How to Make a Good Resume and Stand Out in the Job Market

In today’s competitive job market, your resume is your first impression. It’s often the first thing a hiring manager sees, so it needs to be impactful, concise, and tailored to the specific job you’re applying for. A well-crafted resume can open doors, while a poorly structured one might leave you overlooked. Here’s a modern guide on how to create a resume that gets noticed.

Start with a Clean and Professional Layout:

Your resume should be easy to read and visually appealing. Employers typically scan resumes quickly, so use a clean design with a lot of white space. Stick to a professional font (e.g., Arial, Calibri, or Helvetica) in a readable size (10–12 pt). Avoid overuse of colors or complex designs that might distract from the content.

• Pro Tip: Use a free resume template from platforms like Canva or Google Docs if you’re not a design expert.

Craft a Strong Opening Statement:

Your resume should include a summary or objective at the top. This brief statement (2–3 sentences) should quickly tell the employer who you are, what you bring to the table, and why you’re the right fit for the position. Avoid generic statements. Instead, personalize it for the specific role you’re applying to.

Highlight Your Skills and Achievements

Employers want to see your skills and accomplishments, not just a list of duties from past jobs. Focus on measurable achievements and skills that align with the job description. Use bullet points to make it scannable.

• Skills Section: List hard skills (like software proficiency or certifications) and soft skills (like communication or problem-solving). Make sure the skills you mention are relevant to the role.
• Achievements Section: Highlight specific accomplishments—did you increase sales by 30%? Did you lead a successful project? Include numbers and percentages wherever possible to quantify your impact.

Tailor Your Resume for Each Job

One of the most important things you can do to make your resume stand out is to customize it for each position. Carefully read the job description and adjust your resume to reflect the skills, experience, and qualifications the employer is seeking.

• Pro Tip: Use keywords from the job listing in your resume. Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) that scan for specific keywords. Including them in your resume can help ensure it gets seen by a human.

Showcase Relevant Experience

When listing your work experience, be sure to focus on positions and responsibilities that are directly relevant to the job you’re applying for. Don’t just list duties—focus on how you added value.

• Format: Start with the most recent job and work backward. For each role, include the company name, your job title, dates of employment, and a brief summary of your achievements and responsibilities.
• Pro Tip: If you’re changing careers, focus more on transferable skills and relevant experiences (like internships, volunteer work, or freelance projects) that highlight your qualifications.

Don’t Forget Education and Certifications

Even if you have significant work experience, your education and certifications should still be included, especially if they are relevant to the role. List your highest degree first, followed by any relevant courses or certifications.

• Pro Tip: If you’ve taken specialized courses related to the job, such as project management or data analytics, be sure to include them.

Proofread and Edit

The last step in creating a great resume is proofreading. Mistakes, especially spelling or grammatical errors, can give a negative impression and harm your chances. Run your resume through a grammar checker like Grammarly, or ask a friend or colleague to review it.

• Pro Tip: Read your resume out loud to catch awkward phrasing or errors that you might have missed.

A great resume is more than just a list of your qualifications. It’s a marketing document that should tell a compelling story of who you are as a professional and what you can bring to the job. By focusing on clarity, relevancy, and measurable achievements, you can create a resume that will grab the attention of employers and help you land your dream job.