Unique Ways to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Alright, so you have the resume basics down. You used descriptive words, formatted everything beautifully, added certifications relevant to the job you want, and avoided the typical resume pitfalls.

And you got interviews because of it. But you still want to take your resume one step further. Here’s what you can do to really put your resume over the top.

  1. Tailor Your Resume to Each Job Application

This one takes some time, but it’s definitely worth it. The best way to stand out is to change your resume to match the job you’re applying for. Look for words in the job description and edit your resume to contain those same words. Also take a peek at the company mission statement and website and work that messaging into your resume, too.

Why do this? Because potential employers notice. If you tailor your resume for their company and position, it shows you went the extra mile. Most people don’t do it, so you’ll be sure to stand out.

  1. Specify Specifically

There’s a big difference between saying you did a thing and having the evidence to back it up. For example, say you’re talking to two fisherman. One goes into detail about his catch (it was a 10-foot blue marlin with red fins and a scar on his chest), and the other keeps it general (the fish was super big, and had fishy eyes). If you needed to hire a guy to fish up a fish, you’d go with the first one, right?

The same lesson holds true for your resume. Details matter. It’s not like employers think applicants without specifics are making things up. They just know applicants using specifics are really great at their jobs. So instead of “completed projects in a timely manner,” opt for “Regularly completed projects with on a seven-day deadline in a five-day timeframe.”

  1. Prove You Love to Learn

Companies appreciate employees who are life-long learners. A willingness and hunger to learn shows an employee is less likely to become stagnant. If your resume shows that you’re already taking efforts to make yourself a better employee every day, your potential employer will take note of that.

You’ve already added certifications, but let’s take things a step further. Add a category for training, certifications, professional organization memberships, and anything else you can think of. You still want to keep the resume to one page, so you’ll need to be selective in your choices, but you want to show that you’re always out there learning.

That list wasn’t that long, huh? But just doing these three things can make your resume stand out above the competition. Rock on!

What ways do you make your resume stand out? Let us know in the comments section below!

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