Employers review plenty of resumes, and unless yours stands out, it will blend in with all of the other applications.  Don’t underestimate the importance of your resume; it’s likely the first opportunity you have to represent yourself to an employer, and most likely the only chance in which you can reorganize and rework. To better your chances of scoring an interview, follow these tips for revising your resume.

Creative Details and Keywords

Use creative and descriptive titles and headings.  For example, instead of listing your headings like “Work Experience,” be more specific and use titles that reflect your type of work history, such as “Managerial Roles” or “Teaching Achievements”.

Similarly, you should avoid using general words, including “many,” “some,” and “few.”  The more specific you are, the better the employer can understand your skills and experience.

Facts and Figures

Using numbers on your resume actually benefits you because numbers jump out to employers.  Also, percentages provide a lot of valuable information, especially if you work in sales or production.  For instance, stating you “increased production to 15K” may be exceptional, but the amount is irrelevant to your future employee.  Instead, state the percentage so the employer can recognize your influence.

Formatting

It’s easy to use free resume templates, and many of them work well.  Sometimes, though, changing the format can cause technical issues.  For instance, if an employer asks you to email your resume, you want to make sure your document transfers and displays the way you designed it.  You can check your template by saving your document to your email and opening it on different computers. 

It’s also best to fit your information to one page unless you can fill up more pages completly.  That being said, you should still try to have 1-inch margins, and if this isn’t feasible, half-inch margins will do.  Doing so will ensure that if an employer prints your resume all of your information will be presented. 

Demonstrate Individualism

With the average unemployment rate close to 8%, you have to prove how you stand out from the other applicants.  What makes you different?  How will you better the company? 

Research the job you’re applying for and find out what qualities are needed for the position.  Your resume should display how you have the skills needed for the job, and finding out what particular skills are needed will allow you to direct the focus on how you can benefit the employer.

Enhancing your resume will improve your chances of scoring that interview! So, take the time to make sure your resume demonstrates how you can assist the company or employer.  Your resume is the best opportunity to plan and prepare, so take advantage and consider changes to make you shine above the others.

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