Table of Contents
Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for
Use a clean, professional layout
Start with a strong summary or objective
Focus on your achievements, not just your responsibilities
Proofread thoroughly
Conclusion
Contributors
Yhen Villas
Contributor
Did you know several publications mentioned that recruiters spend only 8-10 seconds looking at each resume?
That’s why making your skills stand out in your resume is important. A good resume should be jam-packed with your strengths, but at the same time, straightforward. While recruiters can probe and ask questions beyond your resume, it’s crucial to get their interest the moment they first view your profile.
Here are some of the resume tips that we have prepared for you so you can highlight your experiences better and book your next job interview.
1. Tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for
Customize your resume for each job application by highlighting the skills, experience, and achievements that align with the specific job description. Use relevant keywords from the job description to increase the chances of passing through the Applicant Tracking System (ATS).
If the job description mentions any responsibility, skill, or tool that you have experience with, make sure to highlight it in your resume. Companies might use specific jargon, so make sure that your resume is relevant to what they’re looking for.
Do: Make your resume relevant to the position you’re applying for.
Assuming that you’re applying for a Marketing Manager position, make it obvious that you have relevant experience in your list of responsibilities and your professional summary.
Don’t: Make your resume generic.
Creating a generic resume can lessen your chances of landing an interview, as it fails to highlight your most relevant skills and experiences tailored to the specific role. A targeted resume demonstrates to recruiters and hiring managers that you understand the job requirements and have the necessary qualifications to excel in that position.
Using the Marketing Manager position example again, avoid adding responsibilities or details that are not as relevant to the position you’re applying for.
2. Use a clean, professional layout
Ensure your resume is easy to read with a clean format, consistent font sizes, and spacing. Try creating your resume using MS Word or Google Docs templates. These applications are user-friendly and can format your resume well. Stick to a professional font (like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman), and use bold headings to separate sections.
For things to avoid, don’t use graphics or bold colors on your resume as much as possible. Make sure that the design is simple, minimal, and easily readable. Avoid using charts, graphs, or photos in your resume. Not only is it space-consuming, but it also doesn’t read well through the ATS. Also, avoid adding unnecessary personal information to your resume.
Do: Make your resume design clean and professional.
Don’t: Make your resume cluttered. Take note of the professionalism, formatting, and details in your resume.
3. Start with a strong summary or objective
Include a concise, powerful summary at the top of your resume that highlights your key qualifications, experience, and what you bring to the table.
Example:
If you are applying for a similar role that you have for a while now, highlight your relevant competencies, together with the industries that you have worked in so the recruiters and hiring managers can see your experience in a nutshell.
Experienced Project Manager with 7+ years in consulting, business management, and fintech industries. Proven success in delivering complex projects on time and within budget, optimizing processes, and aligning outcomes with business goals. Strong leadership, communication, and problem-solving skills, ready to drive results in fast-paced environments.
If you’re early in your career, an objective statement can emphasize your career goals and interest in the specific role.
Motivated and detail-oriented recent graduate with a degree in Business Management and a focus on project management. Equipped with strong organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills, and hands-on experience from internships in consulting and fintech. Eager to apply academic knowledge and drive successful project outcomes in a dynamic and fast-paced environment.
4. Focus on your achievements, not just your responsibilities
Instead of listing tasks or duties for each role, focus on your accomplishments and describe how you added value. Use quantifiable results where possible.
Example:
- Led cross-functional teams of 10+ members to successfully deliver 15+ fintech and business management projects, consistently meeting deadlines and staying within 10% of the allocated budget.
- Streamlined project workflows, reducing turnaround time by 20% and increasing overall team efficiency by 15% through the implementation of Agile methodologies.
- Managed stakeholder communications and expectations, achieving a 95% satisfaction rate across clients in the consulting and fintech sectors.
5. Proofread thoroughly
Ensure your resume is free from typos, spelling, and grammatical errors. Most, if not all, job openings require candidates to have impeccable attention to detail so recruiters will gauge this skill mainly off your resume. We recommend running your resume through Grammarly.
Read it aloud to catch mistakes or awkward phrasing. Consider having a friend or professional review it for additional feedback. You can use ChatGPT to check for tone or phrasing recommendations.
Here are some points to help you proofread your resume:
Example: “Increased sales by 20% through targeted marketing campaigns.”
Do:
- Start bullet points with strong action verbs like “Led,” “Managed,” “Developed,” or “Achieved” to convey your impact.
Example: “Developed a new customer retention strategy that increased client retention by 15%.”
- Use the past tense for previous jobs and the present tense for current responsibilities.
Example: “Led a team of 8 engineers” (past), “Manage a team of 5 developers” (present).
- Use short, clear sentences or bullet points. Be concise and avoid unnecessary words.
Example: “Increased sales by 20% through targeted marketing campaigns.”
- Use parallel structure. Ensure that the verbs and structure of your bullet points match for readability.
Example: “Analyzed data, created reports, and presented findings to senior management.”
Don’t:
- Don’t use first-person pronouns. Avoid “I,” “me,” “my,” or “we.”
Correct: “Led a team to increase sales by 10%.”
Incorrect: “I led a team to increase sales by 10%.”
- Don’t use full sentences. Use phrases or bullet points instead of complete sentences.
Correct: “Managed project budget.”
Incorrect: “I was responsible for managing the project budget.”
- Don’t use slang or informal language. Keep the tone professional and avoid casual expressions or jargon.
Correct: “Successfully completed the project.”
Incorrect: “Nailed the project!”
- Don’t confuse homophones. Double-check commonly confused words and misspelled words.
Correct: “Ensured that they’re happy with the project results.” (They’re is short for “they are”).
Incorrect: “Ensured that their happy with the project results.” (Their shows possession).
Correct: “Increased customer satisfaction by 25%.” (Correct spelling: customer refers to clients).
Incorrect: “Increased costumer satisfaction.” (Costumer refers to someone who makes costumes).
Conclusion
Crafting a standout resume is your first step toward landing the job you’ve been dreaming of. By tailoring your resume, keeping it clean and professional, highlighting your achievements, and proofreading carefully, you’ll make a lasting impression on recruiters.
Once you have applied and have been invited for the next steps, check this out to ace your interview and land the role of your dreams.
Ready to take the next step in your career? Click here to apply now and explore exciting remote opportunities with AbroadWorks.