How to Make Your Resume Stand Out from the Rest

In today's job market, it's more important than ever to make sure your resume stands out from the competition. With so many qualified candidates vying for the same position, you need to find a way to set yourself apart. But how? By following these four simple tips, you can ensure that your resume will catch a potential employer's eye and help you land the job of your dreams.

1. Keep it Relevant

When it comes to your resume, relevance is key. Make sure to only include information that is pertinent to the position you're applying for. There's no need to include every single job you've ever had—just focus on the ones that are most relevant to the field you're interested in. For example, if you're applying for a position in marketing, there's no need to include your experience as a cashier from high school. However, if you have any marketing-related internships or jobs, those would be worth mentioning. 

2. Highlight Your Skills and Achievements

Once you've pinpointed which experiences are most relevant to the position, it's time to highlight your skills and achievements from those roles. Potential employers want to see what value you can bring to their company, so don't be shy about touting your successes. If you increased sales by 20% at your last job or spearheaded a successful marketing campaign, make sure to mention those accomplishments on your resume. Numbers always catch people's attention, so including them will help your resume stand out even more.

3. Use Keywords Strategically

Did you know that many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) when reviewing resumes? These systems help weed out unqualified candidates by scanning resumes for specific keywords related to the job opening. So, if you want your resume to pass an ATS test and land in the hands of a human being, make sure to use relevant keywords throughout your document. 

To figure out which keywords to use, carefully read through the job posting and take note of any skills or qualifications that are required or preferred for the role. Then, sprinkle those keywords throughout your resume—but don't go overboard! You don't want your resume to sound like a robot wrote it; just make sure the keywords are used naturally and in context. 

For example, if you're applying for a social media manager position and one of the required qualifications is "Facebook advertising," you could mention that skill in your summary or work experience section like this: "Successfully managed Facebook advertising campaigns for three major clients." See how that sounds much better than saying something like "I am good at Facebook advertising?" The former sounds like it was written by a real person; the latter sounds like it was written by a robot—and we all know which one is more likely to get noticed by a potential employer. 

4. Use a Professional Tone 

When writing your resume, it's important to remember that this is a professional document—not a piece of creative writing. As such, it should be free of any typos or grammatical errors and written in clear, concise language. This isn't the time to show off your ability to use big words; instead, focus on communicating your qualifications and skills in a way that is easy for anyone to understand. After all, if an employer can't understand what you're trying to say on your resume, they're not going bother trying—they'll just move on to the next candidate. 

By following these four simple tips, you can ensure that your resume will stand out from the rest and help you land the job of your dreams! Just remember: relevance is key, so make sure to only include information that is pertinent to the position you're applying for; highlight your skills and achievements from previous roles; use keywords strategically throughout your resume; and always use a professional tone. Do all of this, and you're sure guaranteed success!