5 Ways to Build an Impressive Resume That Wows Employers

Whether your job search consists of networking events, responding to online posts, or calling on companies for which you'd like to work, the one constant (besides you, that is) is your impressive resume. 

Your resume does more than list experience; it highlights your qualifications, showcases your skills, and convinces employers you're the right fit. To achieve all this, follow these strategies to ensure your resume stands out from the crowd. 

1. Prove you’re qualified

This may sound like a no-brainer, but your impressive resume is more than a list of all the jobs you've had and what your responsibilities were. That simply won’t cut it because that rote list of experiences does little to convince a hiring manager that you can perform the particular job at hand. 

Hiring people is like having to solve a huge jigsaw puzzle – the missing piece is you. You want your impressive resume to show how well you are matched to the position and that you can be their solution. 

How can you do that with just a couple of sheets of paper? 

Start by reviewing the job listing and ensuring all your skills and experiences are relevant to the position. This is called type: entry-hyperlink id: 1h3yXWFNf3YfoegprtfoM7. When you line up your career history with what they need, you prove you’re the perfect fit.

2. Highlight the right skills

One thing you’ll find is that almost every employer under the sun requires a baseline of communication, teamwork, and technical abilities. Use your impressive resume to shine a light on the skills you know companies need. 

What’s the best way to do this?

Through a proper treatment of language and a strategic use of bullets, bolding, italics, and formatting.

When used correctly, the language in your resume can not only get the right points across but it can also demonstrate to an employer that you have the ability to communicate clearly. And as far as language is concerned, it doesn't stop there. 

You should also be emphasizing things like your ability to solve problems or adapt to change. These details reassure employers that you bring value beyond the basics. 

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3. Prove your value with results

Although it may be a reasonable assumption that you have been successful at the duties listed on your resume, stopping there will not impress a hiring manager. Instead, you need to show the positive results and the impact you made at previous jobs. 

What proves positive results?

Nothing predicts future behavior as well as the past! So, if you have a track record of growing revenue, creating a safety culture, or increasing profitability, show it off! Use numbers as concrete type: entry-hyperlink id: 7uvySAFKCvbyrFQsmgMKR1. 

For example, you could write something like “increased sales by 30%” or “reduced processing time by 15%.” These metrics provide concrete evidence of your value. And hiring managers know if you did it in the past, you can do it in the present.

Brag a little…it will dazzle.

4. Demonstrate integrity

Just because you’re writing an impressive resume doesn’t mean you should embellish it. Honesty is always the best policy. Resist the temptation to overinflate your accomplishments. Savvy hiring managers, especially ones who have done the job for which you are applying, know what is expected, what is reasonable, and what is possible. 

If you make an outrageous claim, it's likely that an employer will catch on, and you'll lose both your credibility and their respect. Your integrity is at stake!

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5. Longevity suggests loyalty

Most employers are looking to invest in a candidate for the next three to five years at least. If you are just starting out, or if your job history shows a pattern of short-term assignments (18 months or less), you may have to work a little harder to impress a potential employer. 

• If there were acceptable reasons outside your control for your moving on, mention them briefly in your type: entry-hyperlink id: 5RDRjIinecBY6p0SpGqdFM. 

• If circumstances have changed, you can mention that, too. 

Do your due diligence in helping your future employer understand why, no matter your history, you're the one to invest in for the future.

Let your impressive resume lead the way

At the end of the day, your resume's main purpose is to get you to the interview where it's then your turn to make your mark. But in order to get there, your resume has to be polished to perfection. If you want to land the job, you've got to dazzle them from start to finish – from your resume's first line to your “goodbye” handshake in the interview.

Is your resume fizzling instead of dazzling? Submit it for a free, objective critique, and we'll let you know how you stack up.

This article was originally written by Carrie Maldonado. It’s been updated by Marsha Hebert.

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