One’s resume must look remarkable and/or polished if you want to get ahead and stand out at work today. It is important to ensure that one has a resume that not only represents their work experience and skills but also highlights their unique strengths. Crafting a professional resume that stands out from the crowd can be an intimidating task, however with the right information, tips and strategies it can be done successfully.
Highlight Your Skills and Experience
Your job application should highlight the most relevant skills, credentials, and experience. Start by compiling all accomplishments, education, and experience, then setting them out under headings. From this list, select the most relevant items that match the job description. Easily able to enjoy how your work history matches necessary abilities for the job.
Choose the Right Format
Choosing the right resume format can make all the difference in making your resume stand out. Traditional, functional, and mixed formats are common. An employment history resume lists the dates of employment by organization, while an accomplishment-based job history would represent your job history in reverse chronological order. A combination resume combines both formats, highlighting both your work history and skills.
Use Action-Oriented Language
Using action-oriented language in your resume is essential to highlight your accomplishments and grab the attention of hiring managers. Create each point with a strong, proactive action word, including “managed,” “created,” or “developed.” Express your feelings as you quantify your achievements, using numbers and percentages to demonstrate the significance.
Keep it Concise
Often a hiring manager must review dozens or even hundreds of resumes before choosing the most suitable candidate for a particular position. It is crucial to keeping yours succinct and to the purpose. Your resume should ideally be one or two pages long, so prioritize the most important information and avoid lengthy paragraphs. Emphasize a few points that highlight your skills and achievements with short, succinct sentences.
Tailor Your Resume to the Job Description
Tailoring your resume to the job description is the key when it comes to making it stand out. Take a look at the job description and determine which abilities and experiences the company is looking for in a candidate. Get in touch with us and highlight these in your resume, making sure to use keywords from the list. This way, your resume will catch the attention of the ATS and the hiring manager.
Example of an ATS-Friendly Resume
An ATS-friendly resume is designed to pass through the automated Applicant Tracking System used by many employers. An ATS scans resumes for keywords and phrases related to the job description. Here’s an example of an ATS-friendly resume:
Name: John Smith
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (123) 456-7890
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/johnsmith
Objective: To obtain a software engineering position at XYZ company.
Skills:
Proficient in Java, Python, and C++
Experience with Agile development methodologies
Familiarity with SQL databases
Strong problem-solving and analytical skills
Education:
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, XYZ University (GPA: 3.8)
Relevant coursework: Algorithms and Data Structures, Software Engineering, Database Systems
Experience:
Software Engineer, ABC Company
- Utilized Agile methods to improve worker productivity Aligned with wide-reaching cross-functional teams to ensure product quality and reliability while minimizing delivery times.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure product quality and timely delivery
- Software Developer Intern, DEF Company.
- Assisted with the development of software applications using C++
- Conducted testing and debugging of software applications
- Contributed to the development of software documentation
Conclusion
Creating a professional resume that stands out from the crowd is essential to getting noticed in a competitive job market. By focusing on these five areas: effective formatting, clear and concise language, compelling branding section, accurate details and strong accomplishments, you can create an attractive and memorable resume. Take the time to review your current resume and make necessary improvements so that it accurately reflects your skills and experience. With a great resume you can be confident that you have set yourself up for success when applying for new opportunities.
FAQs: Professional Resume that Stands Out from the Crowd
What is the Best Format for a Professional Resume?
The best format for a professional resume depends on your specific situation and the industry you’re in. However, All resume formats commonly use chronological, functional, and combination formats. Chronological resumes present past jobs in reverse chronological order, and functional ones emphasize your skills and accomplishments. A combination resume combines both formats, highlighting both your work history and skills.
How Can I Make My Resume Stand out?
To make your resume stand out, it’s important to highlight your most relevant skills and experience, choose the right format, use action-oriented language, keep it concise, and tailor it to the job description. Additionally, consider including a summary or objective statement at the top of your resume, and use a clean and professional design.
How Can I Ensure that my Resume is ATS-Friendly?
To ensure that your resume is ATS-friendly, use relevant keywords from the job description throughout your resume. This includes in your summary or objective statement, your skills section, and your work experience bullet points. Additionally, use a clean and simple design, avoid using images or graphics, and save your resume in a compatible file format such as .doc or .pdf.
