You send your resume to over a hundred job postings but they aren’t getting you any replies. It’s frustrating and it’s time to learn how to write a job resume that captures the attention of employers, recruiters, and hiring managers.
In this article, I am going to share with you 9 professional tips to help you write a resume that gets results.
Your Resume Isn’t The Problem
Before I dive into the pro tips that I have to share with you to write a job resume that gets results I think it’s important to share that your resume isn’t the only thing that’s stopping you from getting results.
The problem for most people is that they are spending time on an activity that sucks up a ton of time – and yields little results.
The 9 Professional Resume Writing Tips That Gets Results
#1 – Choose the Right Resume Format
Formatting your resume is an easy way to stand out from other applicants. Look for clean designs that allow hiring managers to easily find the keywords and information that they are looking for in applicants.
#2 – Add Contact Info and Personal Details
It’s quite obvious that you want to include your contact information and personal details on your resume, but what information do you provide – and how much?
Here’s a quick checklist.
Necessary Contact Information for Your Resume
- Your Name: First name, last name (middle name optional).
- Phone Number: Personal cell phone preferred over the home phone number.
- Email Address: Today’s preferred means of communication.
- LinkedIn URL: Include your LinkedIn profile (hiring managers are going to look you up on social media anyway).
Optional Information for Your Resume
- Leave your address off your resume (unless specifically requested).
- Personal website. If you have a personal website feel free to share, it could be the thing that sets you apart from other job seekers.
Information to Avoid Adding to Your Resume
- Date of Birth
- Second Email or Phone Number – it’s not necessary.
#3 – Start with a Resume Summary and Objective
Employers flip through resumes like single people flip through Tinder. That’s why it important to start your resume strong with a resume summary or objective.
A resume summary is a short statement at the beginning of your resume that highlights a job seeker’s professional skills and experience. It gives hiring managers a quick glimpse into your expertise, and a great way to capture their attention right from the start.
A resume objective introduces your resume to the hiring manager in one simple statement that answers the question, “what is the objective of this resume”. It usually states the position you are applying for and a short intro to your career goals.
#4 – List Relevant Work Experience and Key Achievements
The relevant work experience and key achievements are the main focus of any exceptional resume so you want to make it easy for hiring managers to find what they are looking for.
Here’s some recommendation on how to format your employment history section:
- Job Title – This should go at the very top of each entry of work history so that it’s easy for potential employers to scan and find. I recommend that you make it bold and increase the font size of the job title to make it stand out.
- The Company, City, State – In the second line, include your employer’s company name, city, and state of the location you worked at.
- Dates of Employment – Next, add your dates of employment. You don’t need exact dates, month and year will do just fine.
- Key Responsibilities – Don’t list every task that you completed in your jobs. Focus on the few key responsibilities that are most relevant to the new position you are applying for.
- Key Achievements – Key achievements are your superpowers. Knowing what you did on previous jobs is important to hiring managers – but, knowing how well you did is the edge that might land you that perfect position.
- Keywords – Keep in mind that hiring managers are skimming resumes for interest. Use keywords that apply to the position you are applying for to help your resume stand out.
#5 – List Your Education
The education of your resume shouldn’t be an afterthought. Follow these tips to stand out (and don’t get “schooled” – pun intended).
- Place your highest degree first.
- If you finished a university degree, don’t add high school info.
- If you have some college go ahead and add completed credits.
- Add relevant coursework, honors, or awards that you may have received.
- Extracurricular activities can also be a nice touch.
#6 – Share Relevant Skills that Fit the Job
Skills are another section of your resume that hiring managers will focus on. Here are the transferable skills that give you superpowers when it comes to standing out.
- Communication Skills
- Technical Skills
- Management Skills
- Leadership Skills
- Critical Thinking Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Job-Specific Skills
#7 – Don’t Forget These
The information I’ve shared with you so far are the most common that you’ll find on a resume. Here are a few extra resume sections that can help you showcase more of your qualifications.
Keep in mind that you only want to include these sections if they will help you prove that you are qualified for the position you are applying for. Don’t add more information if it doesn’t help your cause.
- Hobbies and Interests
- Volunteer Work
- Internship Experiences
- Certifications and Awards
- Special Projects
- Publications
#8 – The Cover Letter
Now that you’ve carefully crafted your resume you need to write a cover letter.
Your cover letter lets you connect with hiring managers in a more “human” way than your resume. It allows you to speak to the hiring managers – in normal sentences!
This is your chance to connect and show your personality. A great cover letter will give you an advantage over other candidates.
#9 – Proofread, Save, and Send Your Resume
You are almost done writing your resume, but don’t send it off quite yet!
Proofread and double-check your work. Scan your resume and cover letter. Use a tool like Grammarly to help with spelling and grammar. Ask a friend to look it over too. Sometimes, if you are too close to the information you don’t see glaring errors.
It’s always better to be safe than sorry!
In Conclusion
Writing your resume might seem like a daunting task but it is essential in your job search. Make sure the information you include in your resume is relevant. Tailor your resume to each position you are applying for. And double-check your work.
Have questions about how to write a resume or do you need help choosing the right skills and achievements to include in your resume? Connect with me!
Having spent two decades looking at resumes as an executive recruiter, I know how to help you get your resume noticed.
I specialize in helping people develop a plan for their career progression and transition as well as craft resumes that will bring out the best characteristics to help job seekers increase their chances of landing their dream job.