When you’re trying to get a job, it’s tempting to throw together a list of past jobs and call it a day. After all, you’ve got to put something on that resume. But your resume isn’t just a list of past jobs; it’s an opportunity for you to tell employers why they should hire you. In that case, your resume needs to do more than show off your skills. It also needs to convince the hiring manager that they should invest time in getting to know you better. Here are some simple tips for creating better-looking resumes that help distinguish themselves from the competition.
Resumes aren’t just a list of past jobs.
A resume is not a list of past jobs. It’s a marketing document, and you should treat it as such. When you’re selling yourself to employers, there are many ways to get their attention. For example, the format of your resume to how you present yourself through social media and networking.
You need to put the most important things first on your resume.
Put the most important things first on your resume. This is because employers are busy and will only spend a short time reading each resume. So you want to make sure that at first glance, they see what you want them to right away. For example, if you have an impressive title on your resume, that’s what you want them to look at first. If there is a problem with your experience or education, you want it hidden in the rest of your resume, where they may not notice it until later, when it’s too late.
Only include the jobs that matter for the job you’re applying for.
You may have jobs that are important to you, but they might not be relevant to the job you’re applying for. If you’ve worked in a grocery store since high school, this isn’t the time to list it.
Also, if your most recent job was three years ago and since then, you’ve had several other jobs (and even some personal hardships), don’t include all of them on your resume. Instead, focus on what’s most relevant to the position you’re applying for now.
Don’t forget to mention any volunteer or unpaid experience you have that’s relevant job-wise.
Volunteering is a great way to show off your leadership, initiative and work ethic.
If you have any volunteer experience on your resume, make sure it’s listed under “Volunteer Work.” It should include the organization’s name and position you held there (if applicable). For example: “Big Brothers Big Sisters” or “Head of Marketing at Autism Society.”
Let’s say you worked as a marketing director for an autism charity. If so, don’t just list that title as your only work experience—include an explanation of what that role entailed.
For example: “Managed all aspects of marketing including content strategy and online presence in addition to traditional offline strategies such as media relations and event planning to increase awareness of autism within families across Canada.”
Include a summary paragraph about what you want to do.
A summary paragraph is a great way to present your most relevant skills and experiences to the reader. It’s usually about a paragraph long, so don’t get too carried away with this section; keep it concise and clear.
Write this paragraph in first person, using words like I, me and my instead of using we or our. This will help the employer know that you’re speaking only for yourself.
Be sure to use clear, concise sentences when writing your summary paragraph; don’t go overboard on the flowery language that may not be appropriate for the job at hand.
Be sure not to overdo things by using an overly formal writing style. At the same time, this isn’t an academic paper (it’s a resume). There still needs to be some structure present to ensure readers’ eyes do not get lost when they’re glancing down at their screens looking for something interesting right away!
Include keywords from the job posting in your resume, but not at the expense of making it sound unnatural.
Think about which words are most likely to be used by recruiters and hiring managers. Use those keywords in your resume. For example, if your resume is for an accounting position and one of your responsibilities was “balance sheet,” then write “balance sheet” into your resume. Recruiters will see this word and know you’re qualified for their position because it shows up so often in their database.
Don’t use too many different words or phrases from a single ad on one page of your resume. It can make it look spammy, like you copied and pasted text from dozens of different ads.
The best resumes focus on what employers are looking for, so pay attention to their needs and create a resume that speaks directly to them.
The best resumes focus on what employers are looking for, so pay attention to their needs and create a resume that speaks directly to them. To do this, you need to understand the kind of information they want from you.
- What is it that they’re asking?
- Are there specific skills or experience they’re looking for?
If you can answer these questions and tailor your resume accordingly, you’ll have a good chance of getting called in for an interview!
Add a skills section to your resume, and make it more than a list of computer programs you know how to use.
A skills section is a great place to highlight your technical expertise and showcase your critical thinking ability. If you’re applying for a job in marketing, you can list the social media platforms you’re familiar with. You should also indicate your experience level with these programs. For example: “I have one year of experience using Adobe Photoshop and three years using Microsoft Excel.”
This section of your resume can also help employers see how well-rounded you are. Use this space to show off the various soft skills (communication, problem-solving) that are vital in any office environment. Be sure to list any professional certifications related to those skills as well — they’ll strengthen the case for why hiring managers should call back!
Use bullet points
Bullet points are a great way to emphasize key points. They’re easier to read than paragraphs, making your resume look more organized. If you’re trying out for a marketing position, use bullet points to break down each of the skills that make you an expert in online marketing. You can also use them in this manner when applying for jobs in any field: list the most relevant skills first. Finally, always create at least one bullet point highlighting why you’re right for this job—even if it’s not your most impressive skill or experience!
Tighten up your wording.
When writing your resume, you should keep the following tips in mind:
- Use short sentences. Do not use long, convoluted sentences with multiple clauses and excessive punctuation. They are difficult to read and make it seem like you are trying too hard.
- Use active verbs whenever possible. This is especially important for a non-career-related experience that may be more challenging to explain on the page (e.g., “I managed” instead of “Managed”).
- Avoid overly formal language. Try to write simply so your reader can understand what you’re saying quickly and easily without having to work hard or hunt around for subtle nuances in meaning or context clues.
- Use white space liberally throughout your resume; don’t crowd everything together like a newspaper article!
Keep your reusme under two pages
Two-page resumes are considered the standard, but you could also consider keeping them under one page if your experience is in a specific field. The key is to keep it as short as possible and focus on the most important information.
You can use bulleted lists that focus on your skills and accomplishments. Resume template or builder programs can help you create an attractive layout without taking up too much space. Or you could even hire someone online who specializes in writing resumes—you’ll be surprised at how affordable they can be!
Remember, your resume isn’t just for the job application. It’s also a marketing tool that shows potential employers what you offer and why they should hire you. By following these tips, you can ensure that your resume is as professional and impressive as possible so that when hiring managers see it in their inboxes, they’ll be eager to find out more about your qualifications!
If you’d like a professional resume review, submit a Critiq request to Samy Jones. Samy will review your resume and provide personalized feedback to show you where your resume may be falling short and what you can do to improve your chances in getting more callbacks.
Featured Expert
Samy Jones
Candidate Consultant, providing resume feedback and interview prep.
