Making your resume stand out

Crafting a standout resume is crucial in today’s competitive job market. It’s not just about listing your work history—it’s about presenting your skills, accomplishments, and experiences in a way that aligns with the job you’re targeting.

A well-structured, tailored resume can grab the attention of hiring managers and pass through applicant tracking systems (ATS), giving you a greater chance of landing an interview.

By focusing on customisation, measurable achievements, relevant keywords, and clear formatting, you can create a resume that leaves a lasting impression.

Tailor your resume for each application

  • Customise your summary or objective: Write a brief section at the top of your resume that aligns specifically with the job you're applying for, highlighting relevant skills or experience.

  • Focus on the job description: Analyse the job posting for keywords and skills that the employer is looking for. Make sure your resume reflects those, but only if they're authentic to your experience.

  • Adjust the order of sections: Place the most relevant experience, projects, or skills for the specific role at the top to immediately catch the employer's attention.

Optimise Formatting for Readability

  • Choose a professional design: Use a clean layout with clear headings, bullet points, and a readable font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman).

  • Use consistent formatting: Ensure uniformity in dates, bullet points, and section alignment.

  • Keep it concise: Ideally, keep your resume to one page (two pages if you have 10+ years of experience).

Focus on Measurable Accomplishments

  • Quantify your achievements: Instead of saying, “Improved sales,” say, “Increased sales by 25% over six months.” Numbers and data make a stronger impact.

  • Use specific examples: Detail your role in projects, such as, “Led a team of 5 to deliver a software project 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

  • Highlight results over duties: Emphasize what you achieved rather than just listing tasks. For example, instead of “Managed a marketing campaign,” write, “Managed a $10,000 marketing campaign, increasing website traffic by 40%.”

Showcase Your Unique Selling Points

  • Highlight industry-specific skills: If you have certifications, tools, or expertise unique to your field, showcase them prominently.

  • Include a skills section: List both hard skills (e.g., coding languages, technical tools) and soft skills (e.g., leadership, communication).

  • Incorporate a link to your portfolio or LinkedIn profile: For creative or tech roles, include examples of your work or projects in an online portfolio.