How can you make your resume stand out from the competition? Submitting a resume online has made it much easier for candidates to apply for jobs than it was in the past. Unfortunately for job seekers, the number of applicants for most jobs has also increased.
Highlighting Achievements with Strong Verbs
When describing your previous work experiences, emphasize how you solved problems and added value to the company. Start phrases with action words like “increased,” “initiated,” “resolved,” and “improved”; these strong verbs go beyond merely stating your duties to showcase how you achieved results.
Quantifying Successes
Numbers attract attention on a resume. Specify the final outcomes of your department. Is it sales volume, profit margin, donations generated, cost savings, membership growth, secured support, or something else?
Identify the baseline level of activity before you arrived at the company and calculate the difference you or your team made. For instance, you might include statements like “Developed a PR initiative to increase donor numbers by X%” or “Implemented a financial plan that led to a 10% reduction in expenses.”
You should also include numbers that show how many employees you manage, the size of the budget, and the number of clients you are responsible for. These figures will help illustrate the weight of your responsibilities.
Highlighting Awards and Recognitions
Showing that others appreciate your contributions often has a greater impact than self-praise. Include a section for honors and awards if you can fill it with official recognitions.
In describing your awards, use words that convey recognition, such as “selected,” “chosen,” and “recognized.” Quality recommendations are another form of appreciation. Boost your recommendations on LinkedIn and make sure to include a link to your profile in your resume. If a potential employer requests written recommendations, choose those who know your skills and achievements well.
Demonstrating Leadership and Team Skills
Most organizations highly value leadership and teamwork. When writing descriptions for your previous positions, try to include examples of how each job required you to demonstrate these skills. Incorporate words that indicate both formal and informal leadership and teamwork, such as “led,” “mentored,” “gained consensus,” “collaborated,” and “sought input.”
Tailoring Your Document for the Job
Emphasize the skills, achievements, and responsibilities that relate to the requirements of the job you’re targeting. To do this, look for keywords in the job posting and incorporate them into your resume. You might also consider including a summary at the top of your resume that highlights the most relevant skills, achievements, and qualifications.
The resume title or headline is another excellent way to make your resume eye-catching. This brief statement at the top of your resume, right under your contact information, should highlight your key strengths for the position.
Consider Using a “Core Competencies” Section
Using keywords is vital for having your resume pass online reviews because many companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort through and evaluate the many job applications they receive. These systems are programmed to identify and rank certain keywords (typically those used in job descriptions). Therefore, you should use as many keywords as possible in the text of your resume and cover letter. A good way to incorporate these keywords is to use a “Core Competencies” section dotted in the initial qualifications summary of your resume that utilizes these words.
Note:
If you decide to include a core competencies section, it should be formatted either as a table or as bullet points. Text boxes and columns do not transfer well in online application systems and can damage the formatting of your resume during transfer, making it unclear or unreadable.
Show Your Willingness to Develop Your Knowledge and Skills
Include a category for training, certifications, publications, presentations, and professional development. Also, highlight any leadership roles with professional groups and any publications or presentations.
Consider Your Resume as an Advertisement
As mentioned above, use bold fonts for words that draw attention to key achievements or recognition. Ensure that important information is at the top of your resume or at the beginning of the description so it does not get overlooked.
Source: https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-to-make-your-resume-stand-out-from-the-crowd-2063334
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