How to Make Your Resume Stand Out (Writing Tips)

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Your resume is an important part of your job application. You could say it’s your frontline fighter because it’s your first chance to introduce yourself to a potential employer. Because hiring managers and recruiters only give resumes a six to seven-second glance on average, you must make the most of every second. A great CV can help you stand out from the crowd, while a weak one can exclude you from consideration. This article will show you how to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

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1. Keep your CV succinct and to the point.

The No. 1 rule for writing a resume: Keep it concise and to the point. A resume should not exceed one page unless there is a compelling reason to, such as a long career or extensive work experience.

A good way to keep your resume short is to only include relevant, recent experience. Although your first year of work might have taught you a lot about this field, it is not necessary to include all details from your career.

Experts recommend that you only include jobs that were held within the last 10 to 15 years. However, this may be shorter for those who are just starting in the workforce. Too much work experience can distract from the relevant qualifications and make your resume look too busy. Your resume should be concise, focused, and clear.

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2. Make your own resume template

Employers value originality. Although it is helpful to use a template for your resume, it is not necessary to follow it exactly. We discovered that over 60% of hiring managers view a customized resume to be the best strategy for job candidates in order to increase their chances of landing a job.

Your resume should be formatted so it is easy for people to see your qualifications. Experts suggested that if you have made a significant advancement in your company, highlight this growth. You can also list the jobs you are not interested in, but don’t give details about other positions. This will help you to maximize your potential.

A hiring manager will read your resume from the top to the bottom. You should ensure that your strongest points are highlighted even if they don’t read the entire thing, which is often the case.

3. Showcase your relevant skills and experience.

It is not a good idea to use the same resume for each job that you apply for. Your resume should be tailored to the job that you are applying for. Prioritize the skills, qualifications, or experiences that are relevant to the job you are applying for.

You should choose three to four of your most relevant experiences or former jobs that highlight the skills needed for the job you are applying for. Employers appreciate conciseness. This is not the place to list every job you’ve held. If you’re applying for a position in marketing, you might include your retail experience, as well as the communication, branding, and interpersonal skills that you have acquired while working there.

If your work history is not directly related to the job that you are applying for, be creative in how you present other experiences. Use the skills and benefits you have brought to the organization.

4. Display outcomes with metrics and data.

It is a good idea, when writing about your past work experience, to quantify your achievements with numbers. Metrics can help highlight your accomplishments and give recruiters or hiring managers a clear picture of how they have impacted your former job. Someone who was a sales rep might state that they made more than 50 cold calls per day, and had an average conversion rate of 5%.

5. Optimize your text.

A company may use an applicant tracking system (ATS), to scan and collect resumes. This means that a human hiring manager might not even look at any applications that don’t match the job requirements they have entered. Trish O’Brien (VP of human capital operations, PSI Services) stressed the importance of adapting your resume for the job to increase your chances of passing the first stage.

O’Brien stated, “Ensure you have carefully read the posting and used the relevant keywords in your resume to pass the screener.” Be truthful but realize that your resume will likely be sent to an ATS first.

Include important phrases from the job description in your resume if you can. You can paste the job description’s phrases into a word cloud generator to determine which ones are used most frequently. Make sure your resume contains all the necessary terms. You can add a section to your resume titled “core competencies” or “areas of competence” to list your hard and soft abilities. Then, as you describe your experience, you might cite those abilities.

6. Look beyond the job description.

Hiring managers won’t be interested in a detailed list of your job duties. Hiring managers want to see concrete examples of your achievements in past positions so they can see how you can make an impact in this new role.

Some employers stated that specific merits are better than your past experiences. An employer might find it more interesting to read that “I cut operating expenses by 23% in six months” than that “I have 30 years of experience in sales.”

Focus on abstract qualities and qualifications when deciding what information you want to include or remove from your resume. Instead of focusing on concrete, quantifiable results, think about striking abstract traits.

Bob Myhal, director for digital marketing at CBC Automotive Marketing, stated that the best resumes show a job candidate’s achievements and actions. Employers want employees who are able to do the hard work and take pride in what they do. Your resume should not be a list of all your qualifications. It should highlight your achievements and passion for your career.

Your skills section should not be ignored. Experts reminded job applicants to include any industry-relevant programs or apps they are familiar with, and to look for ways to incorporate examples from their emotional Intelligence (e.g. self-awareness and empathy, as well as soft skills (e.g. work ethic, reliability, etc.) into their job descriptions.

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7. Make your mark by using the right language

You won’t get any brownie points for describing your job duties and achievements in a boring, uninspired way. Sade said that you should use strong action words such as “achieved”, “designed,” and “improved” to describe your projects and roles. You will sound confident and provide vital information. Be careful not to rely on action verbs. Make sure you include details about how you improved a process or achieved a goal.

8. Social media profiles.

Many hiring managers screen candidates via social networks. You can save them time by including your profile links in your resume. If you are a professional candidate with a social media presence, it is advisable to include URLs for your LinkedIn profile, Twitter account, and blog.

Richie Frieman is the author of REPLY… and Other Ways To Tank Your Career. They can demonstrate that you are a member of a strong social media network and have an understanding of modern marketing and communication practices. Your hiring manager will notice that you are interested in learning more and like to keep up with the latest developments.

However, your social profile can be a powerful tool for recruiting your expertise and experience.

9. Check for errors.

Double-check all of your work and have another person look at it to make sure it’s perfect. Your resume should be flawless.

  • Typographical errors or grammatical errors: Your application will be rejected by a hiring manager. experts stated, “Ensure it is error-free and simple to read.” HR reps often mistake typos for laziness. Employers will benefit greatly from good English.
  • Formatting  You should carefully review formatting, including fonts, alignment, spacing, and spacing. “Related issues are often a sign that you lack technical skills or attention to detail.
  • Headings.  Applicants often send applications to the wrong employer or give an outline of experience that isn’t relevant to the job. A resume addressed to another person, or worse, to a competitor, can be a big turnoff. It will also set a bad tone and could lead to rejection.

CONCLUSION

Your resume and the skills you list should accurately reflect who you are, what your experience is, and what your capabilities are. However, it is important to tailor your resume to the needs of recruiters and hiring managers, you can reach out to our team of experts to help you optimize your resume. This means being meticulous and thoughtful. It will pay off when you get invited to interview.

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