As a career coach, the first thing many people ask me for help with is a general resume. The truth is there’s really no such thing. If you want your resume to stand out, you're going to need to customize it for each job.
Of course, you can (and should) build a resume template with all of your accomplishments, employment history and skills; you’ll need that as the base for each job you apply for. But to really make your resume stand out, you need to customize it to each job application. The key is to determine what the hiring manager is looking for, and help them see how you match their needs. Here’s how to do that:
Research, Research, Research
Your first step should be to research. Start with identifying what they are looking for by reviewing the job posting and the company website. Look for keywords and evaluate the company culture. Next, research the industry as a whole to find key words that also describe you and your accomplishments.
Once you’ve done your research, it’s time to write your profile statement. This is a statement about you and how you can add value to the company. Your research will enable you to reflect the company mission, use keywords from the job posting and the company website and highlight your accomplishments.
If they are asking for an energetic team player, and that describes you, you definitely want to be sure to tell them that in your profile statement.
For more help writing a powerful profile statement, check out the video below featuring one of our career coaches at Richland Library.
What’s an easy way to make your resume stand out? When most hiring managers only look at resumes for a couple seconds, a great profile statement can make your resume shine.
Keep it Relevant
Keep it concise and tailor your job experience and highlighted skills by only including those that are relevant to the job.
When you know what the job requires and what is important to the company, you know what skills and accomplishments to highlight.
Be sure to reflect the keywords in the job posting. Add a Highlighted Skills or Core Competencies section to share your most important and relevant skills and professional values. You want to describe accomplishments, not just responsibilities. Where possible, be sure to include numbers to back up your accomplishments and successes and consider highlighting them in bold font.
Your resume is not a history of employment, it’s a marketing tool.
In an interview with NBC News, Job Search Coach Lynda Spiegel said, “Marketers know that in order to sell a product, they need to explain how it addresses a need. You are the product; the employer has a need, and that need is to find the best candidate for the open position.”
Make it Visually Appealing
You may be tempted to play around with formatting and fonts to make your resume standout, but unless you are applying for a job in the art or design field, you should stick to professional fonts like Times New Roman, Calibri or Helvetica. In addition, the design should be minimal and clean. If you want to add color, only add one, like blue or green for headings.
Bonus Points
If you have an updated LinkedIn profile, consider including a hyperlink on your resume. Your LinkedIn profile is like a living resume where employers can see your connections, your endorsements and any highlighted accomplishments.
Most importantly, don’t forget to proofread and follow instructions!
There are many ways to make your resume stand out to a hiring manager, and there is no one size fits all. The goal is to match up your experience and accomplishments with what they are looking for. Make it easy for them to see that you are the right candidate for the job.
Looking for more information?
Set up a virtual meeting with one of our certified Career Coaches through the Book a Learning Coach form or by calling 803-929-3400. After you submit, we will contact you to set an appointment. Our team provides help with interviewing skills, your résumé, interest/skills assessments, and more. Follow Richland Library on LinkedInand subscribe to ourYouTubechannelfor career development tips and tidbits.