Simple Ways to Make Your Resume Shine
By Jeremy Cyrus 07/17/2012The resume is pretty brilliant innovation when you think about it. Job seekers everywhere can use this recognizable template to showcase their most important skills to almost any employer. Across every business sector, the simple elegance of a good resume is universally understood. This can work to a job seeker's advantage, since a great resume can be sent to hundreds of employers with only minor tailoring. But to make the most of this common document, you'll need to find a way to stand out among dozens of other resumes that all appear basically the same.
So how can you use the universal language of the resume to showcase your skills while still standing apart from the crowd?
1. Be concise.
Focus on brevity, clarity, and relevance. Remove all vague words, especially adverbs, adjectives, and tired buzzwords. If a descriptor applies to you and only you, leave it alone. But if it can be applied to anyone, take it out.
2. Tell, don't sell.
Resumes should contain facts only. If you raised sales revenue by 30 percent last year, state this and then move on. A resume is a data sheet, not a sales pitch. Save the wit and exuberance for your cover letter. In your resume, your accomplishments should speak for themselves.
3. Be articulate.
A resume that demonstrates strong command of the language shows intelligence and poise as well as job-specific skills.
4. Help employers find what they're looking for.
Organize your resume carefully. Make sure textboxes and font changes are helpful, not distracting. And if you focus on work history instead of skills (or vice versa), make sure your format remains easy to scan and search. For additional guidance, reach out to the experts at FreeResumeBuilder.org. We can provide the tools your need to move your job search forward.