need help improving my resume

How To Improve Your Resume in 7 Steps

By Biron Clark

Published: November 8, 2023

Biron Clark

Writer & Career Coach

If you’re looking for how to improve your resume, the 7 steps in this article will help you do this immediately.

Most job seekers don’t get a chance to see how employers really read their resume and decide who to interview.

I invited professional career coach and resume writer Dr. Kyle Elliott to share tips on how to improve your resume step-by-step… in under 20 minutes .

How to Improve Your Resume in Under 20 Minutes

1. focus on the top-third of your resume. .

Regardless of whether you are crunched for time–or have hours to spend writing and formatting—the top third of your resume is the most critical. Since hiring managers only spend a few seconds reviewing each resume during the first pass-through, the top portion of your resume needs to be BANGING.

When meeting with clients, I always encourage them to print out their resume (yes, I said “print out” for my fellow millennials) and fold it in thirds . Then, I have them read just the top-third.

A hiring manager should want to interview them based on that top-third alone, nothing else.

If the top-third isn’t impressive, further updates are needed (such as additions to the Career Summary, moving some sections around or sprinkling in additional accomplishments).

2. Remove your objective statement. 

This is one of the quickest things you can do to improve your resume, and one of the first things I check for when updating a resume for a client.

Objective statements are circa 2010 (maybe even 2005) and unnecessary. It is clear what your objective is – To land the job, internship , etc., that you are applying for.

Instead, write a concise Career Summary or Professional Profile (or whatever else you want to call it) that describes who you are and what you have to offer in five-ish sentences or bullet points .

For those who still remember 10th Grade English, a Career Summary is like a “thesis” for your resume – It’s a preview of what’s to come, without sharing all of the good stuff just yet.

3. Add numbers and percentages (when appropriate and helpful). 

Coming from a fundraising background, this is one of my favorite tips on how to improve your resume fast!

Numbers and percentages provide employers with the scope of your responsibility, as well as insight into your accomplishments.

But don’t overdo it – only add numbers when appropriate and helpful. Knowing how much you brought in in sales each month – super relevant.

Knowing how much money was inside the register that you operate – not relevant. Review each noun on your resume and see if it would benefit from an added adjective.

Here’s an article on how to come up with impressive numbers/figures to put on your resume .

4. Move the most relevant info to the top. 

While you should spend time tailoring your resume for every job that you apply to, we all know that customizing resumes is a timely process and does not take just a few minutes. As such, I suggest just focusing on the order of your resume for now, ensuring that the most relevant info is at the top.

Your most relevant experience should always be near the top, even if it is not your most recent experience, as you can always have multiple sections that list your experience (such as, “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience”).

While dependent on your field and amount of experience, your education should also appear near the top of your resume, along with relevant certificates, software proficiency and knowledge of multiple languages.

5. Sprinkle accomplishments throughout your resume.

This is my other favorite tip, and not just because of my love for sprinkled donuts. While it’s important to include responsibilities on your resume, the focus should be on accomplishments .

Most position titles give a decent idea of what the job entails; just add a few descriptive sentences about your responsibilities and the hiring manager will know what you did.

However, hiring managers don’t just want to know what you did , they want to know what you accomplished .

To give them this, sprinkle your best accomplishments throughout your resume; employers want to know what you did to ROCK the job and go beyond just the basic job description.

Remember to include relevant numbers and percentages with those accomplishments! Focusing on accomplishments instead of just responsibilities is one of the best ways (if not the absolute best way) to make your resume stand out.

6. Ensure your resume font is clean and consistent.

The style of your resume can say a lot about your professional demeanor (or lack thereof). So, your resume should present itself as professional, clean and easy to read from top to bottom.

Body text should be no smaller than 10 point (my preference is 11 point) and headers should be in the 14 – 16 point range.

Use capitalization, bold, and italics consistently (i.e., all position titles bolded, all dates italicized).

While I am a fan of using color on resumes , keep it simple and use it sparingly, such as a nice blue for headers and contact info.

Also, make sure your bullet points line up properly and there are no formatting inconsistencies. Here’s a full article on how to format your resume for success , top to bottom.

7. Remove “References available upon request.”

This is one of my biggest resume pet peeves. The reason for this tip is similar to tip #2 – it’s assumed that references will be available upon request, otherwise why would you be applying for a job if you weren’t willing to dish out a few references?

Bonus Tip: If you have an actual list of references at the end of your resume, you can scratch those, too. Instead, fill that newly blank space with another accomplishment or two!

And that’s a wrap – you now know my top 7 tips for how to improve your resume and get more interviews.

Your resume should now be in a better place than when you started. Plus, each of these tips should have taken no more than a few minutes to implement.

The following expert contributed to this post:

About the Author

Read more articles by Biron Clark

Read our Resume Essentials Guides

10 best free resume builders, what to put on a resume: 9 things to include, sample list of accomplishments for resume (35+ examples), top 14 resume skills to add on your resume + examples, does a resume need an objective, resume summary with no experience: examples for students and fresh graduates, resume keywords: 80+ verbs and power words to use, previous work experience examples for a resume, 24 resume summary examples that get interviews.

43+ Resume Tips and Tricks to Land Your Next Job in 2024

Haven’t updated your resume in a while?

We feel you!

There’s a lot that goes into crafting a resume, and unless you’re an expert, the whole process can be overwhelming.

Worry not, though. We’re here to help!

In this value-packed guide, we’re going to give you 43+ of the best resume tips & tricks. Follow these tips to the T, and you’re bound to land your next job.

If you have the time, we’d recommend reading the guide end-to-end. We didn’t include anything that’s “Optional.”

If you don't, that’s fine too! We divided the guide into 3 chapters, with the most important ones on top...

• Fundamental Tips - These resume tips are a game-changer. Whether you follow them or not can be the deciding factor in whether you’re getting hired.
• Essential Tips - These resume tips are very important, but not as important as the Fundamentals. 
• Nice-to-Have Tips - These resume tips aren’t that ground-breaking, but they can still have an impact on your job-search.

Let’s get this started.

19+ Fundamental Resume Tips and Tricks

1) use a professional email address.

No one wants to contact that guy with the tacky email from high school (We’re looking at you, [email protected]).

Create a professional email address for anything related to your job-search and career. 

Any combination of [first name] and [last name] will do.

• [email protected]
• [email protected]

If you have a common name and the email is taken, consider using your initials ( e.g. [FirstNameInitial][LastName]@gmail.com ), or even buying your own custom domain name.

2) Double-Check Your Contact Information

Even the most confident writer is not safe from typos.

Make sure that all your contact information on your resume is accurate, both email and phone number.

After all, even if you’re the most qualified person in the world, it’s not going to matter much if the HR manager can’t contact you.

3) Include Phone Number and Country Code

It’s always a good idea to include your phone number in your resume.

Sure, in most cases, the HR manager will reach you on email. But what if the email gets lost, for whatever reason? Or worse - it goes to your spam section.

If you’re applying for a foreign job, you should also include a country code .

For example, if you’re from Denmark and you’re applying to another country, you’d want to include the country code (+45) in front of your number.

4) Mention Achievements Over Job Responsibilities

When listing your work experience , include achievements instead of responsibilities whenever possible.

Chances are, the HR manager already knows what your responsibilities were from your job title. 

Fun fact: your responsibilities are probably literally the same as everyone else's in your profession.

Instead, to stand out, you want to include as many achievements as possible.

Here’s some achievement examples:

• Exceeded sales KPIs by 25% for 3+ months straight.
• Generated over $25,000 in sales in 1 month.

Compared to responsibilities:

• Generated leads through cold calling.
• Carried out sales operations and managed existing clients.

See the difference? The first example shows that you’re a high achiever. The second shows that you’re a sales manager.

In some fields, though, you might not have any real achievements. If you’re a server, for example, you can’t have “served 200+ people really well” as an achievement.

In that case, it’s totally OK to stick to responsibilities.

Not sure which achievements to mention? Check out our list of 40+ achievements for every field

5) Stick to Relevant Work Experience

Speaking of work experience, make sure you only include previous positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for .

Make sure that all work experience entries are…

• Timely - Only mention your last 3-5 positions max. No one cares what job you did 15 years ago.
• Contextual - Applying for the role of a dentist ? You don’t have to mention that one time you worked as a pre-school math teacher.

If you don’t have a lot of experience in the field (or no experience at all), though, you can include whatever you have. It’s better to have some experience rather than none .

6) Focus On Other Sections If You Have No Experience

What if you’re a student who’s never worked a day in their life?

The good news is that you don’t need work experience to have a good resume.

In fact, for entry-level jobs, the hiring manager doesn’t expect you to have any experience.

If you want to stand out with a no-experience resume, you can focus more on other sections, such as:

• Coursework - Want to show the HR manager that you have the right know-how, even though you don’t have experience? Mention any relevant courses you took in university.
• Extracurricular Activities - You’ve probably heard the famous college saying - “extracurricular activities are good for your resume.” Well, here’s some good news. It’s not just a rumour, they actually are! List your extracurricular activities just as you’d list your work experience, and you’re good to go.
• Projects - Done some interesting projects in your free time? Maybe you grew an instagram page to thousands of followers. Or, you worked on a part-time startup in uni? Whichever the case, you can add it to your resume.

Want to learn how to write a convincing student resume? Be sure to check out our no-experience resume guide !

7) Be Super Specific - Add Numbers, Data, and Experiences When Possible

Everything you write in your resume should be very specific .

Back every claim with specific experiences, numbers, or data.

What do we mean by that? Well, compare these 2 examples:

• Results-oriented sales manager with 5+ years of experience in the fin-tech industry. Driven over $500,000 worth of enterprise software sales at Company X. Deep knowledge of multiple CRM tools, including SalesForce, PipeDrive, HubSpot CRM, and more.
• Sales manager looking for the next step in their career. Previous experience involves doing sales for several software companies. Deep knowledge of CRM software.

See the difference between the two examples?

The first is very specific, mentioning numbers, data, experiences, etc.

The second, on the other hand, is very generic. The only thing you learn from it is that the candidate does sales.

8) Gap In Your Resume? Explain What Happened

A gap in your resume can be a huge red flag - but only if you don’t address it.

The hiring manager is going to assume the worst by default. So, it’s a good idea to be direct and insert 2-3 sentences acknowledging the gap and explaining what happened.

To do this, just make a small note under your latest work experience entry:

MadeUpHospital

Jan 2016 - Jun 2017

*Quit due to medical reasons in 2017, looking to rejoin the workforce.

• Responsibility #1
• Responsibility #2
• Responsibility #3

Need more tips & tricks on how to get your career back on track? Check out our complete guide to getting back to work after a long period of unemployment !

9) Mention Promotions and Career Progression

Recently got promoted? Congrats!

Make sure to mention that in your resume. 

Company Name

Latest Position

• Dates Worked
• Promotion Explanation (can be an achievement)
• Achievements/Responsibilities

Older Position

10) Use Active Language

Language matters.

The way you present your achievements can amplify their significance, or downplay their worth.

Compare these 2 examples:

• Spearheaded company X’s content marketing operations.
• Responsible for content marketing at company X.

The first example makes you seem more in-charge, like what you did had a huge impact.

The second, on the other hand, sounds super plan, as if you straight up said “I did content marketing.”

You should use action words to make your achievements sound a LOT more significant. 

Some of our favorite action words include:

• Accelerated
• Accomplished
• Contributed

Not sure which action words you want to use? Check out our complete list of 340+ best action verbs for your resume .

11) Tailor Your Resume to Job Ad

Imagine 2 resumes:

• The first describes THE person you’re looking for. They possess all the relevant skills and experiences, and they’re accurately listed in the resume.
• The second MIGHT be the person you’re looking for, but you’re just not sure. They seem to have some relevant experience, but not others.

Which one would you pick? Exactly!

So, how do you make YOUR resume look like the first example?

By tailoring it to the job ad!

How? Well, let’s look at the following job ad:

We’ve highlighted some of the essential skills in blue above. 

Now, to tailor your resume to these requirements, all you’d have to do is mention in your resume that you:

“Have 5+ years of experience in online marketing.” 

• You can mention this in your resume summary.

“Have experience with social media marketing.” 

• This can go in either the “Skills” or “Work Experience” section

“Have a B.A. in marketing or business.” 

• This, of course, belongs in the education section.

“Have experience in managing $20,000+ monthly ad budget on Facebook.” 

• You can mention this in either Work Experience or Resume Summary

If your resume mentions all the essential job requirements, there’s no reason for the hiring manager NOT to call you back!

12) Create a Convincing Cover Letter

Do you want to get an interview in just about every job you apply to?

Well, that’s going to require a bit more effort than usual: you’re going to have to create a killer cover letter.

For most job-seekers, the cover letter is an after-thought. 

They put 100% of their focus on the resume, and re-use the same cover letter for every position they apply for.

Here’s the thing, though: a cover letter is as important as a resume. In a lot of cases, it can even be the deciding factor on whether you get called in for an interview or not.

So, want to know how to write a good cover letter? Here’s what it should include:

• Your Contact Information.
• Hiring manager’s contact information.
• Opening paragraph - Brief introduction to your career, 1-2 top achievements and intent (why you’re applying for this company or position) 
• The body - Go through your experiences and achievements in more detail. Explain how your background is relevant for the position they’re hiring for.
• Closing paragraph - Summarize your main points, and include a call to action (“if you’re interested, I’d love to chat!”)

There’s a LOT more to creating a good cover letter than what we just covered. Check out our complete guide to cover letters for a more detailed walkthrough on how to make one!

13) Keep Your Resume 1-2 Pages at Most

An ideal resume length is 1 page .

Nope, no excuses. 95%+ of job-seekers don’t need to go past the one-page limit.

After all, HR managers receive over 1,000+ resumes for each open position. They don’t have the time to read your autobiography.

There are some exclusions to the one-page rule, though. You can go up to 2 pages if:

• You’re applying for a job in academia. In which case, it’s OK to go up to even 3 pages.
• If you’re an experienced executive with a decade’s worth of work experience.

Want to learn more? Check out the guide on how long should a resume be ! 

14) Use a Reverse-Chronological Resume Format

Part of creating an effective resume is choosing the right format to tell your story.

If you ask just about any career expert (including us), they’d recommend you to stick with the reverse-chronological format .

That means starting off every resume section with your latest experience, and working your way down to the earliest.

In some rare cases (if you have a career gap, for example), you might want to go for a different resume format, such as the Functional Resume or a Combination Resume. If you want to learn more, check out our guide to resume formats .

15) Include White Space

White space refers to the space in your resume between all the sections and paragraphs of text.

When formatting your resume, you should keep some space in between your sections so that it’s easier for the HR manager to skim your resume.

Here’s some basic layout info you should keep in mind when it comes to white space:

• Margins - aim for 1-inch margin on all four sides of your resume to maximize white space.
• Line spacing - go for 1.0 or 1.15 line spacing between text and double lines after subheadings.
• Bullet points - limit up to 6 points within each section.

Not sure if you’ve got your resume layout right? Check out our guide!

16) Use the Right Resume Font

You want your resume to be easy to read, right?

But at the same time, you also want it to stand out.

That means that you should pick the right font, and the right font size.

Here’s what we recommend:

• Best resume fonts: Ubuntu, Robot, Overpass
• Best resume font size: 11-12pt for normal text, 14-16pt for section titles and headers

Check out our full guide on best resume font, size, and format for more info and practical examples.

17) Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly

ATS is an applicant tracking system that many businesses use to screen resumes.

The way this works is, the ATS scans your resume to see if you mention the right keywords, and if you don’t, it automatically discards your application.

So, how do you make sure that a robot doesn’t reject your resume that worked so hard on?

Well, it’s 2 things:

• Pick a Tried-and-Tested Format - Here’s the thing: if the ATS can’t scan your resume, it will automatically discard it. So, you want to use a resume that’s built with ATS in mind. We might be biased, but we’d recommend trying out Novorésumé. We build our resume with with ATS in mind, making it scannable by applicant tracking systems world-wide.
• Sprinkle the Right Keywords - Just as we explained in the “Tailor Your Resume” tip, go through the job ad and figure out what keywords the ATS could be looking for. Then, sprinkle them all around your resume. Head over here if you want to learn more about ATS & keywords .

18) Don’t Lie On Your Resume

This one’s pretty obvious, but we thought we’d mention it anyway:

Don’t lie on your resume. Ever.

You’re going to be found out sooner or later and it’s going to cost you your job, or even your career.

It’s just not worth it.

19) Use an Online Resume Builder

Ever used Word editing tools to build your resume?

Then you probably know what we mean when we say that it’s a total pain.

You spend hours perfecting your resume, and then you make a single, small layout change, and BAM! The whole resume gets messed up.

Want to save yourself from all that hassle?

Use an online resume builder !

All you have to do is pick your favorite resume template , and start filling it in.

Whether you’re a recent graduate, or a professional with a decade of work experience, we have the right format for you!

13+ Essential Resume Tips and Tricks

20) include your job title in resume.

Your professional title should be the job title you’re applying for word-for-word.

Applying for a job as an advertising account executive?

Make sure to include the position name in your resume (below your name) as it’s written in the job ad. 

Ditch the buzzwords - no hiring manager likes those.

• Software Developer
• Code Monkey Ninja Samurai Hero

21) Name Your Resume Correctly

Once you’re done optimizing your resume and you’re ready to send it in, make sure the PDF version has the right name.

The ideal format is FullName - Resume .

• John Doe - Resume.pdf
• John Resume - Final Final Final Version Fixed 

22) Use Correct Subheadings

You’ll want your resume section subheadings to be accurate and easy to find.

So, to help the HR manager reading your resume, try to keep things simple.

• Resume Summary
• Work Experience
• Organizations
• Background Information
• Career History
• Groups Part Of

Bonus Points - this can also help Applicant Tracking Systems read your resume. They recognize “Work Experience,” but not “Work History.”

23) Include Only Relevant Social Media

Wondering if you should include social media links in your resume?

As a rule of thumb, you should only mention the ones that are relevant to your profession and career.

Here’s a brief overview of what you might include:

• LinkedIn - If your LinkedIn is updated, you can mention it for most professions.
• Stack Overflow / GitHub - If you’re a software engineer.
• Medium -Are you a freelance writer or blogger? Include your Medium.
• Quora - Are you an influencer in your field? Mention your Quora account (as long as you have a decent number of answers).
• Website/Blog - Do you have an online presence? Maybe a personal blog that positions you as an expert? If so, make sure to mention it.

24) Include Resume Objective or Summary

The hiring manager looks at your resume for 5-6 seconds max to decide if they’re going to read the rest or not.

Want to catch their attention in a snap?

Use a resume objective or summary.

Both of these sections act as an introduction to your resume, and are used to show that you’re qualified for the job from the get-go (before the HR gets to read the rest of your resume).

So, what’s what?

Both of these sections go in your resume header, right under your contact information section.

A resume objective is mainly for students, or professionals switching their careers. An objective is a 3-4 sentence snapshot of your professional goals and aspirations.

A resume summary is a 3-4 sentence summary of your resume. You use this instead of a resume objective if you’ve previously worked as the position you’re applying for.

• Multilingual customer service representative looking to provide Company X provide stellar customer experience. Strong communication skills, fluent in English, German, and French. Basic knowledge of CRM systems.
• Proactive UX designer with 5 years of experience in delivering enjoyable web and mobile products within the FinTech industry. Designed UI/UX and other marketing materials for 6 apps and 3 games at Company X, 2 of which were features in the App store. Skilled with Sketch and Adobe Creative Studio.

25) Don’t Use Personal Pronouns (“I”, “Me”)

Once you put your name at the top of your resume, it’s already implied that everything you mention in your resume applies to you.

So, there is no need to unnecessarily repeat “I did…” in your resume countless times.

• Managed data entry integrity within the applicant tracking system, ensuring timely entry and visibility of recruitment activity within ATS/CRM technologies.
• I managed data entry integrity within the applicant tracking system. I ensured timely entry, and I worked on the visibility of recruitment activity within the ATS/CRM technologies.

26) Consider Optional Resume Sections

Still have extra space to fill within your resume and want to show off your other important qualifications?

You can include some of the following optional sections to help your resume stand out:

• Hobbies and interests - While this is not a game-changer, they can really help show YOU are as an individual. 
• Volunteering experience - If you try to help others in your free time, while expecting nothing in return, chances are that you’re the type of employee who’s in it for more than just the money. This can be a huge plus for the HR manager.
• Certifications and awards  - Do you have any relevant certifications and awards in your field? As long as it’s relevant, feel free to include it.
• Publications - Are you a freelance writer or a distinguished author? You can include your published works (online, academic journal, etc.) here.
• Projects - Working on a side project can really show off your passion for your field. Hiring managers love employees who do cool work in their free time.

27) Tailor Your Skills to The Job Position

When scanning your resume, one of the most important things hiring managers look for is whether you have the right skills or not.

They’re not looking for just any skills, either. They’re looking for the skills that are going to help you excel at the job you’re applying for.

So, you need to tailor your skills section for each position you apply for.

You can usually figure out which ones are worth mentioning by scanning the job ad.

As a given, make sure you don’t mention anything that’s not directly related to your job.

For example, no one cares about your Photoshop design skills if you’re applying to work as a cashier.

Not sure which skills you can include? Check out our comprehensive list of 150+ must-have skills for any resume .

28) Cut the Fluff

Fluff is way more common than you’d think.

A lot of university students and fresh graduates often fill up their skills section with buzzwords like:

• Critical thinking
• Communication

But if you take a step back and think about it, those skills don’t mean anything. You know it, we know it, the HR manager knows it.

Without providing an example, they’re just a waste of space.

Just about everyone is good at “ communication ” - it doesn’t mean anything without experience to back it up.

So, go through your resume again, and think about this: does everything I say provide clear value?

If the answer is “No,” we’d recommend cutting it and replacing it with something more interesting.

Don’t have much experience? Struggling to fill in your resume? Check out our guide to making a no-experience resume .

29) Proofread With a Tool Like Grammarly

You can’t afford to have any typos on your resume.

There’s nothing more ironic than someone claiming to have an “eye for detail” with a bunch of spelling mistakes in their resume.

So, to be positive that your resume is typo-free, you can use a tool like Grammarly when you’re going over your final edits.

While Microsoft Word and Google Docs do a decent job of detecting errors, it’s always a good idea to have a backup spelling tool just in case.

30) Be Consistent With Section Formatting

Be consistent with your section formatting so that your overall resume is easy on the eyes.

This includes things like:

• Line spacing.

31) Include Volunteering Experience

You can’t go wrong with volunteering experience.

It’ll make you stand out regardless of your job position or industry. 

If the volunteering experience is somehow related to your career and has some transferable skills, you can even include it in your work experience

Here’s what that might look like:

Volunteer Camp Instructor

FireTech Summer Camps

06/2018 - 09/2018

Courses taught:

• Coding games with Java
• Python and electronics with Minecraft
• Teen coding with Python

32) Include Irrelevant Jobs if You Have No Other Experience

As a general rule, when applying for a job, you only list work experience that’s relevant for the position.

But what if you have none?

In that case, it’s totally OK to mention ANY work experience you might have, even if it’s not relevant for the job you’re applying for.

Look at it this way: the recruiter is more likely to hire someone that's worked A job, rather than a person that's never worked a day in their life.

11+ Nice-to-Have Resume Tips and Tricks

33) include languages and proficiency.

Most companies are international nowadays, and being bilingual is a great way to gain a competitive advantage.

Even if knowing a foreign language isn’t necessary for the job you’re applying for, it might come in handy at some point in the future.

When listing languages, you should always include your skill level:

• Intermediate

Oh, and it goes without saying that you shouldn’t lie about your skill levels.

Trust us, you don’t want to end up in a situation where the interviewer is a native Spanish speaker, and you exaggerated your “Proficient Spanish.”

34) Don’t Include “Reference Available Upon Request”

This is another common mistake many people still make.

Having a whole section dedicated to that one phrase is just a waste of space.

Hiring managers know they can always request your list of references - so what’s the point of mentioning it?

35) Don’t Include a Photo (If You’re From the US and UK)

There’s a lot of confusion around photos on resumes .

Some people always use a photo on their resume.

Others believe it’s a strict no-no.

So, which one is it?

It depends on your location.

There are strict anti-discrimination labor laws in some countries, namely:

• United Kingdom
• United States

If you’re from one of those countries, don’t include a photo on your resume.

Obviously, there are some exceptions to the rule - such as, if you’re applying for a modelling job.

If you’re from anywhere else in the world, though, you can include a photo. 

36) Feeling Stumped? Get Inspired by Resume Examples

Have doubts about your resume design or layout?

Check out some of our job-winning resume examples .

We made sure to cover samples for several different fields, including business, computer science, and more!

37) Read Your Resume Out Loud

While it may sound awkward, reading your resume out loud is the best way to spot any awkward phrases or spelling mistakes.

Sure, Grammarly is useful, but it often misses a lot of really obvious mistakes (which the HR manager probably won’t!).

This is going to be monotonous, yes. But it’s the best way to proofread your resume and it also beats any spell checking tools out there.

38) Clean Up Your Online Presence

Imagine this:

The recruiter LOVES your resume.

They’re about to call you in for an interview, but before that, they decide to check up on your online presence.

Big mistake.

The first thing that pops up when they Google your name is your Facebook page, with very embarrassing photos from your last night out.

Not really that appropriate for a Senior Banker.

Want to avoid such awkward situations? Make sure your online presence is working FOR you, not against you:

• Change your Facebook Privacy setting to “Friends” to make sure random people can’t see your profile.
• Clean up your Twitter account, make sure you’re not posting anything too scandalous.
• Google your name and see if you can find anything off. You can ask Google to remove any private sensitive information .

Do you have a LinkedIn profile? You should! It shows the recruiter that you’re serious about your career.

Make sure to optimize your LinkedIn profile so that it complements your resume!

39) Consider Putting Education First

The most important sections of your resume should come first.

Are you a student with very limited work experience?

Consider putting your education section on top of your work experience.

This places a lot more focus on your education career, as opposed to any irrelevant jobs you might have worked.

Of course, if you have worked a job in your field, you’d always want to put work experience on top.

40) Add Your Courses In the Education Section

If your education section is your biggest selling point, then you might want to also add any relevant courses you’ve taken.

As usual, relevance is key here. Applying for a job in finance? The recruiter doesn’t care about the social media course you took in your freshman year.

B.A. in Accounting and Finance

• Advanced financial statistics
• Econometrics II
• Advanced accounting II
• Media communication
• Digital and social media
• Communication research

41) Use DocSend to Track Your Resume

Ever wondered what happens after you send in your application?

Did the HR even read your resume, or did it fall through the cracks?

Well, with a tool like DocSend , you can know for sure whether someone look at your resume or not.

The way this works is, you upload your resume on DocSend, and it gives you a link you can use.

Whenever someone opens your link and looks at your resume, you’ll get a notification.

Cool, right?

This way, you can know for sure if you can expect a call for an interview (the HR looked at your resume for 60+ seconds), or you’re just not qualified (HR closed the resume within 5 seconds of opening it).

And to put the cherry on top, you’ll know if the HR manager missed your resume (you won’t get the notification within a week), so you can just send them a quick reminder!

• Unfortunately, this method only works if you’re applying for a job through e-mail and not through an online application.

42) Use Colors to Stand Out

The color scheme you use in your resume is an important part of its design.

Ideally, you should strike the right balance of creativity and professionalism.

If you’re applying for a job in a more conservative industry (e.g. finances, banking), a standard black and white theme is fine.

But if you’re applying to work in a creative startup as a web designer or a developer, you can get more creative.

After all, HR managers get a TON of resumes every day, and most of them look exactly the same.

Whenever you can afford to stand out with your resume, you should!

43) Consider Using a Professional Template

If you’re looking to create a new resume but don’t want to go through the painstaking process of creating one from scratch - consider using a professional template.

There’s a lot of pre-built online resume templates that can have you up and running with a fully customized resume in a matter of minutes.

There’s a lot of variety as well. You can pick a design that works perfectly for your industry or field.

Want to give it a try? Check out some of our top resume templates !

Key Takeaways

And that's a wrap!

There are a ton of resume tips & tricks on the web, and in this guide, we covered all the essential stuff.

So, we hope you enjoyed the guide and are a lot more confident with your resume skills!

Looking for more actionable advice? Check out our career blog for industry-leading career tips and tricks!

To provide a safer experience, the best content and great communication, we use cookies. Learn how we use them for non-authenticated users.

How to Improve Your Resume in 8 Easy Steps

3 takeaways 

• What are the basic components to improve a resume 
• What mistakes should you avoid to make your resume stand out
• How to build a strong resume with the Teal AI Resume Builder

As a job seeker in today's market, putting your best foot forward matters now more than ever. And while you've probably crafted a good resume, 2024 begs for something a little extra: Your resume needs to be great.

Creating a resume that's clear, concise, and impactful attracts recruiters and engages hiring managers is a must. But, like many job seekers, you might be left trying to figure out how to improve your resume in a way that actually makes a difference.

Fortunately, the process is much easier than you think—especially with the right tools

By the end of this post, you'll be empowered with the insights needed to refine your resume, make a lasting impression, and efficiently track your job search journey for every application.

The basics of a good resume 

A resume is a document that conveys your professional journey and skillset. Its primary goal? To grab the attention of potential employers and recruiters and offer a snapshot of your professional achievements. 

In other words, your resume is the gateway to new professional opportunities and one of the most important components to nail for job seekers.

But improving your resume isn't just about listing your past roles or using flashy design; it's about crafting a document that reflects your professional story. It's about ensuring every word and every bullet point adds value and brings you one step closer to that next job interview.

The main components of a well-written resume

To make a resume that stands out and effectively communicates your value proposition, it needs to be formatted in a specific way. 

Here's what traditionally constitutes a good resume:

1. Contact information: List your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile URL (if applicable).

2. Target title: A descriptive header that clearly states the position you're applying to.

3. Professional summary: A concise, impactful " about me" resume section that summarizes your professional background, key skills, and career goals (sometimes called your "resume objective").

4. Work experience: A chronological list of your employment history, starting with the most recent position. Each entry should include your job title, the company, dates of employment, and a summary of your achievements.

5. Education: Details about your academic background, including degrees earned, institutions attended, and graduation dates.

6. Skills: List relevant hard skills like specific tools and software you're proficient in.

7. Certifications and awards: Any relevant certifications, awards, or honors you've received that can bolster your application.

In the end, you should have a well-formated resume with each of these sections.  However, keep in mind there's more than one way to format a resume , so you'll need to choose the best structure based on the job you want and the experience you have. 

Common resume mistakes to avoid

Creating a great resume is as much about avoiding pitfalls as it is about including the right information. A resume that stands out for the wrong reasons can make your job search much more challenging. 

Here are some common resume mistakes you should steer clear of:

1. Spelling and grammatical errors

Spelling and grammatical errors can make you appear careless and reduce your chances of landing that interview.  Always proofread your resume multiple times and consider using a tool like Grammarly.

2. Using a one-size-fits-all approach

Customization of your resume is key. Sending the same resume for every job application is a common mistake and one that's obvious to hiring managers. Tailor your resume for each role by highlighting the most relevant experiences and skills.

The good news is that tailoring resumes for each of your applications doesn't need to be overly time-consuming.

In fact, once you have the basic structure of your resume locked in and a job description in front of you, tailoring is fairly easy. In addition, strategically applying to the roles you're at least 70% qualified for will help with this process.

On an episode of Hiring Behind The Scenes with Teal Founder and CEO Dave Fano, seasoned Technical Recruiter Tejal Wagadia says,

"If it takes you more than 5 minutes per resume, per application, it's too much. It's too long. You're doing too much. You're either not applying to the right roles, or you're casting a wider net than you should be."

3. Including too much information

Lengthy, text-heavy resumes are hard to scan for the most important and relevant details.

Be concise and focus on your most impactful achievements and roles. Ideally, keep your resume to one page (maybe two pages if you have extensive experience and you're going for a senior-level role).

Remember: The job of your resume is to showcase just the top 10% of your experience and job history that's 100% relevant to the role you're applying to.

4. Being too vague

Avoid generic statements and a list of responsibilities or job duties. Be specific about your achievements and impact. Try using a tool like ChatGPT for a resume to create achievements with quantifiable data. For example,"increased sales by 20%" instead of "responsible for sales improvement."

But be ready to explain and back up any concrete examples to a hiring manager during an interview.

5. Using complex jargon

While it's important to showcase your knowledge and expertise, avoid loading your resume with industry-specific jargon. Use clear, simple language that demonstrates your value and is understandable to non-experts.

Filling your resume with complicated jargon can obscure your actual contributions and make it difficult for recruiters to understand the relevance of your experience.

6. Neglecting the format

A messy, inconsistent format can make your resume hard to read and leave a negative impression. Use a clean, professional layout with clear headings, bullet points, and a consistent font and font size.

An inconsistent, cluttered format can make your resume difficult to read quickly, frustrating recruiters and reducing your chances of being shortlisted.

7. Omitting keywords

Many companies use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) to filter resumes. Ignoring the relevant keywords can make it hard for hiring professional to find the skills and qualifications they're searching for within the system. 

Review the job description and include keywords related to the skills and experiences required for the role.

Did you know? Teal highlights key skills from your job description so you can quickly see which information is most important: 

Sign up for free and try Teal today!

8. Including personal information

Avoid adding personal details such as age, marital status, or religious beliefs. Stick to professional information that supports your application.

Adding unnecessary personal details can be off-putting and unprofessional. It can also expose you to biases and detract attention from your professional qualifications and experiences.

9. Leaving out important details

While keeping your resume concise is important, don't omit crucial information that could enhance your application. Ensure you include all relevant experiences, skills, and accomplishments that align with the job you're applying for.

Omitting important information can lead to missed opportunities to showcase your suitability for the role.

Remember these points as you edit your resume for each role you're applying to. 

How to improve your resume 

Recruiters don't have the time to sift through pages of irrelevant information. 

They're looking for a snapshot of your professional journey that's relevant, comprehensive, and succinct, showcasing only the most pertinent pieces of your experience.

That's why you need to do everything in your power to learn how to boost your resume by incorporating resume best practices . 

8 tips on improving your resume content

1. tailor it to the job description.

Analyze the job description like a treasure map—it has all the necessary clues you need. 

Identify the key skills and experiences the employer is after and mirror these in your resume. This isn't just about throwing in keywords but about aligning your resume to demonstrate exactly how you fit the bill.

2. Use action verbs

Kick off your sentences with compelling action verbs. Swap out the "responsible for's" with dynamic words like "orchestrated," "engineered," or "spearheaded." 

These convey energy and give your accomplishments the spotlight they deserve.

3. Quantify your achievements

Wherever possible, tie your accomplishments to quantifiable outcomes. 

Did you increase sales or efficiency? By how much? 

Numbers clearly show your impact and make your claims more credible, but you need to be ready to back them up.

4. Keep it focused

Try to maintain a clear focus on your key skills and accomplishments. Avoid the temptation to list every task you've ever completed. 

In other words, ditch the clutter and keep the spotlight on your most shining moments to make your resume easier to understand.

5. Prioritize readability

Use bullet points, headers, and short paragraphs to enhance readability. Your resume should be a smooth read, easily guiding the recruiter's eyes from one point to the next.

6. Integrate relevant keywords

You want your resume to be found by hiring professionals within Applicant Tracking Systems, incorporate relevant keywords throughout your content. 

These are often the skills and experiences listed in the job description.

7. Maintain a professional tone 

Maintaining a sense of professionalism with a conversational and engaging tone is great. 

Aim to strike the right balance to convey your personality without compromising your professionalism.

8. Seek feedback and refine

Gather input from mentors, peers, or someone in your industry Use their feedback to refine your resume continuously. It's all about iteration and refinement!

How to make a standout resume with Teal

Stepping into the job market can feel like stepping into the unknown. 

But with Teal by your side, you're not just stepping in; you're stepping up . 

Here's how you can create that stellar resume with Teal, making sure it's not just seen but also shines.

First things first, if you haven't already, sign up and log in to Teal's Resume Builder .

2. Upload your resume 

Already have your own resume or a LinkedIn profile? Perfect. 

Upload it to Teal so you can begin to update your resume. It's about starting where you are and going upwards from there. 

No need to start from scratch when you've got experiences and achievements to showcase.

3. Customize your resume 

Teal's AI comes with everything you need to tailor your professional resume and make sure each word and bullet point aligns with what your future employer is looking for. Teal even comes with built-in generative AI, so you can quickly build the first draft of your resume content: 

It's about making the right parts of your story resonate with a specific audience.

The good news is that everything with Teal is completely intuitive, and the platform identifies all the information you need, where you need it: 

That way, you just need to focus on filling in your professional accomplishments; you can let Teal worry about the formatting! 

4. Analyze the job description for hard and soft skills 

Teal highlights both soft and technical skills from job descriptions that hiring managers and recruiters sit up and take notice. 

Again, Teal can help you with this. Once you've added the job description for the role you want, the software immediately analyzes the information and pulls out the most relevant skills: 

5. Personalize your cover letter

With Teal, generate a personalized cover letter instantly using generative AI. 

The cover letter is your introduction, and with Teal, it's crafted to captivate. Plus, it will automatically insert keywords from the job description you're applying to, making it more likely to stand out.

6. Track your journey

Watch every application move from sent to seen to selected. 

This helps you apply to multiple positions at the same time while staying organized from start to finish. 

So what are you waiting for? If you're serious about landing a new role in the competitive job market, make sure you're working with the best tools available. 

And that means using Teal to generate a better resume today! 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are some common mistakes to avoid when improving my resume, how can i quantify my achievements on my resume, is it important to include a personal statement or objective on my resume.

Nathan Thompson

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7 tips to make your resume stand out and get that job

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The importance of an outstanding resume

How to write a resume, fine-tuning your resume, make your resume stand out, it all starts with your resume.

Looking for a job is like a rollercoaster. 

There are high and low points throughout the process. The unknown of new opportunities excites you, but you feel vulnerable and anxious at the same time. Everyone experiences that turbulence at some point in their job search . 

Need resume help?

Writing a resume is one of the first steps in that journey, and it’s one of the most overwhelming. You want to make a good first impression — which might leave you second-guessing every last action verb and skill you choose to include. Tools like resume builders and ChatGPT can help you brainstorm a first draft, but it’s up to you to perfect it.

Learning how to make your resume stand out may feel like a science, but there are rules and guidelines you can follow to convince a hiring manager that you're the best choice for the role. 

Whether you're going with a functional resume or a chronological resume , within a single sheet of paper is the story of your career. Your work history, accomplishments, and skill set weave together an account of your potential as an employee. And on a job application, your resume should grab a hiring manager’s attention based on the story you tell . 

On average, potential employers spend just 7.4 seconds reviewing a resume. While that may sound like an impossibly short amount of time to judge a candidate, it's often necessary. Some positions draw hundreds of applicants pining for their next job. Hiring managers have to quickly go down a new hire checklist to ensure you have the technical skills or experience necessary to perform the job. 

During this time, hiring managers and recruiters also need to filter out mismatched candidates before reaching out for interviews. They’re looking for someone genuinely interested in the new job — someone motivated enough to show how passionate and qualified they are. And if a hiring manager uses an applicant tracking system, they’ll also filter resumes based on keywords and specific skills. You need to survive both the algorithm and their keen eye. 

Aligning your most relevant qualifications and tuning your language to fit a company's vernacular is a lot of work, but it’s worth it. Effective resume writing targets the job description, and a one-size-fits-all resume can’t do that. The extra effort you spend personalizing every application could put you one step closer to landing your dream position and ending the job search. 

The blank page is daunting to look at. But great resumes start with headings and sections, and starting with an outline helps you fill the page faster. 

Here are the sections you should include:

1. Work experience

Arguably the most crucial section, clearly label your work experience with separate points for every job entry. If you can, only include jobs that highlight your suitability for the role. 

But don't be afraid to include experience that isn’t obviously relevant. While a career change from product engineer to project manager may seem unrelated in technical skills, you can show off the value of transferable soft skills . The key is to include a description or bullet points that make the connection clear.

Each entry should include the following:

Your job title

Name of the organization

Dates of employment

A short description of your accomplishments

Many job seekers opt to organize this section in chronological order from most to least recent. This is likely the best option if your career and skill learning has a clear linear trajectory. 

But sometimes, it makes more sense to put your most relevant experience at the top, even if it's not your most recent job. This is sometimes known as a functional resume . You want your reader to see your best work first. A new parent who quit a full-time job for a part-time job with less hours may want to focus on career highlights rather than recent positions. 

It also might make sense to split your resume into sections for different skills. If you're applying for a management position at a software development company, you might want to have subsections that emphasize management experience and development experience separately. This helps a hiring manager quickly gauge your full potential. 

2. Unpaid work or volunteering 

This section is similar to your work experience but only covers unpaid positions. Follow the same format, instead with volunteer or personal projects relevant to the role or that helped sharpen your skills. This could also include internships. Remember to also include descriptions here so hiring managers clearly see why you chose to include every point.

3. Education

This section will likely be the smallest. List any relevant degrees — associate, bachelor’s, master’s , and even PhDs — in order from most to least recent. Here's what to write:

Name of educational institution

Name of your program or degree

Date of graduation (if you feel comfortable putting this information)

Extra details like Latin honors or GPA (if relevant)

4. Certifications

You may have professional certifications relevant to your role. List them here with the date you acquired them. This is an especially important section if the job you’re applying for requires certification or licensure, legally or otherwise.

If you’re applying for a role that requires something like a driver’s license or certification in a programming language, be sure to highlight it. But non-required certifications fit here as well, like those from online courses. These demonstrate essential soft skills such as self-motivation and initiative .

A summary statement typically goes at the top of your resume, though it usually isn’t recommended. A vague summary or objective statement wastes space. Employers likely don’t want to hear that you’re a “Motivated employee looking to learn new skills” because that doesn’t say much about you. 

If you decide to include a summary, be specific. And if everything you’re saying appears later in your resume, it might be best to omit it entirely. Save this statement for your LinkedIn summary .

List soft skills and technical skills that are relevant to the role. Reinforce each one with practical work experience, metrics, or engaging action verbs that tell a more complete story. The less guesswork a hiring manager has to do, the easier it is to identify the strength of your candidacy. 

This is your space to be as specific as possible. Instead of writing that you have “good communication skills ,” write “thoughtful communicator who uses active listening and empathy to construct strong interpersonal relationships ." And instead of writing “coding,” specify what languages you know and how you’ve used them. You can also emphasize self-directed learning experiences to show your initiative.

7. Link to portfolio

If possible, link to some of your representative work, or at least have a sample 

If relevant, link to some of your representative work or have a portfolio with sample projects ready in case the hiring manager asks for them. In some fields, especially creative, a digital portfolio is standard, so include a link to yours if possible. 

Recruiters and hiring managers may also check your LinkedIn profile and domain-specific profiles, like GitHub, for concrete examples of successful projects. Ensure your resume is consistent with your body of work across all professional platforms.

An effective resume leads a hiring manager's eye to all the right places. Here are three tips for submitting an accurate and concise document: 

1. Include only relevant information

Whether you're a seasoned professional or a recent graduate, including every single piece of professional experience is unnecessary. All of the metrics, skills, and certifications should reflect the specific job you're applying to. Unessential information confuses and distracts potential employers from your value to the role. 

Recent graduates with little practical experience can find ways to highlight relevant transferable skills without filling the page with unnecessary jobs. If you're a recent economics graduate , your job sorting books at the university library shouldn't eclipse valuable internships or coursework — unless that job taught you something about economics. 

2. Highlights accomplishments, not responsibilities 

Managers want to know you can perform. Listing your personal achievements rather than roles and responsibilities shows not only what duties previous positions included, but that you thrived while completing them. Use action verbs or list employee reco gnitions to place the focus on your performance. 

Imagine you previously worked at a public relations firm. Compare these two descriptions:

“I was responsible for the execution of clients’ national media campaigns.” 

“I spearheaded successful national digital media campaigns for clients of varied industries, improving organic engagement by 50%.”

The former tells the recruiter about your job, but the latter tells them about you. The specificity helps readers immediately understand why you were an asset.

3. Keep it short

Like any professional communication, your resume should be short and to the point. It should have clear formatting that guides the eye from one section to another. 

Ideally, you'll fit everything you need on one page. The document may stretch to two pages if you're further along in your career or need to submit a CV instead of a resume . Just make sure everything on those two pages is relevant. Extraneous work history might distract rather than impress. 

Now that you know the basics, here’s how to write the best version of your resume:

1. Consider the hiring manager’s needs

Read the job description closely and explore the company website. Get a sense of company culture by reading its mission statement or company core values . Then, include those elements on your resume to catch a hiring manager's attention and tell them you fit the culture . 

Remember, you aren’t just applying for a job. You’re applying to become part of a team. Show exactly how you’ll add to company culture and collaborate with existing employees. If a company's job ad mentions seeking team players , make sure your resume highlights your history of successful collaboration. 

2. Make sure it looks good

Hiring managers review countless resumes each day. You have some freedom to play with your resume format, but you should follow some general guidelines so it’s easy to read:

Use an appropriate font: Cursive fonts and Wingdings have no place on a professional resume. Consider professional-looking typefaces like Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman.

Be consistent: When you pick a design format, you commit to a set of "rules" for your resume. Make sure your bullet points follow the same style, the sizing of your  headers is consistent, and your lines have equal spacing. 

Don't overcrowd it: Leave enough room in the margins so your resume doesn’t fill the entire page. White space helps your reader find necessary information quickly. 

Use a resume builder : There are many free resume builders and templates available online . Your word processor might even have some built-in. Consider using one so you don't start from scratch.

Consider color when appropriate: Adding some colored text or icons helps your resume stand out. Just make sure it’s appropriate for the industry you work in. Illustrators can use a creative resume to show off their artistic skills, whereas a colorful document for a public policy analyst could demonstrate a lack of sincerity. 

3. Proofread for errors

Hiring managers might decide not to hire you from as few as five writing errors . Typos and grammar mistakes show carelessness and poor attention to detail , and they’re an easy way to get a job rejection . 

Make sure to check your writing closely. Apps like Grammarly ensure every comma and apostrophe is in the right place. And reading your resume out loud, to yourself or to a friend, helps you catch errors, improve flow, and check for repetitive language.

4. Demonstrate industry knowledge

Always be learning . Intellectual curiosity and commitment to growth are personality traits many hiring managers look for, whether you're new to the workforce or a seasoned employee. It shows employers that you're proactive, engaged, and open to new experiences. 

Now make sure that growth mindset comes through in your resume. It isn't about saying “I love to learn,” but showing it.

Stay on top of current trends in your field and work them into your cover letter and resume. If there's a new programming tool in high demand, share your know-how in the skills section. Describe how you used it to improve your performance at a previous job.

5. Get an objective eye

Ask someone else to look over your resume and give you honest feedback . Seek out people who you trust to give constructive criticism rather than tell you what you want to hear. Coworkers, colleagues, or anyone you feel comfortable turning to for career advice will likely offer the perspective you need to write your best resume . 

Also consider hiring a professional resume writer or career coach . Both offer valuable insights about industry expectations and effective techniques for leveraging your best skills and experiences. 

Now that you know how to make your resume stand out, you can emphasize the right details and grab hiring managers’ attention. 

Writing the perfect resume takes time, thoroughness, and careful editing. And while it may feel daunting, following common resume rules and paying close attention to the job description puts you one step closer to your dream job. 

Invest in your career

Get your promotion. Make your career change. Build the future you dream about. And do it faster with a world-class BetterUp Coach by your side.

Elizabeth Perry, ACC

Elizabeth Perry is a Coach Community Manager at BetterUp. She uses strategic engagement strategies to cultivate a learning community across a global network of Coaches through in-person and virtual experiences, technology-enabled platforms, and strategic coaching industry partnerships. With over 3 years of coaching experience and a certification in transformative leadership and life coaching from Sofia University, Elizabeth leverages transpersonal psychology expertise to help coaches and clients gain awareness of their behavioral and thought patterns, discover their purpose and passions, and elevate their potential. She is a lifelong student of psychology, personal growth, and human potential as well as an ICF-certified ACC transpersonal life and leadership Coach.

12 resume career objective examples and tips for writing one

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Top 12 Resume Boosters To Quickly Improve Your Resume

12 resume boosters to help you improve and enhance your resume quickly, including common mistakes to avoid and tips for changing careers.

a year ago   •   6 min read

Improving your resume is always challenging. How do you know where to begin? You might have relevant experience and competitive skills, but you're still not seeing results. Where are you going wrong? And how can you improve your resume without it taking all day?

The answer is resume boosters: Simple tricks to improve your resume and make it stand out from the rest.

In this article, we’ll explore 12 quick and easy ways to boost your resume, as well as long-term strategies to beef up your CV and common mistakes to avoid.

What are resume boosters?

Simply put, resume boosters are ways to make your existing resume more effective without having to start from scratch. Common resume boosters include:

• Tailoring your resume to modern recruiter expectations
• Updating your resume to highlight competitive skills
• Cutting irrelevant or outdated information
• Using simple formatting and layout options

Below, we discuss the top 12 ways to quickly enhance your resume, as well as long-term strategies to improve it over time.

Top 12 resume boosters that can improve your resume today

Updating your resume may seem daunting, but these 12 tips will help you spruce up your existing resume with just a few tweaks.

Tailor your resume

Gone are the days of sending the same resume to every job posting. Modern recruiters prefer to see experience directly related to their field to quickly assess if you're the right fit.

To tailor your resume, include only your most recent work experience in related fields and skills/qualifications directly relevant to the employer. Mirror the wording of the job description, use the job title in your resume header , and write a resume summary to highlight key accomplishments.

Once complete, run your resume through our Targeted Resume tool to compare your resume to the job description and receive tailored feedback on how to improve.

Stick to one page

To a recruiter, less is more. Keep your resume to one page by cherry-picking your most recent experience and removing any outdated or extraneous sections, such as hobbies , interests , or references.

Include keywords for ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are automated scanners that filter resumes depending on predetermined keyword criteria. If your resume doesn't include specific keywords, ATS might reject it before it gets into the hands of a recruiter.

To ensure this doesn't happen, use a keyword finder to scan the job description for essential keywords and make sure they appear at least once on your resume. If you’re missing a crucial keyword, rephrase your work experience to include that skill, or consider investing in industry-specific training.

Use bullet points

As mentioned above, the less a recruiter has to read, the better. Instead of listing work experience in long-winded sentences, opt for short, snappy bullet points to describe your skills in a succinct manner.

Create strong power phrases

Use power phrases to create memorable, stand-out statements throughout your resume. A power phrase consists of a strong action verb , followed by a specific task/project you completed, and ends with a quantified result/metric . Follow the layout below to create your own power phrases.

Quantify wherever possible

Whenever you list work experience, expand on your skills using quantified metrics such as numbers and percentages. This provides concrete proof of your skills and helps explain why your achievements are relevant.

For example, instead of saying that you "managed a team and oversaw successful projects," state that you "managed a team of 10 and oversaw 5 successful projects.”

Promote hard skills over soft skills

Your resume skills section should include only hard skills . These are technical skills learned through work experience or education. Soft skills , like leadership or communication , should instead be exemplified through power phrases in your work experience section .

Highlight transferable skills

Even if your past experience is in a different field, you can always find transferable skills between industries. Consider the keywords related to the new position, and expand on how you used those specific skills in previous roles.

Update your tech proficiency

Tech skills are constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with modern tools and platforms is a great way to boost your resume, especially for remote job opportunities. Remove outdated tech skills and list industry-specific software, like Trello, Teams, and Slack. Also, highlight any previous remote work experience to take advantage of the rise in remote work opportunities.

Remove outdated education

Remove any education older than 20 years, as it’s likely not relevant to your current skills or work role. Highlight education completed in the last ten years, even if it's from a non-traditional learning platform. The one exception to this rule is a university degree, which is beneficial to include despite being outside the 20-year window.

Use a resume scanner

Once you have successfully updated your resume, upload it to a resume scanner to check that it includes all relevant details, is tailored to your application, contains the right keywords, and is optimized for ATS filters.

Top tip for career changers: Use non-work experience to highlight key skills

If you're struggling to list relevant work experience for a new career change , remember that you can use non-paid experience to highlight relevant skills. Volunteering, internships, freelance work , and community engagement can be a great way to showcase competitive skills when you lack traditional work experience.

Resume boosters that take a little longer but are a great investment for your resume

The above list of boosters are quick, easy fixes to enhance your resume, but investing a little time in education and alternate resume formats can significantly improve your application and set you up for future success.

Create an online resume

Online resume platforms like LinkedIn are highly beneficial for a modern job search. Follow these tips and tricks to optimize your resume for online platforms , and remember to update your online resume every time you update your regular resume .

Pursue further education

If you're missing specific keywords or skills for an application, consider online or formal training to enhance your resume. Online platforms such as Coursera and Google Career Certificates provide affordable online training that can quickly boost your resume with competitive new skills.

Volunteer work or internships

If you’re considering a career change and are looking for relevant experience, volunteer work and internships can provide great experience to add to your resume and showcase your dedication to your new field.

Create an online portfolio

Especially useful for creative roles , an online portfolio is a great way to showcase past work and beef up your resume. Creating a portfolio can take some time, but online platforms such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix offer free professionally hosted portfolios that make the whole process quick and easy.

Learn a new language

With the rise in remote work opportunities and an increasingly globalized workforce, being bilingual can significantly boost any resume. Even if you're only a beginner, include a second language on your resume and state that you are “conversational” or “beginner”.

Common mistakes to avoid when improving your resume

Before you submit your resume to your next application, double-check for these common mistakes:

Over-relying on buzzwords

Buzzwords are overused, cliched words such as 'hard-working’, 'self-motivated', or 'team player' that take up space without adding any detail to your statements or experience. Swap out any buzzwords for action verbs to make your resume more engaging and less generic.

Neglecting the top sections of your resume

The top sections of your resume, such as your header, contact info, and summary, may seem redundant, but they're the first things a recruiter reads. Optimize your contact information for a modern recruiter by replacing your full street address with an email address and including a link to an online resume or portfolio. Use a tailored job title in your header, and replace your resume objective with an optimized resume summary highlighting your most notable achievements.

Exaggerating

We all want to put our best foot forward, but don't make the mistake of exaggerating your experience. Be prepared to be questioned in an interview about anything you write on your resume, and make sure you can back up your claims with actual experience.

Including references

Including references on your resume is an outdated practice. These days, if a recruiter is interested in your references, they will reach out and ask. Listing references takes up unnecessary space and could be seen as unprofessional.

Neglecting proper layout and formatting

Fancy resume templates may look exciting, but using graphs, images, graphics, and colors makes your resume harder to read for recruiters and ATS filters. Stick to a one or two-column layout, standard font choices , and Word or PDF file format . Better yet, use a resume template when crafting your resume to ensure you are using optimal formatting.

Using a one-size-fits-all resume

As mentioned above, sending the same resume to multiple applications actually reduces your chances of success. Though it may seem like more work to tailor your resume for every job posting, using a quick online scanner can help you update your resume each time, and a little work upfront can significantly improve your application's success.

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Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

45 Quick Changes That Help Your Resume Get Noticed

There is certainly a time and a place for a resume overhaul. Taking a couple hours to really clean up your resume is worth doing before you start a job search, or even just once a year as a tune-up.

But sometimes, you don’t have that kind of time. Sometimes, you just have a few minutes, and you want to spend them giving your resume a quick polishing-up. And for those times, we made you this list of resume updates that only take a few minutes, but that can make a big difference in making your resume shine.

Choose how much time you have, pick a (mini) project, and get ready for your resume to be that much more eye-catching.

1. Switch the Font

Ready, switch the font of your resume to Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman—in other words, make sure it’s not hard to read (or stuck in Word’s standard Calibri). Using a common, clean font may not make your resume the prettiest out there, but it will make it more readable (and less likely to be rejected by applicant tracking systems).

2. Remove “References Available Upon Request”

If they want references, they’ll ask for them! Use the extra space to add a detail about your abilities or accomplishments.

3. Delete the Resume Objective

That boring boilerplate “I am a hard working professional who wants to work in [blank] industry” is a bit obvious—why else would you be submitting your resume?—and takes up valuable space.

4. Spell Check

...and correct any mistakes .

5. Save it Correctly

Save your resume as a PDF if it’s in any other format. That way, the formatting won’t get messed up when your resume is opened on a different computer. (To see exceptions to this rule, click here .)

6. Change the File Name

Change the file name from “Resume” to “[First Name] [Last Name] Resume”—it makes things easier for hiring managers and ensures your resume doesn’t get lost in the crowd.

7. Remove Your Address .

If you’re not local, recruiters might not look any further. If you are, recruiters may take your commute time into account and turn you down if they think it would be too long.

8. Add Your LinkedIn Profile

In its place, add a link to your LinkedIn profile, as well as any other relevant social media handles (Twitter if it’s professional, Instagram or Flickr if you’re applying to social media or creative positions). Caveat: Never include Facebook, no matter how clean you keep it.

Don’t want to drop your whole ugly LinkedIn URL onto your resume? (Hint: You shouldn’t.) Create a custom URL to your public profile using simply /yourname (or some similar, simple variation if somebody already has your name). LinkedIn has instructions on its website .

9. Make All Your Hyperlinks Live

Your resume is most likely going to be read on a computer, so making things like your email address, LinkedIn and other social profiles, and personal websites clickable makes it easier for the recruiter to learn more about you.

10. Delete Irrelevant Data

Omit any references to your birthdate, marital status, or religion. Since it’s illegal for employers to consider this when looking at your application (at least in the U.S.), they can’t request it (and offering it makes you look a little clueless).

11. Get Rid of That Grad Year

If you’re more than three years out of college, remove your graduation year . Recruiters only really want to know that you got a degree, and you don't want them to inadvertently discriminate based on your age.

12. Move Your Education

While you’re at it, do a little rearranging, and move education down below your experience. Unless you’re a recent graduate, chances are your last one or two jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job.

13. Make it Readable

To improve readability, increase the line spacing (also called leading) to at least 120% of the font size. To do this in Word, go to Format and select Paragraph. In the pulldown under Line Spacing, choose Exactly and set the spacing to two points above the size of your font (so, 12 if your font is 10 point).

14. Reduce Your Margins

Need a little more space to work with? Reduce your top and bottom margins to 0.5" and your side margins to no less than 0.75". This will keep your resume clean and readable but give you more room to talk about what you've got.

15. Leave High School Behind

Remove anything high school-related unless you’re a year out of college or need to bulk up your resume and did something highly relevant (and awesome) during your high school years.

16. Update Your Skills Section

Add any new skills you’ve gained, and remove anything that is a little dated (nobody wants to hear that you have Microsoft Word experience anymore—they expect it).

17. Break Up Your Skills Section

If you have lots of skills related to a position—say, foreign language, software, and leadership skills—try breaking out one of those sections and listing it on its own (“Language Skills” or “Software Skills”).

18. Double-Check Formatting

Make sure formatting is consistent across your resume. You want all headers to be in the same style, all indentations to line up, all bullet points to match, and the like. You don’t want the styling to look sloppy!

19. Remove Acronyms

Find any acronyms, and write out the full name of the title, certification, or organization. You should include both, at least the first time, to make sure the recruiter knows what you’re talking about and so an applicant tracking system will pick it up no matter which format it is looking for. For example: Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

20. Get Rid of Distracting Design

Unless you are a designer or are submitting a ( carefully crafted ) creative resume, remove any photos or visual elements. On a more traditional resume, they generally just distract from the information at hand (and can confuse applicant tracking systems ).

21. Work Around Your Gaps

If you have gaps of a few months in your work history, swap out the usual start and end dates for each position with years only (e.g., 2010-2012).

22. Do a Verb Swap

Swap out a couple of your boring verbs for some more powerful (and interesting) ones. Check out our list of resume action verbs if you need inspiration.

23. Now, Do an Adjective Swap

Swap out a couple of generic adjectives or titles (words like “detail-oriented” or “experienced” are overused and don’t tell a recruiter much) with stronger language that better describes your more unique strengths.

24. List Your Promotions Correctly

Worked multiple jobs within the same organization? Learn how to list them right on your resume, then update it as such.

25. Leave History in the Past

As a rule, you should only show the most recent 10 to 15 years of your career history and only include the experience relevant to the positions to which you are applying. So if you have anything really dated or random, remove it and use the space to bulk up other sections or add something more relevant.

26. Look for Orphan Words

Go through line by line and take note of any orphan words (single words left on a line by themselves). See how you can edit the previous line so they can fit—making your resume look cleaner and opening up extra lines for you to do other things with.

27. Make it Skimmable

Make your document easier to skim by adding divider lines between sections. Check out section three of this great guide for instructions.

28. Use Numerals

Include any numbers on your resume? Go through and change them all to numerical form, instead of written out (i.e., 30% instead of thirty percent). Even small numbers that are often spelled out should be written numerically—it makes them pop to the reviewer and saves space.

29. Read it Out Loud.

This will not only help you catch any spelling or grammar errors, but it will also help you notice any sentences that sound awkward or that are hard to understand.

30. Check Out the Top

Look at your resume “above the fold.” In other words, take a close look at the top third of your resume—the part that will show up on the screen when the hiring manager clicks “open” on that PDF. That’s what’s going to make your first impression—so make sure it serves as a hook that makes the hiring manager eager to read more.

31. Shorten Your Bullet Points

Make sure you have no more than six to seven bullet points for any given position. If you do? Cut and condense. No matter how long you’ve been in a job or how good your bullets are, the recruiter just isn’t going to get through them.

32. Identify Your Narrative

Give your resume to someone who doesn’t know you well to look at for 30 seconds. Then ask: What are the three most memorable things? What’s the narrative? Take this feedback and think about how you can adjust your resume to get it closer to where you want.

33. Use a Word Cloud

Similarly, drop your resume into a word cloud generator and see which keywords are popping out. If the most prominent ones aren’t what you want to be remembered by, or if there are important words that aren’t present, think about how you can tweak your resume to make that more clear.

34. Quantify Everything

Go through your bullet points , and add as many numbers and percentages as you can to quantify your work. How many people were impacted? By what percentage did you exceed your goals? (And, yes, it’s OK to estimate as long as you can roughly prove it.)

35. Make Your Benefit Clear

Pick a few statements to take one step further, and add in what the benefit was to your boss or your company. By doing this, you clearly communicate not only what you’re capable of, but also the direct benefit the employer will receive by hiring you.

36. Consider Adding a Qualifications Section

Perhaps in lieu of your now-deleted “Career Objective?” This should be a six-sentence (or bullet pointed) section that concisely presents the crème of the crop of your achievements, major skills, and important experiences. By doing this, you’re both appeasing any applicant tracking systems with keywords and giving the hiring manager the juicy, important bits right at the top.

37. Update Your Header to Make it Pop

You don’t have to have a ton of design knowledge to make a header that looks sleek and catches a recruiter’s eye. (Hint: Use this same header on your resume and cover letter to make your “personal brand” look really put together.)

38. Fill it Up

Need to fill up more space on your resume, or feel like you’re light on the experience? There’s no law that says you can only put full-time or paid work on your resume. So, if you’ve participated in a major volunteer role, worked part-time, freelanced, or blogged? Add a couple of these things as their own “jobs” within your career chronology.

39. Or, Cut it Down

If you need more space on your resume, check and see if any of your formatting decisions are taking up unnecessary space. Does your header take up too much at the top? Do you have any extra line breaks that you don’t really need? Tinker around with the formatting and see how much space you can open up (without your resume looking crowded or messy).

40. Make Your Bullet Points Make Sense

Look at each bullet point and make sure it’s understandable to the average person. Remember that the first person who sees your resume might be a recruiter, an assistant, or even a high-level executive—and you want to be sure that it is readable, relevant, and interesting to all of them.

41. Use a Resume Template

Download this free resume template so you’ll look extra polished.

42. Update All Your Roles

Make sure all of the experience on your resume is updated. Add any awards you’ve received, new skills you’ve taken on, articles you’ve published, or anything else awesome you’ve done.

43. Spread the Word

Hop over to your LinkedIn profile, and make any updates you’ve just made to your resume to your summary and experience sections there.

44. Ask a Friend to Help

Email three of your friends or professional contacts asking (nicely!) for a peek at their resumes. You might be able to get some inspiration for your own (or even help them out).

45. Get That Baby Out There

Find an awesome job to apply to with one of our partner companies, then get started on your cover letter with our easy-to-follow guide .

WANT YOUR RESUME TO HELP YOU GET A JOB?

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Make a Mistake-Free Resume with Our Resume Fixer

A full list of all the mistakes our resume fixer has found in your resume

Make sure your resume is error-free and compelling with Enhancv’s AI Resume Fixer

Resume fixer is a free and quick tool that can help you fix mistakes easily, comprehensive grammar and spelling fixer, repetition fixer, buzzwords and cliche fixer, quantifiable impact fixer.

Enhance your resume with our comprehensive resume improvement toolset

Content analyzer.

Our resume fixer tool does more than just rectify spelling mistakes — it offers actionable guidance to improve your content. If you've overlooked the inclusion of measurable achievements, our tool will highlight these areas. With insights gathered from thousands of successful resumes, our fixer tool ensures your qualifications and skills are showcased optimally.

Referral Link

Sharing your resume with someone who can offer a fresh perspective is a step towards securing that job. Use the referral link to your resume and send it to someone who’s been employed at the same company, or even better, in the same department or position. Connect with ex-employees on LinkedIn or join relevant Facebook Groups. By asking their opinion on your resume, you can gain valuable insights and feedback.

In This Guide:

What are the most common resume mistakes that need to be corrected, is hiring a resume writer the only way to fix a resume.

• Poor Spelling and Grammar : This is perhaps the most common mistake, and one of the most detrimental. Poor spelling and grammar can give a employer the impression that you lack attention to detail or professionalism. Always proofread your resume before sending it out.
• Being Too Vague : Your resume needs to clearly show what you've achieved in your previous roles. Statements that are vague and don't contain specific results or actions can weaken your resume. Always try to quantify your achievements.
• Too Long or Too Short : Ideally, a resume should be one to two pages long. If it's too long, it might be seen as unfocused or filled with irrelevant information. If it's too short, it may appear that you don't have much experience or achievements.
• Using an Unprofessional Email Address : Your contact information should reflect your professional identity, and an unprofessional email address can undermine that.
• Not Tailoring the Resume for the Job : It's important to customize your resume for each job application , highlighting the skills and experience that are most relevant to the role you're applying for. A generic resume can come across as uninterested or unfocused.
• Including Irrelevant Information : Information that's not related to the job you're applying for can make your resume look unfocused. This includes irrelevant job experience, hobbies, or personal information.
• Lying or Exaggerating : While it can be tempting to inflate your achievements or skills, this can backfire badly if you're caught, and it's often easy for employers to verify this information. Always be truthful on your resume.
• Poor Formatting : A poorly formatted resume can be difficult to read and can give the impression of unprofessionalism. Make sure your resume is neat, well-organized, and uses consistent font and style.
• Using Clichés : Using cliché terms or phrases like "hardworking", "team player", or "detail-oriented" without supporting them with specific examples can make your resume seem generic.
• Not Including Keywords : Many companies use software to screen resumes, and these systems often look for specific keywords related to the job. Make sure your resume includes keywords that are relevant to the job description.

Remember, your resume is often the first impression a potential employer gets of you, so it's crucial to make it as polished and professional as possible.

No, hiring a professional resume writer is not the only way to fix a resume. While it can be helpful for some people, especially if you're struggling with the format, language, or selling your experience effectively, there are several other strategies you can employ to improve your resume:

• Self-Review : Spend time going through your resume meticulously. Look for errors in spelling, grammar, punctuation, and formatting. Make sure that your resume is accurate, clear, concise, and professional-looking.
• Tailoring : Always customize your resume for each job you apply for. Use the job description to identify what the employer is looking for, and tailor your resume to match those needs.
• Peer Review : Have someone else, such as a trusted friend or mentor, look over your resume. They may spot errors or areas for improvement that you may have missed.
• Enhancv’s Resources : There are numerous of free Enhancv resources online, including templates, guides, and advice from career experts, that can help you write and format a strong resume.
• Career Centers : If you're a student or recent graduate, your university's career center can provide guidance and feedback on your resume.
• Workshops and Seminars : Look for resume-writing workshops or seminars in your area. These can provide valuable tips and feedback, and some are free to attend.
• Professional Feedback : If you're in a professional organization or network, consider asking for feedback from peers or mentors in your field.
• Using Resume Builders: There are several online resume builders that provide structured templates and guidance to help you create a professional resume.

Remember, the goal of a resume is to present your skills, experience, and qualifications clearly and succinctly to potential employers. You don't necessarily need a professional writer to achieve this, although they can certainly help if you're struggling.

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More From Forbes

10 interpersonal skills to put on your resume in 2024.

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Interpersonal skills are a non-negotiable for your resume, regardless of the job or its level of ... [+] people exposure

When it comes to deciding what to include and what to omit from your resume, skills are a non-negotiable.

Especially if you are applying for a promotion, making a career pivot, or transitioning into a different industry, skills are what make your resume count and hold weight in the eyes of employers, even more than merely listing out your education and experience.

"Over 40% of companies on LinkedIn globally explicitly rely on skills to search and identify job candidates on LinkedIn (up 20% year-over-year)," says Rohan Rajiv, LinkedIn's product lead on jobseeker, employer brand, and skills for LinkedIn Talent Solutions, speaking of the skills research tools that recruiters on LinkedIn use.

According to Rajiv, "showcasing your skills can give you a leg up in your job search." And this applies, even if you're entering the workforce for the first time, or re-entering after a lengthy hiatus.

You can have all the experience in the world and yet lose out on valuable career opportunities simply because you took the skills you gained through those experiences for granted, failed to mention them, and therefore no one knew that you possessed them at all.

iOS 17.6—Update Now Warning Issued To All iPhone Users

Trump vs. harris 2024 polls: harris leads trump in 3 surveys this week, record-breaking $75 million ransom paid to dark angels gang, what skills do you need to include on your resume.

So what skills exactly should you be including on your resume (and LinkedIn profile)?

First, let's answer a preliminary question: What are the different types of skills that one should put on their resume?

Skills can be broadly divided into two core categories: soft skills, also more recently coined as power skills; and hard skills, also known as technical skills.

We can separate these two groups further, by classifying skills according to groups such as job-specific skills and competencies, interpersonal skills, high-income skills, and transferable skills. (Some of these entities will overlap.) Today, let's dig into interpersonal skills and why they are necessary in your resume.

Why Interpersonal Skills Should Be Included In Your Resume

Interpersonal skills, a subset of soft skills, is a set of strengths that are essential if you are to work and collaborate well with people. The thing about interpersonal skills is that, regardless of what job you're after, no matter how technical, they matter. This is because there is a 99% chance that you will be engaging with people at some point in your job—even if it an autonomous back-office role.

Whether engaging with your co-workers, building partnerships, closing a sale, voicing your suggestions in a meeting, or liaising with a stakeholder via email, interpersonal skills are the skeleton of authentic, trusting, and lasting work relationships. They enable all the gears of communication at work to run smoothly, reducing delays and misunderstandings.

Smart hiring managers know that assessing one's interpersonal skills through analyzing a candidate's resume, LinkedIn profile, interview answers, and overall presence and engagement throughout the entire recruitment process, can provide solid indications of whether a candidate would make a good culture fit for the company.

This is even more the case when applying for a remote job, as you are forced to use your interpersonal skills even more—online—and if you haven't developed them, it will show.

10 Interpersonal Skills To Include In Your Resume In 2024

Here are a few of the most essential interpersonal skills you need to include and list examples of, throughout your resume, LinkedIn profile, and job application. This data has been compiled from a range of sources, including recent reports, surveys, and data from LinkedIn's research team, the World Economic Forum, and Coursera.

And of course, remember to only include these interpersonal skills throughout your resume if you feel that they truly reflect you, and are relevant (which in most cases, they are):

• Communication skills
• Emotional intelligence
• Leadership skills
• Conflict resolution
• Problem-solving
• Active listening
• Negotiation
• Networking skills

Smart hiring managers know that how a candidate displays their interpersonal skills throughout the ... [+] recruitment process, is a strong indicator of how they will fit in with the company culture and ethics

Don't forget, when listing these interpersonal skills in your resume, or when answering a culture-focused interview question, provide some context to demonstrate how you applied them in prior roles. This real-world experience that showcases these skills as being your strengths is one of your greatest assets when applying for a role—and especially on LinkedIn.

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How to Ask for a Raise

Evaluate Your Own Performance

Update your resume with metrics and achievements, maintain a positive attitude during salary negotiations, identify areas where you can improve your performance, set realistic expectations, highlight the value you bring to your team, demonstrate the value you can bring going forward, provide a formal request in writing, find the right time to ask for a raise, prepare for salary negotiations beforehand.

Asking for a raise during an annual performance review can be an extremely anxiety-inducing experience for even the most seasoned professionals. Understanding how to set the right tone for this conversation is essential for achieving a salary increase or promotion. Throughout this guide, we’ll help you prepare for your next performance evaluation and provide valuable insights to help you achieve your long-term career goals.

Highlighting the value that you bring to your organization is key to conducting a successful salary negotiation. If you can demonstrate that your performance has been a strong asset to the company, you’ll be in a much better position to ask for a raise. However, suppose you find during this time of self-reflection that your performance has been lacking in key areas. In that case, you may want to avoid initiating a salary negotiation until you can confidently say otherwise. Managers need to weigh the cost of keeping or losing employees based on what they bring to the organization, and they won’t be likely to invest in you if your contributions aren’t up to company standards.

Updating your resume with metrics, monetary figures, and numbers can be a strong asset during a salary negotiation. Even if the manager is aware of your achievements, laying the data out on paper can help to reinforce these details and present a stronger case that you deserve a wage increase or promotion. As you reflect on your accomplishments, you’ll want to be sure that you frame your contributions accurately, especially if a key project was a more considerable team effort.

Managers will be much less likely to agree to your requests if you initiate a conversation during your performance review with the wrong attitude. It’s important to approach a salary negotiation with professionalism and self-awareness, as you don’t want to come off as arrogant during your evaluation. If you feel you deserve a promotion or a salary increase, talking honestly about your positive impact on the company is the right approach. Remember that the tone you establish for this conversation impacts the end result. If the value you bring to the organization is there, hiring managers will be able to see it without you overselling yourself.

Even if you’re a top performer at your organization, it’s important to be aware of areas where you can improve as a team member. Your employer may consider you to be arrogant if you fail to highlight aspects of your job where you can improve. Managers notice self-awareness, which will also show you’re an employee worth investing in. Take the time to identify aspects of your performance that you think you continue to improve so that you’re ready to discuss them during your evaluation.

It’s important to establish a salary range that is realistic before you enter into the negotiation. The company may find it insulting if you offer an outlandish figure that is 60% higher than the average market value. They’ll also be less inclined to work with you to find a compromise. This is why it’s important to research salary data for your position beforehand. If you initiate the conversation with a realistic figure, you’ll have a much better chance of securing a promotion or higher salary. If you find that you’re actually being paid below market value, this is something that you can also leverage during your negotiation.

You want to make a case that the value you bring to your team will be difficult to replace if they lose you. While you want to keep negotiations positive and professional, you also need to ensure that your employer understands the unique value that you bring to their company. This can extend beyond listing out key projects, initiatives, and metrics. For instance, you may be able to highlight the positive impact you’ve had on the organization’s work culture or your ability to drive the professional development of team members.

You’ll also want to showcase contributions and value you intend to bring to the organization going forward as you negotiate your salary. Employers covet team members who can bring fresh perspectives and new ideas to the table. Take the time to identify how you can use your unique skill sets to help the organization continue to grow. For instance, you may want to bring up ideas for improving an outdated process or procedure that can save the company time and money in the future. This will help you make a case that giving you a promotion is a win for the company as well.

Unless you have a good reason to do so, you should not blindside your boss or company by asking for a raise without notice. Creating a formal proposal in writing will help their side prepare for the negotiation and ensure that the conversation begins on the right note. This will also give your boss ample time to allocate to the discussion without distraction from other responsibilities. Managers will be much more open to salary negotiations that occur in good faith, and providing advance notice is the right way to establish this dynamic prior to the conversation.

Before asking for a raise or promotion, you’ll want to consider whether the timing is suitable for salary negotiation. If the company is currently in a state of heavy transition with numerous layoffs, you may want to hold off on asking for a wage increase. Employers are much more likely to approve your salary request if the organization is functioning properly with strong financial health. Keep these things in mind before entering into a negotiation.

Just as if you were preparing for a job interview, you’ll want to consider practicing your pitch before having this conversation with your employer. One potential option is to consult with a career coach who can provide valuable feedback on your responses. Another might be to record yourself doing your pitch to find areas where you can enhance your delivery. In either case, having your thoughts organized beforehand can help raise your confidence level prior to the salary negotiation and improve your chances of securing your increase.

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Frank Hackett

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW)

Frank Hackett is a professional resume writer and career consultant with over eight years of experience. As the lead editor at a boutique career consulting firm, Frank developed an innovative approach to resume writing that empowers job seekers to tell their professional stories. His approach involves creating accomplishment-driven documents that balance keyword optimization with personal branding. Frank is a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches (PAWRCC).

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How to list awards and qualifications on your resume.

Senior Associate, JPMorgan Chase

From making it on the dean’s list to being Salesperson of the Year, highlighting notable distinctions on your resume is a great way to stand out . After all, hiring managers are looking for the best possible candidates and are eager to hire high-achieving individuals that go above and beyond .

But what awards should you include on your resume? And how do you explain the awards in a way that will stand out to hiring managers? Here are some tips when it comes to including your achievements and awards on your resume.

What are the types of awards to include on a resume

Many different kinds of awards stand out to hiring managers. Even those you received in high school or college can make an impact when it comes to getting a job. Here are some of the more popular types of awards to consider listing on your resume:

Academic awards

• Academic achievements: AP Scholar Award, the National Merit ® Scholarship Program, dean’s list
• Scholarships
• Research or project grants
• Honor societies
• Departmental awards
• University-based awards

Professional awards

• Performance-based awards
• Employee awards
• Leadership and mentorship awards
• Peer awards

Miscellaneous awards

• Professional association awards
• Arts and culture awards
• Community service awards

What information should I include about awards on a resume

Deciding what information to include about your awards on your resume depends on the specific award. For example, most people have some idea about the qualifying criteria for more prominent academic awards like the dean’s list and the Rhodes Scholarship. However, they may not know what qualifies you for Employee of the Month or Salesperson of the Year at a particular job. This is why it’s important to include some basic information when you have awards on your resume.

Some basic information to include:

• Date awarded
• Who presented you with the award: Company, university, organization, etc.
• Purpose of award: Explain why the award is given out and what it recognizes
• How competitive is the award? Share the pool of participants you were chosen from
• Your qualifications for the award: Why they gave it to you, what goals you met, etc.

How to explain the importance of your award on a resume

Explaining the importance of an award succinctly on a resume isn’t easy. Like listing accomplishments from a job on a resume, utilize action words and get specific about your achievements that led to you receiving the award. For example, if you got Salesperson of the Year for beating sales goals by 20% at your last job, that’s worth including.

Know where to include your awards on your resume

There’re a few different areas to include awards on your resume potentially.

Under experience or education

You can put the awards in your education and experience sections under the company, organization, or college or university that awarded it. Putting your awards here can help tie your work responsibilities or educational achievements together all in one place.

Here’s an example of what an award might look like under the education section:

Bachelor of Arts in Communication | University of South Carolina

Graduation: Spring 2020

Dean’s List, Spring 2018–Fall 2019

Dedicated award section

If you’d prefer to put all your awards in one place, you can create an “Awards” section on your resume. Under this section, list all the awards that you want to highlight. Below is an example of what an awards section might look like on your resume.

Outstanding Employee Achievement Award, Cali Company, Los Angeles, CA

• Awarded to one employee each quarter out of 250+ company employees
• Recognized for my role as head of employee recognition programs and community service development in the Los Angeles office
• Developed operational procedures saving the company $250k annually in operating expenses, launched partnership opportunities, and assisted with office redesign

Final thoughts

Including awards on your resume is an excellent way to stand out from the thousands of applicants you may be up against. Whether academic or professional, showcasing your ability to make an impact and create change can put you ahead of resumes without those achievements.

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• Housing, local and community
• Planning and building
• House building

Our plan to build more homes

New targets will boost housebuilding in areas most in need.

We’re overhauling our housing system to meet the needs of working people and put communities first.    

Our plan will include introducing mandatory planning targets to aim to deliver on our ambition to build 1.5 million new homes over the next five years. 

The new targets will boost housebuilding in areas most in need, to help more people buy their own homes, and help drive growth - making everyone in the country better off. 

Bringing back mandatory housing targets  

As part of our plan, we will update the National Planning Policy Framework to bring back mandatory housing targets and set a higher expectation for how many homes must be built.  

Our new housing targets will make sure local authorities plan for the homes that are proportionate to the size of existing communities, with an uplift in areas where house prices are the most out of step with local incomes. 

Our approach also includes making clear our expectation that all authorities have up-to-date Local Plans, meaning they will be required to plan for the number of homes their communities need, so local people can engage in how, not if, homes are built. 

This plan will set us on a course to reach our target of 1.5 million new homes, driving growth and creating wealth in local communities.

What is the National Planning Policy Framework? 

The National Planning Policy Framework sets out the government’s planning policies for England and how these should be applied.  

That includes policy on proposals affecting the green belt and the circumstances where there could be development on land within the green belt.

If local authorities can’t meet their housing targets, they will need to look to brownfield land in the green belt and their grey belt, prioritising land near stations and existing settlements. 

Green belt development will be held to higher standards with new “golden rules”, including that half of the homes built must be affordable.

What are our golden rules?  

Grey belt sites will only be built on if they meet the Government’s ‘golden rules’ that half of homes are affordable, the plans enhance the local environment and the necessary infrastructure is in place, such as schools and GP surgeries.

Making it easier to build digital infrastructure  

We’ll also make it easier to build laboratories, digital infrastructure, and gigafactories to make batteries for electric vehicles. 

To deliver this, we’ll update our National Planning Policy Framework, requiring local authorities to identify sites to meet the needs of a modern economy. 

Our long-term plan for housing 

Our Planning and Infrastructure Bill will include measures to speed up the delivery of high-quality homes and infrastructure.

And we are committed to delivering the biggest boost to affordable and social housing in a generation. 

We will also build the next generation of new towns. Built where they will deliver for local people and unlock economic growth, the New Towns  programme will deliver much-needed quality and genuinely affordable housing.

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