Top ten resume tips to make your job application stand out

Your resume is not just another document that goes on your job applications. It’s the first chance that you get to create a great impression on potential employers. Did you know that a well-structured, compelling resume is the key to unlocking your next career opportunity?

It doesn’t matter whether you are a recent graduate looking for your first work experience or a seasoned professional looking for your next promotion. A strong resume will always help you in the job market. If you are preparing to apply for a new opportunity, following the best resume tips will help you craft a filing document.

1. Make your first impression count.

Your resume is your first impression on a recruiter. Submitting a sloppy or outdated resume to a job application is just as similar as turning up to a job interview in wrinkled clothes. Did you know that most hiring managers spend only six to seven seconds on an initial resume scan? If you fail to make a great impression within this short time, that means you get rejected from the competition. We recommend choosing a clean, professional resume format. Ensure that the formatting is consistent throughout the document and keep your information organized and structured.

2. Tailor for every job application.

Sending out generic resumes to multiple employers will reduce your chances of getting an interview. If you want to stand out among your competition, you must always send out customized job applications. This involves quite a bit of planning and strategy. You will need to carefully review each job description to identify important keywords. Then, you need to align your resume with the key responsibilities and skills that the employers want to see in an ideal candidate. Incorporating keywords from the job posting into your resume is a must. Also, you must adjust your professional summary to reflect why you are the right candidate for the particular position.

3. Remove irrelevant information.

Irrelevant and outdated information should have no place on your resume. One of the best resume tips that we can give you is to limit your work experience to the last 15 years. This will ensure that you overcome ageism in the hiring process. It also ensures that your resume does not include any obsolete skills or technologies. Another thing to keep out of your resume is irrelevant personal details. If your resume still mentions your age, date of birth, marital status, home address, etc., it is time to remove them ASAP.

4. Use action verbs.

The language that you use to describe your professional achievements matters a lot. If you use passive language, it does not highlight your initiative at all. Therefore, one of the best resume tips that we can give you is to use active language to describe your professional achievements. Start each bullet point with an action verb that describes your involvement and initiative. Keep in mind to avoid overused phrases when creating your resume. Always remember that powerful action verbs and concise descriptions make for an interesting read.

5. Optimize for the ATS.

Many large and middle-scale employers in the US use ATS software to scan resumes for relevant keywords. If your resume does not manage to get through the ATS, that means you failed the initial screening tests. In most cases, this means that a hiring manager does not even see your resume. Therefore, ensuring that your resume is optimized for the applicant tracking systems is a must. It’s simple to optimize your resume for the ATS. All you have to do is identify the important keywords from the job description and naturally integrate them into your resume. Don’t forget to use standard section headings. Also, submit your resume in the required file format to ensure that the ATS can read it.

6. Quantify your achievements.

As we always say, hiring managers don’t want to see lists of job responsibilities when they go through the work experience section of your resume. They want to see evidence of the impact that you had on past employers. The best way to showcase this is through quantifiable data that makes your achievements more compelling. Whenever it is possible, highlight specific numbers, percentages, or dollar amounts when writing your resume. Metrics provide tangible proof of your successes. On the other hand, they also make your accomplishments more memorable.

7. Keep it concise.

A concise resume packs a punch. If your resume is too long you will always lose the recruiter’s interest. On the other hand, having a resume that is too short will send the message that you are underqualified for the role. Although we cannot set specific parameters for the length of a resume, it is important to stay concise when drafting the document. One of the most effective resume tips is keeping your resume impactful yet brief.

8. Build a strong skills section.

One of the best resume tips that you will always hear from resume writers is to build a strategic key skills section. This is the best place on your resume to incorporate a large number of keywords into the document. Therefore, avoiding generic skills is a must. Focus on specific, in-demand abilities when you create the skills section of your resume. Place the most relevant and important skills at the top of the list. Don’t forget to align your skills section with the job description to pass the ATS test.

9. Include relevant links.

Many employers in the modern job market would love to see proof of your work. Beyond your resume. The best way to supply this is to add relevant links to the contact information section of your resume. You should add links to your LinkedIn profile, personal portfolio, website, blog, relevant social media, GitHub, or coding projects to your resume. These links will take potential employers to places where they can see how well you perform within your role.

10. Proofread and get feedback.

One of the best resume tips that we can give you is to proofread your resume before you send it out. Typos, grammatical mistakes, and formatting errors will demean an otherwise strong resume. A mistake-ridden resume tells employers that you do not pay attention to details. Therefore, always make a habit of running a spell check before you submit your resume. Read your resume out loud to spot any awkward phrasing or mistakes that you have made. Finally, get a professional resume review done.

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