Are you job hunting and/or ready for a new career path? New job role at a new company?

If so, there’s more to finding a better job than simply looking online or scanning the Want Ads.

For the most, part your resume is the first step toward a better future career since it’s typically the first thing a hiring manager sees.

Because of this, it’s key to make a strong impression on the hiring manager by presenting a well-created and concise resume highlighting your qualifications for the position offered.

Before you submit, mail, or hit the send button to the hiring manager, keep reading about these 10 tips to get my resume to stand out against the competition when applying for any job.

What is a Resume?

Firstly, a resume displays a potential candidate’s qualifications for a job. It usually includes the candidates’ education, experience, skills, and achievements.

A resume is a terrific way to highlight how you could be an asset to the company and by having a well-created resume you can set yourself apart from other job seekers who are applying for the same position.

When drafting a resume, make sure you understand the industry you’re working in as well as the hiring company you’re applying to, tailoring your resume to both.

Make It Unique

There are several ways to make your resume stand out from the rest of the resumes that the Human Resources Manager, recruiter, or other higher-ups will see.

For example, what a recruiter or manager looks for will depend on your industry and the job you’re applying for, but overall, hiring managers want resumes that stand out.

Here are the 10 tips to consider when creating your resume to land your dream job:

1. Understand What the Hiring Manager Wants to See

Before you begin creating your resume, review the job posting and the company’s website. Take careful consideration when determining what you plan to include. Focus on the company’s culture, keywords you want to include, and what’s expected of you in this job.

2. Tailor It to the Industry Job You’re Applying For

Be sure to include any relevant experience in previous positions that highlights what you have accomplished. If you’re applying for a job as a sales manager the hiring manager would rather know about your skills as a sales manager than in a summer job as a clerk.

Include only relevant positions that let the receiver know you understand what they’re looking for in a potential employee.

3. Add Header, Summary, or Objective

Recruiters review massive resumes daily so by incorporating a header and summary or objective so hiring managers will notice your resume over others. When adding a header, include your full name on top and if you have space, make the font size slightly larger.

Include your address, city and state, phone number, and email address. Also, add your contact information so that here the hiring manager can reach you.

Below the header, write a summary or objective; a summary is no longer than three sentences and reviews relevant experience and skills. An objective explains your career goal and what skills you can offer the company. It’s usually around two-three sentences.

Include one of these statements summarizing your resume at the top so hiring managers can review it and learn more about you faster.

4. Include Pertinent Skills

Just like in prior positions, only include skills as well as leadership skills, technical skills, and core competencies, which would be valuable to the position you’re applying for. Check the job posting for skills or requirements that the hiring manager seeks. For example, listing your knowledge of designing software and tech programs would be valuable skills to include if applying for a graphic design role.

5. Be Concise

A resume can be two pages, but typically one page is ideal. This usually applies to entry-level candidates with minimal experience. While drafting your resume,  include only information that could set you apart from the competition. Avoid redundancy and fluff just to fill up space.

6. Make it Visually Appealing

While recruiters do appreciate a well-designed resume, make sure to keep it professional. Consider these tips when designing a modern resume highlighting any professional experience:

Font style: Use a font that is legible and professional font like Georgia, Times New Roman, Calibri, or Helvetica.

Font size: Opt for an appropriately sized font that the recruiter can read such as size 12, which isn’t too big or too small.

Template: Keep designs minimal and aesthetically appealing. If you’re using a template,  check that the visual elements don’t distract from the content of your resume.

Color choices: Use an attractive color scheme when drafting your resume;  black, white, and a third color like blue or green work. White is a great background color, black is best for text and a third color can highlight important details on your resume.

If you’re applying for a creative job, your resume is the initial sample and part of the usual hiring process that will show off your design work that recruiters will see. Go ahead and display your unique style when drafting your resume since supplying a clean and legible resume will ensure the receiver’s ability to read it thoroughly without any distractions.

7. Submit a Cover Letter

When employers have you submit a resume online, they may ask for a cover letter. Even if it’s not required, sending a cover letter is a wonderful way to stand out as a candidate. If you do go for a cover letter, make sure the design and color scheme matches your resume for a more cohesive presentation.

8. Proofread

Always proofread your resume before submitting it to make sure it is error-free and easy to read. This will demonstrate your professionalism and your ability to pay close attention to details. If you tailor your resume to each position you apply for, carefully read it each time, or ask a friend or family member to review it for you.

9. Use Power Verbs

When describing previous employment experiences, emphasize how you solved problems and added value to your former company (ies). Use phrases with keywords such as “increased,” “initiated,” “resolved,” and “improved.” Powerful verbs go beyond listing your duties and emphasize how you produced results.

10. Awards, Kudos, More

Include a category heading for honors and awards if you can list formal recognitions. 

In your descriptions of the awards, use keywords that show recognition such as “selected,” “elected,” and “recognized.” Quality recommendations are another form of recognition so beef up recommendations on LinkedIn and other social media sites and include a link to your profile on your resume. If an employer asks for written recommendations, choose those individuals who know your skills and accomplishments.

Include a category for training, certifications, publications, presentations, and professional development. List any leadership roles with professional groups and any publications or presentations.

Bottom-line

Overall, your resume gives potential employers insight into your many qualifications.

Make sure it is always up to date by including your most current skills and work experience.

Each time you apply for a new job, customize your resume so it emphasizes the experiences and skills the employer is seeking in a candidate.

You may also want to remove experiences that aren’t relevant to the position you’re applying to.

How well your resume reads and how effectively it lists your accomplishments and goals can help you get the dream job you seek be it today, tomorrow, or in the future.