How to Create a Resume that Stands Out

When writing a resume, you need to be careful of with overused words and phrases. Probably the best way approach this issue is to put yourself in the position of a hiring manager or HR employee. Can you imagine trying to search through a stack of resumes containing a bunch of self-motivated team players with great interpersonal skills and the ability to multi-task and to adapt quickly in an ever-changing work environment? Sometimes I wonder if they're laughing over the fact that everyone seems to be using the same resume template! The following are some ideas to consider when creating your resume:

1) Keep Your Focus:

The purpose of a resume is to get an employer's attention enough so you have the opportunity to interview. The resumes that have worked best for me personally have not made me look like the generic perfect employee that everyone thinks employers want. I don't make myself look worse than what I am, but there is at least some humanity in it.

2) Show You Have Qualifying Skills:

With your skills section, treat it as a kind of "just the facts" category. You can put things there like your typing speed, computer programs you're familiar with, and any specific skills needed for the position. It's probably the most impersonal section of your resume, but it makes it easier for the employer to know that you're qualified. Be sure to include the specific skills for the position based on the job listing, and that will allow you to double-check that you meet all the job's requirements.

3) Bringing Life to Your Work History:

When you begin listing your work history however, take a few sentences and describe what experience you got out of the position. Even the worst jobs out there have a lesson in them, and it's a way of showing an overall good attitude if you do it right. Just remember to keep it short, as most resumes should not be more than 2 pages total.

4) Don't Forget a Cover Letter:

Take advantage of doing a short cover letter along with your resume as well. This give you some flexibility in that it lets an employer get to know you better and allows you to provide more details to the short sentences you have in your resume. It also helps you stand out, as a smaller percentage of people even do cover letters now.

More Tips:

• Be as specific as you can with details of your duties and the work environment. For example, if I had just put "manager at movie theater," some employers may think that meant I stayed up in a booth all night with a book and had very little human contact. I would want to put that I had a high degree of contact with the public not only in customer service but in advertising and promotions as well. This is especially important in small business positions, where it's not always obvious if you were a Jack(or Jill)-of-All-Trades.
• Don't exaggerate on your resume to the point of lying. You may get the job only to lose it when the truth is found out.