The 5 Golden Rules of Writing a Stand Out Resume
A resume is like your personal marketing tool that tells employers why they should hire you. In today’s job market, you need more than just a list of jobs and skills—you need to make sure your resume stands out. Follow these five simple rules to improve your chances of getting hired.
1. Make It Clear and Easy to Read
Studies show that recruiters spend an average of 6-7 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to read further. That’s why your resume should be simple, well-organized, and easy to scan. That’s why your resume should be simple, well-organized, and easy to scan.
Best Practices:
Keep it to one page if you have less than ten years of experience; two pages for longer careers.
Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs to make information easy to read.
Choose a simple font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.
2. Customize Your Resume for Each Job
Using the same resume for every job won’t help you stand out. Instead, tweak your resume for each application so it matches the job description.
Best Practices:
Use important keywords from the job listing to help your resume get noticed.
Highlight skills and experiences that match what the employer is looking for.
Update your summary to fit the specific job and company by including key skills, years of experience, and a statement of how you add value to the role.
3. Show Your Achievements, Not Just Your Tasks
Employers want to see what you have accomplished, not just what your daily tasks were. Show how you made a difference in your previous jobs.
Best Practices:
Include numbers when possible, like "Increased sales by 25%" or "Helped train 10 new employees."
Start each bullet point with action words like "created," "managed," "improved," or "developed."
Explain how you solved problems or made things better at work.
4. Keep It Clean and Professional
A well-organized resume makes a great first impression and improves readability for both human recruiters and Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Both recruiters and computer systems (called Applicant Tracking Systems or ATS) prefer simple layouts.
Best Practices:
Don’t use too many colors, graphics, or fancy fonts.
Use clear section headings like "Work Experience," "Education," and "Skills."
Make sure all fonts, margins, and bullet points are consistent.
5. Check for Mistakes and Update Regularly
A small typo can cost you a job opportunity by making you appear careless or unprofessional. Employers may see errors as a lack of attention to detail, which is a crucial skill in most jobs. Make sure your resume is always accurate and up to date.
Best Practices:
Use spell check and grammar tools to catch mistakes.
Ask a friend, teacher, or mentor to review your resume.
Update your resume every few months, especially when you gain new skills or experiences.
Final Thoughts
Your resume is more than just a list of jobs—it’s your chance to show employers why you’re the right person for the job. By keeping it clear, customizing it for each role, focusing on achievements, using a clean format, and making sure it’s error-free, you’ll have a stronger chance of getting interviews.
Follow these five golden rules, and you’ll be on your way to landing your next job. Good luck!