How To Write A Resume That Stands Out

In today’s crazy competitive job market, (and I mean crazy – hello thousands of applicants per job), you have to find creative ways to stand out. While I don’t advocate for a heavy online application strategy, online applications are a valuable tool when used effectively. One piece of that is making sure your resume is top-notch and standing out amongst the crowd.

One of the best ways to ensure your resume is optimized for success is to work 1:1 together to professionally write your resume. If you are interested, click here to schedule a free consultation.

But if you have/want to DIY it, here are my top 7 resume tips to keep your resume from getting passed over.

PICK THE RIGHT FORMAT

Not only should the resume be in an ATS-optimized format, but it should also be laid out clearly, concisely, and easy to read. To cater to both sides of this, here are a few things I always focus on.

• Don’t use graphics, pictures, or text boxes (not ATS compliant). I recommend sticking to a simple Word or Google Doc where you can focus on your content first.
• Make sure you have plenty of white space. Utilizing white space enhances readability and comprehension. It provides a visual break for your reader’s eyes, allowing them to navigate through the text more easily.
• Use a combination of short paragraphs, bullets, and bolding. I save the most important things for bullets. This includes your key skills, key accomplishments or achievements, and projects. Then, if appropriate, I utilize bolding to add emphasis to the impact or result to make that stand out.
• Never go smaller than 10pt font. Anything smaller than this is hard to read.
• Don’t be afraid of 2 pages. The rule of thumb here is that if you have enough relevant and recent content that can fill up at least half of the 2nd page, you are okay to have it. So if you find yourself trying to cram all your information into one page, you are doing yourself a disservice. Drop it to 2 pages.

I have a free ATS-Optimized resume format that you can download here to help you get started.

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE TOP-THIRD ?

The top third of your resume is considered prime real estate. This should provide everything that the recruiter/hiring manager needs to know about you in order to make a decision. This will include:

• Clearly laid out contact information (don’t make a recruiter hunt for your information) or put it in a header (this can be deleted in the ATS).
• A brief summary (no more than 5 sentences) of your greatest attributes towards the job you are applying for.
• Between 9-16 bulleted key skills or areas of expertise (these should be a combination of hard and soft skills and be customized towards the job you are applying for).

SHOW, DON’T TELL

Some skills, such as being detail-oriented or communication, are better shown rather than told. Meaning, that rather than just listing these as a skill, tell me how you use them and what impact they create.

For example, if you want to show that you are detail-oriented, give me a specific example of a time when you caught a mistake and corrected it and what impact that created (i.e. saved the company money or time).

For skills like communication, tell me what type of communicator you are and how you utilize those skills to be effective. For example, you can say that you are an adaptable communicator able to translate complex topics into understandable terms for varying audience levels.

DON’T OVERSHARE

Not everything has to be on your resume. This is a high-level overview of your skills, qualifications, and experience.

For example, if you are explaining what you did for a particular company, you don’t need to include what the company did, how they are ranked in the market, and so on. This can be completed in a Google search or explained during an interview. Same thing when you are describing a project or achievement. You don’t need to list every detail about it. Focus on giving a little bit of context, your specific action, and the result/impact. Save the full story for the interview.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO BRAG

Your resume is not a time to be humble. While you don’t want to position yourself as the greatest thing since sliced bread, you also don’t want to downplay what you have done.

A company wants to know that if they take the chance on you, that you will perform, meet their needs, and provide value. So rather than just simply saying, I just did my job, focus on asking yourself these questions:

• What are you most proud of during your time at that company?
• Did you participate in anything above and beyond your day-to-day responsibilities? This can be things like volunteering to serve on an internal committee or participating in a larger corporate project.
• Did you recommend or implement anything that had any impact on your role, the department, the company as a whole, or a client?

When you start looking at your experience in a different way, you can find things to highlight that show that you can be a valuable asset.

USE THE RIGHT KEYWORDS

This is that section where I give annoying advice to customize your resume to every job you are applying for. I know, I know. It’s time-consuming and annoying but it is important. See, a hiring manager is going to build their online listing and identify certain keywords and skills on their job ad. This is one (very important) piece that is used to score you when you apply for this job.

The easiest way to identify your keywords is to look at the job description. Pull skills out of the job summary, the top 3 responsibilities of the job, and the required/preferred qualifications and make sure those skills are in your resume.

PROOFREAD

The fact that I still have to talk about proofreading your resume is a little mind-blowing to me but if you could see the mistakes I come across in people’s resumes, you would understand why I still talk about it. This document is your first impression. It would be equivalent to you showing up to an interview in a wrinkled T-shirt and stained jeans. You have to take pride in what you are presenting. My three go-to things for making sure my spelling and grammar are pristine are:

• Utilize the spelling & grammar check through your program
• Run it through a free grammar check service such as Grammarly
• Use the read-aloud function

Crafting a resume that stands out in the competitive job market is both an art and a science. By following the tips outlined here, you can create a document that not only passes the stringent filters of Applicant Tracking Systems but also catches the eye of recruiters and hiring managers. Remember that your resume is your personal marketing tool; make it count by being clear, concise, and compelling. With these strategies in hand, you're well on your way to securing that coveted interview and, ultimately, the job you desire. If you're ready to take your resume to the next level, don't hesitate to reach out for a professional touch. Good luck, and may your resume open doors to new and exciting opportunities!