Getting your resume noticed by hiring managers is more important than ever in today's job market. A well-crafted resume not only shows off your skills but also sets you apart from other candidates. To help you make your resume stand out, we've gathered insights from 10 experts. Here’s what they have to say about making your resume stand out.
1. Optimize Your Content and Presentation
First impressions matter. Your resume should be both visually appealing and easy to read. Using a professional design helps layout your relevant skills and experience in a concise and well-organized manner. This not only makes it easier for hiring managers to quickly scan your resume but also shows that you put effort into presenting yourself professionally.
Expert Tip:
"To stand out to hiring managers, your resume should focus on both content and presentation, optimized for readability. Use a professional design to layout your relevant skills and experience in a concise and well-organized manner. Include a well-crafted professional summary that serves as your elevator pitch and sets the tone for the rest of your resume.
If you bring experience, lead with your experience tailored to the job description with quantified achievements. If not, lead with your education and any relevant coursework, certifications, licenses, or credentials.
Include all relevant skills, both hard and soft, like technical competencies and languages. Including a customized cover letter, which narrates your suitability and expresses your enthusiasm for the role, can be the differentiator that gets you noticed and hired."
Letticia Pierrez, Talent Acquisition Manager
2. Show Relevance to the Job Role
Hiring managers are looking for resumes that match their specific needs. To catch their attention, tailor your resume to include specific projects or work experiences that align with the job you're applying for. This demonstrates that you understand the role and have the relevant skills and experience.
Expert Tip:
"As a hiring manager, the main thing I look for in a resume, and what makes one stand out from others, is relevance to the advertised role. To spark my interest, a candidate needs to include specific projects or examples of work experience on their resume that match our needs for the job we're hiring for.
I also like to see candidates including skills directly from our job description, as long as they have those skills and can back it up with examples in their experience section. If you're familiar with a specific tool we've listed in our job posting, include a relevant example on your resume that demonstrates your ability to use this tool well."
Geoffrey Scott, SEO Content Manager and Certified Professional Resume Writer (CRPW) Resume Genius
3. Craft a Compelling Professional Summary
A compelling professional summary at the top of your resume is essential. This section is your chance to highlight your most impressive achievements and show hiring managers why you’re the perfect fit for the job. Tailor this summary to each application, focusing on achievements that align with the job requirements.
Expert Tip:
"A compelling professional summary at the top of your resume is your golden ticket to stand out from the crowd. These 3-4 concise bullet points are your chance to showcase your most impressive achievements and convince hiring managers you're the perfect fit.
Begin with your most impressive and quantifiable achievement, especially if it directly aligns with the job requirements. For instance, if you're seeking a B2B software sales role, make sure to highlight your impressive, record-breaking sales figures in this area prominently.
Importantly, tailor your summary to each application. Even if you lack direct industry experience, showcasing adaptable skills and transferable achievements can make you a strong candidate."
Eva Toledo, Senior Researcher, Kepler Search Pte Ltd
4. Personalize and Tailor to Company Culture
Personalizing your resume can set you apart from other candidates. Show that you’re willing to go the extra mile by adapting your resume to the company’s culture. Include sections that highlight your passion projects, volunteer work, or personal interests relevant to the role. This not only adds depth to your profile but also provides insight into your character and values.
Expert Tip:
"As a hiring manager, there are two ways candidates can really help their resume stand out. The first is quite straightforward but bears repeating: an easy-to-read resume that's tailored to the job description with quantified achievements is a must to retain a hiring manager's attention.
To really stand out from the candidates who already diligently apply these resume best practices, the second way to stand out is by making personalization a key strategy in your application process. You should be showing you're willing to go the extra mile for a role you're truly interested in and adapt your resume's personalization to the company you're applying to and its culture.
For example, including a section dedicated to showcasing your passion projects, volunteer work, or personal interests that are relevant to the role not only adds depth to your profile but also provides insight into your character and values.
If you're tech-savvy and comfortable in front of a camera, consider enhancing your resume with multimedia by adding a link to a brief video bio. This can help you stand out by putting a face to a name and showing just how you can succinctly communicate your key strength. This extra effort helps you stand out in a highly personalized manner, especially in today's increasingly digital hiring landscape where generic AI-generated resumes are flooding hiring managers' inboxes.
At the end of the day, I'm looking for candidates who can clearly and concisely communicate how their background makes them the ideal fit for that particular role. So whether you decide to use a traditional resume or something a little more original, those are the key elements that will still affect my hiring decision."
Eva Chan, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Senior Content Specialist, Resume Genius
5. Tailor Resume with Relevant Keywords
Tailoring your resume for each job is crucial. Include relevant keywords from the job description and emphasize measurable achievements. This not only helps your resume pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS) but also makes it clear to hiring managers that you have the skills and experience they’re looking for.
Expert Tip:
"To ensure your resume stands out, tailor it to each job by including relevant keywords and emphasizing measurable achievements over general duties. Under each role, use bullet points to concisely convey valuable contributions, but avoid over-elaboration.
Use a clear, professional format and include a brief personal statement to showcase your unique value effectively. Additionally, mentioning relevant certifications and notable projects can further distinguish you in the eyes of talent leaders and hiring managers."
Rachel Weiner, Senior Technology Consultant, EC1 Partners
6. Include Professional Contributions and Learning
Highlighting your professional contributions and continuous learning can make your resume stand out. Include sections for open-source projects, community service, recent workshops, webinars, or courses. This shows your initiative and commitment to staying current in your field.
Expert Tip:
"I believe that to make a resume truly stand out, candidates should consider adding a section on “Professional Contributions” where they can highlight any open-source projects or community service that aligns with their career goals. This will not only show initiative but also a willingness to invest in their field beyond personal gain.
Another distinctive element could be a “Continuous Learning” section. Here, candidates can list recent workshops, webinars, or courses they've completed. This demonstrates a commitment to staying current in an ever-evolving job market, which is a subtle yet powerful way to show foresight and dedication.
Lastly, a 'Testimonials' snippet can be quite impactful. Including brief, powerful quotes from previous supervisors or colleagues about the candidate's work ethic or achievements provides a peer perspective that can resonate well with hiring managers. It's like having a reference vouch for you right on your resume."
Phil McParlane, Founder and CEO, 4DayWeekJobs
7. Tailor and Highlight Unique Skills
To make your resume stand out in a competitive job market, it’s crucial to tailor it to the specific job description. Highlight relevant skills and experiences that directly relate to the position. Customizing the resume objective or summary section to align with the desired role can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Emphasize your key achievements and accomplishments that demonstrate your qualifications.
Expert Tip:
"Candidates can take several steps to make their resumes stand out in a competitive job market. Tailoring your resume to the specific job description and highlighting relevant skills and experiences can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Customizing the resume objective or summary section to align with the desired role and emphasizing key achievements and accomplishments demonstrate your qualifications for the position.
Incorporating keywords and phrases from the job posting can improve the resume's visibility to applicant tracking systems (ATS) and increase the chances of getting noticed by recruiters. Additionally, showcasing unique skills, certifications, or extracurricular activities that set you apart from other applicants is crucial. This could include highlighting language proficiency, technical skills, or participation in relevant professional organizations or volunteer work."
Michael Hurwitz, CEO and Co-Founder, Careers in Government
8. Showcase Continuous Learning
Demonstrating continuous learning and development shows a commitment to your field. Highlight any additional training, certifications, or professional-development courses you’ve completed. This indicates to hiring managers that you’re proactive and dedicated to improving your skills.
Expert Tip:
"Candidates can demonstrate continuous learning and development on their resume. This means highlighting any additional training, certifications, or professional-development courses that show a commitment to learning and staying current in their field."
Kelli Anderson, Career Coach, Texas General Insurance
9. Clarity, Conciseness, and Tailoring Matter
A clear and concise resume that is tailored to the specific job can make a significant difference. Highlight relevant experience and skills, include quantifiable achievements, and consider linking to a professional online profile or portfolio for a deeper insight into your capabilities.
Expert Tip:
"As the owner of a recruiting platform, I've seen countless resumes cross my desk, and the ones that truly stand out share a few key traits. Firstly, clarity and conciseness are paramount; a resume should be easy to read and eliminate any unnecessary information.
Tailoring your resume to align with the specific job you're applying for by highlighting relevant experience and skills makes a significant difference. Including quantifiable achievements can turn a good resume into a great one, as it provides concrete evidence of your abilities. Lastly, in this digital age, linking to a professional online profile or portfolio can enhance your resume by offering a deeper insight into your capabilities and accomplishments."
Amit Doshi, Founder and CEO, MyTurn
10. Five Key Points for Standout Resumes
Tailor your resume to the specific job and company: One resume is not going to fit all job descriptions from different companies. You have to tailor it according to the job description if you want to stand out.
Highlight your achievements: Showcase your work and achievements concisely and clearly. The recruiter can figure out whether you are the right fit or not.
Use keywords from the job description to pass ATS: To pass your resume through ATS, include keywords from the job description. It makes it easy for ATS to scan your resume.
Provide a link to your portfolio: If you have a portfolio, provide a link to it on your resume. Make it easy for a recruiter to navigate and reach crucial information about you in a few seconds.
Proofreading: Submitting your resume without proofreading can be the biggest disaster.
Saikat Ghosh, Associate Director of HR and Business, Technource
Creating a standout resume is all about showcasing what makes you unique and relevant for the job. Focus on clear and concise content, tailor it to the job you're applying for, and highlight your achievements and skills. By following these expert tips, you can make your resume catch the eye of hiring managers and boost your chances of landing that dream job.
