6 Things You Can Do to Strengthen Your Resume Today

6 Things You Can Do to Strengthen Your Resume Today 6 Things You Can Do to Strengthen Your Resume Today Building an effective resume can be challenging. There are no hard and fast rules associated with writing a resume, which can make the process something of a guessing game. Youre trying to figure outwhat will get your resume noticed by a hiring manager or recruiter, but unfortunately, no one can give you the definitive answer to that question.Let me start out by saying that everybody has a different opinion on what makes an effective resume. One persons constructive feedback may conflict with another persons, so be warned. This is what happens when there are no absolute guidelines (If youd like to learn more about what corporate recruiters have to say regarding what they like and dislike about resumes, you can find the results of an informal survey I took here.)As a former recruiter and a current resume writer, I have my own notions about what might make your resume stand out. As mentioned above, some of my suggestions may contradictthe feedback of others. Im just letting you know what Ive landseen work.1. Spell Check and ProofreadTypos and grammatical errors will likely kill your chances of landing a job. If youre using a word processor, theres no reason notto use the built-in spelling and grammar check feature.Keep in mind, however, that this feature wont necessarily catch misused words that are spelled correctly (i.e., the correct form of whose vs. whos, or accidentally using the word manger instead of manager). Likewise, your word processor may flag proper nouns or corporate terms. To ensure youve caught every potential error, manually proofread your resume after youve let your computer do its stuff.2. Consider Adding a HeadlineA recruiter will only spend a fewseconds reviewing a resume to see if its a match. If your resume has a headline just below your name and address that clearly spells out the solution to the companysvacancy such as ACCOUNTING MAN AGER for an advertised accounting manager role it may encourage the recruiter to keep reading.3.Eliminate Content That Is Distracting, Irrelevant, or Not SupportiveIf youve been a help desk specialist for the past 10 years and youre applying for a help desk job, consider leaving off the details about when you were a professional landscaper. This can also apply to listed hobbies that dont support your work.Recruiters and hiring managers want to know what you can do in the job. Including unrelated experience may be interesting to you or the reader, but it can also invite questions for example, What line of work are you really looking for? or Will you be looking to leave the office at 430 p.m. to go surfing (or whatever your listed hobby is)?Ive also seen situations in which a job seekers resume showed that they started as an administrative assistant and then grew into a senior management role, but the hiring manager wondered if the candidate was truly cut from managerial cloth. Its an unfair bias, but it happens.4. Pay Attention to FormattingDo your columns line up? Are your tabs working properly? Is the resume attractive?Microsoft Word can be a bear. If you dont know how to maneuver the program well, hire somebody who can help you format your resume effectively. A misaligned column, for example, can be interpreted by the reader as a sign of carelessness.5. Add Some AccomplishmentsListing what you do on a day-to-day basis in your job is a starting point, but including your accomplishments in eachposition shows what kind of value youre capable of adding to an employer. Measurable accomplishments (i.e., increased sales 40 percent) are great, but also consider including some of the less tangible things youve done that changed your employers wertmiger zuwachs for the better. Did you create and implement processes where none existed? Were you able to help develop people on your staff through training and mentoring?6. Avoid the Personal StuffIn the United States, yo u shouldnt include your picture, date of birth, or social security number on your resume. Likewise, leave out religious affiliations or anything else that invites illegal or inappropriate scrutiny by an employer. If youre applying for a job that involves long hours or travel and you volunteer on your resume that you have three children, a biased reader may start wondering, Geez, is this person going to miss a lot of work or regularly have to leave early due to daycare issues?A version of this article originally appeared on Insider Career Strategies.Scott Singer is the president and founder of Insider Career Strategies LLC, a firm dedicated to guiding job seekers and companies through the job search and hiring process.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who w ant to further their career.