Can't Get a Job Interview? How to Improve Your Resume's Success Rate

Are you struggling to gain any traction in your job search? Are your resume submissions being met with nothing but silence – preventing you from getting interview opportunities you need to land a great job offer? If so, then it’s time to learn how to improve your resume so that it finally gets you the attention you need for job search success.

In this guide, we’ll explain why it’s so important to create a resume that makes a great first impression on employers. In addition, we’ll offer some great tips and strategies to help you learn how to improve your resume and get better job search results.

Why learn how to improve your resume?

Your resume is the single most important job search tool in your career tool kit. It’s the first thing most employers see when you apply for a job and is an invaluable tool for convincing hiring managers to offer you an interview opportunity. Learning how to improve your resume can help you:

• Present yourself as a true professional

• Highlight your most relevant skills, experiences, and achievements

• Differentiate yourself from other candidates

• Spark enough interest to make the employer want to interview you

Top tips for improving your resume

1. Choose the right format

Did you know employers only spend a few seconds scanning your resume before they decide whether it’s worth their time? That’s why it’s so critical to make sure you’re providing them with a well-structured resume that highlights the right information in a clear and organized way.type: entry-hyperlink id: 3Sah6n6kU6DsEQal2Z7I1k is an important part of that process.

A reverse-chronological resume (listing work experience from most recent to oldest) is ideal for most job seekers. To use this format, all you need to do is begin your work experience section by listing your current or most recent position. Then, list all other relevant jobs in reverse order.

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2. Make sure your resume can get past the ATS

Many companies rely on applicant tracking systems to screen candidate submissions. These software systems, also known as ATS, help employers rank resumes and weed out unqualified candidates. The best ranking resumes then get passed to human reviewers who decide which candidates to interview.

While helpful for employers, these machines can be problematic for job seekers whose resumes are not optimized to satisfy the ATS screening process. The good news is that there are things you can do to “beat the bots” and increase your resume’s chances of making it to the hiring manager.

• Avoid using images, charts, graphics, or elaborate symbols.

• Optimize your resume with job-related keywords. Not sure what to include? Look up five similar job listings and scan them for the most frequently used words.

• Save and upload your resume as a Word document, instead of a PDF.

• Keep things simple and well-organized.

• Learn how to use AI to improve your resume by using tools like ChatGPT to analyze job descriptions to identify the best keywords for your document.

Even if the company you're applying to doesn't use an ATS, these tips will still help make your resume stronger overall.

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3. Focus on quantifiable achievements

Review the achievements in your resume and make sure they accurately convey the value you’ve provided to prior employers. Too many job seekers ignore real achievements and instead simply list their job duties. If your resume is focused on job responsibilities rather than measurable results, you’re missing a great opportunity to impress prospective employers.

For each job listed on your resume, include three to five bullet point examples of your positive results. Use real numbers to quantify the benefits those results provided. This will help employers quickly recognize that you’re focused on making a positive impact.

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4. Tailor your resume to fit the job description

Another important thing to remember as you’re learning how to improve your resume is that you should never send employers a generic, one-size-fits-all resume. While it’s helpful to have a single, comprehensive master resume, that’s not the document you should rely on for job submissions. Instead, you should be tailoring your resume to align with each job you seek.

To effectively customize your resume, you’ll need to learn how to analyze job descriptions so you can incorporate skill-related keywords into the document. Tailor your resume summary, resume headline, and professional history to align with each job that you’re applying for. 

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5. Use action words and avoid cliches

One of the hardest things to master when you’re learning how to improve your resume is choosing the best words for your presentation. In your haste to sound professional and qualified, it’s easy to fall into the trap of using cliches and dull or vague words and phrases.

Make sure you choose powerful words that help describe your qualifications and the value you can bring to the organization. For example, try to avoid words like “managed” and “helped.” Better options are descriptive action words like “facilitated,” “cultivated,” “directed,” and “coached.”

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6. Thoroughly proofread your resume to remove errors

Last but not least, don’t forget to spend time proofreading your resume. No matter what you do to improve your resume, your efforts will fall short if you end up with a document filled with spelling and grammatical errors. And make no mistake: employers will notice.

Obviously, your word processing software will catch many common mistakes, but you should never assume that it will find everything. So, make sure you read your resume carefully and look for common mistakes like spelling errors, poorly constructed sentences, and misused words. Removing those errors will help you convey a greater sense of professionalism.

Learn how to improve your resume for greater job search success

Once you learn how to improve your resume, you’ll be able to confidently apply for the jobs you want without wondering whether you’re delivering the right message to prospective employers. By following the tips and guidance we’ve presented in this article, you should be well on your way to crafting a more compelling and effective resume.

Are you still not sure if you know how to improve your resume? Get help from our experts by receiving your free resume review today!

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