Resume Hacks to Make Your Resume Stand Out and Get More Interviews

Applying for jobs can feel a lot like shouting into the void sometimes. You send out applications and resumes, and maybe you hear something back—maybe you don’t. How do you take the guesswork out of applying and start getting your skills noticed?

The first thing your potential employers will see from you is your resume, so you want to make sure it’s amazing. There are some great tips you can use to make your resume stand out, so keep reading to learn more.

Use Powerful Language

The best thing you can do to make your resume stand out from the crowd is to use powerful language. You want your achievements to sound impressive and your resume to be engaging to read. The best way to do this is by choosing strong action verbs.

If you’re talking about how you came up with an idea that saved your company a few hundred dollars a year in ink costs, don’t say you “came up with” the idea. Say you “initiated a program to improve company efficiency.” You want strong words that show lots of action, like “increased,” “resolved,” “improved,” and “implemented.”

Show Numbers

It’s also a good idea to bring some stats in to back up your claims on your resume. Let’s say you’re trying to choose between two dentists to do a root canal on you, and one says, “I’m very good at doing root canals,” and the other says, “I’ve done 400 successful root canals with no complications.” Which dentist are you going to choose to do the job?

As much as possible, show demonstrable facts about how well you did at your last job. Things like “Brought in $600K in grant money that was used to create two new research positions, increasing the company’s revenue and productivity by 73%” will get attention. Do make sure you can provide proof of those stats, though.

Display Eagerness to Learn

You can be the best employee in the world, but if you’re not willing to continue learning and improving, your skills are going to become obsolete. Likewise, if you aren’t the best at your job yet, but you’re willing to do whatever it takes to learn, you have the potential to become the best employee on staff.

Show your potential employers that you’re eager to learn and proactive about doing so. Discuss training courses you’ve taken at your last jobs and certifications you’ve sought. Tell them about any education you’re currently enrolled in, along with an actual or expected completion date.

Make Your Resume Stand Out

Trying to make your resume stand out is like trying to make yourself heard in a crowded room. The key is to be authoritative, confident, and factual. Don’t be shy about your accomplishments, back up your achievements with hard numbers, and show that you’re always working to be better.

If you’d like to learn how to make your job hunt more successful, check out the rest of our website at YES Career Coaching & Resume Writing Services. Not only can we help you get a great resume, we can also help you find jobs in a new career field, show you how to get found by recruiters through your LinkedIn profile, tell you how to find jobs that are not advertised (the hidden job market), help you prepare for your interview to get the offer, and more. Check out our resume and job search services today and get the job you love.