Creating a resume that highlights your qualifications and experience is one of the best things you can do to help yourself stand out to prospective employers. Resumes are an important marketing tool, and it’s crucial to ensure yours is clear and concise so that hiring managers can quickly scan the page and identify your skills and abilities. To ensure your resume writing is effective, try the following tips to create a standout document:
Highlight impressive accomplishments, rather than just listing job duties. This will help you demonstrate how your skills make an impact, which is more persuasive than simply saying you “responsible for boosting efficiency and making cost savings.”
Include volunteer work on your resume, if applicable. It will show your commitment to the community and the type of person you are, which is always a plus for potential employers.
Use action words that demonstrate your professionalism and make your resume more readable, says Sade. Strong verbs such as accelerated, established, facilitated, expanded and generated will grab the attention of hiring managers.
Stick to a standard font style and size, such as Times New Roman 12 point. Using an excessive amount of color or a font that is too small can look messy and distracting to the eye.
Avoid writing anything negative on your resume, such as reasons for leaving a position, because this can hurt your chances of landing an interview. Moreover, don’t lie about your experience or achievements as this can lead to disqualification. It’s also a good idea to have a trusted friend or mentor read through your resume to catch any typos or to provide feedback on the tone you are using. Resume writing tips