4 Simple Ways to Strengthen Your Resume

Posted by in Career Advice


Writing a strong resume is an important piece of the job-seeking puzzle. It’s difficult for hiring managers to take you seriously enough to call you in for an interview if they feel your resume doesn’t clearly communicate the message that you’re the right person for the job.

 

The good news is it’s not difficult to write a resume that will make a lasting impression. By making a few adjustments, you’ll successfully turn a weak resume into one hiring managers can’t resist.

 

1. Know Your Audience

 

Before you begin writing your resume, you should know the audience you’re targeting. If you’ve written resumes for employers in the past and have only jotted down the bits and pieces of your job history that you remember, you’re missing the mark.

 

Employers want to know that you’ve designed your resume to show them you have specific qualifications that match those they’re looking for in the position  for which they’re advertising. This means, it’s up to you to closely look over the job posting, determine exactly what the company is looking for, then add details about your professional career that prove you have the skills to get the job done.

 

2. Strengthen the Top Third

 

Many job seekers don’t realize that the top one-third of their resume is the portion all employers read first—and is sometimes the only portion they read if they feel the information is subpar. To avoid having your resume tossed before the employer has a chance to get to the “good stuff,” be sure to add that good stuff to the top-third portion.

 

A couple of ways to get this done is by adding a branding statement in place of the traditional objective statement, then adding a career summary (bullet-point list) underneath to highlight what makes you great—right in the first section of the resume.

 

3. Add Affiliations, Awards, and Honors

 

A great way to reel in a hiring manager is to list your affiliations, especially if they relate closely to your field and the position you’re applying for. Employers are always looking for candidates who bring new knowledge to the table—and showing you belong to a field-specific organization is just the knowledge they’d like.

 

Also, take time to add your awards and honors to show you’ve been recognized in your field. If you have none that are field-specific but are still professional and showcase dedication and commitment, include them anyway.

 

4. Shorten Paragraphs and Add Bullet Points

 

When writing job descriptions, you want to avoid paragraphs longer than five lines since they make your copy dense and difficult to read. Keep your paragraphs short by summarizing redundant statements and highlighting accomplishments in a concise manner. And when lists are appropriate, create bullet points to increase white space in your document.

 

It’s not easy to tell if you’re creating a resume that is strong enough to get you called in for an interview. But by taking the steps above, you get yourself that much closer to fulfilling this goal.

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  • Estelle G
    Estelle G
    This information is fantastic. I will use it regularly in my job search
  • CYNTHIA M
    CYNTHIA M
    What if you follow all of these helpful tips, yet you still don't get called?  
  • Ernest R
    Ernest R
    Empowering knowledge of the good resume.Will continue to improve my personal resume using this ideas.
  • Cheryl B
    Cheryl B
    Nice!  Helpful and encouraging.
  • Raynard W
    Raynard W
    Thanks, Great advice!!!!!
  • Juanita S
    Juanita S
    What website can I go to and find copies of Accounting and Human Resource resume. I am struggling on how to word my job position.
  • Kevin M
    Kevin M
    Strengthen your tool box -w- armor piercing bullet points. For me they are mere words!
  • kelly s
    kelly s
    I understand and believe these are good points. It is however difficult to trim off the fat when the same fat is part of the vital information.
  • Sangeeta G
    Sangeeta G
    Thanks for the useful tips !! Will keep in mind
  • donovan b
    donovan b
    Information is very helpful, very professional.
  • olivia l
    olivia l
    Good information;thanks what if you have a gap meaning have not worked in years; but have great work experience and some education.
  • Nicholas D
    Nicholas D
    Many thanks for the information.Its really thought provoking.Stay blessed.
  • Gwendolyn P
    Gwendolyn P
    I think the article is very informative.  Due to the decline in jobs available, it is very competitive out there, and tools and suggestions that can assist and potential applicant in getting his or hers resume reviewed is very helpful.
  • Randi B
    Randi B
    thank you for this great advice.  I'm going to change my resume an incorporate your helpful tips.
  • Nicola L
    Nicola L
    Another good job.
  • Mamie W
    Mamie W
    Thank you for new knowledge.  It was very helpful.
  • Kevin C
    Kevin C
    very helpfull
  • Donna R
    Donna R
    Interesting knowledge on a few simple key factors to get your resume to be considered.Thank You!
  • Jeanette J
    Jeanette J
    This article is quite informative.
  • Jeanette J
    Jeanette J
    This article is quite informative.  The tips or suggestions are useful for everyone
  •  Barbara C
    Barbara C
    How does this work for academics?  Is there a new way to write a CV that I don't know about?  In my experience, academia wants to see it all.  
  • Philip K
    Philip K
    Great stuff.. ThanksDr Phil
  • Joyce L
    Joyce L
    These 4 suggestions aren't specific enough to support action; rather an overview on how to write a resume. The last line says it all: "It's not easy to TELL..." Exactly! There isn't a crystal ball to guarantee a hiring manager is reading information on the BEST candidate ~ there's simply too many wild cards in the process. Adding insult to injury, where's the sample of a dynamic resume? If you're going to offer advice, then we expect visual examples, addressing layout, white spaces, bullet arrangement, etc. I didn't find this information particularly informative OR helpful.
  • Kenneth C
    Kenneth C
    I have heard that employers are really only interested in your last 10 years employment, is this true?  Having been in the same field (but 8 employers) for 3+ decades, should I list everything since college degree, or delete the first 20+ years until asked? My "longest" employment with the same firm was 13 years.Thanks for your thoughts.........
  •  Lorena F
    Lorena F
    I've been thinking of ways to transform  my bland resume into a more spicy resume... I love the bulleted idea. I actually considered bulleting many times, but I wasn't sure if it was appropriate.

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