The top 5 ways to make your resume stand out

Resumes

May 2

Are you looking for a job, but your resume seems to be getting lost in the pile? You're not alone. A lot of people are struggling to find jobs in today's competitive hiring environment.

With so many other qualified candidates vying for the same job, you need to find a way to stand out from the pack. Here are five tips that will help you create a resume that pops!

Use a modern resume template that is easy to read and looks professional

A clean, uncluttered layout with a simple font is more likely to make your resume stand out than a cluttered design, or one that uses a complicated font. When your potential employer has hundreds of resumes to go through, you want yours to be easily readable and distinct from the others.

Pick a template that looks professional and has a clean, modern layout that isn’t overly formatted (unless you’re in a creative field like graphic design)
Make sure that your resume is optimized for ATS software (meaning don’t go over the top with graphics or tables)
Use bullet points, not paragraphs, to describe your experience

Pick strong action verbs to describe your achievements

Another way to make your resume stand out is to use strong action verbs to describe what you accomplished at work or school. Action verbs are words that "describe specific, concrete actions."

These words will help your resume stand out because they show the hiring manager what you can bring to the table. You can use this technique throughout your resume by replacing weak words like "helped," "worked on," or "was responsible for" with stronger action verbs like:

facilitated
coordinated
executed
led
spearheaded
initiated
enacted
created
designed

Share quantifiable data whenever possible to illustrate your accomplishments

Whether you're a sales person or an accountant, try to include quantifiable data in as many of your bullet-points as possible. Numbers stand out and convey impact quickly. This is a simple way to make your resume stand out because it shows potential employers that you can deliver results. For example:

Instead of saying "Created successful marketing campaigns," say "Designed marketing campaigns that increased sales by 15 percent."
Instead of just saying "Led a team," say "Led a team of 10 direct reports."
Instead of saying "Increased revenue," say "Increased revenue by 20%.”

It’s ok to give a best guess or estimate if you can’t track down exact numbers, but you should remember never to over-inflate your impact or lie on your resume!

List your skills and experience in a clear and concise way

Here are a few rules of thumb I follow when writing resumes for my clients:

Stick to a one page resume if you have less than seven years of experience
Keep it to two pages max if you have more than seven years of experience
Use 5 bullets for your most recent position, 4 for the prior, and 2-3 for anything older than that
Experience that is more than ten years old can be listed in a “Prior Experience” section without bullet points
Feel free to omit positions that aren’t relevant as long as doing so doesn’t leave large gaps on your resume

Your resume should highlight your skills and achievements. You can do this by listing them in a clear and concise way to clearly show what makes you stand out from other candidates.

Tailor your resume to each job you apply for

The "one size fits all" approach doesn't work when it comes to resumes. By customizing your resume to each job you apply for, you can make sure that every document you send out is as close as possible to what the interviewer is looking for. You might be surprised by how many people don't take the time to do this.

The key terms in each job description will vary, and your resume should reflect those in order to give yourself the best chance at getting an interview. What you do is look at the job description and the requirements, and then make sure that your resume matches up with them as closely as possible. Scan the job description for keywords, skills, and any language that is unique to the company (such as People Development vs. Talent Development.) You will incorporate those into your resume.

Here are a few sections of your resume that are quick and easy to tailor:

Your desired title
Your summary or career highlights
Your skills section
Your bullet-points

By taking the time to tailor your resume to each specific job posting, it will be more likely to catch the eye of a potential employer—and that can go a long way towards helping you land the job.

Takeaway

If you’re looking for a job that will pay you what you deserve, it’s time to start using a modern resume template. Not only will this make your resume look professional and easy to read, but it will also help you list your skills and experience in a clear and concise way. Use strong action verbs to describe your achievements and be sure to use quantifiable data whenever possible. Finally, tailor your resume to each job you apply for by highlighting the specific skills and experience that are relevant.

As a career coach for working moms, I write a lot of resumes. Check out these 5 examples of resumes real moms used to land 6 figure jobs – they may just give you the inspiration you need!