How to Write an Effective Resume: Strategies to Help You Stand Out

Your resume is a crucial piece to get your foot in the door— and now is the perfect time to get it into tip-top shape. You’ll attract more attention from potential employers, and show them what an outstanding candidate you are for the opportunity. Learn expert tips from Linda Raynier, a Career Strategist and top Recruiter, and Andrew Seaman, LinkedIn News Editor, on this episode of Career Talks as they discuss how to write a resume that helps you stand out. Watch the full episode above and find episode details below.

We’ll take a deeper dive into: 

• What are some major misconceptions about resumes?

• How long should a resume be? One or two pages? 

• What are some resume keywords to use? 

• How to leverage descriptions for jobs? And more… 

Major Misconceptions About Resumes

1. Your resume should be a laundry list 

It’s very common for people to try to include everything they have ever done, instead of focusing on the relevant skills and experience for the job they are applying for—which is really what hiring managers are looking for.

2. One resume fits all 

Candidates often feel that writing a resume is a one-time process. Every role is unique and every company requires different skills, qualifications, or experience. For a standup resume, it’s best to tailor your experience and keywords to the job description. This not only helps you get past applicant tracking systems, but also shows the hiring manager that you have what they’re looking for. And remember, you’re not starting from scratch every time…just making small tweaks so you’re speaking the hiring manager’s language.  

How to Write a Resume From Scratch

One of the biggest hurdles many of us face is a blank document. What’s the best way to start? Do a little research to find what type of job and job title you are going for. Highlight the keywords from the job descriptions that are related to the tasks, skills, and qualifications of the position. Use these job keywords to write your resume sections, such as the profile, the professional experience, and the education.

Good vs “Not So Good” Descriptions for Jobs

A good description for a job is one that provides a lot of detail about what the job does, what the company requires, and what the company wants from you as a candidate. It should include three key sections: the summary, the responsibilities, and the qualifications—and should thoroughly explain the job and give a sense of what the hiring manager is looking for. If it doesn't have all of those sections, and only has a few short, vague bullet points, it would be considered a “not so good” job description.

Pro tip: keep a journal off to the side. When you get a win at work, get praise or recognition, get results, etc., mark that down in the journal. Later, you’ll have an easy reference for your accomplishments, whether it's during a performance review or when you're writing your resume. 

How to Write a Resume With No Experience

Whether you’ve just graduated from college or are switching industries and haven’t cultivated any professional experience yet, this section is important to your resume and you don’t want to leave it blank.

Instead, hone in what you have done and describe the skill sets you bring to the table. Here’s a few ways to do that: 1) list your college classes 2) talk about volunteer experience 3) add extracurricular activities to round out your resume.

Sections to Put In Your Resume

1. Professional Summary or Profile

Include a summary or profile section at the top of your resume to give a high-level overview of your experience and qualifications. This is the first thing the hiring manager will see, so make sure it is compelling and relevant to the job you are applying for.

2. Professional Experience

The experience section should showcase achievements and results, not just the tasks and responsibilities. Here are two formulas to write bullet points that demonstrate value and impact, while using quantifiable metrics and specific examples to back up your claim. If you’re in a creative position for instance, you don’t necessarily need metrics, but anything you can quantify can be helpful. Maybe it’s the number of assets you design or percent of the time you're early delivering projects. 

Formulas for Responsibilities and Accomplishments:

3. Education

Keep your education section straightforward, short, and sweet. Just include the degree, the institution, and the graduation date. Or if you have something unique or relevant like a high GPA, awards, or academic honors, you can also mention them.

How Many Pages Should a Resume Be?

The standard length is a one or two page resume, however, if you are a high-up executive, you may need to go to three pages. It’s best to emphasize your most relevant and recent positions, and you don’t need to include every job you’ve ever had. 

What is an Applicant Tracking System (ATS)?

ATS’s are software that scan resumes for keywords and phrases and weed out the ones that don't match the job description. Here’s how to pass them: use the job description to build your resume and use relevant keywords. However, if you follow the above tips and have strong, compelling bullets, you don't need to worry about getting past applicant tracking systems. Just focus on creating the best resume you can, and the rest will fall into place.

In conclusion, writing an effective resume is all about tailoring it to the specific role using keywords from the job description, and including a compelling profile or summary section. Keep it to two pages (or less), and don't worry about applicant tracking systems. With these tips in mind, you'll be on your way to landing your dream job. For more career strategies, check out this video series.