Writing a resume is like painting a masterpiece! You must be intentional, have a plan, and know where to place each component to make a cohesive and stunning work of art.
If writing a resume feels overwhelming, take a moment to breathe. You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll share our best tips for writing a strong resume.
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💡 Our expert says
As a Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW), I’ve written and reviewed thousands of resumes across industries, roles, and career levels. The resumes that made it to the interview stage incorporated many effective resume writing strategies that are included in this article.
Get ready to take notes; it’s time to jump right in and learn the best resume writing tips that will help you land your next interview.
1. Identify Your Ideal Job Title and Career Goals
If you are not clear on the role that you’re targeting, the recruiter or hiring manager won’t be either. You never want a hiring manager to look at your resume and wonder what you want to do for them.
Your resume should be crystal clear with your intentions. This will also help you focus your resume on the important components of the job.
Begin by researching job postings to identify common titles, requirements, responsibilities, and skills needed. Tailoring your resume to these elements will improve your chances with applicant tracking systems (ATS) AND show potential employers that you’re the perfect match for the job.
For example, if your goal is to be a project manager, your resume headline could include “Project Manager” or “Project Management Professional.”
From there, you can showcase your organizational skills, leadership abilities, and experience delivering projects within budget and on time. By narrowing down your ideal role, you can better highlight transferable skills, even if your experience isn’t a direct match.
You can review our guide on writing resumes for more insights on writing a great resume.
2. Highlight Your Unique Skills and Experience
There’s only one you. You have unique qualities, skills, and experiences that make you stand out!
The second of our 10 tips for writing a resume focuses on taking some time to reflect on what makes you a valuable candidate, and how you can convey this on your resume.
Think about it, are you particularly skilled at solving complex problems? Are you able to break down scientific information into easy-to-understand concepts? Or do you bring a fresh perspective to traditional challenges?
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💡 Our expert’s advice
This is what I like to call, “your secret sauce.” It’s what makes you stand out and remain memorable. You can communicate your unique qualities through showcasing your achievements and within your headline section.
For example, under your targeted job title, you could include a statement like “Data Analyst with a proven track record in process optimization for Fortune 500 companies.”
This statement is specific and highlights your skill set and key accomplishments.
3. Craft Your Resume for Hiring Managers and ATS
A winning resume is written with the reader in mind, typically a hiring manager or recruiter.
Picture yourself in their position: they’re likely skimming hundreds of resumes, looking for specific qualifications, keywords, and achievements. With this in mind, make sure to tailor your resume to fit their needs by emphasizing the most relevant skills and experiences for the job.
To make your resume stand out even more, research specific keywords that are commonly associated with your target role and industry.
Many companies utilize ATS software to do the initial screening of resumes. This means that including keywords from the job description can help your resume get through the first screening.
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💡 Our expert’s advice
Try to avoid “keyword stuffing.” You don’t want your resume to look like it belongs in a spam folder. Use your keywords naturally so that your resume flows and tells a comprehensive story.
4. Ignore the 1 Page Rule
There’s a long-standing rule (actually… it’s a myth) that resumes should be no longer than one page, but this isn’t necessarily true for everyone.
While one page is generally suitable for recent graduates or those with limited experience, professionals with extensive experience might need two pages to fully convey their qualifications.
If you have years of experience, technical skills, or multiple leadership roles, don’t hesitate to extend your resume to two pages, especially if you have impressive promotions you need to include.
Remember, resumes aren’t one-size-fits-all. You have to choose the format that works best for you.
The key here is to avoid overwhelming the reader with irrelevant information. Ensure each section provides valuable insight into your experience, keeping the content concise and impactful.
Prioritize what matters most to the role and include sufficient white space for readability. For instance, if you have extensive technical experience, break down your expertise in a clear and structured skills section rather than cramming everything into a single, dense paragraph.
5. Avoid Trying To Fit Everything on Your Resume
Your resume is not meant to be a novel. Think of your resume more like a preview before the main show (the main show being the interview).
This means that you should not include an exhaustive list of every job you’ve ever held.
Instead of crowding your resume with unnecessary details, focus on the most relevant positions and accomplishments. For example, if you’re applying for a marketing role, you will want to leave out unrelated part-time jobs from years ago that don’t add value to your application.
If you are in the creative field and have a portfolio of work or extensive work with clients that you’d like to showcase, compile a digital portfolio and provide a link to it on your resume. This will help to free up space and give the reader an option to learn more about you!
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💡 Our expert’s tip
If you want to emphasize certain accomplishments but feel constrained by space, consider listing only the most impactful experiences.
Use bullet points for easy readability, and quantify your achievements whenever possible, such as “Increased client retention by 30% through targeted marketing campaigns.”
6. Use a Strong Resume Summary Instead of Objectives
Objective statements are a thing of the past. Instead, opt for a resume summary (also known as your professional brand statement) that provides a snapshot of your skills, experience, and career goals in a way that immediately grabs the hiring manager’s attention.
For instance, instead of saying, “Seeking a challenging role in marketing,” a summary could be:
Results-oriented Marketing Professional with 10+ years of experience in digital strategy and content development, specializing in increasing brand visibility and engagement.
This approach helps showcase your experience level and sets the stage for what’s to come.
7. Link to Social Media and Professional Profiles
Building a brand digitally is a must in today’s competitive job market. If you spark interest during the initial screening, most hiring professionals will turn to Google to look for more information about you. This is where you have the power to create what they see and learn.
Incorporating social proof, such as links to your LinkedIn profile, portfolio, or professional recommendations, can strengthen your first impression and lead to an in-person (or virtual meeting).
If you’re wondering why hiring professionals do this, it’s because employers want assurance that you’re a reliable candidate, and social proof offers third-party validation of your abilities.
For example, including a link to your LinkedIn profile where you’ve gathered endorsements and recommendations can provide added credibility.
As mentioned previously, if you’re in a creative field, consider linking to a personal website or online portfolio where potential employers can view your work samples.
8. Create Outcome and Achievement-Focused Statements
Employers want to know that you can deliver results. Most believe that past performance is a great predictor of future behavior. This is why one of the best ways to make your resume stand out is by focusing on achievements rather than simply listing job duties.
Achievement-oriented statements not only highlight what you did but also how you made a difference.
For example, instead of saying, “Responsible for managing client accounts,” consider saying, “Managed 20+ client accounts, increasing overall client satisfaction by 15% through personalized service strategies.”
Quantifying results with KPIs, such as “reduced operational costs by 10%” or “increased sales by 20%,” make your accomplishments more tangible and impactful.
Again, hiring managers want to see what kind of results they can expect if they hire you, so be specific.
If you want to learn how to develop more achievement-driven language, our AI resume builder can suggest ways to describe your accomplishments and where and how to include them within your chosen resume format.
9. Incorporate Volunteer Work or Community Involvement
Let the reader get to know who you are “outside of the office.” You never know what could spark their interest based on commonalities.
Volunteer work can also highlight transferable skills, especially if you’re a recent graduate or changing careers. It’s also a great way to showcase soft skills like leadership, teamwork, or communication, which employers value.
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💡 Our expert’s advice
List volunteer roles under “Relevant Experience” if they’re closely related to the job you’re applying for.
For example, if you volunteered as a coordinator for a nonprofit event, you can showcase organizational and project management skills that are relevant to many roles.
Otherwise, you can list these experiences in a separate section with a heading such as ‘Volunteering’ or ‘Volunteer Experience’.
You should always list the volunteer role, the name of the organization and location, and the dates if they occurred within the last 10 years.
10. Leverage AI Tools for a Strong, Well-Formatted Resume
If you haven’t used AI yet, you should start! Think of AI as your personal assistant and friend who is there to help you accomplish your goals faster. AI-powered tools are reshaping the resume-writing process, making it easier to create targeted and modern resumes.
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💡 Our expert’s advice
AI can help suggest powerful action words, format your resume, and even generate ideas for specific sections based on your background. Leveraging AI can help ensure that your resume is error-free, ATS-friendly, and professionally formatted.
For those new to AI in resume writing, our resources and resume writer provide insights into how AI can assist with creating a standout resume.
While AI can’t do all the work, it can be an invaluable tool for improving the quality of your resume.
If that sounds exciting, you should check out ResumeCoach’s AI-powered resume builder. You’ll get step-by-step instructions and tailored advice to help you stand out, even when using the Plain Resume format.
Bonus Tip: Add a Section for Professional Achievements or Awards
Remember, your goal is to stand out. Do not be afraid to share your accomplishments. If you have notable achievements, awards, or recognitions, showcase them!
This is especially valuable if you’ve been recognized by previous employers or industry associations. For example, “Employee of the Month,” “Top Sales Performer,” or an industry award shows potential employers that your work has been validated by others, boosting your credibility.
Just be sure that these awards relate to the skills or qualities needed for your target role.
Concluding Our Tips for the Best Resume
Writing a winning resume requires attention to detail, strategic thinking, and a clear understanding of who you are, what you want, and what you can offer.
By following these resume writing best practices, you’ll have a resume that not only passes through ATS filters but also captures the attention of hiring managers.
Focus on showcasing your unique strengths, tailoring each application, and using tools like AI and social proof to add extra impact.
Remember, your resume is your chance to make a strong first impression—make it memorable!
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