10 Quick Tips To Improve Your Resume

Writing an effective resume, or transforming an outdated one, is the single most important first step to landing your dream job. Even if you’re more qualified, have more experience and are the best fit for the position you’re after, lesser candidates with better written resumes are more likely to get noticed, and more likely to get the job.

However, by incorporating these ten quick tips to improve your resume, your resume will end up at the “top of the stack” rather than in the trash can. Better, your chances at landing the job will drastically increase.

Now, before we show you the ten quick tips to improve your resume, there are a few things you should know. Namely, why employers/recruiters may reject a resume right off the bat, and what they are really looking for when reviewing them.

According to recent studies, 84% of recruiters will dismiss a resume if it comes across as robotic or impersonal. As many as 57% will skip over your resume if you don’t include a “thank you” note and 54% will toss it if it is generic or not customized.[1]

That said, 61% of employers/recruiters find highlights of soft skills, like communication and leadership, to be just as important to the job as hard skills, like software or management proficiency.

The resumes that are most likely to get noticed by employers or recruiters are clearly written, have an overview at the top (that pertains to how you fit into the position) and are not overly cluttered or crammed with unnecessary information. As far as length goes, research shows the most viewed resumes are two pages long.

In fact, employers and recruiters who are looking for managerial candidates are 2.9 times more likely to review a two-page resume over a 1page resume. For entry level positions, they’re 1.4 times more likely to review a two-pager over a one pager. [2] So, although you should be concise with your resume, don’t be too short or too long. Two pages is the sweet spot.

Employers and recruiters are also looking at spelling and grammar. Be sure that prior to submitting your resume there are no misspelled words and your grammar is on point. Additionally, make sure your contact information is up to date and your email address is professional and non-offensive. An offensive email address will get your resume tossed into the trash instantly.

With all that said, here’s the ten quick tips to improve your resume, and your chances of landing your dream job.

• 10: Don’t overcomplicate it. Your resume should have four basic sections. Your overview/summary of qualifications, your education/certifications, your work experience, and your soft and hard skills.
• 9: Don’t use “fluff” language. Fluff language like “ambitious,” “hard-working,” and “team player” can be a turn-off to hiring managers. From their point of view, words like these are simply generic and overused; making you look generic too.
• 8: Don’t be afraid to credit yourself for big achievements. If you were a key player in launching products, increasing sales, or boosting the revenue at your last company, be sure it’s on your resume. Hiring managers look at your past achievements as a good indicator of your future value.
• 7: Don’t use a free generic resume template or complex tables. Generic templates show the employer that you’re simply blasting your resume out there until someone bites or are too lazy to format one yourself. And using tables in your resume can be a disaster if the employer’s computer mis-formats them when opening. Your resume is your first impression. Be sure it’s unique and readable.
• 6: Keep it to roughly two pages. As we showed earlier, your resume has a better chance of being reviewed if it’s two pages long. Any longer than two pages and the recruiter/employer will pay no attention. And if your resume is too short, the results will be the same.
• 5: Don’t use irrelevant or outdated experience.  While having a “gap” in employment is never ideal, including irrelevant or outdated experience in your resume can be just as worrisome.  Streamline your resume and include relevant experiences to and for the job.
• 4: Never lie on your resume. Never.
• 3: When writing your overview, begin with the most important, relevant information first. This is your first impression, so be sure to take advantage of it by putting your best foot forward.
• 2: Use easy to read fonts, and make sure your resume is printable. While most employers look at resumes on their computer, you’ll want to ensure that if they do print it (and this is a good sign if they do) its properly formatted. After you write your resume, print it out at home to ensure it looks right.
• 1: Tailor your resume to the job you’re seeking. Employers are looking for one thing and one thing only: the best candidate for the position. By writing your resume for that exact job and highlighting soft and hard skills needed for the exact position, you’re telling them you’re a great fit.

While these ten quick tips to improve your resume will help you stand out from the crowd, you should always include a cover letter.

A cover letter gives you some additional “space” to further highlight your qualifications in a more personalized manner.

You’ll want your cover letter to be a concise reflection of who you are, why you belong with the company, and the skills you bring to the table.

You’ll also want to include some information about the company you’re seeking employment with. Perhaps mention a recent milestone the company reached, or industry awards its received. By doing so, hiring managers will know you’ve done your homework on the company and are serious about the position. But keep it short. Your cover letter should only be about a half page long, or 200 words.

If possible, personalize your cover letter by addressing the hiring manager by their name. For example, use “Dear Mr. Johnson,” rather than “Dear hiring manager.” This personalization also shows you’ve done your homework.

Finally, as we said earlier, 57% of hiring managers/recruiters will skip over your resume if you don’t include a “thank you” note. Use the salutation in your cover letter as an opportunity to thank them for their time. Do this, and you’ve just greatly increased the odds of your resume being reviewed.

By using these ten quick tips to improve your resume, hiring managers will take notice, and you’ll be one step closer to your dream job.

And that dream job?

You can find it right HERE!

[1] 52 Resume Statistics All Job Seekers in 2022 Should Know (resume-now.com)

[2] Resume Statistics 2022 (Analysis of 133,000 Documents) (zety.com)