8 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out
If you're looking for a new job, it's up to you to impress the hiring manager. If they're not impressed with your resume, the manager won't move you to the next step of the hiring process. Follow these tips and let your resume speak for itself.
1. Understand the Purpose of a Resume
A resume is a document that shows your qualifications for a certain position. In addition to showcasing your employment history, it should also show your education, skills, and achievements. Your resume should be a ringing endorsement of why you're right for the job
Typically, hiring managers decide who to interview for a position based on their resume. Your resume and your cover letter make your first impression. If your resume doesn't stand out, you may not make it to the next step of the process.
However, your resume matters for other reasons as well. During your interview, the manager will look at your resume. After your interview, they'll refer back to it when trying to decide whether or not they should call you. One could argue that the resume is the most important piece of the job application process.
2. Know the Requirements of the Job
Before you send in a resume, make sure you understand the position. Read the job listing several times and know what the employer wants in a new hire.
Do a little extra research and find out about the company. What's their company culture like? You can use this information in the next step.
3.Customize Your Resume
Although you might have a resume template, you need to customize it for each job. Before you edit your resume, look at the job listing. What does the employer want? Change your resume to show that you have what they're looking for. If possible, include buzz words and terms that were used in the job listing.
Prioritize your employment history by placing similar jobs at the top of your resume. Rather than showing your most recent position, you can highlight the one that's most like the position for which you're applying.
4. Use a Header and Summary
There are two parts of resumes that sometimes get left out - the header and the summary section. Both parts are important, as they can make you stand out from the hundreds of other applicants.
In your header, include your name, city and state, and contact information. Your email address and phone number should suffice. Be sure to place your name at the very top of the header.
Underneath the header, include a few sentences about your skills and experience. If you prefer, write about your career goals and how you can bring value to the company. Your summary makes it easier for hiring managers to see your value, and means they are less likely to overlook you.
5. Only Include Applicable Skills
You probably could fill a book with all the skills you have. However, a hiring manager doesn't care if you can tie a knot in ten ways. They want to know that you have skills related to the job.
If you have any skills on your resume that wouldn't help you in the position, swap them out with skills that would help you. Think outside of the box for skills other applicants might include.
6. Keep it Short
A long resume doesn't make you more qualified for a position. In fact, a long resume is rarely read in full. Ideally, your resume should only be one page.
If your resume is longer than two pages, remove the fluff. Remove any parts that don't apply to the job listing. After looking at your resume with a critical eye, you might be able to shorten it.
7. Make it Eye-Catching
Imagine looking at hundreds of resumes. After a while, they all begin to look the same. If you can do something to make your resume stand out, the hiring manager will appreciate your creativity. All of the following tips can make your resume stand out:
Font Style: Although you shouldn't get too creative with the font, you can use Calibri, Helvetica, or Georgia. It needs to be legible and professional.
Font Size: If your font is too small, the manager won't be able to read your resume. Keep the font large enough to read, which is usually size 12.
Visuals: a resume with cartoon figures and other visuals might be unique, but it's not professional. You should keep the visuals to a minimum and stick with the premade resume templates you find online. Visual elements are acceptable, but they shouldn't be distracting.
Colors: the background of a resume should always be white, and the text black. However, you can use a third color to highlight significant text.
The only exception to these suggestions is jobs that require creativity and artistry. If you're applying for a job as a graphic designer, your resume should display your skills and creativity.
7. Make sure Your Cover Letter Impresses
Cover letters aren't always required, but they are highly recommended. By including your cover letter with your resume, you can stand out from other applicants. The fact that you took the time to write a cover letter shows that you're enthusiastic about the job.
To make the best impression, make sure the colors and style of your cover letter matches those of your resume. You should also customize the cover letter to match the job description. In your cover letter, make it clear that you're the right fit for the position.
8. Proofread Your Work
The biggest mistake you can make is to send a resume without proofreading it first. An error in your resume makes you look unprofessional and inattentive to detail. Because many applicants will send resumes with errors, your lack of mistakes could set you apart from the rest.
If you don't trust your own eyes, ask a friend or family member to look over your work. They might notice something you missed, or have advice on how to make your resume better.