Make Your Resume Stand Out in the Stack

For many, thinking about updating your resume is a surefire way to have an instant mental block. How do you get comfortable with updating your resume? As one of the first steps to activating a strategic job search and combatting imposter syndrome, here are three tips to getting out of your own way - and making sure your resume stands out in the stack!

Get Organized: Layout Before Content

For many of my clients, resume updates feel like an overwhelming or daunting task. They often struggle with what to say, how to make it look nice, and get through just thirty minutes of working on it - which often delays taking the first step to submit applications of interest. When job searching, time is actually really important - and waiting too long to get started might minimize opportunities available.

When updating your resume, don’t worry about what it says - first, update your layout to declutter the page. Make sure your sections capture the most relevant information for the industry or job you are considering. Worry about the bullets and how you frame your skills second. Getting organized first can make the task a bit less overwhelming.

Make Sure Nothing Relevant is Missing

Sometimes, we worry so much about the end result, that we forget to make sure that everything relevant is on our resume to begin with. Has it been awhile since you updated your resume? Make sure that your most relevant experiences are listed and there are no gaps. This includes jobs, internships, trainings, and courses that showcase your ability to do good work - especially work that is aligned with the industry or jobs of interest.

Even if you just drop placeholder text with the name of the organization and your title to come back to later, do a quick sweep of your resume and make sure nothing is missing that you want to add!

Focus on Language That Highlights Skills

Now it’s time to think about the language that you have on your resume. While many people start here, I really believe that getting organized and making sure the high level grouping of past experience is done is a great way to then narrow your focus on the content! Of course, elevating your skills and highlighting your value and impact throughout the document is key to making your professional experience “sticky” for potential hiring managers.

This is also the secret sauce to optimizing your resume for applicant tracking systems (also known as ATS systems) which matters just as much as real live people in some cases. To stand out in the stack, review job descriptions of interest and make sure that you are peppering in language that matches the keywords employers are using to source candidates.

Looking for more resume help? I created The Resume Cure™️ to help you get started on your job search readiness. It’s a quick masterclass and resume template to help you get started on your job search now. Sign up here: www.careermavenconsulting.com/trc