10 Key Resume Tips

1. Relevant experience
List your specific experience, skills and accomplishments that are directly or closely related to the job you’re applying for. Include previous positions that had similar or related responsibilities or those that allowed you to practice relevant skills. If you took professional courses or earned any certifications, include those, as well as any transferable skills.

2. Education
Include education relevant to the job. If the position is entry-level, use your associate’s degree or bachelor’s degree. For some entry-level positions, or if you have limited work experience, you can also include your high school diploma or GED. You can also consider listing any related classes you took.

3. Personal information
Include personal information such as your name, phone number, email address, and for some positions, home address. Review the job listing to identify any additional personal information to include.

4. Job listings and qualification standards
Apply to jobs you are fully or closely qualified for. You can seek positions that require additional training if you’re open to learning new skills. Consider using job descriptions like a checklist. Compare it to your qualifications and see how closely you match the job’s requirements.

5. Vocabulary
Use simple and direct statements with easy-to-understand terms when describing your experience and skills. You can try statements like, “Collaborated with a team of designers to create targeted advertisements” or “Lead a team of finance managers to educate clients on investment strategies.” Direct statements like these define what your role was in your past job.

6. Applicant tracking systems
Optimize your resume’s content and structure to successfully pass through an applicant tracking system (ATS). Some companies receive large quantities of applications, so they use an ATS to filter out unqualified candidates. This system goes through each resume and looks for relevant phrases and keywords, often those used in the job description. Resumes are then automatically scored and the passing resumes are sent to the hiring manager to review.

7. Length
Write a concise resume that is one to two pages long. The most effective resumes are short and to the point. Hiring managers and recruiters may review hundreds of resumes for each open position, so a short resume ensures they can read it quickly.

8. Proofreading
Review your resume before submitting. Proofread your resume and use a spell checker. Consider writing your resume and going back the next day to review it again. Also, ask a friend or colleague to read it and identify any areas for improvement.

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