7 Golden Rules to Make Your Resume Shine

Most of us already know that a resume is our first impression in front of hiring managers. But we struggle with how to create the best of this opportunity.

-What new resume trends do you need to follow?

-What is the best way to highlight your skills and experience in your resume?

-Why is your resume getting rejected over and over again?

To answer these questions, we have created a list of 7 golden rules that will maximize your chances of impressing a hiring manager. These tips will help you stand out from the crowd and land you an interview for the job of your dreams!

So without further ado, here are 7 tips to help you upgrade your resume to the next level.

Don’t forget to read till the end for our bonus tip!

Include The Right Keywords

With thousands of applicants competing for the same job, it can be extremely tough to make your resume stand out in the eyes of recruiters.

The best way to achieve this is by including the right keywords. It means including the job titles and soft and hard skills that hiring managers are looking for.

Many companies these days use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort through resumes. If you do not use the right keywords, the ATS could reject your resume even before it reaches the hiring manager.

How to find the right keywords for the job you’re applying for?

• Re-read the job description
• Use tools like Quillbot to paraphrase your job description and make it sound more professional

Pro Tip- Don’t stuff your resume with keywords and jargon. Try to tweak your current resume to fit the job description better.

For example, if a job posting describes an onsite position based in Mumbai. Try to highlight that you have previously worked in that city. You can also mention that you would be willing to work there in your cover letter.

Use Measurable Metrics to Highlight Your Achievements

Why use numbers to highlight your achievement in your resume? Let’s have a look at two examples-

• “Helped in the candidate hiring process and managed payroll for a large staff.”
• “Involved in the recruitment process of 20+ candidates and managed the payroll of a staff of 450 members, maintaining strong relations to aid retention.”

Which one sounds more impactful?

Using numbers to highlight your impact on the growth of previous organizations is one of the best ways to catch a recruiter’s eye.

Whether you are a college graduate or an experienced professional, try to maintain a record of your academic or professional achievements. Don’t forget to include numbers. This list can come in handy when you are updating your resume.

When quantifying your resume, focus on these three metrics-

• Increased Profitability- Share how you contributed to the company’s profits.
• Task Optimization- Mention how you helped in improving company processes and how it improved time management within the company.
• People Management- Highlight the number of clients and the size of staff you were working with

For Example, Instead of saying- “Developed applications to improve communication,” You can say- “Developed three applications to improve communication across all 8 departments, which led to a reduction in miscommunication by 30%.”?

Keep it Short and Simple

Did you know recruiters spend less than 15 seconds on a resume before moving on to the next one?

Shortlisting candidates is difficult. Many hiring managers have to go through hundreds of resumes, and it makes sense that they will have to get through them fast. By ensuring your resume is easy to scan, you can easily stand out amongst other candidates.

According to research, the ideal resume length is 1-2 pages. To create a professional resume, pay attention to the following detail:

• Use professional font
• Highlight achievements with numbers
• Put the most relevant information first
• Go for a professional resume instead of a flashy one
• Avoid buzzwords and too much jargon
• Use proper headlines

When creating your resume, take inspiration from industry-relevant resume samples to understand what works and what doesn’t.

Highlight Important Achievements

The number one mistake people make on their resumes is not highlighting their achievements and their impact on the organizations.??

A resume is not just a summary of your past duties but also a tool you can use to sell your skills to the recruiter. Instead of just listing your past responsibilities, highlight important achievements. It helps the recruiters understand what exactly you bring to the table.?

Try to use active language instead of passive language. It’s more professional and helps keep the sentences short. Make sure to include any certificates or awards.

Pro Tip- When highlighting your accomplishments and skills, make sure that they back each other up.?

For example, if you have listed that you are skilled at a particular programming language, try to highlight in your experience section how you used that particular programing language effectively to drive results in your previous role.?

It is one of the best ways to convince an HR to interview you.

Don’t know which skills to include in your resume?

Have a look at the most in-demand skills list compiled by LinkedIn

Include Your Social Footprint

Gone are the days when professional websites like LinkedIn were only known to a handful of professionals. Today, including a social media profile on websites like LinkedIn, Github, Behance, and Medium has become a norm.?

Studies have shown that about 40% of recruiters might not call you for an interview if they don’t see your LinkedIn profile.?

Including these websites on your resume can help recruiters understand your professional journey. Creative professionals can share their Behance or Medium ID or a link to their professional websites to showcase their portfolio.

Save it Correctly

Unless mentioned in the job description otherwise, always save your resume as a PDF.

That way, the formatting won’t get messed up when your resume is open on a different computer.

While saving the file, name it “[First Name] [Last Name]-[Job Role]”.

For example, Instead of saving the file as “Resume”, save it as “Vanya Goyal-Content Writer”- it makes things easier for hiring managers and ensures your resume doesn’t get lost in the crowd.

Proofread Your Resume

When you send your resume, overlooking simple grammatical mistakes can be the difference between getting that interview or getting rejected. That is why it is critical to proofread and edit your resume.

When proofreading your resume, think like an employer. Pay extra attention to-

• Grammar
• Style
• Font
• Spacing?
• Margins

Although giving your resume proofread by a friend or a senior is a good idea, if you want a professional to proofread and optimize your resume, feel free to reach out to us at [email protected].

Bonus Tip

Use technology to craft a better resume. With AI and several online apps at your disposal, it would be a waste not to use technology to make a resume. We compiled a list of the best online resources to help you take your resume to the next level!

• Enhancv: 1000+ CVs
• Resumestar io
• ?Hiration
• ResumA.I. (uses ChatGPT)
• Thisresumedoesnotexist (1000 examples (based on enhancv)
• Resumeworded

These tips will only take you as far as the interview. If you want to land the job of your dreams, you should familiarize yourself with common interview questions and how to answer them effectively.

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This article is written by Vanya Goyal (Author | Content Creator | Educator)