How to Write a Resume That Stands Out
A resume is your first impression, your personal sales pitch, and your key to landing job opportunities. In today’s competitive job market, hiring managers often scan through dozens of resumes in minutes. To stand out, your resume needs to be clear, compelling, and tailored to the job you’re applying for.
If you want to create a resume that gets noticed, here are some essential tips to help you make a strong impact.
1. Choose the Right Format
Recruiters spend an average of 6–10 seconds scanning a resume before deciding whether to keep reading. A well-structured format increases your chances of making it past this first glance. Keep these guidelines in mind:
- Stick to traditional, easy-to-read fonts (Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman, 10–12 pt size).
- Use bullet points to make information easy to scan.
- Save your resume as a PDF to ensure it retains its formatting across different devices.
- Keep it to one page if possible, focusing only on relevant information.
2. Quantify Your Accomplishments
Instead of listing generic responsibilities, highlight your achievements with measurable results. Employers want to see the real impact you’ve had in previous roles.
Generic: “Managed social media accounts.”
Stronger: “Increased social media engagement by 40% in six months, leading to a 25% rise in website traffic.”
Numbers make your experience more credible and help hiring managers see your value at a glance.
3. Be Honest and Authentic
It’s tempting to exaggerate your experience, but honesty is key. Employers value authenticity and enthusiasm. Instead of trying to sound impressive with buzzwords, focus on your real strengths and skills.
- Showcase your passion—if you’re applying for a marketing role, mention a campaign you worked on that made you excited.
- Be truthful—hiring managers often verify claims, and dishonesty can cost you the job.
- Use confident language—avoid words like “assisted with” or “helped,” and instead use action-oriented statements like “led,” “developed,” or “implemented.”
4. Tailor Your Resume for Every Job
One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is using the same resume for every application. Every company is looking for something slightly different, so customizing your resume increases your chances of standing out.
- Research the company and the specific job role.
- Mirror the language used in the job posting. If they’re looking for “project management skills,” highlight your experience with “leading projects” rather than just saying you “worked on projects.”
- Highlight relevant skills and experiences that align with the job description.
5. Follow a Clear and Logical Order
A reverse-chronological format is the best approach for most job seekers. List your most recent job or education experience first, then work backward. Here’s what to include:
- Work experience: Company name, job title, dates of employment, and key responsibilities.
- Education: School name, degree, and graduation year (if recent).
- Skills & certifications: List specific tools, programs, or credentials relevant to the job.
Keep descriptions concise—hiring managers prefer bullet points over long paragraphs.
6. Optimize Your Online Presence
Employers don’t just look at your resume—they Google you. Make sure your LinkedIn profile is updated and professional, as 84% of recruiters use social media in their hiring process.
- Update your LinkedIn with your latest work experience and a professional profile photo.
- Include links to relevant online work, such as personal blogs, portfolios, or websites.
- Remove unprofessional content from public social media profiles.
Take Your Resume to the Next Level
Writing a strong resume takes time, strategy, and attention to detail. If you’re unsure where to start, Columbia College offers a resume writing course in Calgary designed to help job seekers craft professional, attention-grabbing resumes.
