7 ways to improve your resume

The success of your job search depends on how strong your resume is. When you create an impeccable resume with impressive achievements, hiring managers are compelled to meet you and get to know about your skills through an interview. We asked a bunch of hiring managers to share their best advice for creating a winning resume:

1. Emphasize results on the resume

Almost every hiring manager said that this was the most important thing for writing an impressive resume. If your resume does not feature your best professional achievements and the impact of those achievements on your previous employer, a recruiter would not be able to see why they must hire you.

2. Always write a targeted resume

Create a new resume every time you apply for a new job. Don’t want to spend hours perfecting a resume each time a job advert pops up? Create yourself a master resume. When you spot a new job that seems interesting, create a new resume by tailoring the content of your master resume to suit the requirements of the job.

3. Use the right keywords in your resume

Always scan the job description for the top 6 core skills the employer is asking for. Use those skills in your resume to align with the employer’s requirements. Also, notice the language used by the employer to describe job duties. Use the same wording or phrasing to talk about your experience on the resume. That way, your resume will be brought up by the ATS when the employer searches for resumes using keywords.

4. Use an MS Word version of your resume to apply for jobs

MS Word resumes are the standard in the business world and many ATSs can read these resumes pretty easily. Also, you can create your own resume template to stand apart from the crowd. Don’t know the first thing about creating an MS Word resume template? Don’t worry, we have got you covered! Read our comprehensive guides to creating an MS Word resume here and here.

5. Create a strong resume summary

Use 4 – 6 concise sentences that describe your best professional achievements. Consider this a mini-elevator pitch for yourself. Highlight your best marketable skills. Want to go a step further and impress an employer? Solve one of their problems using your skills. This always piques the interest of a reader and compels them to read your whole resume.

6. Ensure your resume is visually appealing

True, your resume does not need to have a ton of fancy design and cute graphics. But you should always try to make your resume attractive using simple formatting. Create an easily scannable, sharp, professional-looking resume using neutral pops of color. Leave ample white space on the resume and select an appropriate font size. Go for one or two professional fonts instead of multiple fancy fonts.

7. Whatever you do, don’t lie on your resume

Hiring managers hate it when people exaggerate their skills on a resume. Always strive to be honest and truthful when creating your resume. Did you know that more than 55% of Americans lie on their resumes? Understand that your lies or exaggerations can easily be exposed during an interview, embarrassing you in front of the recruiter.