The job market is more competitive than ever, which means employers are looking for the cream of the crop when it comes to future employees. That’s why it’s important to set yourself apart from the competition by following these resume tips and writing a stellar application. Here are a few critical resume-writing tips to keep in mind when applying for your dream job.

Resume Tips

Keep Your Experience Relevant

Although you may have a lot of work under your belt, you don’t necessarily need to tell your entire life’s story on your resume. Generally speaking, you should write about your history from the last 10 to 15 years and only list experience that is relevant to the job you are applying for. You should also avoid listing any short-term or temporary work (unless directly related to the new position).

To ensure your resume makes an impact, keeping your experience recent and relevant is crucial. Learn valuable insights on how to curate your work history, focusing on key accomplishments and skills that align with the desired role. Using expertise ensures your resume stays current and impactful.

Draw Attention with Bullet Points

One of the key resume writing tips is to explain your past duties through bullet points. You should write roughly five bullet points for each position. Make sure to outline your responsibilities, successes, or achievements for each role you held.

Also, Creating a strong online presence can complement a polished resume. RSS.com allows professionals to share expertise through podcasts, showcasing communication skills and industry knowledge—an effective way to stand out to employers while building a credible, engaging personal brand.

 Add Stats and Numbers

A great way to outline your past responsibilities is by providing data that back up your achievements. Showing numbers and stats offers definable measurements for the hiring manager to gauge how you work as an employee. Think sales numbers, ROI, number of clients, profit increase, customer ratings, etc.

Get Creative with Words

One of our favorite resume tips is getting creative with your vocabulary. Hiring managers read a lot of resumes each day, so it’s vital to add some color, but don’t overdo it to make yours stand out. Use words like “controlled,” “executed,” and “orchestrated” over generic ones like “handled” and “led.”

Start each bullet point with one of these action words. Doing so subtly communicates to potential employers that you take initiative and are action-oriented.

Put Expertise on Top (with an Exception)

Your work experience should always be listed first on your resume. Towards the bottom, you can include where you went to school, your degree, and any awards or honors. If you’re taken any relevant classes or professional development courses such as from Udemy, then you can also add them to this section. If you’re just starting in your career, then don’t worry – you can list your education experience at the top.

Skills Are Equally as Important

Your hiring manager wants to know about your strengths and skills (as long as they’re relevant to the job), so make it easy for them to see that information on your resume.  Create a separate skill section and list 5 or 6 key ones. You may also choose to incorporate infographics that explain your level of usage.

Add Keywords from the Job Posting

After thoroughly reading the job description, add a few keywords and descriptions that they use in your resume. Not only does this show the hiring manager that you read the post, but it also clearly explains to them how you fit their desired criteria.

 Make It Look Professionally Formatted

One of the biggest mistakes you can make when writing a resume is producing a document that looks sloppy or illegible. Keep the design basic and avoid any fancy or silly fonts (you should stick to something professional like Helvetica, Arial, or Times). However, don’t be afraid to add a creative touch, like colors, design elements, or infographics to stand out. If you need help with designing a resume, check out the templates and resume builder at My Perfect Resume.

Edit, Edit, Edit!

When it comes to resume tips, one of the biggest turn-offs for employers is finding an error. You must proofread your resume for spelling or grammar mistakes. There are plenty of free checkers online, although you can also ask your friends and family to give it a look-over to make sure your resume is free of typos.

Don’t Forget the Cover Letter

Although your resume is one of the key documents to submit, many companies will also require a cover letter. This is a personalized letter that summarizes your key strengths and why you’d be a great fit for the open job position. Before you send in your application, see if you also need to submit a cover letter and if so, make sure it’s not word-for-word identical to what’s on your resume.

Getting the Job

The first step towards a successful career is writing a great resume that impresses your future employer. If all goes well, you’ll be invited to a job interview (check out our tips on how to stand out there, too) where you’ll want to get to know the company in more detail. If you are looking to impress, check out Pimsleur and learn a few words from a different language! Good luck!