How Do You Make Your Resume Stand Out From the Crowd?

How do you make your resume stand out from the crowd? It’s a common question and we’re here to help answer it.

We recently partnered with career expert Chelsea Krost to host a #MillennialTalk on Twitter titled “How to Empower NextGen Female Leaders.” Throughout the TwitterChat we answered a myriad of our readers burning questions on finding a career they love, pursuing their passions, and maintaining some semblance of a work-life balance. Now, we’re bringing this career advice straight to you.

Here’s how to make your resume stand out from the crowd.

1. Design your resume to be clear and concise.

Hiring managers receive hundreds, if not thousands, of resumes for any single job post. Which means, you only have a few seconds to grab their attention and convince them to give you an interview. An easy-to-read, clear and concise resume is key. And as others pointed out, always send as a PDF, not everyone has Word installed.

Submit your resume as a PDF! Nothing is worse than receiving a resume in a word file when the recruiter doesn’t have Word installed. Sending your resume as a PDF makes it easily viewable/printable and the person on the receiving end can’t edit your resume. #MillennialTalk

— Nicole Sazegar (@nicolesazegar) May 8, 2019

2. Always follow-up!

Following-up can feel like a double-edged sword. Doing it too often is annoying, but not doing at all means your resume can get lost in the slush pile. When inboxes and job posting sites get inundated with candidates, of course, some will fall through the cracks (hiring managers are only human!). It never hurts to follow-up two or three days later just to “check in.”

3. Send a *quick* cover note.

Hiring managers do not have time to read 900-word cover letters for 200 candidates, especially for entry-level jobs. However, a quick cover note (i.e. in the body of the email) that includes your degree, unique skill set and why you would be a great hire can at least convince them to open your resume.

Tip #3: Send a quick cover note (not a loooong cover letter – especially when hiring for an entry-level job). A quick cover note lets me know who you are, what you studied and relevant experience #MillennialTalk

— Entity Magazine (@entity_mag) May 8, 2019

4. Make it look polished.

Make sure your resume is free of spelling errors and grammar mistakes; don’t go overboard on descriptions; find someone to copy edit; and, lastly, design it to stand out. Using programs like Canva, Adobe InDesign or Photoshop can help you create a beautiful resume that pops.

Want more #CareerAdvice? Check out ENTITY Academy where we teach you all the tips and tricks to create a killer resume, craft the perfect cover letter and land the job you want. Examples!