How to Make a Resume that Stands Out From the Competition
Landing a good job is like a dream comes true. But from applying to facing interview is a stressful journey.
But the most crucial step is to get your resume shortlisted by the recruiters, and your resume works a critical role in this. It's the essential document in the journey of your job search. According to James Reed, who is the chairman of recruitment firm REED and author of “The 7 Seconds CV”, recruiters scan a resume in just seven seconds.
So, has your resume that required merit to pass that seven-second speed test?
This is an essential aspect you need to take care of before heading for your dream job search. You have to ensure that your resume attracts recruiters' attention with just one glance. Hundreds of applicants apply to a single job posting, all with their best resumes. Qualifying that speed test, many job seekers spend hours building eye-catching resumes.
So how to make your resume that stands out among a pool of jobseekers?
What the experts have to say
“There is nothing simple or quick about building a powerful resume,” says Jane Heifetz— the founder of Right Resumes and a resume expert. “It doesn’t like that sitting down and hammering it out in just an hour. But you have to think of a resume expert and founder of Right Resumes. “It doesn’t like that sitting down and hammering it out in just an hour. But you need to consider carefully what to say and how to say so that the recruiter thinks, ‘this person is a perfect fit for the position,’” she added further.
According to John Lee— a career strategist from Britain and author of "Knockout CV," after all, it's more than a resume; it's a marketing document.
Heifetz agrees with John, “The recruiter is the buyer, you’re the product, and you need to give them a solid reason to buy you.”
There are plenty of misconceptions and conflicting suggestions out there. While some think that one-pagers do wonder, some recommend putting a summary on the top. But here, in this article, we would guide you to build a resume that will surely win the recruiters’ attention.
Tips for building a resume that stands out from the competition
Start with a persuasive brief
Compel recruiters to dig a level deeper by opening with strong 15-20 words. “They are crucial because that’s what convince recruiters to read more," says Lee. Open with a compelling summary of your expertise. You'll have the opportunity to elaborate them further down your CV and cover letter.
“Keep the opening very short and rich, a brief elevator pitch,” says Heifetz. You have to make it elegantly clear in the summary that you have the potential/needed skills to get the job done. Your brief should consist of your job title or descriptor like ‘DevOps engineer with...’ No matter whether you’ve ever worked as this capacity or not, but the title should exactly match what the recruiter is looking into an applicant.
Make sure you don’t use common phrases or overused clichés—they don’t give a sense of originality, and recruiters get bored reading them.
While it may seem tempting to include all jobs, achievements, skills, and qualifications, you should pick the most vital information. Be clear that your CV is a very selective body of content and not a comprehensive one.
“If your resume fails to convince the hiring manager to talk to you, then you should take it out,” says Heifetz. Consider including it as part of your experience only, right along with paid jobs, if it is relevant.
So what about your hobbies or non-job related stuff?
Well, you can mention them but in the right way. According to Lee, readers can be quite tolerant while reading non-job related information, but you have to mind your tone. If the job you've applied is for a more informal company that pays special attention to work-life balance, you can include your hobbies and interest in a line or two.
Keep stuff in the right order.
In case you’re switching industries, avoid including it in your job experience as it may not interest the hiring manager. As per Heifetz, including the achievement section right after the brief, it works as a bridge between your experience and the specific job requirements. “These are vital points that you need to get across, the compelling stories you want to weave,” she says. It makes the hiring manager sit tight and say, ‘He/she is the right candidate; I want to talk to him/her.’ And it’s not because of who you are but because of what you have done.
Then, after the accomplishment/achievement section, you should include your employment history and relevant experience. After that, you should list your relevant education. Some applicants include their educational qualification at the top of the resume, but that may be appropriate when applying to educational institutions. But, never do that in a business resume. Make sure to highlight your work experience first and keep degrees at the end.
Those were the days when it was the practice of creating a one-page resume in which applicants used tiny font size and crammed in the stuff to make it fit. Now, two or three page-resume is considered excellent. But even a page more than that gives a sense that you're lazy enough to summarize your critical details, which is relevant to the job applied.
"I've never found a CV that fits on just one page, even for a fresher. If you want to narrate a compelling story, you need more pages," says Heifetz. You can provide links to your work to supplement what you have mentioned on the page, but make sure to tell in brief about your work so that the hiring manager gets motivated to go ahead. Providing just a URL may not work.
Also, keep the popular font. Don't use unfamiliar fonts — no matter how fancy they are. The ultimate goal should be to make your resume look clean, clear, and elegant.
Talk about your accomplishment, not responsibilities.
“The thumb rule is that 95% of the entire content should tell about your accomplishments,” recommends Heifetz. If you mention, “I handle a team of eight engineers” doesn’t entice much. But when your resume states that your team won ‘the best team of the year’ award for exceeding targets, it will let your recruiter know that you’re a capable manger.
So, weave stories around this line.
Tweak your resume for the specific opportunity
Each time you apply, customize your resume for that specific position. “Yes, you can have a foundational resume having impressive content, but you should tweak it as per the job requirements,” suggests Heifetz. Before you apply, it’s essential to gather as much information as you can—search around people who have already worked or working for the organization. Then, make modifications to your resume. Your primary objective should be to get your resume shortlisted.
Align your LinkedIn profile
Your LinkedIn profile is as crucial as your resume. If you haven't created one, get it right away. But avoid copying from your resume as it gives a sense that you're lazy. Also, the LinkedIn profile tone should be a little casual, unlike your resume.
If you find it difficult to articulate an impressive resume, you can seek help from a professional resume writer. Alternatively, you can use an AI-powered online resume builder for free to create an eye-catching resume on your own.
To make sure your resume enticingly narrates your story, get it checked, proofread for grammar, spelling, and punctuation.
I hope these tips help you build an impressive resume. I wish you all the best for your job search!