Resume Getting Noticed Tip #2: Be Specific

After you have customized your resume to fit the job description and have entered the key words, it is time to make a few more edits. The main way to improve your resume after keywords is how you describe yourself and your work history.

One thing I have seen on countless resumes is empty statements. By this, I mean having the keywords mentioned with no follow through. Sure, a candidate can “work with” VMware but that does not tell me anything. I have so many questions about the candidate’s experience with VMware. If I, as a recruiter, have several questions, a hiring manager will have many more. The candidate who can show up front their experience will get a call over someone who leaves too many open questions.  How can you write your resume to display your skills?

Try to avoid beginning bullet point statements with the phrases “worked with” or “experience with.” Instead, use the words “managed” or “oversaw.” Using language that is more decisive gives the impression that you are comfortable with your experience vs feeling like you were an automaton filling your days with a job duty.

After you have filled your resume with decisive language, it is time to follow up with facts. Say more to the recruiter and manager at a high level what you were doing. If you mention that you managed something, tell some detail about what you managed. What did you accomplish? How large was the environment? How much budget was there? The more thorough the detail the better. Get comfortable with describing what makes you a great prospect for a role

Remember, the goal is to write a customized resume that displays your talent and experience in detail. Ask others to review your resume and get honest feedback. There are resume assessments like this one at Monster