No matter how qualified you are, if your resume doesn’t stand out and catch the recruiter’s attention it will be sitting in a pile of other resumes.
It’s hard to know which resume format is best for you, what the hiring manager wants to see, and how to effectively sell yourself in such a short amount of space. There are many different types of resumes: chronological, functional, targeted, and more. The one that is right for you depends on your previous work experience and desired job field or industry. Ultimately, it’s important to remember that your resume should highlight what you want the reader (the hiring manager) to know about you and why they should hire you!
3 Things to Make Your Resume Stand Out
#1. Use a combination resume.
With thousands of resumes to process, it is no wonder recruiters only spend 7 seconds scanning them. They need all the information they can get and more in order to make an informed decision about which ones will be worth their time reading.
A combination resume is a great way to highlight your skills and experience, making it easier for recruiters interested in what you have to offer them. Combining both the functional aspects of resumes as well as chronological order makes this type more memorable than others that focus only on one or two things at a time.
#2. Address your transition in your cover letter.
A cover letter is not always necessary, but it’s a good idea if you’re transitioning careers. A well-written and tailored document can really help expand upon your experience as well showcase how those skills would benefit the new path of work for which applying in this instance
– Cover letters show that we are confident about ourselves without having to say much else! They also give employers an opportunity at understanding who might be perfect for their company from just reading our bio alone (which most people don’t do).
Before you start writing your cover letter, take some time to think about why it is that this new career opportunity interests you. Reflect on what makes the job so compelling and include a brief explanation in order for potential employers to understand where their value will come from working with them.
#3. Hire a professional resume writer.
While you may think that writing your own resume is the only way to go, many people find it too hard or time-consuming. A professional writer can take care of all those boring details for you and write in a style appropriate to each employer so there’s no mistake on their end!
Career Resumes offers a FREE Resume Critique – which is a great place to start. What do you have to lose? Maybe just missing out on your dream job. Contact us today!
We hope that this blog post has helped you learn more about how to make your resume stand out. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out! Our team is here for all of our clients and we’re happy to help with anything. With just a few tweaks, you can be sure that your resume will catch the eye of hiring managers everywhere. Good luck. We are here for you!
Need more job search advice?
Join Our Discussion
For more insights and a community of like-minded professionals join our LinkedIn group Resume Help and Advice for Professionals and Executives
