skills when applying for a job at Intercom, but he didn’t want to scare off recruiters with a poorly formatted list of 100+ technologies he learned during his career in IT.

He mentioned many skills and technologies he worked with when describing his Experience section, but for the skills section he followed the old wisdom of “less is more”.

So he identified four of the most important groups of skills he has and presented them as engaging infographics.

Adapt this layout and try out various visual styles using our freely accessible resume templates .

Julian went for the jugular with his PwC analyst resume. He was perfectly aware that the majority of analysts lack soft skills, and that was a great opportunity to stand out from his competition.

But instead of simply listing soft skills he presented them in a real-world context. Finally, he renamed the whole section “Strengths” to grab the recruiter’s attention.

Pro tip: Don’t be afraid to experiment with the names for your custom resume sections.

Recruiters are tired of seeing thousands of “My skills” sections to the point they automatically skim them.

But try naming them “Core strengths” or “Tech achievements” and you’ll hold their attention.

If you are interested in learning more about making your resume laser-targeted, read our post on the topic .

Did you know that nothing sets your resume apart from the rest more than sharing your personal story in it…

Show your career and personal story

So far, we’ve managed to make every section of your resume stand out and engage recruiters, showcasing your experience and achievement in the most convincing way.

Let’s apply some final effort with custom sections that will push your resume into a league of its own.

Here are the four custom sections our customers most often add to their job-winning resumes:

• Life philosophy

Marcellus Nixon, now Senior Director of Network Operations, had an excellent work history in the network communications sector.

You can access Marcellus’s full resume template here .

But so did every candidate who was aiming for an executive role at Verizon.

At this level, candidates rarely can outperform each other on a skill basis.

At the end of the day, organizations hire humans, and if recruiters feel that there’s a person behind all the achievements on your paper, they will remember you.

That’s why Marcellus decided to add “A Day In My Life” and “Life Philosophy” sections.

With these two custom sections, his resume narrative switched from “experienced network executive” to “experienced network executive with a strong work ethic and a solid plan.”

Exactly what Verizon, a global network mogul, needs.

Still with us? Good.

It’s all fun and games until we mention proper formatting. Are there any tricks to it? What colors and fonts are appropriate? Let’s see how you can make your resume stand out visually.

Apply formatting tricks to create stand out resume

Watch out for white space.

According to an eye-tracking study from Ladders Inc, resumes that lack white space turn recruiters off.

The easier your resume reads, the more chances there will be that the recruiter reads every section of it.

If you have a lot to put on your resume, use smart layout and custom sections.

The two resume examples feature the same amount of information, yet the second one is much more engaging and comfortable to digest.

Pro tip: after you filled all the sections of your resume, look at it with your eyes squinted. If your resume feels like a big cluttered black spot, start decluttering it.

Declutter your resume with minimalism approach

Make a point of using as few words to describe your experience as possible. The worst thing you can do is trying to sound smart.

Bad example: developed an elaborate testing environment throughout a wide array of 22 company and partner software assets

Good example: Launched a test-to-production environment for 22 software products

Use well-tested fonts and combinations

Don’t be afraid to use several fonts on your resume, especially if you want to bold certain parts of your resume like headers or titles.

Just remember to limit yourself to only three fonts per resume , and try using font pairs that were already tested together by designers and user experience experts.

Make colors work for you

Here’s a really elaborate, but effective trick you can use to earn some extra points: try using the company’s brand colors on your resume.

Surely don’t put a company logo or use the exact color palette, go for a subtle effect .

It’s a bit of reverse psychology: in-house recruiters that know brand colors too well may subconsciously gravitate towards resumes with familiar colors.

Proofread your resume at least 3 times

Even the most elaborate and engaging resume can quickly become a recruiter’s kryptonite when a single typo creeps into your sentences.Make sure to proofread your resumes at least three times before you send them out. If you’re using our resume builder, it will automatically check every resume you create or upload for typos.

Study specific cases of resumes that stood out from competition

Writing a resume that stands out with no work experience.

• Put Education and Projects section on the top left and top right
• Hide GPA if it’s below 3
• Add a link to personal industry-related projects or Github if you’re in development
• Include a short objective to frame the recruiter’s expectations
• Use custom sections (e.g. Projects and Certification) to stand out from hundreds of applicants
• DON’T mention passion in your objective.

Successful example: [internship at Tesla]

Tips for making your resume stand out for senior employees

• Use custom section to stand out from your competition and add personality to your top-management experience (e.g. “A Day In My Life” and “Life Philosophy”  sections)
• Frame your experience with a well-researched custom headline on top
• Add links to a business-related profile (LinkedIn)
• Frame Skills sections in a unique way (e.g. name them “Workflows”, “Strengths”)

Successful example: senior manager resume at Verizon

How to create a standout resume with bad work history

• Go for a functional layout resume where skills and workflows are prioritized over the experience section
• Create a proxy item in your experience section, e.g. “Freelancer”, or “Agency” and list your temporary experiences within it
• Write an engaging Summary section to address the recruiter’s questions about your inconsistent work history and turn it to your advantage (e.g. several areas of competence)
• DON’T mention passion in your objective. Just don’t.

Standout resume for different positions

Over years we’ve shared and updated a library of 530+ professional resume example guides with best practices and tips for specific job titles.

Simply type in the job title you’re applying for, and you’ll get a resume guide similar to this one with actionable tips specific to your dream job.

BROWSE RESUME EXAMPLES

• Small details matter: make every section stand out for the compound effect
• Extensively research the company you’re applying for and use your findings in different sections
• Add custom sections to stand out and boost engagement with recruiters
• Visuals and readability matter more than you think. Watch your white space, fonts, and formatting

Did you like the guide? Anything else that we’re forgetting and you might want to add? What are your tips for creating a stand-out resume? Jump in the discussion below.

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• Career Blog

20 Top Resume Tips for Making Your Resume Stand Out in 2024

In today’s competitive job market, a well-crafted resume can make all the difference. Your resume is your first impression to potential employers, and it’s crucial to make it stand out from the rest. With technology evolving and resume screening systems becoming increasingly popular, it’s more important than ever to have a resume that catches the attention of both human recruiters and automated systems.

This article presents 20 top resume tips to help you create an outstanding resume that will set you apart from the competition. The tips provided in this article are based on years of experience from subject matter experts in the field of recruiting and hiring.

The tips are organized into several categories:

• Formatting your resume
• Crafting your content
• Showcasing your achievements
• Leveraging LinkedIn to support your resume
• Avoiding common resume mistakes

Each section provides practical and actionable advice to help you achieve your goal of capturing hiring managers’ attention and landing your dream job.

The following sections will provide more detail on each of the 20 tips and provide real-world examples of how to put these best practices into action. By the end of this article, you will have the tools and knowledge necessary to create an impressive resume that showcases your skills, successes, and potential.

Customize Your Resume for Each Job

When it comes to job applications, one size does not fit all. It’s essential to tailor your resume to the specific job posting you’re applying for. Not only does it show potential employers that you took the time to research their company and requirements, but it can also help your resume stand out.

To customize your resume effectively, start by studying the job posting carefully. Look for keywords and phrases that the employer emphasizes, such as specific skills, qualifications, and experiences. Incorporate these keywords into your resume, so that it matches the posting as closely as possible.

Don’t make the mistake of blindly copying and pasting the job description into your resume. Instead, use it as a guide to highlight your relevant skills and experiences. If you don’t have a particular skill or experience mentioned in the job posting, don’t add it to your resume just to match the posting. This can look dishonest, and you may end up in a job that doesn’t suit your actual qualifications.

When highlighting your skills and experiences, ensure that they align with the job description. For example, if the job posting emphasizes teamwork skills, use concrete examples from your past experiences to demonstrate how you have successfully worked in a team.

Customizing your resume for each job posting can make a significant difference in catching the attention of potential employers. By tailoring your resume to match the requirements and utilizing relevant keywords, you demonstrate that you are an ideal fit for the job. Remember to focus on showcasing the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the position, and always be truthful about your qualifications.

Use a Professional and Clean Design

When it comes to designing your resume, the overall look of your document can actually play a big role in catching the attention of potential employers. To ensure your resume looks professional and clean, follow these tips:

• Choose an appropriate font and font size: It’s best to stick with a standard font like Times New Roman, Arial or Calibri, and keep the size between 10 and 12 points. Avoid using overly stylized or decorative fonts, as this can be distracting and difficult to read.
• Use consistent formatting: Consistency is key when it comes to formatting your resume. Be sure to use the same font, font size, and formatting style throughout your entire document. This will help your resume look polished and professional.
• Use bullet points to present information: Bullet points are a great way to present information clearly and concisely. They allow you to highlight your skills, accomplishments, and experience in an easy-to-read format. Just be sure to use bullet points sparingly, and avoid using too many symbols or fancy formatting.

By following these design tips, you can create a professional and clean-looking resume that will help you stand out from the crowd. Remember, a well-designed resume can be just as important as the content itself, so take the time to make sure your document looks its best.

Start with a Strong Objective Statement or Summary

A strong objective statement or summary is a crucial part of crafting a standout resume. It’s a brief paragraph that appears at the top of your document and serves as an introduction to who you are as a professional.

Explain your goals and objectives

Your objective statement or summary should clearly outline what you want to achieve in your career. This could relate to the position you’re applying for, or your long-term career aspirations. By doing so, you demonstrate to potential employers that you are serious about your goals and committed to your profession.

Demonstrate your value proposition

Your objective statement or summary is also an excellent opportunity to showcase your value proposition to potential employers. This is where you can highlight your unique skills and experiences that make you the ideal candidate for the job. Use this section to explain what you can bring to the table and how you stand out from the crowd.

Summarize your experience and achievements

Lastly, your objective statement or summary should summarize your experience and achievements. Use this section to highlight why you are the best candidate for the job, and how you have achieved success in your previous roles. Be sure to include any relevant achievements or accomplishments that demonstrate your expertise in your field.

A strong objective statement or summary is critical to making your resume stand out. It should explain your goals and objectives, demonstrate your value proposition, and summarize your experience and achievements. With these elements in place, you can create a powerful introduction to your professional abilities and set the tone for the rest of your resume.

Highlight Your Achievements and Results

When it comes to crafting a winning resume, simply listing your job responsibilities or tasks is not enough. What truly sets you apart from other candidates is your ability to deliver results and achieve success in your role. Here are some key tips for highlighting your achievements and results in your resume:

Use Quantifiable Metrics

Employers want to see concrete evidence of your success, and the best way to provide that is with specific numbers and metrics. For example, instead of saying “increased sales,” you could say “increased sales by 25% in Q4 2020.” Other examples of quantifiable metrics include:

• Reduced costs by X%
• Improving customer satisfaction ratings by X points
• Generated X number of leads or conversions

By using quantifiable metrics, you demonstrate that you understand the importance of tracking results and are able to deliver measurable outcomes.

Use Action Verbs

To make your achievements stand out, use action verbs that show you took initiative in achieving those results. Some examples include:

• Implemented
• Spearheaded

Using strong action verbs shows that you are a proactive and results-oriented employee who takes ownership of your work.

Use Specific Examples

When highlighting your achievements and results, be specific and provide detailed examples. Avoid generic statements or buzzwords that could apply to anyone. A strong example might be:

“Developed and implemented a new marketing campaign that resulted in a 50% increase in website traffic and a 20% increase in lead generation within the first month.”

This statement is specific, quantifiable, and demonstrates both initiative and measurable results. Another example might be:

“Led a team of 10 professionals in developing and launching a new product line, resulting in over $1 million in revenue in the first quarter.”

Again, this statement shows specific results, strong leadership skills, and quantifiable metrics.

Make sure to showcase your accomplishments and measurable results using quantifiable metrics, strong action verbs, and specific examples. By emphasizing your success, you will stand out as a candidate who can deliver real value to potential employers.

Include Relevant Education and Certifications

A successful resume highlights both academic qualifications and relevant certifications. Hiring managers often use these indicators to determine whether a candidate has the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in the role. Below are tips on how to showcase your educational background and certifications in your resume:

List your academic qualifications

Start by creating a section on your resume to list your academic qualifications. This may include your degree(s), major(s), minor(s), honors, and any relevant coursework. If you are a recent graduate or have limited work experience, your education section may appear higher up on your resume.

For example, your education section may look like this:

• Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, XYZ University, May 2020
• Relevant coursework: Research Methods, Statistics, Social Psychology

Highlight relevant certifications

In addition to your academic qualifications, highlighting relevant certifications can demonstrate to the hiring manager that you have sought out additional training and have specific skills related to the job. Certifications can be listed either within your Education section or in a separate section devoted to Certifications and Professional Development.

For example, a marketing manager may include the following certifications:

Certifications

• Google Ads Certified
• HubSpot Inbound Certified
• Hootsuite Social Media Marketing Certified

Provide details about any relevant training

It’s also important to provide details about any relevant training you have received, even if it didn’t result in a formal certification. Details about training can be included in bullet points within your work experience section or in a separate section devoted to Professional Development.

For example, a software engineer may include the following training details:

Professional Development

• Developed expertise in Java programming language
• Worked on various projects with a team of developers, using Agile methodology
• Learned advanced SQL querying techniques
• Gained familiarity with database administration tasks

Including relevant education and certifications in your resume is crucial for demonstrating your qualifications and setting yourself apart from other candidates. By highlighting your academic background, certifications, and professional development, you can provide valuable information to hiring managers and increase your chances of landing an interview.

Emphasize Your Skills

When it comes to crafting a standout resume, highlighting your skills is crucial. This section should include both hard and soft skills and provide specific examples of each. To make your skills section relevant to the job, carefully review the job description and tailor your skills to fit their requirements.

Hard Skills

Hard skills refer to specific technical abilities that you have acquired through education, training, or experience. These skills are often job-specific and can be measured or quantified. Some examples of hard skills that you might include are:

Proficient in InDesign and Photoshop : As a graphic designer, I have extensive experience creating high-quality designs using InDesign and Photoshop. I am comfortable using these tools to create brochures, logos, and various other marketing materials.

Data Analysis : As a business analyst, I have a proven track record of using data analysis to understand business performance and inform strategic decision-making. I have experience with tools like Excel, Power BI, and Tableau.

Fluent in Spanish : As a customer service representative, I have experience working with Spanish-speaking clients. My fluency in Spanish has allowed me to communicate effectively and build strong relationships with these clients.

Soft Skills

Soft skills refer to personal qualities or attributes that relate to how you interact with others. These skills are often transferable and can be applied to a variety of jobs or industries. Some examples of soft skills that you might include are:

Problem-Solving : As a project manager, I have a demonstrated ability to identify issues and develop creative solutions to complex problems. For example, when our team encountered a major obstacle during a software project, I worked collaboratively with team members to identify a workaround that kept the project on track.

Communication : As a sales representative, I have developed excellent communication skills that allow me to effectively connect with prospects and clients. I can adapt my communication style to fit the needs of different audiences and have been recognized for my ability to generate high-quality leads through targeted messaging.

Teamwork : As an event coordinator, I have a proven track record of leading successful events by leveraging the strengths of each team member. For example, during a recent fundraising event, I assigned each team member a specific role that played to their strengths, resulting in a successful event that exceeded our fundraising goals.

By highlighting both your hard and soft skills and providing specific examples of each, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills and experience necessary to succeed in the job. Remember to tailor your skills section to the job description to make it as relevant as possible.

Show Your Personality

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make in their resumes is trying to sound robotic and impersonal. Your resume should showcase not only your professional experience, but also your unique personality. Here are some tips to inject your personality and interests into your resume:

Include interests and hobbies

Including your interests and hobbies on your resume gives hiring managers a glimpse into your personality and tells them what you enjoy doing outside of work. This can make you stand out from other applicants who only include their work experience. Don’t be afraid to show your quirky side – if you love bungee jumping or collecting vintage vinyl albums, include it!

Write in a conversational tone

Too often, resumes sound like they were written by a robot, with repetitive and dry language. Instead, try writing your resume as if you were having a conversation with the hiring manager. Use contractions, be less formal, and add a touch of humor if it fits your personality.

Use language that reflects your personality

If you’re a bubbly and outgoing person, use language that reflects that. If you’re more reserved and analytical, use language that showcases those traits. The idea is to let your personality shine through, so don’t be afraid to inject some of your authenticity into your resume.

Here’s an example of how you could include your personality and interests on your resume:

“Interests: In my free time, I can usually be found baking up a storm in my kitchen or hiking the local trails with my dog, Max. I’m also an avid reader, with a special interest in non-fiction books. My book club meets once a month to discuss the latest reads and exchange recommendations.”

By adding this section, you’ve given the hiring manager a better idea of who you are outside of work. Remember, your resume is not just a laundry list of your work experience – it’s an opportunity to showcase your unique qualities and make yourself stand out from the crowd.

Address Career Gaps or Problems

To make your resume stand out, it is essential to address any career gaps or problems effectively. Consider the following tips to explain these gaps in a positive light.

Provide an explanation for any gaps in your employment:  Do not leave any career gaps unexplained, as it can raise red flags for recruiters. Instead, provide a valid reason for each gap, such as higher education, raising a family, or a personal sabbatical. It shows that you were not just sitting idle during this period.

Explain any past problems or challenges:  Do not try to hide any past problems or challenges that you have faced in your career. Whether it was a difficult job or a health issue, it is best to divulge such information upfront rather than leaving it for the recruiters to discover later. It will earn you the recruiter’s trust and provide a glimpse of your character and values.

Show how you overcame these challenges:  Do not just explain your problems or challenges; showcase how you tackled them effectively. For instance, if you overcame a language barrier, explain how you took classes and practiced conversing with native speakers. If you had a long job hunt, mention any networking events and volunteering activities you participated in during that time. This demonstrates your resilience, adaptability, and the ability to learn from failures.

Addressing career gaps or problems shows that you take an honest and transparent approach towards your resume. It demonstrates your accountability, shows that you don’t shy away from challenges and motivates you to seek new opportunities to grow. With these tips, you can make your resume stand out from the rest and land your dream job.

Put Your Most Relevant Experience First

When it comes to putting together an effective resume, it’s crucial to include your most relevant experiences first. This will capture the recruiter’s attention and give them a quick glimpse of what you bring to the table. Follow these tips to make sure your most relevant experience stands out:

Include your most relevant and recent experience

Make sure to feature your most applicable experience, which will vary depending on the job you’re applying for. It’s okay to omit less relevant experience, especially if it’s not recent. Focus on the skills, knowledge, and accomplishments that align with the job opening.

Highlight your achievements in each previous role

When describing your prior roles, make sure to focus on your accomplishments, not just your responsibilities. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you contributed to a previous employer’s success. This will help recruiters see how you could potentially benefit their organization.

Emphasize your experiences that relate to the job

Make sure to emphasize experiences that are most relevant to the job you’re pursuing. If you’re applying for a data analysis position, for example, you’ll want to highlight any experiences you’ve had working with data sets, building models, or analyzing trends. By showcasing experiences that align with the job opening, you’ll increase your chances of landing an interview and ultimately, the job.

Putting your most relevant experience first can make a significant difference in how recruiters view your resume. Be sure to highlight your achievements, include recent experience, and emphasize experiences that relate to the job. By doing this, you’ll increase your chances of getting noticed and landing the job you’ve been dreaming of.

Proofread and Edit Your Resume Carefully

Your resume is the first impression you make on a potential employer, and it’s critical that it’s perfect. Even a minor spelling or grammatical error can be enough to make you lose out on the job you want. That’s why it’s important to proofread and edit your resume carefully before you submit it.

Here are some tips to help you ensure that your resume is perfect:

Check for any spelling or grammatical errors

One of the most important things you can do when proofreading your resume is to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. This includes checking for proper punctuation, capitalization, and sentence structure. To do this effectively, you should read your resume several times, starting from the beginning and working your way to the end.

Use a tool to help find errors

To make the proofreading process easier, you can use a grammar checking tool like Grammarly or Hemingway Editor. These tools help you identify errors in your writing, including grammar mistakes, spelling errors, and sentence structure issues.

Get a second opinion

Another way to ensure that your resume is perfect is to get a second opinion. This can be from a friend, family member, or even a professional. They can help you identify any areas where you may have missed something, and provide suggestions for improvement.

Proofreading and editing your resume is essential to making it stand out. By checking for spelling and grammatical errors, using tools to help find errors, and getting a second opinion, you can ensure that your resume is perfect and ready to impress potential employers.

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• Do you need to put a date on a cover letter in 2023?

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Resume Writing Tips

What your resume should look like in 2023 (with examples & templates).

Learning what your resume should look like in 2023 isn’t just a matter of aesthetics.

Hiring data shows there’s an average of 200 applicants per job opening. Some researchers say that figure may be closer to 500 candidates , depending on the position.

I share these figures not to scare you, but to highlight your stiff competition.

Your resume is your best chance to make a powerful first impression on hiring teams and recruiters. These decision-makers are inundated with well-qualified applicants as soon as they post a job.

And to make matters worse, eye-tracking studies reveal they only spend 7.4 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read it in its entirety or move on to the next one.

That’s not a lot of time to capture and excite readers about your value.

So in this post, I’ll highlight exactly what your resume should look like in 2023 to stand out, engage readers, and boost your chances of landing an interview.

What Your Resume Should Look Like In 2023: 5 Must-Haves + Examples

An attractive, high-performing resume immediately piques a reader’s interest. It subtly draws them down the page to learn why you’re the candidate they’re looking for.

So every resume in 2023 should incorporate these five elements to achieve that goal:

1. An Updated, Modern Design

A traditional resume format (think: chronological order, bullet points, etc.) won’t give you a leg-up on your competition in 2023. Using one may even hold you back.

See, hiring managers tune out when one of those stale resume templates lands on their desks for the umpteenth time. These boring resumes don’t excite or connect with readers. So your resume could be passed over in that brief 7.4-second scan before it’s even read.

That’s why it’s so important to freshen up the look of your resume with an updated, modern resume template like this one:

Want to use this resume template? Click this link purchase it and start customizing this template (or any others in this article) now.

Unlike a traditional resume template, the one above builds a personal connection with readers by introducing and showcasing your value first. A quick scan of the top half provides them with a snapshot of your areas of expertise and core competencies, two very attractive “hooks” to hiring teams.

Readers will then feel compelled to learn where you honed those skills. So the bottom half of this resume template helps organize your career achievements in an engaging, eye-appealing way. 

Rather than reading like a bland job description, each point should back up your skill set while proving your track record of success.

Anyone reading your resume formatted with a modern template like this will know precisely who you are and the value you’ll deliver, which is the ultimate goal.

2. Clear Sections To Highlight Your Best Features

Resumes that look like one giant block of text are intimidating. They tell hiring teams they’ll need to spend time and effort to mine for the intel they’re looking for. And with hundreds of other resumes vying for their attention, they’ll probably just pass on doing so.

That’s why most modern resume templates are divided into sections with clear, distinct headers. This makes your resume easier to scan and read, not to mention far more enjoyable for busy hiring managers.

The resume template above does a fantastic job of breaking up a resume into bite-sized chunks of information. The example below takes this concept a step further:

The highlights and expertise section in this resume template sits in a blue box to draw the reader’s eyes and attention. This is like telling hiring teams, “Hey! Come check this out!”

So think of your resume as a cheat sheet for hiring managers and recruiters rather than a dossier.

Your resume headings and sections will create an organized outline of your qualifications. Then these call-out boxes can be used to show off your best features, as they’re likely one of the first things hiring managers will notice during their initial scan.

3. Strategically-Placed White Space and Tight Copy

Often times, candidates are so focused on adding every little detail to their resume that it becomes too crammed to read. Headings and call-out boxes can help with this problem. But nothing works quite as well as more white space.

White space, or the places in your resume without words or formatting, adds breathing room to your resume . It prevents a resume from appearing jam-packed and hard to read.

A resume with well-defined sections naturally creates more white space, like this resume template :

Aim for short copy to add more white space to your resume . Break up any big chunks of text to make reading less overwhelming and easier for the eyes.

Your resume is like a garden. You don’t want wordy sentences hiding your highlights and achievements like weeds overrunning a beautiful flower bed. 

Prune your copy, and you’ll easily add more white space to your resume and draw attention to your best selling points simultaneously.

4. A Bold Pop of Color

If you really want to stand out and catch someone’s attention, a pop of bold color on your resume is a must. But this doesn’t mean you should haphazardly throw a rainbow of color wherever you want.

When done strategically, as this example does, color can be used to add emphasis, contrast, and personality. It can also help break up the sea of black text on your resume.

Want to use this resume template? Click this link to customize this template or any others in this article now .

Though a pop of color can help your resume stand out and make a memorable first impression, colors that are too bright or off-putting will do so for the wrong reasons. Opt for deeper, saturated shades, so your resume will be legible in person and on-screen.

5. A Clear, Easy-to-Read Font and Formatting

It’s essential to think about the font you choose for your resume .

Anything “cutesy” will likely be regarded as unprofessional. Likewise, a font that’s too light or too bold may also be difficult to read.

The best fonts to use on a resume include Serif and Sans Serif fonts, such as Times New Roman, Georgia, Verdana, and Arial.

As for the font size, stick to 10-14 points (10-12 for regular text and 12-14 for headings and subheadings).

This template offers a great example of resume text formatting:

On a similar note, be sure to emphasize the right areas, not everything . Only use bold or italics to draw attention to your top achievements, companies you’ve worked for, and other notable points according to the role.

Ready To Update Your Resume for 2023?

Now that you know the must-have ingredients for a high-performing resume, it’s time to put these tips to good use.

Incorporating today’s must-have elements will give your resume a fresh upgrade for 2023 and help you connect with hiring teams and recruiters.

Even better news?

If you use one of the resume templates shared in this guide, you’ll ace this task in half the time. Just purchase and download the one that fits your needs best, plug in your information where prompted, and voila! 

You’ll have a modern, professional resume ready to send out in a matter of minutes instead of spending all day reformatting your current one.

Click this link to learn more about the resume templates featured in this article. Psst! You’ll also find a free executive resume template download on our resources page.

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About the author

Jessica hernandez, president, ceo & founder of great resumes fast.

Hi, I’m Jessica. I started this company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

What started as a side hustle (before that was even a word!) helping friends of friends with their resumes has now grown into a company that serves hundreds of happy clients a year. But the personal touch? I’ve kept that.

You might have seen me featured as a resume expert in publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune. And in 2020, I was honored to be named as a LinkedIn Top Voice of the year!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to help you find your next perfect-fit position!

This is very well-detailed content. I highly appreciate your work. Thank you for sharing your ideas!

Hi Jessica,

As I was looking to give my resume a fresh, new style for 2023, I came across your article. I kid you not, I have been styling my resume like this for the last 3 years! I am an independent career coach–would you be interested in hiring a partner?

I’m not kidding.

I found these resume formats to be reader friendly and they target what potential employers want to see quickly. It allows the reader to focus on the accomplishments beyond the day to day duties.

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Resume Trends To Follow in 2024

Some resume advice is timeless … but not all of it. Here’s a list of the current resume trends worth following, including our top resume tips for 2024 and beyond.

2 years ago   •   7 min read

The job market is changing more rapidly than ever, which means that resume trends seem to be coming (and going) faster than ever. So, which trends are worth following — and which ones are better off ignored?

We’ve analyzed the current resume trends and landed on 12 resume trends for 2024 that aren’t going anywhere. These are all based on data and backed by recruiters, which means you can bypass the fads and skip straight to the resume tips that’ll actually help you land a job.

Wondering what the best resume tips are for 2024? Here’s a quick overview.

Top 12 resume trends in 2024

In 2024, look out for:

• Sticking with a classic resume format
• Keeping it brief
• Having multiple resumes
• Optimizing your resume with keywords
• Integrating soft skills
• Quantifying your impact with numbers
• Embracing of remote work
• Using AI to help your job search
• ... And leaning into AI-specific skillsets
• Highlighting technical skills
• Addressing the market
• Linking to social media

Let’s take a more in-depth look at each of these trends, including what they mean for you and how to stay ahead of the curve.

Top resume trends for 2024

1. use a simple chronological resume format.

In 2024, we’ve seen a lot of resume trends come and go. Infographics, functional resumes, and online resume builders have all come … and gone. What’s here to stay is the classic, easy to read chronological resume.

When writing a resume, there’s no need to get creative with fonts , images, graphs, tables, or fancy layouts. Instead:

Download a simple ATS-ready resume template

• Stick to default formatting in Google Docs or Microsoft Word
• List your experience in order from most recent to least recent
• Always include your dates of employment
• Use bold, underline, and italics if you need text to stand out
• Export your resume as a PDF to keep your formatting intact

2. Keep your resume short and skimmable

Sometimes, less is more — and that includes on your resume. Most resumes only need to be one page long and include:

• Contact details
• Work experience
• A short section for relevant skills and other information

Most of that should be in bullet point format, too, which means recruiters can quickly skim your resume — and important information is more likely to stand out.

Related: How Long Should a Resume Be?

3. Have multiple versions of your resume

Think you can write a single, perfect resume that you can use to apply to any job? Think again!

One of the best ways to land a job is to tailor your resume, which means you’ll end up having at least a few different variations of the same resume. This could be as simple as adding a resume title or as in-depth as curating which jobs you list when applying for roles in different industries. You can also get help from tools like Targeted Resume , which will check your resume against the target job description and identify specific ways to tailor your resume to that position.

Related: How To Tailor Your Resume To a Job

4. Bypass ATS with resume keywords

If you’re currently applying for jobs, you’ve probably heard of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These are automated scanners that companies use to screen resumes before they hit the desk of a hiring manager.

ATS search your resume for a set list of keywords, which means they’re pretty easy to bypass. The key is to not overdo it — after all, you don’t want a resume so stuffed full of keywords that it gets rejected by the first person to read it. Instead, use a tool like our skills and keywords finder to search for relevant keywords and scatter them naturally throughout your resume.

Related: How To Beat Applicant Tracking Systems in a Few Easy Steps

5. Highlight transferable skills

These days, nobody expects to stay in the same job for their whole career — the average tenure of a new job is less than five years , which means that the average person will hold around 12 jobs in their lifetime. With that in mind, it makes sense to build your resume around skills that you can take with you — in other words, transferable (or soft) skills.

According to a recent breakdown of job listing, the top soft skills recruiters are looking for include:

• Communication
• Customer service
• Time management and scheduling
• Project management
• Analytical thinking
• Working independently
• Interpersonal skills and collaboration
• Flexibility
• Attention to detail and accuracy
• Multitasking

Related: Here's How To Include Soft Skills on Your Resume

6. Quantify your impact with concrete metrics

The easiest way to show the actual impact you had in a role is to use numbers in your bullet points . This allows hiring managers to get a better feel for how you’re likely to perform in the new role. It’s also a good way to stand out in a sea of applicants, as the vast majority of resumes don’t fully quantify their accomplishments.

Here’s an okay bullet point:

Hired, coached and led sales team.

By adding more details, we can make it better:

Hired, coached and led sales team of five to make sales calls, make client visits and close deals.

And by using metrics to show results, we create an impactful, measurable accomplishment :

Hired, coached and led sales team of five to make sales calls, make client visits and close deals; generated $10M in sales contracts.

Related: How To Quantify Your Resume

7. Get on board with remote work

You don’t have to be looking for remote work to know that it’s everywhere — and you shouldn’t expect this to go away in 2024. Job boards like FlexJobs and Remote OK cater specifically to people looking for remote work, while even the larger job boards have hundreds of thousands of remote jobs listed.

Even if you aren’t working remotely, you’re likely to be dealing with people who are, which means that highlighting experience managing remote workers or your ability to use remote tools like Slack and Zoom is always a plus.

Related: The Complete Guide To Listing Remote Work on a Resume

8. Use AI to your advantage

In 2024, it seems like Artificial Intelligence is everywhere. Employers are obviously using it — but so can job seekers.

AI-powered tools like Score My Resume work in a similar way to ATS, by analyzing your resume and providing actionable steps to improve it . Think of it kind of like a Grammarly for resumes — instead of just fixing your spelling and grammar, it can check for job-specific keywords, resume and bullet point length , inconsistencies, word choice, and any filler or buzzwords you can safely eliminate.

9. Learn to work with AI, too

If you believe the naysayers, AI is about to take over and automate just about every job imaginable. Which may be true ... but in that case, who runs the AI?

The answer is: People do. If AI has started invading your industry, look at expanding your skillset to include AI-specific skills, like AI-assisted coding or ChatGPT prompt writing .

10. Prove that you’re competent with technology

The technology trend doesn't stop with AI. Even in low-tech fields, a little tech savvy goes a long way. Being able to troubleshoot problems and use common technologies can make the difference between hitting the ground running and struggling to keep up.

Looking to make the next move in your career — or to change fields entirely? 2024 is an excellent time to start developing in-demand skills like:

• Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
• Software as a Service (SaaS)
• Cybersecurity
• Data analysis
• Cloud computing
• Artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Augmented reality and virtual reality (AR and VR)
• Digital marketing
• User interface and user experience design (UI and UX)
• Programming languages like HTML, CSS, Java, and SQL

11. Write a market-driven resume

This may sound gimmicky, but all it really means is a) keeping up-to-date with trends in hiring in general and your field in particular, and b) tweaking your resume to address these trends.

If that sounds calculated or impersonal, remember this: Your resume isn't about you, it's about the job you want. Instead of trying to include a complete history of who you are and what you've done, create a resume with a purpose — one that addresses specific needs in your industry or company and explains how you can fill those needs.

12. Update and link your LinkedIn

Whether you’re always on social media or not a huge fan, there’s no doubt that it’s become an important part of job searching. LinkedIn alone is home to over 800 million users, including over 58 million registered companies.

Add a link to your LinkedIn profile, GitHub, or portfolio to the top of your resume (next to your contact details).

A trend we're seeing in 2024: Companies are recruiting more and more via LinkedIn so ATS now provide LinkedIn integrations, where experience can be imported via LinkedIn. So, keep your profile up to date and make sure it reflects skills on your resume.

If your LinkedIn needs a little revamp — or a complete overhaul — LinkedIn Review can provide personalized tips on how to optimize your profile and generate up to five times as many leads.

By the way, it's worth mentioning — keep your other social profiles, like Instagram or Facebook, on private when you're recruiting if you have any content you don't want recruiters seeing.

Related: How To Make Your LinkedIn Stand Out

Resume trends to avoid

Not all trends are created equal — so which ones should you avoid? Here's a list of gimmicks to steer clear of:

• Functional resumes. These are often touted as a way to hide a spotty work history or lack of experience, but in reality, they do the opposite — not listing dates on your resume or using a skills-based format just makes recruiters wonder what you're trying to hide.
• Infographics. These had their moment, but arguably were never a great idea in the first place (for a start, ATS can't read images). Skip the fancy graphics and stick to a classic, text-based resume.
• Resume objectives. This one's so old that some people are trying to make it new again. Resume summaries are different and can actually be useful, but an objective adds nothing to your candidacy. Skip it.
• Gimmicky resumes. It might sound fun to have your resume printed on a beer label, a t-shirt, or a QR code , but the people actually making hiring decisions aren't looking for fun — they're looking for a simple document clearly listing your work experience, skills, and education.

Remember that trends aren't everything — the most important thing when it comes to writing a resume is clearly communicating information. Anything that gets in the way of that is an instant "no."

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How to Write a Resume That Stands Out

• Paige Cohen

It takes hiring managers less than 10 seconds to decide if you’re qualified.

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More From Forbes

Sprucing up your résumé for a 2023 job search follow these 15 tips.

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Whether you’re looking to switch careers or find a new role at a different company this year, a freshly updated résumé can make all the difference between getting a callback and having your application passed over. Effectively refreshing your résumé for a job hunt in the new year will take some creativity and reflection on your previous roles.

From getting more personal to finding better ways to document and represent yourself as a professional, there are many ways to enhance your CV and attract the attention of your dream employer. Below, 15 Forbes Coaches Council members share their best tips below for sprucing up a résumé in 2023.

Members pictured from left to right.

1. Add Your Recent Accomplishments

Take a look at your accomplishments over the last year and make sure to add them to your résumé. What projects have you managed? What are some tangible results (sales or cost savings, for example) that you can add to your résumé? Look at recent job openings in your field and see where you can incorporate more industry-focused keywords. - Jasmine Briggs , Creatively Inspired Coaching

2. Make It Both Personal And Professional

The vocabulary you use in your résumé matters. Yes, industry jargon has its place in your résumé, as you need to demonstrate your experience and expertise through it. What is also essential is to use words that give a glimpse of your personality, character, values and passions. People want to work with people they like. Make them curious enough that they would want to meet you. - Lusia Moskvicheva , The Happy Life Strategist

3. Prove Performance With Data-Driven Statements

Instead of trying to make your résumé sound like others, distinguish yourself with success stories. Add data-driven statements as proof of performance, such as “saved $400,000 with new workflows” or “eliminated 45% of financial discrepancies.” By specifying exactly how you’ve added value in previous jobs, your résumé will catch employers’ attention and make hiring authorities eager to contact you. - Laura Smith-Proulx , An Expert Resume

4. Frame It Around The Role You’re Applying For

Whether LinkedIn, traditional or other formats, your CV is a marketing tool to showcase that you can already do what your target employer is looking for, so it is vital to frame it around the role you are applying for. Think about it in terms of providing the following: This is who I am, this is what I do, this is how I do it, and this is the impact and value I can create for you. - Anita O’Connor-Roberts , AOC Consulting

Forbes Coaches Council is an invitation-only community for leading business and career coaches. Do I qualify?

5. Articulate The Value You Can Add

Professionals seeking new positions in 2023 must revamp their résumés to focus on how they can add value to a company rather than credentials and skills. Get rid of the fluff. Employers will be more discerning and looking for nimble individuals who can articulate the value they add, especially when companies are operating lean. - Jacquelyn Van Tuyl , Jacquelyn Van Tuyl International

6. Tailor Your Résumé To Each Company

My biggest tip for professionals who want to spruce up their résumé is to have multiple versions of your résumé. While the experience and timeline will stay the same, you should call out and highlight specific experiences or skills that suit the position you are applying for. Don’t make a hiring manager guess if you are a good fit. Point to experiences that show it clearly. - Jessica Stroud , She RULES

7. Keep Your Social Media Content Consistent

Customize your résumé to fit the job, provide clarity on your strengths and update your content on social media to be consistent on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. Employers will be watching. - Tammy Kling , OnFire Books

8. Use Storytelling To Prove Your Value

Storytelling in résumés is an underutilized skill. Detail your achievements in concise, one- to two-line bullet points—include the processes you built, the innovations you led, the sales you made, and if available, the metrics that quantify these points. Demonstrating and explaining your achievements enables a potential employer to envision your ability to bring the same value to them. - Scott Singer , Insider Career Strategies

9. Add Your Passions And Interests To Your Résumé

I tell my clients, “When you’re interviewing, they probably know you have the experience—what’s important to them is finding out who you are.” Spruce up your résumé with your passions and interests, as these can often serve as icebreakers to begin an interview. Having your contact data, skills, objectives and passions on the left side of the page will help them stand out from your experiences and education. - Melinda Fouts , Success Starts With You

10. Emphasize Accomplishments, Not Responsibilities

While not a new thought, people still often fail to emphasize their accomplishments over their responsibilities in their résumés. Your accomplishments are the true differentiators. Also, since so much screening is done with résumé software, take the time to review the LinkedIn profiles of people who hold the kinds of roles you are seeking, and make sure your résumé contains the keywords you find. - Kathy Bernhard , KFB Leadership Solutions

11. Highlight The Work You Want To Be Doing

For some, résumés are a work history. Ideally, résumés should mirror the work you want to be doing. When looking for a new opportunity, make sure that you emphasize and highlight the skills, competencies and roles where you have found the most satisfaction—what you want to be doing more of moving forward. Intentionally highlighting those experiences will ensure that you seek aligned work. - Jennifer Landis-Santos , Cassaday & Company, Inc.

12. Prove You Are A Good Fit For The Company

In challenging economic times, organizations lean conservative—meaning even more “in the box” and traditional—in their hiring. Showcase a strong match. Mirror language and link accomplishments to key skills in the job description. Yes, it’s important to stand out and differentiate, but showcase that you are safe first; everything else is an extra value-add. - Jodie Charlop , Exceleration Partners

13. Only Take Advice From Proven Résumé Writers

Don’t let every critic have a crack at your professional document. Find a way to ignore often well-meaning critics who want you to make changes to it unless they are proven, paid résumé writers. The most important “critic” is you and the next most important voice or critic should be a savvy hiring authority who asks you to emphasize certain things in your background that can help you win interviews. - John M. O’Connor , Career Pro Inc.

14. Include A Summary Of How You Do The Job Better

While it’s critical to target your résumé to each job you apply for by matching keywords and phrases as they fit, there is one smart extra step you can take to stand out from the qualified competition: Lead with a summary that answers how you do the job better, smarter, faster or for more profit or lower cost. This will allow you to easily rise to the top of a pack of qualified candidates. - Laura DeCarlo , Career Directors International

15. Be Digitally Visible

The CV is old technology. We are all data points, and our personal digital brands are more important assets. More organizations and recruiters are searching for talent digitally on LinkedIn and social media. In addition, artificial intelligence and machine learning are increasingly being deployed to find talent profiles. It is mission critical for professionals to be digitally visible to be found and considered for roles today. - Richard Chiumento , The Rialto Consultancy

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7 tips to make your resume stand out and get that job

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The importance of an outstanding resume

How to write a resume, fine-tuning your resume, make your resume stand out, it all starts with your resume.

Looking for a job is like a rollercoaster. 

There are high and low points throughout the process. The unknown of new opportunities excites you, but you feel vulnerable and anxious at the same time. Everyone experiences that turbulence at some point in their job search . 

Need resume help?

Writing a resume is one of the first steps in that journey, and it’s one of the most overwhelming. You want to make a good first impression — which might leave you second-guessing every last action verb and skill you choose to include. Tools like resume builders and ChatGPT can help you brainstorm a first draft, but it’s up to you to perfect it.

Learning how to make your resume stand out may feel like a science, but there are rules and guidelines you can follow to convince a hiring manager that you're the best choice for the role. 

Whether you're going with a functional resume or a chronological resume , within a single sheet of paper is the story of your career. Your work history, accomplishments, and skill set weave together an account of your potential as an employee. And on a job application, your resume should grab a hiring manager’s attention based on the story you tell . 

On average, potential employers spend just 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume. While that may sound like an impossibly short amount of time to judge a candidate, it's often necessary. Some positions draw hundreds of applicants pining for their next job. Hiring managers have to quickly go down a new hire checklist to ensure you have the technical skills or experience necessary to perform the job. 

During this time, hiring managers and recruiters also need to filter out mismatched candidates before reaching out for interviews. They’re looking for someone genuinely interested in the new job — someone motivated enough to show how passionate and qualified they are. And if a hiring manager uses an applicant tracking system, they’ll also filter resumes based on keywords and specific skills. You need to survive both the algorithm and their keen eye. 

Aligning your most relevant qualifications and tuning your language to fit a company's vernacular is a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Effective resume writing targets the job description, and a one-size-fits-all resume can’t do that. The extra effort you spend personalizing every application could put you one step closer to landing your dream position and ending the job search. 

The blank page is daunting to look at. But great resumes start with headings and sections, and starting with an outline helps you fill the page faster. 

Here are the sections you should include:

1. Work experience

Arguably the most crucial section, clearly label your work experience with separate points for every job entry. If you can, only include jobs that highlight your suitability for the role. 

But don't be afraid to include experience that isn’t obviously relevant. While a career change from product engineer to project manager may seem unrelated in technical skills, you can show off the value of transferable soft skills . The key is to include a description or bullet points that make the connection clear.

Each entry should include the following:

Your job title

Name of the organization

Dates of employment

A short description of your accomplishments

Many job seekers opt to organize this section in chronological order from most to least recent. This is likely the best option if your career and skill learning has a clear linear trajectory. 

But sometimes, it makes more sense to put your most relevant experience at the top, even if it's not your most recent job. This is sometimes known as a functional resume . You want your reader to see your best work first. A new parent who quit a full-time job for a part-time job with less hours may want to focus on career highlights rather than recent positions. 

It also might make sense to split your resume into sections for different skills. If you're applying for a management position at a software development company, you might want to have subsections that emphasize management experience and development experience separately. This helps a hiring manager quickly gauge your full potential. 

2. Unpaid work or volunteering 

This section is similar to your work experience but only covers unpaid positions. Follow the same format, instead with volunteer or personal projects relevant to the role or that helped sharpen your skills. This could also include internships. Remember to also include descriptions here so hiring managers clearly see why you chose to include every point.

3. Education

This section will likely be the smallest. List any relevant degrees — associate, bachelor’s, master’s , and even PhDs — in order from most to least recent. Here's what to write:

Name of educational institution

Name of your program or degree

Date of graduation (if you feel comfortable putting this information)

Extra details like Latin honors or GPA (if relevant)

4. Certifications

You may have professional certifications relevant to your role. List them here with the date you acquired them. This is an especially important section if the job you’re applying for requires certification or licensure, legally or otherwise.

If you’re applying for a role that requires something like a driver’s license or certification in a programming language, be sure to highlight it. But non-required certifications fit here as well, like those from online courses. These demonstrate essential soft skills such as self-motivation and initiative .

A summary statement typically goes at the top of your resume, though it usually isn’t recommended. A vague summary or objective statement wastes space. Employers likely don’t want to hear that you’re a “Motivated employee looking to learn new skills” because that doesn’t say much about you. 

If you decide to include a summary, be specific. And if everything you’re saying appears later in your resume, it might be best to omit it entirely. Save this statement for your LinkedIn summary .

List soft skills and technical skills that are relevant to the role. Reinforce each one with practical work experience, metrics, or engaging action verbs that tell a more complete story. The less guesswork a hiring manager has to do, the easier it is to identify the strength of your candidacy. 

This is your space to be as specific as possible. Instead of writing that you have “good communication skills ,” write “thoughtful communicator who uses active listening and empathy to construct strong interpersonal relationships ." And instead of writing “coding,” specify what languages you know and how you’ve used them. You can also emphasize self-directed learning experiences to show your initiative.

7. Link to portfolio

If possible, link to some of your representative work, or at least have a sample 

If relevant, link to some of your representative work or have a portfolio with sample projects ready in case the hiring manager asks for them. In some fields, especially creative, a digital portfolio is standard, so include a link to yours if possible. 

Recruiters and hiring managers may also check your LinkedIn profile and domain-specific profiles, like GitHub, for concrete examples of successful projects. Ensure your resume is consistent with your body of work across all professional platforms.

An effective resume leads a hiring manager's eye to all the right places. Here are three tips for submitting an accurate and concise document: 

1. Include only relevant information

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, including every single piece of professional experience is unnecessary. All of the metrics, skills, and certifications should reflect the specific job you're applying to. Unessential information confuses and distracts potential employers from your value to the role. 

Recent graduates with little practical experience can find ways to highlight relevant transferable skills without filling the page with unnecessary jobs. If you're a recent economics graduate , your job sorting books at the university library shouldn't eclipse valuable internships or coursework — unless that job taught you something about economics. 

2. Highlights accomplishments, not responsibilities 

Managers want to know you can perform. Listing your personal achievements rather than roles and responsibilities shows not only what duties previous positions included, but that you thrived while completing them. Use action verbs or list employee reco gnitions to place the focus on your performance. 

Imagine you previously worked at a public relations firm. Compare these two descriptions:

“I was responsible for the execution of clients’ national media campaigns.” 

“I spearheaded successful national digital media campaigns for clients of varied industries, improving organic engagement by 50%.”

The former tells the recruiter about your job, but the latter tells them about you. The specificity helps readers immediately understand why you were an asset.

3. Keep it short

Like any professional communication, your resume should be short and to the point. It should have clear formatting that guides the eye from one section to another. 

Ideally, you'll fit everything you need on one page. The document may stretch to two pages if you're further along in your career or need to submit a CV instead of a resume . Just make sure everything on those two pages is relevant. Extraneous work history might distract rather than impress. 

Now that you know the basics, here’s how to write the best version of your resume:

1. Consider the hiring manager’s needs

Read the job description closely and explore the company website. Get a sense of company culture by reading its mission statement or company core values . Then, include those elements on your resume to catch a hiring manager's attention and tell them you fit the culture . 

Remember, you aren’t just applying for a job. You’re applying to become part of a team. Show exactly how you’ll add to company culture and collaborate with existing employees. If a company's job ad mentions seeking team players , make sure your resume highlights your history of successful collaboration. 

2. Make sure it looks good

Hiring managers review countless resumes each day. You have some freedom to play with your resume format, but you should follow some general guidelines so it’s easy to read:

Use an appropriate font: Cursive fonts and Wingdings have no place on a professional resume. Consider professional-looking typefaces like Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman.

Be consistent: When you pick a design format, you commit to a set of "rules" for your resume. Make sure your bullet points follow the same style, the sizing of your  headers is consistent, and your lines have equal spacing. 

Don't overcrowd it: Leave enough room in the margins so your resume doesn’t fill the entire page. White space helps your reader find necessary information quickly. 

Use a resume builder : There are many free resume builders and templates available online . Your word processor might even have some built-in. Consider using one so you don't start from scratch.

Consider color when appropriate: Adding some colored text or icons helps your resume stand out. Just make sure it’s appropriate for the industry you work in. Illustrators can use a creative resume to show off their artistic skills, whereas a colorful document for a public policy analyst could demonstrate a lack of sincerity. 

3. Proofread for errors

Hiring managers might decide not to hire you from as few as five writing errors . Typos and grammar mistakes show carelessness and poor attention to detail , and they’re an easy way to get a job rejection . 

Make sure to check your writing closely. Apps like Grammarly ensure every comma and apostrophe is in the right place. And reading your resume out loud, to yourself or to a friend, helps you catch errors, improve flow, and check for repetitive language.

4. Demonstrate industry knowledge

Always be learning . Intellectual curiosity and commitment to growth are personality traits many hiring managers look for, whether you're new to the workforce or a seasoned employee. It shows employers that you're proactive, engaged, and open to new experiences. 

Now make sure that growth mindset comes through in your resume. It isn't about saying “I love to learn,” but showing it.

Stay on top of current trends in your field and work them into your cover letter and resume. If there's a new programming tool in high demand, share your know-how in the skills section. Describe how you used it to improve your performance at a previous job.

5. Get an objective eye

Ask someone else to look over your resume and give you honest feedback . Seek out people who you trust to give constructive criticism rather than tell you what you want to hear. Coworkers, colleagues, or anyone you feel comfortable turning to for career advice will likely offer the perspective you need to write your best resume . 

Also consider hiring a professional resume writer or career coach . Both offer valuable insights about industry expectations and effective techniques for leveraging your best skills and experiences. 

Now that you know how to make your resume stand out, you can emphasize the right details and grab hiring managers’ attention. 

Writing the perfect resume takes time, thoroughness, and careful editing. And while it may feel daunting, following common resume rules and paying close attention to the job description puts you one step closer to your dream job. 

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Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

Use these honors and awards resume examples to land your next job

How to put babysitting on a resume: 6 skills to highlight, 12 resume career objective examples and tips for writing one, best work accomplishments to list on your resume (with examples), a quick guide on how to list references on a resume, resume best practices: how far back should a resume go, 17 best skills to put on your resume to stand out, how and when to write a functional resume (with examples), 7 types of resumes to suit various scenarios, 24 action verbs for your resume that will get you the job, chronological resume: how and why to write one, all eyes on it: how to make a page-turning portfolio, how to create a resume with chatgpt, stand out to your hiring panel with a personal value statement, stay connected with betterup, get our newsletter, event invites, plus product insights and research..

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How To Make a Resume That Gets You Hired In 2023 [10+ Examples]

With a large number of applicants for each role across industries, it is time to get your resume ready and sit on a job application spree.

"As per Foundit data, the retail, BFSI, and automotive sectors are expected to grow 20 percent in 2023" - Money Control.com

Job forecasts for 2023 are out, the final round of hiring in colleges is in full swing, and employees laid off in 2022 are rigorously hunting for jobs.

With a large number of applicants for each role across industries, it is time to get your resume ready and sit on a job application spree.  

Before you start job hunting, here is one thing you can't start the process without- a well-tailored appealing resume.

Here's how your resume should look like in 2023: Your resume should reflect your persona as the right candidate for the applied job.

Keep reading to find out how to stand out with your resume  in 2023:

What makes a stellar resume

• How to stand out in a pool of applicants using your resume
• Various sections in a resume
• 5 additional tips for writing an outstanding resume

As per Statista, the “Employment Recession” is under process with an expected rise of 63% in employee removal rate by 2023 globally.

With such scary statistics in place, you need to change how you look at your resume.

Your resume is not more than just a document that outlines your professional history.

Rather it is a personal branding document that differentiates you from other candidates and gains the recruiter's attention.  

How to stand out in a pool of applicants using your Resume

No, we aren't giving you a 5-point sheet to make your resume stand out.

These are the top 3 ways to make your resume stand out.

Personalized Branding

Your resume reflects who you are and what you can bring to the company.

The strongly you appeal, the more convinced the recruiter will lead you to get hired. All this starts with having a strong summary, or a "branding statement".

• Write a strong personalized statement in your professional summary (or objective) that speaks for you, just like a brand’s statement.
• Make the summary clear, and concise with a combination of action words to get the best benefit out of it.

Some examples:

For Engineering Profile:

“Aspire to be a magnet that solves real-world problems and defines me as a true engineer”

For Product Management Profile:

“Building top-performing logistics teams that raise the bar on supply chain excellence”

For Health Care Profile

“Diving deep into social determinants of health to define more proactive care solutions and remove barriers to health plan success, both medically and nonmedically”

Business Growth Profile

“Driving innovative organizational development and culture through strategic learning and organizational development initiatives”

How to write a strong summary statement?

Check our detailed guide on Writing a Winning Resume Summary here

Get the best out of the experience section

To get the maximum effectiveness from your resume, align your skills and experiences with the job requirement.

How to align your resume to the job profile you are applying for List down all the key requirements given in the instructions by the recruiter and then add these keywords in your resume in various sections like skills, achievements, experiences, professional objectives, etc.

It also helps to get a good score in Application Tracking System (ATS) software and surpasses them.

How to present your experience in your resume

There are multiple ways to point out your skills and experiences.  

• Use active words along with skills keywords given in the job description.
• Use words and phrases that say more without taking up much space in your resume. Ideally, keep everything in your resume easy to read with clear and concise language.

We will discuss these phrases in detail in the next section, “phrases you must avoid” of this blog.  

Meanwhile, here are some examples to give a better idea of how to explain your job experiences

• “Developed and deployed curriculum that reached 4,000+ team members, implemented new strategies at the pace of business – rapidly shifted learning from in-person to virtual programming during COVID-19”
• “Navigated URAC accreditation to halt 60% loss of business within first 8 months by overhauling clinical operations, building policies and procedures, and revamping training”
• “Overhauled processes and practices to deliver $10M in soft savings through 4x increases in efficiencies and productivity”

Check out detailed resources on writing a work experience section:

• How To Use Bullet Points In Your Resume
• How to write Work Experience in your Resume, including job descriptions

Quantity of Your Data

“Your action speaks more than your words”.

This saying holds for careers as well.

Writing about our actions or achievements is the best way to highlight your capabilities

For example, consider these statements:

Case 1. Statement 1: “Achievement an excellent growth in quarterly product sales”

Statement 2: “Achieved a total of 57% growth in 3 months of product sales”

Statement 1: “I was responsible for creating a new office procedure manual”

Statement 2: “Decreased costs 22% after developing and launching a new office manual.” Which one looks more appealing in both cases? The second statement, right? This is because, with numbers, it’s really easy for us to compare the overall impact of any achievement, and thus, it looks more appealing. Therefore, always quantity your achievements wherever possible in your resume.

Various Sections in a Resume

You have two types of sections that are mentioned in a resume. One is “Must Have,” and the other is “Can Have.”

“Must have” sections include:

• Contact Information
• Resume Summary or Resume Objective
• Work Experience Section
• Education Section
• Skills Section

The recruiters focus on information in these sections during resume shortlisting and interview rounds.

Now comes the “Can Have” sections. These sections are optional and non-mandatory, only to be mentioned on personal preferences.

“Can have” sections include:

• Awards and Honors
• Volunteer Work
• Certifications and Licenses Projects
• Hobbies and interests
• Qualifications
• Extracurricular Activities
• Accomplishments
• Associations
• Publications
• Conferences

These sections vary from candidate to candidate.

However, they have a unique advantage. These sections help you personalize yourself as a brand in the resume. These little achievements add value, the condition being that they are relevant to the applied profile.

For example, any training or associations, or conferences in your chosen field of industry can help you elevate your relevancy to a higher level. Most of these achievements are often emphasized by the recruiters during interviews. These are unique, and not many candidates can mention the same things, ultimately helping you to stand out and win the interview.

What skills should I mention in my resume?

5 Additional Tips for Writing an Outstanding Resume

Let's face it- conveying anything clearly and to the point with an appealing tone is hard.

Follow the key tips to improve the overall impact of your resume and set a professional tone with appealing quality.

Avoid Passive Words

Avoid passive phrases and use active phrases. Passive phrases don't give any idea about comparable action, take up space, and decrease the effectiveness of a sentence.

Recruiters generally feel passive phrases to be boring and monotonous.

Here are some commonly used passive phrases in resumes:

• Responsible for
• Duties included
• Worked with

If you are using any of these, it's time to change.

How to make sentences in my resume more effective?

Plan your resume layout and sections.

There are so many functional resume layouts available for free. Take your time to finalize the layout that goes with your style and feel.

• Make sure that your layout is aligned with the resume sections that you are planning to mention in your resume.
• Consider customizing a resume template as per your requirements. For example, you can add your LinkedIn profile link at the top of the the contact section which is very valuable if you have a strong LinkedIn profile.

The sole purpose of the layout should be to convey the necessary information in an organized manner. Be flexible and create the best layout that fits your requirements.

Use Bullet Points to Organize your Resume

A resume containing bullet points is easy to read, makes it faster to profess information, and saves time for recruiters during shortlisting.

Use bullet points to differentiate various subheadings and points under different sections.

Targetted Keywords to beat the ATS

It is important to beat Application Tracking Systems (ATS) software to crack the shortlisting round. ATS focuses on the information in your resume and compares it with the data in the job description. The more targeted keywords it finds in your resume, the more it recommends you for the applied profile.

Here's what we suggest - do your research and list down skills and responsibilities keywords from the job description. Use these keywords wherever possible in your resume, it will make you more relevant for the profile to pass the ATS test.

Keep it Short and Concise

Recruiters have limited time, making it important for you to keep your resume short.

• Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
• Avoid unnecessary filler words that will help you say more in fewer words.
• Use active voice, preferably.
• Proofread to ensure correct grammar and punctuation.

Be professional

An attractive resume can and should look professional.

Don't go overboard with images, and colors to standout.

• Write your full real name, as written on the documents.
• Avoid using slang as they distract the reader from the main points.

Top Rated Resumes on Resumod

Resume of pgt geography.

Check the full resume of PGT Geography in text format here

Resume of Psychiatrist

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Resume of Clinical Social Worker

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Resume of Training and Delivery Manager

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Resume of General Manager - Sales

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Resume of Data Protection Officer  

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Resume of  Insurance Underwriter

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Now that you know what makes a resume more appealing and helps you stand out, start writing your resume based on these tips. However, if you need professional help to make a winning resume for 2022, check out our top-notch resume-writing services today and get your dream job!!!

Try Resumod's professional Resume builder now!

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out to Recruiters

Customers Interviewed by:

Hiring managers take as little as 6 seconds to read your resume —less time than it takes to tie your shoelaces. In the competitive job market, it’s critical to make your resume stand out from other applicants and impress the recruiter.

How do you make your resume stand out? Format, style, and content all play a role in helping you impress the hiring manager and secure an interview. 

Keep reading to learn tips to make your resume stand out from the competition.

What is a resume?

Your resume is a make-or-break document. It not only lists all your accreditations, skills, and experience but highlights your professional accomplishments, too. It can help you illustrate how you can be an asset to the organization.

You know your resume is important to your job search, so it’s normal to stress about its design , structure, and every action verb . The last thing you want is a forgettable resume that falls through the cracks of the hiring managers’ awareness.

With every new job description, you should change your resume to optimize for skills and keywords listed by the hiring manager. You should take the time to highlight the most prominent keywords in each job description, then adjust your resume to match. 

To speed up the process, use Jobscan’s resume scanner for a detailed match report. It shows you which keywords are missing, the level of keyword importance, and an overall score to optimize your resume for ATS.

What does a resume include?

Resumes fall into 3 formats :

• Chronological : Chronological resumes list your work experience in reverse chronological order, with your most recent work history at the top.
• Hybrid : Hybrid resumes feature your skills and accomplishments at the top, followed by your reverse chronological work history.
• Functional : Functional resumes focuses on skills and accomplishments and glosses over work experience. Hiring managers hate functional resumes , so we recommend choosing a chronological or hybrid format.

Whichever resume format you choose, it will include key resume sections to answer all the hiring manager’s questions, from your resume headline to skills and work experience.

Resume headline and summary

Your resume headline and summary are a quick introduction telling the hiring manager who you are and why you’re an ideal candidate. Your headline should include your professional title or the title of the job you’re applying for.

Your resume summary should include 2 or 3 brief sentences stating your key experiences, measurable achievements , and top skills or expertise.

Including the job title you’re applying for in your resume can increase your chance of getting in front of the hiring manager. Using the ATS, they search for the exact title to find resumes that match.

If you’ve never held the role you’re applying to, showcase your relevant skills in your resume that support the job title. Making the connections between other roles, transferable skills, certifications, and education can help the hiring manager picture how your achievements will apply to the role.

• Work experience

Your work experience section is the core of your resume. To make your resume stand out, be specific and intentional about how you tell the story of your career so far.

Here’s an example of a clear work experience that shows the previous role, the company, and employment dates to create a roadmap of a marketer’s career.

Your education can qualify you for a position over other candidates. Whether you have an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree, it shows the hiring manager that you have specialized knowledge. Listing the right education for the job description can make your resume stand out.

This is an education section that lists the master’s degree first. The specific areas of study—middle level math and science—make the candidate stand out.

• Certifications

Certifications from online courses or supplemental training also have a place on your resume. Certifications complement the experience, education, and skills sections. They can show the hiring manager increased specialization and skill development.

This example of a certification section illustrates specialized skills that can make the applicant more attractive to a hiring manager for a project management or related role.

Hiring managers want to know if you have the in-demand skills to do the job. Skills and proficiencies shine a spotlight on what you will bring to the new role that directly ties into the responsibilities laid out in the job description.

Hard skills are technical skills specific to the job or industry. Examples of hard skills include:

• Project management
• Graphic design
• Computer software knowledge
• Search engine optimization (SEO)

Soft skills are no less critical. They’re people skills, character traits, or behaviors that indicate how well you work with others and handle stressful situations.

They’re sometimes called transferable skills , meaning they can transfer from any job and any industry. Some common soft skills that are in demand include:

• Collaboration
• Attention to detail
• Time management
• Growth mindset
• Adaptability

Read through and identify the hard and soft skills for each job description to ensure you’re adding them to your resume.

A time-saving tool is Jobscan’s resume scanner . Upload your resume and the job description, and the scanner will create a match report to tell you whether you have the right skills to get an interview.

For example, this report illustrates that Google Suite and MS Office skills are missing from the resume. But if you want a chance to secure the interview, you need to add those skills that the hiring manager is searching for.

Tips to make your resume stand out

You need to make your resume stand out from the rest by following a few simple guidelines.

Include only relevant information

Clutter of unrelated skills, education, or experience can take up valuable space on your resume. Instead, focus on information relevant to the job description.

A good way to tell if something is relevant is to study the job description to understand the scope of the role.

Use the same language in your resume as in the job description and you’ll be a strong candidate for the job.

Highlight accomplishments, not just responsibilities

Your day-to-day responsibilities don’t tell the hiring manager much about who you are as an industry professional. Instead, emphasize accomplishments. Measurable performance can help the hiring manager imagine how your achievements can help their organization.

Vague language won’t help you land the job. Use numbers, percentages, or data to back up what you’re saying on your resume, like in the example below.

Your responsibilities show what you did, but measurable achievements show how well you did it. This shows the impact you had in your last role.

Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for

A one-size-fits-all resume doesn’t exist. You need to tailor your resume to the job description, the industry, and the company.

Why does tailoring your resume matter? Most companies are using ATS to help streamline the hiring process. ATS, or applicant tracking systems , is a software that adds your resume to a database. The hiring manager will search the database for suitable candidates by entering keywords from the job description.

Hiring managers input specific keywords, and the ATS will parse your resume to detect them. If you’re missing relevant keywords or skills that the hiring manager searches the ATS to find, they won’t see your resume at all.

To optimize your resume faster and more effectively, use Jobscan’s resume scanner to generate a detailed match report. It pulls critical information from the job description, like keywords and skills the hiring manager is looking for.

Then, it compares the job description to your resume to illustrate what details you’re missing. With this information, you can design tailored resumes that stand out for each job application.

With Power Edit , a Jobscan Premium feature, your match report will offer phrasing suggestions to best integrate important keywords into your resume.

How to make your resume stand out visually

Your resume should be visually appealing , but don’t overdo it. Fancy graphics can confuse the ATS and cause your resume to get lost in the database.

Before you design a stylistic resume, know that a clean resume makes a significant impact on the ATS and hiring manager.

Use standard resume headings

Section headings break up the information to make it easy to skim. But if you don’t use them correctly, the ATS won’t read them. Poor heading choices include:

• Autobiography
• My Career Journey
• What I Know

Stick to standard resume headings like:

• Summary or objective

This example uses bolding to help make the document more scannable for the hiring manager. The headings aren’t a place to show off your creativity. Basic headings are mandatory for the ATS.

Use standard resume margins

Avoid trying to pack in more content by widening the margins. It won’t be an ATS-friendly resume, and the hiring manager will never see it.

Instead, stick to the standard guidelines for resume margins. One-inch margins make the ATS happy and are readable for the hiring manager.

• In Microsoft Word, one-inch margins are the default, and you can ensure you’re choosing the right measurement by selecting Layout/Margins/Normal.
• In Google Docs, you can confirm your margin measurements by selecting File/Page Setup.

Best fonts to help your resume stand out

What are the best fonts for your resume? The ATS and hiring managers prefer clean, crisp, and legible fonts.

The most common and preferred fonts for your resume include:

Using color to help your resume stand out

Is it okay to use color on a resume? Yes, using color sparingly can add visual appeal to your resume.

Color can help your resume:

• Draw attention to the headings
• Show off your creativity
• Fit with the company’s culture

If you’re applying for a creative role or your research suggests the company would appreciate engaging visuals, adding a hint of color can benefit you.

Some industries are more conservative, so dark shades like navy blue, forest green, or maroon are more appropriate for jobs in:

• Engineering

Here’s an example of using color to make your resume stand out without overwhelming the hiring manager.

Read more : Should You Use Color on Your Resume?

Use templates to make your resume stand out

Resume templates can still be personalized and attention-grabbing. You can make your resume stand out by customizing a template to include all the relevant information in a structured, ATS-friendly resume format. Templates save you time and helps ensure your resume is clean and readable.

Use Jobscan’s free ATS-friendly resume templates and start building your resume that gets noticed by recruiters!

Common resume formatting mistakes

The format of your resume is critical for the ATS. Your resume needs consistency and simplicity for the ATS to decipher the content. Some common mistakes people make on their resumes for ATS include:

• Not using the right date formatting: acceptable formats are MM/YYYY, like (04/2023) or fully spelled month and year, like April 2023.
• Using acronyms or abbreviations: don’t use them alone—the hiring manager will often search the entire term, as in “client relationship management” over “CRM.”
• Adding graphics: the ATS can’t extract information from design elements and, once uploaded to the ATS, they can scramble your resume formatting.

How to make a resume stand out to hiring managers

When your resume reaches a person, you have to pique their interest in under 6 seconds. So, how can you make your resume stand out to the hiring manager? 

Know what the hiring manager is looking for

Every hiring manager has different goals. Even if you’re applying to several identical roles, each organization will emphasize a need for unique qualifications.

Reading the job description isn’t enough to understand the hiring manager’s needs. Go to the company website and read the mission statement, the company’s core values, and the team members’ biographies to help your resume fit the culture.

Most job descriptions are comprehensive—providing information about:

• The company mission
• The must-have qualifications
• The nice-to-have proficiencies

Going the extra mile can take more time, but catching the most minor details is worth it.

Keep it concise

An overcrowded resume is challenging to read. White space makes your resume easy to skim and lets the hiring manager find information quickly.

Read the job description carefully, and if there are details in your resume that don’t support what the hiring manager is looking for, remove them.

A time-saving way to compare is Jobscan’s resume scanner . After scanning your resume and the job description, it will generate a match report to illustrate where you’ve integrated keywords and where they’re missing.

This example keeps every point short, but impactful. You want every point to have a purpose, so be ruthless with your editing.

Review and proofread

You’ve hit all the keywords, your resume is formatted, and everything is relevant and clean—don’t let a spelling or grammatical error make your resume stand out in a negative way.

Whether you run it through a grammar checker, read it out loud to yourself, or let your friend check it for an objective read-through, review it until you’re confident there are no mistakes.

Ask yourself a few questions in your review:

• Are you using strong action verbs?
• Are your accomplishments measurable?
• Is everything relevant?
• Is it designed with the ATS in mind?
• Will it be appealing to the hiring manager?
• Is it concise and clean?

When you answer “yes” to these questions, you’re ready to submit your resume.

How do I make an impressive resume with no experience?

It’s common to ask how to make your resume stand out with no experience. You can make your resume impress the hiring manager, even without experience, by highlighting a few key points:

• Relevant education
• Relevant experience
• List your relevant skills
• Include a strong resume summary

Use a resume template to help guide your formatting and create an stand-out resume.

What is a good objective for a resume with no experience?

If you’re a new grad or starting in the workforce looking for an entry-level job , you can still create a solid resume objective that stands out to hiring managers:

• Read the job description to identify important keywords to use in your objective.
• Use impactful action verbs and measurable accomplishments related to your relevant part-time job, volunteer experience, or course projects.
• Promote yourself, show off your character, and highlight your skillset, even if you have no practical industry experience.

How do I make a resume?

Building a resume from scratch is time-consuming, and you can’t be sure your resume is ATS-friendly.

You can use an ATS resume template that suits your industry and personal preferences and easily add your personal information, work experience, education, certifications, and skills.

You can also use Jobscan’s free resume builder . There are no hidden costs and it allows you to build an ATS-compatible AI resume in no time!

Find our resume examples to help you make your stand-out resume with ease.

More expert insights on this topic:

How to Write a Summary for a Resume with No Experience

86+ Resume Summary Examples To Inspire You

54 Examples of Effective Resume Objectives

Kelsey is a Content Writer with a background in content creation, bouncing between industries to educate readers everywhere.

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How to Make a Resume in 2024 | Beginner's Guide

For most job-seekers, a good resume is what stands between a dream job and Choice D. Get your resume right, and you’ll be getting replies from every other company you apply to.

If your resume game is weak, though, you’ll end up sitting around for weeks, maybe even months, before you even get a single response.

So you’re probably wondering how you can write a resume that gets you an interview straight up.

Well, you’ve come to the right place!

In this guide, we’re going to teach you everything you need to know about how to make a resume, including:

• The 8 Essential Steps to Writing a Resume
• 11+ Exclusive Resume Tips to Up Your Resume Game
• 27+ Real-Life Resume Examples for Different Professions

….and more!

So, let’s dive right in.

How to Make a Resume (The Right Way!)

Before we go into detail about how you should make a resume, here’s a summary of the most important steps and tips to keep in mind:

• Choose a resume format carefully. In 99% of cases, we recommend the reverse-chronological format .
• Add the right contact details. Leave your headshot out and make sure to include your job title , a professional email address, and any relevant links. (E.g.: your LinkedIn profile , online portfolio, personal website, etc.).
• Write an impactful resume summary. Unless you’re an entry-level professional, always go for a resume summary. If you do it right, it’s your chance to get the hiring manager to go through the rest of your resume in detail.
• Pay attention to your work experience section. Take your work experience section from OK-ish to exceptional by tailoring it to the job ad, making your achievements quantifiable, and using action verbs and power words.
• Add the right skills for the job. Keep this section relevant by only including the hard and soft skills that are required for the position.
• Keep your education short and to the point. Your most recent and highest degree is more than enough for a strong education section. You only need to add more details here if you’re a recent graduate with barely any work experience.
• Leverage optional resume sections. Optional sections like languages, hobbies, certifications, independent projects, and others can set you apart from other candidates with similar skills and experience.
• Include a cover letter. That’s right, cover letters matter in 2024, and the best way to supplement your resume is by adding an equally well-crafted cover letter to your job application. To make the most of it, check out our detailed guide on how to write a cover letter .

To get the most out of our tips, you can head over to the resume builder and start building your resume on the go as you read this guide.

New to resume-making? Give our ‘7 Resume Tips’ video a watch before diving into the article!

#1. Pick the Right Resume Format

Before you start filling in the contents of your resume, you have to make sure it’s going to look good. 

After all, the first thing hiring managers notice is what your resume looks like, and then they start reading it. So, this is your best chance to make a great first impression.

Start by choosing the right resume format.

There are three types of resume formats out there:

• Reverse-chronological. This is by far the most popular resume format worldwide and, as such, it’s the best format for most job-seekers.
• Functional. This resume format focuses more on skills than work experience. It’s a good choice if you’re just getting started with your career and have little to no experience in the field.
• Combination. The combination resume format is a great choice for experienced job-seekers with a very diverse skill set. It’s useful if you’re applying for a role that requires expertise in several different fields and you want to show all that in your resume.

So, which one should you go for?

In 99% of cases, you want to stick to the reverse-chronological resume format . It’s the most popular format and what hiring managers expect to see. So, in the rest of this guide, we’re going to focus on teaching you how to make a reverse-chronological resume.

Fix Your Resume’s Layout

With formatting out of the way, let’s talk about your resume’s layout , which determines the overall look of your resume. 

Does it look organized or cluttered? Is it too short or too long? Is it boring and easy to ignore, or is it reader-friendly and attention-grabbing?

Here are some of the best practices you should apply:

• Stick to one page. You should only go for a two-page resume if you have decades of experience and you’re sure the extra space will add significant value. Hiring managers in big companies get hundreds of applications per job opening. They’re not going to spend their valuable time reading your life story!
• Add clear section headings. Pick a heading and use it for all the section headers so the hiring manager can easily navigate through your resume.
• Adjust the margins. Without the right amount of white space, your resume will end up looking overcrowded with information. Set your margins to one inch on all sides so your text fits just right on the page.
• Choose a professional font. We’d recommend sticking to a font that’s professional but not overused. For example, Ubuntu, Roboto, or Overpass. Avoid Times New Roman, and never use Comic Sans.
• Set the correct font size. As a rule of thumb, go for 11-12 pt for normal text and 14-16 pt for section titles.
• Use a PDF file. Always save your resume as a PDF file, unless the employer specifically requests otherwise. Word files are popular, but there’s a good chance they’ll mess up your resume’s formatting.

Another thing you need to consider in terms of your resume’s layout is whether you’re going for a traditional-looking resume template or something a bit more modern :

If you’re pursuing a career in a more traditional industry, like law , banking , or finance , you might want to stick to the first.

But if you’re applying to a tech company where imagination and innovation are valued, you can pick a more creative resume template .

Want to Save Time? Use a (Free) Resume Template

Anyone who’s ever tried creating a resume from scratch knows how boring the formatting can be.

Before you can even start filling in the contents, you need to tweak the margins, adjust font sizes, and make sure everything fits into one page while still looking good.

What if you could skip past all that and still create a compelling resume?

Try one of our free resume templates . They’re pre-formatted, so all you have to do is fill in the contents.

They’re also created in collaboration with recruiters from around the globe, ensuring that the templates are visually appealing and ATS-friendly!

See for yourself how one of our templates compares to a resume created in a standard text editor:

#2. Add Your Contact Information

Now that we’ve got all the formatting out of the way, let’s get into what your resume is all about— the information you put on it .

The first thing you want to do when filling out the contents of your resume is to add your contact information .

This section is pretty straightforward but crucial. Your contact details belong at the top of your resume in a designated resume header , so the hiring manager can easily find them.

Even if everything else about your resume is perfect, that all flops if you misspell your email address or have a typo in your phone number. If the hiring manager can’t contact you, it’s a missed opportunity.

So, double-check, and even triple-check your contact information section and make sure everything is factually correct and up-to-date.

Must-Have Information

• Full name. Your first and last name should stand out at the top of your resume.
• Email address. Stick to an address that’s professional and easy to spell, like a combination of your first and last name. (E.g.: [email protected])
• Phone number. Add a reliable number where the hiring manager can easily reach you.
• Location. Add your city and state/country. If you plan to relocate for the job or want a remote position, specify it on your resume.

Optional Information

• Job title. Add your professional title underneath. Write it down word for word, whether it’s “Digital Marketing Specialist” or “Junior Data Scientist.” Just don’t make up job titles like “Marketing Wizzard” or “Data Manipulator.” They’re not quirky; they’re just unprofessional. 
• LinkedIn profile . We recommend that you include a link to your updated LinkedIn profile since over 77% of hiring managers use the platform when evaluating a candidate. 
• Relevant links. Include links to personal websites or any social media profiles that are relevant to your field. For example, a developer could include a Github profile, while a graphic designer could link their Behance or Driblle account, and so on.
• Date of birth. Unless this is specifically required in the job ad, the hiring manager doesn’t need to know how old you are. It’s not important for their decision-making, and at worst, it might lead to age-based discrimination.
• Unprofessional email address. Your quirky, old high school email address doesn’t belong on your resume. Instead of [email protected] , go for a [email protected] type of address.
• Headshot. (USA, UK or Ireland) Depending on the country where you’re applying, it might even be illegal to include a picture of yourself on your resume . While it’s the norm to include a picture in most of Europe and Asia, always check the regulations for each specific country or industry you’re applying to.

All clear? Good! Now, let’s look at what a great example of a resume's contact information section looks like:

#3. Write a Resume Headline (Summary or Objective)

It's no secret that recruiters spend an average of less than seven seconds on a resume .

When you receive hundreds, if not thousands, of applications daily, it's physically impossible to spend too much time on each.

So, what the hiring managers do to go through resumes more effectively is to skim through each resume and read it in depth only if it piques their interest.

This is where the resume headline comes in.

Placed right next to (or underneath) your contact information, this brief paragraph is the first thing the hiring manager is going to read on your resume.

Now, depending on how far along in your career you are, your resume headline can be either a resume summary or a resume objective.

So, how do you choose between a resume summary and a resume objective? Here’s all you need to know:

Resume Summary

A resume summary, as the name suggests, is a two to three-sentence summary of your career so far. If done right, it shows that you’re a qualified candidate at a glance and gets the hiring manager to give you a chance.

Here’s what your resume summary should include:

• Your job title and years of experience.
• A couple of your greatest professional achievements or core responsibilities.
• Your most relevant skills for the job.

Here’s an example of a well-written resume summary: 

Experienced Java Developer with 5 years of experience in building scalable and efficient applications. Contributed to a major project that enhanced application performance by 25%. Strong background in Spring Framework and microservices. Aiming to apply robust coding skills to develop innovative software solutions at XYZ Tech Solutions.

Unless you’re a recent graduate or amid a career change, we recommend you stick to a resume summary. Otherwise, a resume objective might be a better option for you.

Resume Objective

A resume objective is supposed to express your professional goals and aspirations, academic background, and any relevant skills you may have for the job.

It communicates your motivation for getting into a new field, so it’s the go-to headline for recent graduates and those going through a career change. As with a resume summary, a resume objective should be brief—around two to four sentences long.

So, here’s what it would look like if you’re a student:

Hard-working recent graduate with a B.A. in Graphic Design from New York State University seeking new opportunities. 3+ years of practical experience working with Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop, creating illustrations and UX/UI design projects. Looking to grow as a designer and perfect my art at XYZ Design Studio.

Or, on the other hand, if you’re going through a career change, it might look more like this:

IT project manager with 5+ years of experience in software development. Managed a team of developers to create products for several industries, such as FinTech and HR tech. Looking to leverage my experience in managing outsourced products as a Product Owner at Company XYZ.

#4. Prioritize Your Work Experience

The most important part of your resume is your work experience.

This is where you get to sell yourself and show off your previous accomplishments and responsibilities.

If you manage to master this section, you’ll know most of what’s there to know about how to make a resume.

There are plenty of good practices for writing your work experience . But before we dive into all the nits and grits, let's start with the basics.

The standard format for each work experience entry is as follows:

• Job title/position. Your job title goes on top of each work experience entry. When the hiring manager looks at your resume, you want them to know, at a glance, that you have relevant work experience for the job.
• Company name/location/description. Mention the name of the employer and the general location, such as the city and state/country where you worked. In some cases, you may also want to briefly describe the company, like when the organization isn’t particularly well-known.
• Dates employed. Add the approximate timeframe of your employment at each company. You don’t need to give exact dates since the standard format for this is mm/yyyy.
• Achievements and responsibilities. This is the core of each work experience entry. Depending on your field, you want to list either your achievements or responsibilities. List them in bullet points instead of paragraphs, so they’ll be easier to read.

Here’s a real-life example:

Your work experience entries should always be listed in reverse chronological order , starting with your most recent job and working your way back into the past.

Now that you know how to list your experience, we’re going to show you how to write about it in a way that makes you stand out from the competition, starting with: 

Are you a student with no work experience? We’ve got you covered. Check out our guide to writing a resume with no experience here.

Focus on Achievements Whenever Possible

One of the most common resume mistakes is only listing responsibilities in your work experience section.

Here’s the thing—in most cases, the hiring manager knows exactly what your job responsibilities are.

For example, if you’re a sales manager, your responsibilities would be:

• Reach out to potential clients over the phone or email.
• Maintain relationships with existing company clients and upsell relevant products.
• Tracking and reporting on leads in CRM.

Coincidentally, this is also the same list of responsibilities for every sales manager out there. So, 90% of all other resumes probably mention the same thing.

To stand out from the competition, you want to focus on writing achievements in your resume instead. These can be how you helped your previous company grow, reach quarterly quotas, and so on.

Let’s compare how responsibilities hold up next to achievements for the same job:

• Exceeded sales team KPIs by 30%+ for 3 months straight.
• Generated over $24,000 in sales in 1 month.
• Generated leads through cold-calling
• Managed existing company clients

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there just aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you’re a warehouse worker .

Your day-to-day responsibilities probably include:

• Loading, unloading, and setting up equipment daily.
• Packaging finished products and getting them ready for shipping.
• Assisting in opening and closing the warehouse.

In fields like this, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself through achievements, so it’s okay to stick to responsibilities instead. You can still make them shine by following the rest of our advice about listing your work experience.

Keep in mind, though, that in some fields, there aren’t that many achievements you can mention. Let’s say you work in a warehouse. Your day-to-day responsibilities probably involve:

• Loading, unloading and setting up equipment on a daily basis.
• Package finished product and get it ready for shipping.
• Assist in opening and closing the warehouse.

In such fields, it’s pretty hard to distinguish yourself, so it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities instead.

Tailor Your Resume to the Job

Tailoring is what sets an amazing resume apart from an okay one.

Hiring managers don’t need to know about every single job you’ve ever worked at or every single skill that you have.

They only want to know about your jobs, experiences, or skills that are relevant to the role you’re applying for.

For example, if you’re applying for a job doing Google Ads, you don’t need to talk about your SEO internship from eight years ago.

By focusing your resume on whatever is important for the specific role, you’re a lot more likely to stand out and catch the hiring manager’s attention.

Let’s take a look at an example of a job ad:

As you can see, we’ve highlighted the most important requirements.

To tailor your resume accordingly, you just need to mention how you meet each of these requirements in your resume.

You can highlight your relevant achievements and qualifications in different parts of your resume, such as:

• In your resume summary, where you should recap your years of experience.
• Throughout your work experience section, where you should list achievements and responsibilities that reflect your social media marketing experience.
• In your education section, where you can let the hiring manager know you have the degree that they’re looking for.

Include the Right Amount of Work Experience

If you’ve got over a decade’s worth of work experience, you’re probably wondering whether all of it belongs on your resume. In most cases, you’d end up writing a novel if you listed everything you’ve ever done, and that’s not how long a resume should be .

If you’re new to the job market, on the other hand, you probably don’t have any experience, and you’re wondering what you could even add to this section.

So, here’s how much information your resume should include, depending on your level of experience:

• No experience. If you’re looking for your first job , you won’t have any work experience to fill this section with. So, you can either keep it empty and focus on all the other sections or fill it up with any experience gained in student organizations, extracurricular activities, volunteering, and other projects.
• Entry-level. List all your work experience so far. While some of it won’t be relevant, it can still show the hiring manager that you do have some actual work experience.
• Mid-level. Only mention relevant work experience to the position you’re applying for. There’s no need to waste space on jobs that aren’t related to what you’re after.
• Senior-level. List up to 15 years of relevant work experience, tops. If your most recent experience is as a marketing executive , the hiring manager doesn’t care how you started your career as a junior marketing specialist 23 years ago.

Consider Applicant Tracking System (ATS) Software

Did you know that over 70% of resumes don’t even make it to the hiring manager ?

Most companies these days use ATS to evaluate hundreds of resumes instantaneously and automatically filter out the ones that don’t meet their criteria.

For example, if a resume doesn’t mention a specific skill or isn’t formatted correctly, the ATS will automatically reject it.

Fortunately, there are some easy ways to make an ATS-friendly resume .

Here are a couple of tips to help you get past those pesky robots:

• Stick to one page. Sometimes employers set a limit on how long a resume should be. This means that if your resume is longer than one page, it might get automatically disqualified.
• Incorporate keywords. Tailoring your resume to the job helps a ton with beating the ATS. Just carefully read the job description to find hints for what the ATS will be looking for. Then, whenever you find keywords related to your responsibilities and achievements, make sure to include them in your work experience section.
• Use an active voice. Passive voice is too vague and unclear, so make sure to use active voice as much as possible when describing your previous jobs. (E.g.: “Managed a team of ten people,” instead of “ A team of ten people was managed by me.” )
• Leverage powerful action words. Instead of starting each of your sentences with “was responsible for," make your work experience impactful by using words that can grab attention. Saying that you “spearheaded” or “facilitated” something sounds a lot more impressive than “helped.”

Want to make sure your resume formatting passes the ATS test? Choose one of our tried and tested ATS-friendly resume templates , and you’ll be good to go! 

#5. List Your Education

The next section on your resume is dedicated to your academic qualifications. Let’s start with the basics!

Here’s how you should format the education section on your resume :

• Program Name. Your major and degree type should be listed. (E.g.: “B.A. in Business Administration” )
• University Name. Add the name of the institution. (E.g.: “New York State University” )
• Dates Attended. Use a mm/yyyy format for the dates you attended. (E.g.: “08/2008 - 06/2012” )
• Location. If your university is less well-known, you can also add the location. (E.g.: “Stockholm, Sweden” )
• GPA. Use the appropriate grading system for the country you’re applying to work in. (E.g.: In the USA, it would be “3.9 GPA” )
• Honors. Add any honors and distinctions you’ve been given. (E.g.: Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, Summa Cum Laude )
• Achievements. You can mention interesting papers you’ve written, projects you’ve done, or relevant coursework you’ve excelled in.
• Minor. “Minor in Psychology”

Pretty simple, right? Now let’s see what an education section looks like in practice:

This example includes all the necessary information, plus an eye-catching award and relevant classes this candidate has taken.

Resume Education Tips

Now that you know how to list your education on your resume, let’s take this section to the next level.

Just follow these expert tips:

• If you’re making a resume as a student and don’t have any work experience yet, you can list your education section at the beginning of the page instead of work experience.
• You can add your expected graduation date if you’re still pursuing your degree.
• If you already have relevant work experience, just keep this section short and sweet. Recent graduates can expand on their education more and add optional information like projects, classes, academic achievements, etc.
• Always list your degrees in reverse chronological order, starting with your highest degree on top. Your highest and most recent degree is usually enough, so if you have a Master’s degree that’s relevant to the job, there’s no need to mention your earlier degrees.
• Don’t add your high school degree to your resume if you already have a university degree. It doesn’t have as much weight, and you can use the space for something else.
• Only mention your GPA if you had an impressive academic career. Anything below a 3.5 GPA doesn’t need to be on your resume.

Are you in the process of applying for college? Check out our guide to writing a college application resume to wow that admissions officer!

#6. Emphasize Your Know-How in the Skills Section

After your work experience, your skills are the first thing the hiring manager is going to look for. In fact, together, work experience and skills make up 90% of the hiring decision .

So, this is the place where you want to mention all the know-how that makes you the perfect candidate for the job.

There are two types of skills you can include when writing your resume:

• Hard Skills. These are measurable abilities. What you can list here can be anything from coding in Python to knowing how to cook Thai cuisine.
• Soft Skills. Also known as personal skills, these are a mix of communication skills , personal traits, career attributes, and more. They can include leadership, critical thinking, and time management , just to name a few.

Your resume should always cover both hard skills and soft skills . Here’s an example in action:

Now, let’s discuss how you should list your most important skills on your resume.

There are a few essential steps you need to follow:

Always List Hard and Soft Skills Separately

Your resume should be easy and neat to navigate. The hiring manager shouldn’t have to waste time looking for a specific skill because you didn’t separate it into the appropriate subsection.

So, just create separate categories for your hard and soft skills.

Depending on your field, you could customize the name of your “hard skills” subsection to something like “technical skills," “marketing skills," or something else related to your field.

Let’s look at an example of what skills look like on a project manager’s resume :

Methodologies & Tools

• Agile Methodology
• SCRUM Framework
• Waterfall Project Management
• Microsoft Project
• Critical Path Method (CPM)
• Earned Value Management (EVM)
• Risk Management

Soft Skills

• Team Management
• Conflict Resolution
• Negotiation

Tailor Your Skills to the Job

You might have some awesome skills, but the hiring manager only needs to know about the ones that are relevant to the job.

For example, if you’re applying for a job as an accountant, your gourmet chef skills shouldn’t be on your resume.

Look at the job ad and list at least two to three essential skills you have that are required for the role. Remember—there’s no need to list every skill you have here; just keep it relevant.

Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree or higher in Graphic Design or a related field.
• Tech-savvy, with some background in CMS systems such as WordPress.
• Thrives in a stressful environment and juggles multiple tasks and deadlines.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Self-reliant, with the ability to manage their own work.
• A can-do attitude and an outside-the-box thinker.
• Proficient in Adobe Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages.
• Basic understanding of Office software such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

So, the must-have hard skills here are Photoshop, InDesign, Illustrator, Keynote, and Pages. Other good computer skills to have are WordPress or similar CMS systems.

While you can also mention Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, it’s pretty much assumed that you know how to use them since they’re required for most office jobs.

List Hard Skills with Experience Levels

For each hard skill you list on your resume, you should also mention your proficiency level. This tells employers what they can expect from you and how much training you might need.

• Beginner. You have some experience with the skill, whether it’s from some entry-level practice or classroom education.
• Intermediate. You’ve used the skill in a work environment with good understanding.
• Advanced. You’re the go-to person for this skill in your office. You can coach other employees, and you understand the skill at a high level.
• Expert. You’ve applied this skill to more than a handful of different projects and organizations. You’re the go-to person for advice about the skill, not just in your office but even amongst some of the best professionals in your field.

Just make sure to never lie about your actual skill level. Even if you get the job, once you need those skills you exaggerated, it will be pretty awkward for both you and your employer.

Include Transferable Skills

These are the types of skills that are useful for almost any job out there.

Transferable skills can be both soft skills (e.g.: teamwork, creativity, problem-solving skills, and others) and hard skills (MS Office Suite, HTML, writing, etc.)

Whatever job you’re applying to, chances are you have transferable skills from your experience that can come in handy one way or another. So, feel free to include them, even if they’re not specifically required for the position.

Not sure which skills to mention on your resume for your specific field? Check out our list of 101+ essential skills for inspiration!

#7. Leverage Optional Resume Sections

The sections we’ve covered so far are must-haves for any resume. They’re the bread-and-butter for any job application, and if you get them right, you’ll land any job you apply to.

But if you have some leftover space, there are a few optional sections you can choose from to give your resume a boost!

Are you bi-lingual? Or even better  – multi-lingual? You should always mention that on your resume!

Even if the position doesn’t require you to know a specific language, it can still come in handy at some point. At the end of the day, it’s always better to know more languages than less.

To list languages in your resume , just write them down and assign them the appropriate level:

• Intermediate

You can also use the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFRL) or the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) proficiency scales.

As a given, you should never lie about your language skills. You never know—your interviewer might turn out to be fluent in the language or even be a native speaker!

Hobbies and Interests

If you want to spice up your resume, hobbies and interests could be just what you need.

While this section isn’t a game-changer, it can help the hiring manager see who you are as an individual.

For example, if you listed “teamwork” as one of your skills, hobbies like team sports can back up your claim.

And who knows? Maybe you and your interviewer have some hobbies or interests in common!

Volunteering Experience

If you’re the type of person who devotes their free time to helping others while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. 

Seeing volunteer experience on your resume tells hiring managers that you’re a loyal employee who’s after something meaningful.

Several studies show that listing your volunteer experience can boost your chances of getting hired, especially if you have little to no work experience.

Certifications

Hiring managers love candidates who invest in themselves, and that’s exactly what they see when you list certifications on your resume .

If you value continuous learning and strive to expand your skill set, that’s always a plus.

Certifications can also show employers how much expertise you have.

For example, if you’re a Microsoft Cloud Engineer and you specialize in Microsoft Technologies, you should definitely include all essential certifications on your resume, such as the Azure Solutions Architect Expert one.

Awards and Recognitions

There’s no harm in showing off a little on your resume. After all, you want to be a candidate that shines above the rest.

So, if you’ve received any awards or recognitions that make you stand out in your field, make sure to add them.

For example, if you’ve been recognized for your contributions to data science or received a hard-to-come-by scholarship , mention it in your resume. Just keep your entries here relevant to the field you’re applying to.

Publications

Whether you’re a freelance writer or a distinguished academic, publications are always impressive.

If you have any published works (online or in an academic journal), you can add them to your resume. Just make sure to include a link so the hiring manager knows where to check your work!

Are you looking for a career in academia? Check out our guide to writing the perfect academic CV to get started!

Working on side projects can show off your passion for your field. Whether they’re university class projects or part-time entrepreneurial endeavors, they’re relevant.

For example, if you worked on a mock software product as part of a university competition, it shows you went through every step of product creation, from ideation to creating a marketing strategy.

This project also shows off your organizational skills , and if you mention it in your resume, you stand a better chance of landing the job you had your sights set on.

But projects can also be personal, not academic. For example, you might manage an Etsy store where you sell hand-made arts and crafts to customers online. This is a great opportunity to highlight your creativity, management, and customer service skills .

Overall, hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time, so projects are always a great section to add to your resume.

Looking to kickstart your career? Check out our guide on how to get an internship for useful tips and real-life examples!

Extracurricular Activities

Every college freshman knows that extracurricular experience can make a difference in their application.

Especially if you don’t have a lot of experience outside of school, extracurricular activities are a great way to show potential employers your skills and give them insight into you as a person. Different clubs and after-school projects can help you gain real-life skills and considerably increase your chances of landing your first job after college.

For example, joining a student government organization can hone your leadership skills and teach you how to work as part of a team.

For example, if you’re part of a student government or public speaking club, these activities can help you hone your leadership and presentation skills.

11+ Expert Resume Tips

You’ve got the gist of how to make a resume. Now, it’s time to make it really stand out from the crowd!

Follow these exclusive resume tips to take your resume game to the next level:

• Match the professional title underneath your name to the job title of the position you’re applying for. Hiring managers often hire for several roles at once, so giving them this cue about what role you’re after helps things go smoother.
• Mention any promotions from your previous jobs. Use the work experience entries for them to focus on the achievements that helped you earn them.
• Describe your achievements using Laszlo Bock’s formula : accomplished X as measured by Y by doing Z . This way, your work experience can go the extra mile and show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table.
• Always list your achievements and responsibilities in concise bullet points. This makes your resume more reader-friendly, and it’s more likely that the hiring manager will see your impressive achievements at a glance.
• Don’t use personal pronouns like “I” or “me,” and don’t refer to yourself by name. Stick to a slightly altered third person, like “managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.” instead of “he managed data integrity at XYZ Inc.”
• Name your resume sections correctly, or it might get rejected by the ATS. Swapping out quirky names like “career history” or “expertise” for “work experience” and "skills" makes it easier for the hiring manager to find what they’re looking for, too.
• Prioritize important keywords instead of adding all of them. Make sure the relevant skills, qualifications, and experiences you add all make sense in context, too. Your goal is to get past the ATS and impress the hiring manager.
• Focus on transferable skills if you don’t have a lot of relevant work experience. Any extracurricular activities or personal projects can help you stand out here.
• Add a strategic pop of color to headings, bullet points, or key elements you want to highlight. It can help your resume stand out, but don’t overdo it—you want the information to be more impressive than the color palette.
• Don’t include the line “references available upon request.” Hiring managers already know they can request a list of references from you, so there’s no need to waste valuable space on it.
• Make sure your resume is optimized for mobile viewing. Most hiring managers use their mobile phones as often as desktop computers, so save your resume to a PDF file and make sure your formatting stays intact across any device.
• Rename the resume file you plan to send so it includes your name and the name of the position you’re applying for. It’s a small detail that can turn into a crucial mistake if you forget it.
• Read your resume out loud when you’re done. This is a great way to catch awkward phrases or spelling mistakes you might have missed otherwise.
• Use a tool like DocSend to track your resume. You’ll get a notification any time someone opens your resume, and you can see how long they spend reading it.

FREE Resume Checklist

Are you already done with your resume? Let’s see how it holds up!

Go through our checklist for perfecting your resume and see where you stand!

If you missed some points, just go through your resume one more time and perfect it.

And if you ☑’d everything—congrats! You’ve learned all there is to know about writing a resume, and you’re good to go with your job search.

Need to write a CV instead of a resume? Check out our step-by-step guide on how to write a CV with dozens of examples!

9 Resume Templates for Different Industries

Looking to create an effective resume without dealing with the formatting hassle? Just choose one of the templates below.

#1. Traditional Resume Template

Good for traditional industries like finance, banking, law, and manufacturing.

#2. Modern Resume Template

Good for both contemporary and forward-looking industries, including entrepreneurship, medical technology, and engineering.

#3. Creative Resume Template

Good for creative industries, including entertainment, design, and architecture. 

#4. Minimalistic Resume Template

Good for experienced professionals in basically any industry who want to let their achievements do the talking. 

#5. IT Resume Template

Good for any IT-related profession like software development, cyber security, and DevOps engineering.

#6. Tech Resume Template

Good for the tech industry and everything it encompasses.

#7. College Resume Template

Good for college students and recent graduates alike.

#8. General Resume Template

Good for multiple industries, including HR, education, and customer service.

#9. Executive Resume Template

Good for senior professionals across different industries, including hospitality, marketing, and logistics.

17+ Resumes for Different Jobs

Knowing how to write a resume is one thing, but making a resume that stands out is something entirely different. Without inspiration, even top career experts might stumble on a roadblock or two.

Check out the following effective resume examples for specific jobs to get a better sense of what a good resume looks like:

#1. Nurse Practitioner Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a nurse resume here.

#2. Data Scientist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a data scientist resume here.

#3. Business Analyst Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a business analyst resume here.

#4. Digital Marketing Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a digital marketing resume here.

#5. Software Engineer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a software engineer resume here.

#6. Construction Project Manager Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a construction project manager resume here.

#7. Customer Service Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a customer service resume here.

#8. High School Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a high school resume here.

#9. Student Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a student resume here.

#10. Server Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a server resume here.

#11. Actor Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an actor resume here.

#12. Web Developer Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a web developer resume here.

#13. Engineering Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing an engineering resume here.

#14. Computer Science Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a computer science resume here.

#15. Architect Resume Example 

Check out our full guide to writing a data analyst resume here.

#17. Remote Job Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a remote job resume here.

#18. Sales Associate Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a sales associate resume here.

#19. Receptionist Resume Example

Check out our full guide to writing a receptionist resume here.

Want to see more examples? Check out our compilation of 80+ resume examples for different fields .

• Administrative Assistant Resume
• Bartender Resume
• DevOps Engineer Resume
• Executive Assistant Resume
• Flight Attendant Resume
• Graphic Designer Resume
• Paralegal Resume
• Pharmacist Resume
• Recruiter Resume
• Supervisor Resume

Next Steps After Your Resume

Now that we’ve covered everything you need to know about how to make a resume, it’s time to talk about the rest of your job application.

After all, your resume is only the first step in your job search. To land the job you deserve, you also need to write a captivating cover letter and ace that upcoming interview. Here’s how:

#1. How to Write a Convincing Cover Letter

The companion piece to every resume is the cover letter.

Most job-seekers flinch when they hear that they have to write a cover letter. What do you even mention in a cover letter, anyway? If you were good at writing cover letters, you’d be applying for a job as a writer !

In reality, though, writing a cover letter is very simple once you know its purpose.

Think of your cover letter as a direct message to the hiring manager. It’s your chance to briefly explain why you’re such an awesome fit for the position. And with a few cover letter tips to point you in the right direction, you’ll write the perfect cover letter for your job application.

Just follow this structure:

• Add the contact details. Include the same contact information as on your resume, plus additional contact details for the hiring manager, including their name, job title, the company’s name, and location.
• Introduce yourself. Start your cover letter by mentioning who you are, what your work experience is, and why you’re interested in the position. Mention a standout achievement or two, relevant skills, and what you’d like to do for the company you’re applying for.
• Explain why you’d excel at the job. Find the requirements in the job ad that you meet, and elaborate on how you fulfill the most important ones. Research the company so you know what you like about it, and mention it in your cover letter. Make sure to convey your enthusiasm for the job and confidence that you’ll be a great fit for their team.
• Wrap it up politely. Conclude your cover letter by recapping your key selling points and thanking the hiring manager for their time. Then add a call to action, such as “Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me at the provided phone number so that we can discuss my application in greater detail.” Then, add a closing line and follow it with your full name.

Sounds easy, right? Here’s a real-life example to drive the point home:

Do you need more help perfecting your cover letter? Learn what the most common cover letter mistakes are and check out cover letter examples for all professions here.

#2. How to Ace Your Next Interview

Once you’ve perfected both your resume and cover letter, there’s only one thing left.

It’s time for the final step—the dreaded job interview.

Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert, you probably hate the interviewing process. No matter how experienced you are, it can be nerve-wracking. Sitting there while someone’s prodding into your past experiences and judging you isn’t fun.

But did you know that most interviewers ask the same questions?

That’s right—all you have to do is learn how to answer some of the most common interview questions, and you’ll be an interview away from landing your dream job!

Just check out our complete guide to the 35+ Job Interview Questions and Answers and learn how to ace your next interview.

FAQs on How to Make a Resume

Do you still have some questions about making a resume? Check out the answers to the most frequently asked questions below!

#1. What does a good resume look like in 2024?

For your resume to look good in 2024, make sure it’s organized and clean and isn’t longer than one page.

Be sure to include information that adds value to your application—leave out the focus on your relevant work experience and skills that you can back up, and list as many achievements as possible. 

If you’re using a resume template, choose one based on your industry. Conservative industries like law, banking, and business require more traditional resume templates. But if you’re going for an industry like design, architecture, or marketing, you can go for a creative resume template . 

Remote work is also big in 2024, so if that’s what you’re after, tailor your resume to match the job you want.

#2. How do you make a resume in Word?

The best way to create a resume in Word is to use a pre-designed Microsoft Word template. To access them, you should: 

• Open MS Word
• Click “file” from the menu bar 
• Select “new”
• Type “resume templates” in the search bar 

That said, Word resume templates are generic, hard to personalize, and overall not very stylish.

Want a resume that looks good and is extremely easy to make? Check out resume templates to get started!

#3. How do I write a resume for my first job?

If you’re writing your first-ever resume for an entry-level position, the hiring manager won’t expect you to have any work experience.

However, you can make up for your lack of experience with your skills and academic achievements.

For example, you can take advantage of extracurricular activities, internships, volunteering experiences, and other non-professional experiences. You can use them to highlight the skills you’ve gained and what you’ve achieved so far.

So, your first job resume should have a resume objective, emphasize your education, and replace your work experience with any internships, volunteering, independent projects, or other experiences.

#4. How to make a resume on Google Docs?

You can make a resume on Google Docs by choosing one of their templates and filling it in on the go.

All you have to do is go to your Google Drive’s template gallery, choose your preferred template, fill in your information, and your Google Docs resume is ready to go! 

That said, Google Docs templates aren’t the most user-friendly choice. You don’t have much flexibility with the layout and formatting isn’t that easy. For example, you tweak a section to the slightest, and the whole resume becomes a mess.

If you want an easier option, check out our resume builder !

#5. What kind of resume do employers prefer?

Typically, employers prefer one-page-long resumes that follow the reverse chronological format. 

Hiring managers receive hundreds of resumes every day, so they don't have the time to read three-page resumes. Try one of our one-page resume templates so you don’t go over the recommended resume length.

Meanwhile, the reverse-chronological format is the most popular because it draws attention to your most recent jobs and professional achievements, which is the #1 most important thing hiring managers look at when evaluating a resume.

#6. How many jobs should you put on your resume? 

You should only include relevant job positions on your resume.

This means that your work experience section should be tailored to the job you are applying for. If you’ve worked five different jobs and they can all add value to your current application, then you should include all five. 

If, on the other hand, you’re applying for, say, a customer service position and some of your past jobs don’t have anything to do with customer service, you should skip them.

#7. Should I put my address on my resume? 

You can put your location (city, state, or country) on your resume, but you don’t need to put your entire physical address.

Putting a physical address on a resume was the norm back when companies would contact you via mail. In today’s world, everyone communicates via email, which is why adding a correct and professional email address to your contact information section is far more important than putting your physical address. 

So, just include your location or-–if you’re a remote worker—specify you prefer to work remotely by writing “working remotely from [location].”

#8. What information should I leave out of my resume?

As a general rule, you shouldn’t include your birthday or your headshot on your resume. This norm varies from country to country but it applies to the USA, Canada, and UK.

If you have plenty of achievements to list under your work experience, then you can leave your basic work responsibilities out of your resume. 

In your education section, you should only include your highest and most recent degree. So, if you hold a Ph.D., you can list that and your Master’s degree and leave your Bachelor’s degree and high school diploma out.

Finally, leave out any skills that aren’t relevant to the job you’re applying for.

#9. Is a resume a CV?

Depending on where you are, a CV (Curriculum Vitae) and a resume might be completely different things.

In most of the world, though, including Europe and Asia, they are used interchangeably for the same document. Both CVs and resumes are one to two pages long, and list skills and experiences relevant to the position you’re applying for.

Sometimes more detailed resumes that go over one page are referred to as CVs. These are typically only used by senior professionals, executives, CEOs, etc.

In the USA, however, a CV is a completely different document. Typically, CVs are detailed and comprehensive documents that highlight your entire academic and professional history. They’re often used for academic, scientific, or research positions, which is why this type of CV can also be referred to as an academic CV.

You can create your CV using one of our CV templates !

#10. Should I write my own resume?

Yes, you should always write your own resume.

Your resume is your opportunity to show the hiring manager your communication, writing, and presentation skills . Employers also evaluate you based on how effectively you can convey information about yourself, and there’s no one that can represent you better than yourself.

Writing your own resume lets you introduce yourself authentically. You have the best understanding of your skills and experiences, and you can personalize them to make your resume stand out.

And, as a bonus, the experience of writing your resume yourself can be reflective and insightful, so it might help you understand your professional journey and career goals better.

#11. Can a resume be two pages?

Generally, we strongly recommend that your resume stick to one page.

Hiring managers go through hundreds of resumes every day, and keeping your resume to one page increases the odds that they’ll see your qualifications faster.

In some cases, like when you have a lot of relevant experience, your resume can go over two pages. But this exception is reserved for senior professionals with over a decade of relevant experience and tons of skills and achievements that simply can’t fit on one page.

#12. Is a simple resume okay?

Absolutely, a simple resume is often more than okay—it's preferable.

Before your resume even gets to the hiring manager, a complicated layout could get it rejected by the applicant tracking system (ATS). A simple resume template can help get your application straight to the hiring manager.

A clean layout can also make sure that your resume is easily readable and looks professional. This can focus the hiring manager's attention on your work experience and skills without excessive clutter or flashy colors to distract them.

Key Takeaways

And that’s a wrap!

If you’ve followed all of our advice until now, congrats! You’re probably an expert on how to make a resume.

To recap, let’s go through some of the most important lessons we’ve learned so far...

• Use the right resume builder to make the process as smooth as possible. You don’t want to mess around with formatting for hours before even starting to work on your resume!
• Focus on your achievements over responsibilities. This can help you stand out from all the other applicants, especially if you back your claims up with data.
• Include all the must-have sections, like the resume summary, work experience, education, and skills. Then leverage optional sections if you have leftover space.
• Tailor your resume for the job you’re applying for. Everything listed on your resume should be relevant to the specific job you’re applying for, and you should write a new resume for every new job application.
• Take the time to perfect your cover letter. It’s just as important as your resume, so make sure you pay as much attention to it!

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out, According to 24 Experts

Most hiring managers and HR personnel have ways of weeding out candidates as quickly as possible.

That is why we asked experts to provide practical advice on how to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

Table of Contents

Don’t include an objective

Be sure to add a career summary, add a skills section, don’t include dates with your education, include only relevant and more recent jobs, stop trying to make the resume look like a work of art, stop believing a resume should only be two pages, identify what you really need, avoid long paragraphs as your ‘objective’, keep the font simple, make sure your formatting is professional and appropriate for what you’re seeking, make sure your resume is error and mistake-free, realize that the most important piece of information on there is your name, make sure your resume is tailored for what you’re seeking, ensure your resume is ats fully-compliant, use the right mix of quantitative and qualitative information, consider page length, the key to a standout resume is the focus, focus on what you can do for the position you’re applying for, create a visually appealing format, provide a branding statement, include keywords from the job description, add a cover letter, the resume should be tailored very specifically for a select audience, keep resume content heavily results-focused and not task-focused, watch the length and avoid drowning the reader in long narratives, make sure that you give priority to relevant experience and skills, create a targeted resumé, show the employer your unique value, use a modern, professional format, but keep your formatting clean and consistent, tailor your resumé to the job, keep it to one page, highlight proficiencies, consider adding your hobbies, don’t go wild with your resume format, use a big headline, put things where they belong, if possible, pass your resume along internally, include measurable achievements, show achievements, include facts and figures to quantify your achievements, avoid jargons and have someone proofread it for you, use a reverse-chronological resume rather than a functional resume, focus on accomplishments, always list your education on the resume even if you feel it is not relevant, add some colors to the top corner(s) of your resume, vary the overall design of your resume depending on the job you’re applying for, submit a different resume for each different role you’re applying for, easy-to-skim, job-winning content is the key to standing out when applying for jobs online, get creative, provide clear, concise bullet points of roles/responsibilities, keep it organized, clean, and clear, highlight your experience for the position you’re applying for, use industry, and job-specific keywords and common industry phrases within your resume, check your format, ensure your resume is tailor-made for this particular role you are applying for, utilize headers, format professionally, add a professional headshot, frequently asked questions.

Dr. Heather Rothbauer-Wanish

Owner, Feather Communications | Author, Getting Back in the Game: How to Build Your Resume After Taking a Break

No one cares about your objective. The company cares about what you can do for them. How are you going to make their job easier? Stating that you are looking to “ …grow your leadership abilities while enhancing their organization… ” isn’t helping your cause.

Provide the company with a high-overview of you as a job candidate. It only needs to be a three to five-line summary that gives several skill-sets and aligns with keywords in the job search. Please know that this is the first part of the resume.

If you don’t have a qualifications/skills/core competencies/areas of expertise section, you are missing out. And, more importantly, companies are missing out on you. This is the place to utilize those keywords used in the job posting.

Unless you graduated from college last Saturday, the year you graduated no longer matters. In fact, at some point, that information could start to hurt you and could potentially bring about age discrimination. And, if you are yet to graduate from college, put your estimated date of month and year of graduation on your resume.

While I loved my job as a bank teller in high school, that was more than 20+ years ago and is no longer relevant. You don’t need to include very single job that you have ever had on your resume. Think relevance over quantity of past job experiences.

Dawn D. Boyer, Ph.D.

CEO, D. Boyer Consulting | Author, Human Resource Professionals in Government Contracting Guidebook

No one sees the original resumes once they are uploaded in the Automatic Tracking Systems (ATS) – those original resumes get parsed over to Boolean searchable SQL databases and converted to text files – recruiters may never see the ‘pretty.’

It’s perfectly ok to go to a third page if your experience and history are rich and diverse. Use the third page for certifications, training, awards, and recognition. You can always print a double-side first and second page to take to job fairs.

Know the difference between a bio (one-page intro), a resume (2-4 page job history for 10-15 years), and a Curriculum Vitae (Latin for life-story) which can run 20-30 pages long (academic institution job search).

When you are writing the ‘ Objective ’ at the top of the resume, all you need is the job title for which you are applying. Avoid the long boring subjective paragraph that recruiters roll their eyes at and skip over.

Summarize your ‘general’ type of jobs in years of experience list at the top of the resume, e.g., 5 years, Supervisory Management, 10 years, Technical Analyst (military, federal government), etc.

It can either be Arial or Times New Roman between 10 and 12 points tall; do not make larger fonts for your name or locations or objective lines – this doesn’t help and makes the resume look amateurish.

Ron Auerbach, MBA

Career Coach | Consultant | Author, Think Like an Interviewer: Your Job Hunting Guide to Success

So the first impression they will get is the overall visual look. And if that doesn’t impress them, they won’t look at the content, no matter how great it is. FYI, this is why a lot, if not most resume templates you find on the Internet fail so miserably.

Free of typos, grammatical issues, and other mistakes. Why is this so important? The reason is very simple. You are being judged by your actions and inaction. So having mistakes or errors on your resume equate to your either being this way on the job, which isn’t good! Or it means you missed it, which isn’t good either!

Worst of all is you did notice the problem(s) and did nothing about it! On the job, do we want people to notice but leave problems alone? No way!

When there’s a stack of resumes on someone’s pile, making sure that yours stands out from others is important. So you want your name to be the biggest thing on there. That way, it screams out, “This is my resume!”

So while you can create an excellent generic resume, it may not work in every case. So you do need to tweak and/or make major revisions accordingly. The same with a resume you’ve used lots of other times for that kind of work of that specific job.

The requirements and/or specific role you’ll play can vary company-to-company. Thus, you must revise things as needed in order to successfully get through the screening.

The last thing you can afford when you’re job hunting is your resume automatically being rejected or not being accurately read. So making sure you have your resume in an ATS-compliant fashion is key to getting it noticed.

Something else you should do to stand out is incorporate keywords they’ll be looking for. And inserting those keywords into various sections of your resume so, no matter where they’re looking, you will have the kinds of things they’ll want and will be impressed by.

FYI, despite what some advocate, you do not always need to include numbers of some type to impress. Qualitative data, when presented in the right way, can work equally well. Sometimes, even better! For example:

• “Increased revenues by 35%” 

Notice how I used numbers here. Now, this may really impress. Then again, it’s a matter of how they’ll react to 35%. Is this really a big enough increase to be considered “impressive?” That is the unknown question! So you might actually stand out better with being qualitative rather than quantitative here. For example:

• “Dramatically increased revenues”
• “Significantly increased revenues”

Notice how I’m leaving numbers out here and using a qualifier in the description to showcase the increase. And with “dramatically” and “significant” being subjective whereby each reader has their own range of what numbers it could be, you’re playing into this as a way to impress.

So it’s an excellent way to get around numbers that you may think are impressive but they do not. Thus, do not underestimate the power of being qualitative!

A resume, no matter what level of responsibility and/or experiences you have, should be above two pages. First of all, going beyond two pages is too much for them to be reading when they have lots of applications to go through and other tasks on their platter. So help them out by reducing not increasing their workload!

Secondly, two pages are more than enough space to convince them you’re qualified and worth considering for employment. If you cannot do so with this many pages, you never will!

So you do not need to go overboard in your background and qualifications, which is where a lot of job seekers going for C-level positions make a mistake.

You only need to give them enough to show you’re worth bringing in for an interview. Then you can fill in the rest with your full background!

Krystal Yates

Certified HR Expert | Founder, EBR Consulting, LLC

Creating a resume that stands out is much easier than most people think. A good resume must include three components:

• It must get you past the applicant tracking software (ATS)
• It must tell the reader why you are a good fit for their job
• It must be visually appealing

Too often, we overcomplicate the resume but forget these three basics.

That means that first, you must decide what your next position looks like. Spend some time to figure out exactly what you want from your next job, then ensure your resume tells that story. While that advice feels counterintuitive to many, it works very well.

In the past, a resume was a job history, now it is your brochure. Instead of broadly telling the reader everything you’ve done in the past, focus on how you solve the problem of the reader (the hiring manager). This should be easy to do since you know exactly what types of positions you will be applying for.

Review two or three similar job postings and pull out the terminology you see used over and over. These are the keywords you want to include in the resume to get you past the ATS.

The good news is, there is no one right way to do this. Decide what appeals to you. After all, this reflects you. Make sure the document is easy to skim and that you’ve used a font that is easy to read. If using color, ensure it still looks good printed in black and white.

Ebony Joyce

Chief Resume Writer | Founder, Next Level Career Services, LLC

No one else has the same brand as you. Your branding statement isn’t simply a list of accomplishments, but a three-to-five-line statement that tells who you are and sums up your value proposition. What sets you apart from others? What added value will you bring to the organization?

So, dig deep to formulating the qualities that differentiate you from others. The best way to land your next opportunity is to do a great job writing this section and make your resume stand out.

Using the job description as a guide is one best way to make your resume stand out. Job descriptions are written with certain keywords and when recruiters and hiring manager see keywords those are the resumes that get attention.

While it may be time-consuming, take the time to make a minor tweak to customize your resume for each individual job is a way to stand out since many applicants won’t take this time to do so.

If a job application says to submit a resume most people will do just that, submit a resume. So just the mere fact that not everyone includes cover letters with their resume is reason enough for you to submit one.

The cover letter is your opportunity to express your personality and provide a supplement to your resume that briefly expands upon your skills. Recruiters are going to appreciate the extra time you took in crafting a cover letter and set yourself apart from the applicants.

Related: How Long Should a Cover Letter Be , How to End a Cover Letter  

Adrienne Tom

Interview Coach | Executive Resume Writer, Career Impressions

General, one-size-fits-all resumes rarely work. Make it easy for each employer to see how you would provide value to their open position by aligning all resume content with job requirements. If a detail or point is not related to the target job – remove it or replace it!

Employers are not interested in all of the basic job duties you performed in each past position. Instead, they want to know “ what’s in it for me if I hire you?” .

To create interest and support your candidacy for the open position you must provide proof of the skills and capabilities you claim to possess. The proof is best shared through results.

In addition, quantify achievements to boost the quality of your resume content and provide more depth and breadth to expertise. For example, instead of just saying “created cost-savings” , take content one step further and provide quantified details such as “saved $16K in annual operating costs by introducing new streamlined inventory management procedure.”

Employers are often short on time and what to know ‘what’s in it for me?” – fast – when they scan a resume. Keep content in check by aiming for an average of 2 pages, focusing on the quality of content and not quantity.

Mix up content delivery by sharing details in both short paragraphs and bulleted statements and aim to keep the information as succinct as possible for easier readability.

Finally, eliminate unnecessary filler words like “a, to, by, and the” to sharpen content focus.

Related: How Long Should Your Resume Be

Rob Morgenroth

Executive Vice President, Mason Frank International

Despite the limited space you have on a resume anyway, you’d be surprised how much detail on it goes unread. Most hiring managers or recruiters will be skim-reading a huge pile of applications, looking for skills, experience, and qualifications that match exactly what they’re looking for.

It’ll then be narrowed down to decide who to invite to interview, but it’s vital you make an impression to survive that first cut.

A potential employer isn’t interested in clichés about you being a team player or great communicator at this stage. Those are just basic things everyone in the world of work is expected to have, so if you’re listing those, you may as well list other non-factors such as ‘punctual’ or ‘hard-working.’

Your personality, ambition, and general cultural fit will be determined during the face-to-face or phone interview itself, so at this stage, it’s about making sure you’ve got the right role-specific buzzwords on your resume.

Keep anything else as brief as possible. Highlight the qualities that match what the employer is looking for and remember to cover soft skills sparingly. Using bullet points can be a good way to avoid the temptation of providing too much unnecessary information, but be wary of how you format this.

One of the most common mistakes I see is giving the same amount of prominence to a job with zero transferable skills.

Standing out can be difficult if the vacancy attracts a high caliber of the applicant, but starting your resume with your most relevant strengths will give you the best chance possible of making it to the next round.

Holly Leyva

ACRW-Certified Professional Resumé and Cover Letter Writer | Customer and Career Services Division Manager, Virtual Vocations

Many job seekers create a general resumé and send that out to every employer, but not only will this not score well on an ATS system, but it makes it difficult for the hiring manager to easily see why you’re a good fit for the job. I recently posted for a customer service position and received over 100 resumés.

Many had professional titles completely unrelated to the job I had posted, so I didn’t even give those a second look. They immediately went into the discard pile because it was not clear that they had applied to the job I had posted.

For best results, create a targeted professional headline on your resumé that reflects the position for which you are applying, and make sure your summary is targeted, as well.

Instead of talking about skills and tasks that everyone is going to have, show the employer what you have done and the impact you’ve made in your prior roles on your resumé.

This will prove what you can do and why you’re better than the other applicants. This should be done in both the summary section and in the professional experience section—and be sure to use metrics and data whenever possible!

For a professional, easy-to-scan resumé, use plenty of white space and limit your sections of text to two or three lines maximum. Long, dense sections of text are too hard to read, making it difficult for employers to easily see your value.

Look through the job description and pull out specific keywords and skills that employer has mentioned, and incorporate these keywords into your resumé. Be sure to use them in context, rather than just in a list of skills, however, so the employer can see what you’ve accomplished and how you’ve made an impact using the skills they require.

Sean Sessel

Director, The Oculus Institute

In today’s age, far too many people submit resumes that are 2, 3, or even 4 or more pages long. Not only does nobody want to wade through that, but it demonstrates an inability to be concise.

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Instead, show your ability to extract the core important information by keeping only things that are relevant and limiting your resume to one page.

Nowadays, many resumes are scanned for keywords and key phrases by computers before an actual human being ever sees them. That’s why I have my clients include a section called “ Proficiencies ” that includes languages, software, certifications, and any defined skill set that would come up as a keyword or key phrase.

Related: How to Include Language Skills (Proficiencies) on Your Resume

Resumes can be extremely dry, so it’s a good idea to humanize yourself by including a one-line section at the end called “Hobbies” where you share some of your interests.

When your resume actually does get to a human being, this section will allow them to relate to you and imagine themselves working with you, which is what really matters at the end of the day.

Debbie Winkelbauer

CEO, SurfSearch

You won’t stand a chance if your resume is never seen! We get hundreds of resumes sent to us every week and most are loaded directly into our applicant tracking system .

Resumes that have text boxes, photos, side columns, and fancy fonts don’t always load into the applicant tracking system correctly.

I imagine that is true with company websites as well. We do not have the time to contact these candidates about this so candidates might not realize their resume was never considered because it did not get into the system.

Eli Howayeck

Career Coach | Founder and CEO, Crafted Career Concepts

Avoid the fluffy paragraph or key word stuffing at the top of your resume. Use a headline instead that is short and concise. The rule of 3’s applies. What three themes do you want the reader to take away from your headline?

Resume readers read rapidly. Don’t annoy the reader (and the decider of your destiny) by making them search for the things they need to know. Chronological is best, name at the top, education towards the end (unless you’ve recently graduated).

Find someone well respected within the organization to pass your resume along internally. If your resume gets passed to the hiring manager (or HR) from multiple sources, it’s more likely to make an impact.

Jeri Walker

Career and Job Search Strategist | Founder, Your Best Designed Career  

Outside of using simplified formatting and keywords to get your resume past the ATS (Applicant Tracking Systems), one of the most important components in getting your resume noticed is including measurable achievements on the top fold of your resume.

Because when a hiring manager is looking for their ideal candidate, they want to know what problems you can solve and how you can make their lives easier.

What results can you deliver? How have you impacted the bottom line of your past employers? Hiring managers know that if you have driven results in the past, then you will do the same for them.

Achievements can be difficult for people to come up with because they feel like they are bragging about themselves and they’re not comfortable with it, but it’s really important for your reader to know how you can solve problems.

And achievements can be measured in many ways, it’s not just about increasing sales. It can be how you’ve decreased costs, increased efficiencies, improved processes, surpassed deadlines or saved a client account.

Get creative and put some thought into the various achievements you have made that are relevant to this position and list 3 or 4 of them in bullet form at the top of your resume.

Also, once you’ve come up with the most important achievements and have placed them at the top of your resume, you should sprinkle all the rest of them throughout your job experience section as well. Seeing achievements on a resume is much more compelling and meaningful than just bullet points of your job duties.

Always remember, it’s about that hiring manager and what they need so be sure to demonstrate how you will help them on your resume so that you will be their ideal candidate.

James Burroughes

Managing Consultant, Traverse Success Coaching

Cutting and pasting your job description or a list of responsibilities only tells the hiring manager that you can recite what you should be doing and could apply to anyone doing that job. Not how well you did it.

Your CV must be different. It needs to demonstrate specific instances and examples of accomplishments that show the difference you have made in your work and therefore the likely difference you will make in a new role.

With a little thought, you find most achievements can be boiled down to a number in some form. These could be reducing the time taken for a task, cutting costs, or driving sales. Make sure they show a black and white result that can’t be refuted. Managers love this.

Too many resumes have jargon, abbreviations, and company-specific language which means nothing to a reader outside your business. If someone you know can’t understand what your Golden Gift Award is, or your PDB increase by 12% is, it’s too “ jargony “. This will mean you stand out for the wrong reasons. Keep it simple and explain things accordingly.

Frank Grossman

Founder, Resumes That Shine

Resumes are scanned with automated systems called ATS systems that cannot digest functional resumes. If your resume does reach a hiring manager, you still will not be considered because managers feel you are hiding something when you use a functional resume.

Most resumes people send me list job titles and the job candidate’s job description. Hiring managers either know your job description or they can look it up online. They cannot look up your accomplishments in the job.

Employers may require a college degree to consider you, for example, even if you have experience. Your major may not matter.

One of my job candidates at an employment program was denied an interview because her resume did not list her college degree, even though the employer knew her!

Additional resume tips I give job candidates that want to stand out include:

• Do not show your street address and zip code on your resume. We are naturally curious and will look up the address to see where you live. Then, we may make incorrect assumptions about your salary needs, ethnicity, criminal past, etc.
• Use a personal brand statement instead of the words “profile” or “summary” under your contact information so employers know what folder to put your resume in right away.
• Add a summary under the branding statement  including a sentence about your job title and industry, a few hard skill highlights and two or three accomplishment highlights.
• Include a core competency matrix of 9, 12, or 15 hard skills in three columns to help ATS systems find your resume.

HR Manager, Tree AMS

When it comes to resumes, HR professionals often have endless piles to go through. Thus, knowing how to make your resume stand out from the rest is key.

Of course, it shouldn’t come off as tacky; instead, you can use professional colors such as blue or maroon. Seeing your resume stick out from the corner might capture the attention of the employer. This demonstrates your wit and that you have put some thought into your resume.

For example, if you’re going for a graphic designer role, you should definitely showcase your design skills by personalizing your resume design. Alternatively, you can also pick a professional theme that suits your industry.

Refer to the job description and state relevant skills and experiences in your resume accordingly. This indicates to the employer that you’ve meticulously reviewed what’s expected of you.

Steph Cartwright

Certified Professional Resume Writer, Off The Clock Resumes, LLC

How you look and apply for jobs matters. A graphic resume with flashy colors, charts, icons, and other graphic elements will certainly stand out when networking and physically handing your resume to a hiring manager; however, these resumes won’t get through employer software if you’re applying for jobs online.

If you’re targeting your resume to demonstrate the skills listed on the job posting in action throughout your work history and using bullet lists to draw attention to major contributions toward organizational goals, your resume will get through the Applicant Tracking software and stand out the right way when seen by a decision-maker.

Joe Flanagan

Senior Career Advisor, MintResume

If you’re in a creative career, such as graphic design or video production, your resume can be much more creative and unique than someone applying for a job in accounting.

Research the prospective employer’s website to see just how out of the box they’re comfortable with. Using that as a guideline, get creative with color, image, layout or verbiage that’s in keeping with the potential employer’s style and approach.

Resumes for jobs in the arts or creative work can differentiate you by using approaches that are much more out of the box.

Talent Acquisition Manager, PrimePay

You want to make sure you’re not providing too much or not enough information – a good balance is key! I also really enjoy when candidates list out their specific achievements/accomplishments in each role, to really showcase what they’re most proud of themselves for!

I recruit mostly sales representatives, and really enjoy reading when candidates exceed quota, win awards/trips, or place at the top of their teams!

Erin Murphree

You can make your resume stand out in different ways- positively or negatively. When it comes to standing out in a positive manner, take these tips into account!

• Provide complete basic information such as your contact information, education, and work experience. If you just graduated from school, list the projects you did while in school. Were you a part of any clubs on campus? What type of leadership roles have you held?
• Tailor your resume towards the job you are applying to.
• Begin each bullet point with power verbs like initiated, improved, demonstrated, etc.
• Add quantitative results especially when it comes to a metrics-driven position.
• Highlight awards, accomplishments and recognition.
• Utilize keywords that are relevant to the job opportunity and company.
• Make sure all information is accurate and matches your LinkedIn information.
• Be concise and use bullet points.

Jason Patel

Founder, Transizion

Think of aesthetics and readability first. Why? Hiring managers, small business owners, and department heads don’t have time to waste, which is why they’ll initially review resumes for seven to nine seconds.

If your resume doesn’t pass this quick test, it’ll be discarded. The best way to pass this test, or, at least, not fail quickly,

Specifically, keep your bullet points aligned, keep your grammar and formatting even, and make sure your spacing is neat.

To do this, break up your resume into discernible sections so that you can review it for mistakes and the hiring manager likes its aesthetic. A neat and clean resume signifies the applicant is someone who takes the time to clean up her work and pays attention to detail .

CEO & Founder, UpKeep | Awardee, Forbes 30 Under 30 for Manufacturing

Almost every hiring manager knows hiring is tough. With hundreds of applicants and resumes, it’s no longer simply about having the skills and background listed in a job description, but being able to stand out from the crowd.

Hiring managers read hundreds of resumes a day. At the end of the day, the longer a resume is, the better, right? Wrong! You can read a job description and know exactly what our hiring managers are looking for by looking at the required skills.

If you have experience with any of the skills or requirements listed in the job description, don’t be afraid to add the company’s language to your resume directly.

This highlights your resume to show companies that you’ve got the skills and experience for what they might be looking for and that you’ve read the job description thoroughly!

If you don’t have the skills, requirements, and experience yet, don’t hide it. Share with your potential employer as to why now is the time to learn? How have your past experiences prepared you to take on this new challenge?

Related: How to Get an Entry Level Job with No Qualifications or Experience

Business Development Consultant, My Trading Skills

Don’t overdo it, and make sure that these terms are well-distributed throughout the resume and fit naturally into sentences.

Use the most modern, appropriate, appealing and most preferred resume format for your industry.

This entails demonstrating the specific set of skills and knowledge that will help you succeed in the role if hired.

Have a header below your name and contact information that succinctly captures who you are bearing in mind the position you are applying for.

Bottom Line: To ensure that your resume stands out, have a succinct and definitive header, use the most appropriate resume format, make the resume specific to the role you are applying for, and use industry keywords naturally throughout the resume.

Nate Masterson

CMO, Maple Holistics

You want your resume to physically stand out from the rest of the applications that hiring managers are sifting through. That being said, you want to ensure that it displays your professionalism.

Your layout is as much as part of your ‘brand’ as the actual information on your resume.

Employ different sized fonts to help titles and relevant roles catch the eye and use paragraphs to your advantage to make things clear.

One of the biggest mistakes that potential applicants make when applying for multiple jobs, is sending the same resume to each application.

Make sure that you tailor your resume for the specific position that you’re applying to.

There will be nuanced differences in roles and an easy way to recognize this is by using keywords from the original job posting in your resume. While all the jobs you’re applying for might be the same, companies look for different things to ensure that you’ve acknowledged this in your resume to help you stand out.

Garrett Mynatt, M.A.

Professional Photographer

Including a quality headshot will do a couple of things that not only help you stand out but also reinforce you are the right person for the job.

You want to have a headshot that you are proud of and one that represents you authentically within your field, so an outdoor guide on white background may not be authentic to them, much like an accountant’s headshot probably doesn’t need to be on top of a mountain.

By including a headshot it shows you are in fact a real person but more important than that it represents you as the confident expert you are, which creates a connection with the person on the other side. You have now gone from being another number in the pile to a familiar face.

As an added bonus, create consistency by using the same headshot across all public platforms, the more consistent you are the more trust is formed, and don’t we all want to work with someone like that?

Should I Hire a Professional Resume Writer?

A professional resume writer can be a good option if you’re struggling to create a resume that effectively showcases your skills and qualifications. Here are a few things to consider if you decide to hire a professional resume writer:

• A professional resume writer can help you create a resume tailored to your specific industry and career goals. • A professional resume writer can provide valuable feedback and advice on your resume’s content, format, and design. • A professional resume writer can save you time and help you avoid common mistakes that could hurt your chances of getting an interview.

However, using a professional writer can be expensive, and you must do your research to find a reputable and qualified professional.

Should I Include a List of References on My Resume?

It’s not necessary to include a list of references on your resume, but it’s a good idea to have a list ready in case you’re asked for it during the interview. Here are some tips for creating a strong list of references:

• Choose people who know your work well and can speak about your skills and qualifications. • Ensure you have their current contact information, phone number, and email address. • Let your references know that you’re applying for jobs, and give them a copy of your resume and a description of the jobs you’re applying for. • Thank your references for their time, and keep them updated on your job search.

Should I Include My GPA on My Resume?

Including your grade point average on your resume is usually only necessary if you are a recent college graduate or your GPA is particularly high (over 3.5). However, if your GPA is below 3.0, it may be better to leave it off your resume.

Here are some tips on how to decide if you should include your GPA on your resume:

• If you’re a recent graduate, including your grade point average can show your academic achievements and potential. • If you already have work experience in your field, your work experience may be more important than your GPA, and you may not need to include it. • Suppose you don’t have a strong GPA. In that case, it may be best to omit it and focus on other areas of your experience and qualifications.

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The Editors

Recruiter Tips on How to Make your Resume Stand Out

Did you know a recruiter may take less than 10 seconds to look at your resume at first glance meaning, you as a job seeker have less than 10 seconds to make an impression on them. most job seekers want to share everything about themselves in their resume, therefore, their resume becomes cluttered and overwhelming for the recruiter. check out these helpful tips from vanguard recruiter hannah a. on how to get your resume seen and land the job..

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How to Make Your Resume Stand Out in 2023: Executive Resume Writer, Jessica Hernandez, Shares 3 Tips

News provided by

Sep 27, 2022, 08:37 ET

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. , Sept. 27, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- As workplaces adjust to the "new normal," executives seeking jobs need to utilize the latest resume strategies to get the attention of hiring executives to get their dream jobs.

"Many people think a resume is a professional biography, sharing details on everything you've ever done at every place you've worked. This isn't the case," said Jessica Hernandez , president of Great Resumes Fast , an award-winning executive resume writing services company based in Jacksonville, Florida , serving executives nationwide. 

"Your resume should be written to the future – to the position you want to obtain. To do that, your resume needs three things: personal branding, a wow factor, and quantifiable accomplishments. Combining these makes a powerful first impression that helps you stand out from other applicants," she said.

Personal branding is simple. It tells the story of your qualifications and successes while boldly weaving the golden thread of your passion, personality, work/leadership style, and other unique identifiers. It's saying this is who I am, and this is who I am not. 

Start with a strong branding statement at the top of your resume. You'll combine your headline and branding statement to create a value proposition that appeals to your target employer. This statement must be clear, concise, and resonate with hiring managers. 

Here's an example from a past client.

CEO, LANEY DUKE

BUILDING TOP-PERFORMING LOGISTICS TEAMS THAT RAISE THE BAR ON SUPPLY CHAIN EXCELLENCE

If you struggle with this, we'll be happy to discuss how we can help you develop your unique personal brand and incorporate it into your documents during a  resume strategy session.  

Wow factor refers to what is the most important, impressive, and valuable information about you as a candidate for THIS job.

Your wow factor differentiates you from other candidates, so you're not blending into the stack.

Your wow statements need to be  specific.  They must tell the hiring manager what you did, not what you were responsible for.

Your wow statements will go in your summary, experience section, honors and awards section, and education section, if applicable. 

Here are examples of wow statements from our past clients. Note these statements don't start with " responsible for" or "duties include." 

• Developed and deployed a curriculum that reached 4,000+ team members, implemented new strategies at the pace of business – rapidly shifted learning from in-person to virtual programming during COVID-19.
• Navigated URAC accreditation to halt 60% loss of business within first eight months by overhauling clinical operations, building policies and procedures, and revamping training.
• Overhauled processes and practices to deliver $10M in soft savings through 4x increases in efficiencies and productivity.

Each statement includes metrics, high-priority keywords, and strong action verbs that convey impact. These statements resonate with employers. 

Want to capture the hiring manager's attention instantly? Then you must write with meaning and power. Steer clear of writing like this:

I was responsible for creating a new office procedure manual.

Instead, write with strength and impact like this:

Decreased costs 22% after developing and launching new office procedure manual.

Numbers, dollars, and percentages are powerful because they communicate proven factual data. They're measurable and show employers the value you can deliver.

Finding data to include in your resume is a challenge. Job seekers tell me, "What if I don't have any numbers?"

These questions can help you uncover hidden gems in your career history:

• Am I responsible for people, projects, functions, organizations, revenues, or profit? If so, ask yourself, "How much? How many?" 
• What specific challenges have I faced in this role?
• Were you promoted? If so, how quickly? Or based on a specific reason? For example, recruited into a role to transform a negative P&L?

To see more tips, go to: https://greatresumesfast.com/blog/how-can-i-make-my-resume-stand-out-in-2023/  

Jessica Hernandez , a LinkedIn Top Voice of 2020, started the company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

The proprietary process used at Great Resumes Fast is based on her personal experience knowing exactly what hiring managers at top companies are looking for in a resume. (Not to mention, seeing firsthand what it takes to get through the ATS and preliminary screenings before you even have a shot at getting in front of the hiring manager.)

She is recognized globally as a resume expert and is regularly featured in major publications like  Forbes ,  Fast Company , and  Fortune .

Outside of her CEO role at Great Resumes Fast, she's a wife, mother of six, and Christ-follower. She once had a shirt that said, "I love Jesus and naps."

For information, go to https://greatresumesfast.com/services-executive-resume-writers/

Contact Jessica Hernandez 800.991.5187 [email protected]

SOURCE Great Resumes Fast

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How to build a graduate resume that stands out

Why is it important for your resume to stand out.

In most instances, your resume is the first impression an employer has of you, so it makes sense that you’ll want to put your best foot forward. A clear, concise and aesthetically pleasing document will be of great benefit during a recruitment process.

Whether you’re searching for a part-time job while you study, or you’re a fresh graduate looking for a full-time position, a well-crafted resume is essential for getting your career started or securing the perfect role.

Not sure what to include in your graduate resume? Or looking to tweak your existing CV for a higher hit rate? We’re here to help.

Read on to discover how to build a resume that will make you stand out from the crowd.

Understand the industry & what the hiring manager is looking for

Think of your resume as a template. While basic information such as your personal details will remain the same, you can tailor the rest of the document to specific job postings.

So, it’s helpful to keep a ‘master’ resume, that you can duplicate and tweak accordingly.

It is important to review the job posting and the company’s website before you adjust your resume. Your focus should be on the company’s culture, role expectations and any keywords mentioned in the job ad.

Consider your CV not only a reflection of your education, experience and talents, but of how you think. If you’re seeking a role in a creative industry, then it stands to reason employers will be drawn to a resume with a bit of flair. On the other hand, if you’re seeking work in an industry like healthcare, construction or business, you can demonstrate that you are neat, organised and sensible.

Structure & information to include

Most graduate resumes can be structured and organised into the following sections:

Heading & contact details

Use your name as your heading on your resume. There's no need to include the words 'resume' or 'CV' – your name will suffice.

Next to your name, you should include essential contact details such as your:

• mobile phone number
• personal email address.

Avoid using casual or humorous email addresses, as this may give the employer the wrong impression. It’s best to have your first and last name as your email address – you can set one up for free via services such as Yahoo or Gmail.

If you haven’t already, take the time to record a professional-sounding voicemail message.

You may also wish to provide links to online profiles, such as:

• a personal website.

While it’s not necessary to add your residential address, you can specify your city and country (e.g. Melbourne, Australia).

Summary or objective

This is an optional addition to a resume that can be an effective way of capturing the hiring manager’s attention.

A summary is typically used by experienced candidates to tie together their professional experience, particularly if it has been a bit disjointed (e.g. working across industries or doing a mixture of full-time and freelance work).

As a fresh graduate student, you can use a well-worded summary on your resume to outline your career goals and the skills most useful to the company.

This added-extra can also be useful if you’re not submitting a cover letter along with your resume. Try to keep the summary concise and tailor it to the employer.

Alongside your qualification or degree, you can add relevant training or accreditations to this section of your resume.

You may want to include your school or ATAR results and any relevant awards if you’re a recent graduate and they’re reflective of your academic success.

Make sure you’re listing your educational qualifications in order of their relevance. Your most recent academic achievement (such as a degree) should be first.

Where possible, include:

• the institution where you studied
• your start and completion dates (or expected completion date).

You may also consider including academic awards or subjects you studied that are immediately relevant to the job.

If you’re well into your career, you don’t need to include all your work experience on a resume. Pick your most recent jobs, or any that are similar to the role you’re applying for.

On the other hand, a graduate employee may be limited in their work experience – if they have any at all.

Employers are aware of this and may look favourably on achievements outside of traditional work experience, such as:

• volunteer positions
• freelance assignments
• part-time or casual work (be discerning with what you list here, it doesn’t need to be every job you’ve had)
• internships
• memberships to organisations such as university clubs.

Be specific. Rather than including everything, focus on the experiences relevant to the job position.

Ensure you keep context front of mind when crafting this section of your graduate resume. You may need to include a short description of an organisation you gave your time to, if it’s not immediately obvious by name alone.

If you have the space, include an overview of your responsibilities. You can also outline what you achieved, or tasks and projects you contributed to while working in the role.

Optional sections

Consider fleshing out your resume with sections such as:

• awards and accomplishments
• skills and attributes
• relevant interests and extracurricular activities, including sport, music and other hobbies.

Try to list only the skills and interests on your resume that are professionally relevant or make you stand out from the crowd. For example, an interest in reading and writing would be an advantage if you’re applying for an editorial position; drawing and art if you’re seeking work as a designer.

What information should not be included on my resume?

Avoid the following:

• personal information such as your age, marital status or number of children/dependents
• demands of an employer, such as flexible working hours or rostered days off (RDOs) – these are better mentioned in your interview or during contract negotiations
• salary details – while it’s not necessary to include this information on your resume, you may be asked to provide your salary expectations in an application or during an interview
• fabricated information – be honest and make sure you can back up any claims made in a subsequent interview
• political or religious views, or your sexual orientation – while they may be important to you, it’s not essential information for a work place and can even lead to unconscious bias.

Should I include references in my CV?

No, references aren’t necessary on a resume. Most checks are done at the end of the recruitment process, after candidates have been interviewed.

Likewise, don’t bother including a line stating your ‘references are available on request’. It’s a given you’ll provide references if an employer asks for them, so this line will simply take up valuable space on your CV!

Should I include a photo on my CV?

In Australia, it is not considered necessary to include your image on your CV.

Under Australian law, it is forbidden for an employer to ask a candidate for information that can be used to discriminate against them. Revealing your age, race, religion, any disabilities or your marital status could lead to conscious or unconscious bias, which is why it’s best to omit personal information from your resume.

There are occasional exceptions to this rule, particularly for roles in the modelling or acting industry. But, in most cases, a picture will take up space you can use to sell yourself and prove your suitability for the job.

The requirement for an image can vary from country to country. Seek advice on what is considered best practice if you’re looking for employment opportunities overseas.

It is probable that a potential employer will look for you on LinkedIn or other professional social media. Consider the following, when choosing pictures for your accounts:

• choose a professional-looking photo, such as a front-facing headshot, against a plain background
• use a high-resolution image that isn’t blurry
• make sure the image is recent or, at the very least, not dated
• avoid the use of selfies or group shots taken in social situations
• use an image that gives an overall impression of your career experience
• avoid avatars, memes or cartoons.

Be clear & concise

As an entry-level candidate, you should create a resume of one or two pages.

Keep the language simple, so the average person can understand it. Likewise, avoid using technical jargon or buzzwords. The first person to read it could be a recruiter or a member of an HR team, who may not possess knowledge specific to the role.

Your CV should feature information that makes you stand out from the competition. This also means only including skills that are valuable and relevant to the position.

Use an appealing design & layout

While there’s no perfect format, there are ways you can make your resume stand out, through the layout and formatting.

Ideally, it should be easy for hiring managers or recruiters to quickly skim through your resume and immediately pick up the key points about your education and work history.

Here are some points to consider when designing your resume:

• use a clear font that is easy to read, such as Calibri
• your font size should be at least ten, or ideally 11 or 12
• use headings, subheadings and bullet points to add clarity
• use bold and italics to draw attention to key points
• strategically use white space to make your resume seem less crowded.

Depending on your industry, you can add colour to make your resume stand out. This could be a colour scheme, or just a primary accent colour.

If you’re using a light background, make sure the colours are contrast and dark. Avoid using colour for the body of your text, as you want it to be readable. Instead, opt for black or a dark grey.

What file type should I use for my resume?

After building your resume in Microsoft Word or any other word processor, save the file as a PDF .

This will ensure that it’s accessible no matter what device or program the hiring manager is using. It also ensures that your formatting will stay in place.

Give the PDF a professional sounding title, such as ‘firstname-lastname-cv’. This will give a good first impression and assist the recruiter with their own file management.

Proofread, proofread, proofread

Spelling mistakes and grammatical errors can very quickly make your resume seem off-putting.

Make sure you triple-check your document before submitting to a potential employer. A document free from mistakes indicates professionalism and attention to detail.

You can also ask a friend or family member to proofread your CV. A fresh set of eyes can help pick up any oversights.

Include a cover letter

Not every employer requires a cover letter to be submitted. Often, hiring managers and recruiters can glean what they need from a CV alone.

Even if it isn’t a requirement, attaching a cover letter can help your application stand out. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate your suitability for the role or company.

As with your resume, be clear and concise with the points in your cover letter. Show, don’t tell, by using evidence-based claims to demonstrate you have the right qualities for a role.

Consider using a matching design and colour scheme for both your resume and cover letter, for a professional, cohesive look.

Reach out to your network

As a fresh graduate, it can be beneficial to arrange interviews with industry experts, to glean knowledge that can help you during interviews for potential jobs.

Connections can be sourced through teachers, alumni groups and LinkedIn.

Establishing personal connections can help you stand out among other candidates, especially when most applications are submitted online.

How will you make your resume stand out?

With the help of these tips, you should be able to create a resume that immediately sells your experience, skills and abilities to potential employers.

Need more assistance or advice? Visit our VU Careers Hub page to access career services and support.

Our career consultants can help you with:

• preparing job applications
• job search strategies.

You can also email your resume and job applications, to receive personalised feedback.

Have you been invited to an interview? Read more about our six interview tips to land your dream job .

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