How To Make Your Resume Stand Out (With Examples)

Resumes are more than just words; they are also about style. The keywords you utilize to highlight your accomplishments and qualifications are what will help get your resume securely through the resume reader. How you present those keywords stylistically and structurally is what will grab the reader’s attention.

Keep reading for ten tips on how to make your resume rise above the competition.

Key Takeaways:

• Tailor your resume to the specific job you are applying to.

• When writing you resume, use industry-specific keywords and buzzwords.

• Make sure you resume is well organized and easy to read.

• Have someone proofread your resume to catch any mistakes that you may have missed.

10 Tips To Make Your Resume Stand Out

Let’s start with a gentle reminder that you don’t have to add all of these tips to get your resume picked out from the rest. Pick the tips that resonate most with you and add a touch of your style.

Ensuring your resume reflects the true you versus a computer is often accomplished by not forgetting your personal touch. With that in mind, here are ten tips on how to make your resume stand out from the rest, both stylistically and structurally:

1. Use resume buzzwords. The first hurdle you have to overcome when writing a resume is making sure your resume makes it through the resume readers and answers the main question: do you have the qualifications necessary for the job?

   The best way to accomplish this task is to use industry keywords and resume buzzwords within your resume. If you are at a loss about what buzzwords to use, check out this article on resume buzzwords.

2. Organize your resume well. Once you’ve completed your resume buzzword brainstorm, you’ll need to use them in the correct format. You’ll want to make your resume well organized and specific to your situation.

   Are you a recent graduate or an experienced worker back in the job search? What about a Veteran? Are you applying for a federal job? These types of situations require specific resume organizations.

   We’ve got each of the formats explained in detail for general resumes, Veterans, and federal resumes, so you don’t have to worry about the specific organization.

3. Show evidence. Now that you’ve picked out which buzzwords to use and how you’ll organize your resume, you’ll need to fill in each section. When you do, make sure you show evidence for the skills and accomplishments you claim on your resume.

   To best show evidence for your accomplishments and deliverables, put numbers to them. If you managed a team, how many people were on your team? If you improved site traffic, by what percent did you improve it over time?

4. Keep it short. Most resumes should only be about a page long. If you need to make it two pages, you can but try to make it short. Only include information that can help you stand out from the other candidates.

5. Make your resume a compelling story. While a daunting sheet of paper, a resume is just a formal story of your work experience. Read over it with that lens and make sure the story makes sense.

   Are there any major gaps in it? Does each chapter of your work history make sense and flow into the next?

   You might be panicking a little bit if you were out of work or are changing careers, but don’t worry, we’ve got your back with this guide to resume summaries for career changes.

6. Add a cover letter. If a resume summary doesn’t explain the transitions or your qualifications enough for the job, definitely don’t forget to write a cover letter.

   However, no matter what your current job situation is, adding a cover letter will help you appear more dedicated to the job application. It also gives your resume a more personal voice.

   Note: double-check the job application. Some applications specifically ask for no cover letters due to the volume of applicants.

7. Tailor it to make it job specific. Another way you can make your resume stand out is to make your resume specific to the job application. One of the last things hiring managers want to see is a resume that is so generic, you likely used the same one for every single job application.

   Taking the time to put in those little details that show you wrote this specifically for the job you are applying for can sometimes make all the difference.

8. Make your resume easy on the eyes. An easy way for your resume to find its way to the bottom of the pile, even if it did make it through the resume scanner, is by having your resume so cramped and difficult to read. You should avoid:

   • Small fonts

   • Multiple colors

   • Too many differing fonts

   • Removing all your margins.

   Remember that your resume readers may not have 20/20 vision and may just chuck your resume away because they don’t want to squint to read it. Consider a few graphics and different ways of organizing and consolidating your information to make it fit better.

9. Be careful about the graphics you use. With graphics in mind, take special care with how many graphics you use. Unless you are applying for a design position, using too many graphics can sometimes hurt your resume because resume scanners cannot read those resumes as easily.

   If you do use graphics, be careful to keep your keywords and buzzwords as text versus graphics.

10. Proofread. Finally, when you have finished writing your resume, and you think it’s perfect, take a look at it again. You can also have someone else look at it. View it as a practice run for the hiring manager. You should also run the resume through programs like Grammarly to clear it of basic mistakes.

Why It’s Important For Your Resume to Stand Out

Writing resumes is a tricky business — you want your resume to have the right keywords and phrases so that it can make it through electronic resume readers, but you also want it different enough to catch the hiring manager’s eye.

Your resume is a document that showcases your qualifications for a job. You will want to include your education, experience, skills and other achievements that you have made.

Having a resume that stands out will make a hiring manager stop and take a second look and will see what sets you apart from other candidates. Having a resume that is not visually appealing, has mistakes, or is too long can be the difference from you being considered for a job or not.

Final Thoughts

Making your resume stand out can be difficult if you’re new to the job application game or if your industry is saturated with candidates. Our guide can help you stand out from the rest.

At the end of this article, just remember that you know yourself best. Use that knowledge and the tips above to deliver a stellar resume.

Expert Opinions

How do you get your resume noticed?

Murray Schulman
Independent Business Owner

Recruiters receive stacks of online resumes. My advice is to keep your resume short and concise. Be bold and powerful from the start. Catch the recruiter’s attention in the first few lines of your resume. Don’t get passed over.

How do you make a resume stand out?

Kolby Goodman
Career Coach
The Job Huntr

When writing your resume, always remember your audience: your next manager. Too often I see resumes written to remind the candidate of what they can do in a job. Tell your next company not just what you can do, but how you can impact them.

You are presenting yourself as an asset to your new company. Businesses tend to measure the impact of a potential asset in one of 4 ways: making money, saving money, saving time, and reducing risk. If you can align experience and expertise to showcase how they move the needle in one of these areas, you will be leapfrogging your competition.

If you have a hard time taking credit for your work, get proactive in soliciting feedback. Go to the people you’ve worked with (boss, co-workers, clients/customers) and ask them this simple question “How have I been able to help you?” The responses to this question will help you get some perspective about how your contributions and impact are being felt by others.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

Expert

Don Pippin, MHRM, CPRW, CDCS

Don Pippin is an executive and HR leader for Fortune 50 and 500 companies and startups. In 2008, Don launched area|Talent with a focus on helping clients identify their brand. As a Certified Professional Resume Writer, Certified Digital Career Strategist, and Certified Personal Branding Strategist, Don guides clients through career transitions.