Resume Writing Tips to Get You Ahead in 2023

Writing a resume can be tedious. Deciding on the information you want to present can take time, but it can be your ticket to the direction you want your career to go in.


Your resume is quite possibly the only encounter that an employer may have with you, so I’ve given you some resume writing tips focused on being organized, intentional, and relevant so you can stand out in the sea of thousands of other people.

 

  • Keep it concise:

A resume should be one to two pages long, depending on your level of experience. For roles with more technical experience, it may be appropriate to have a longer resume. Don’t include unnecessary or irrelevant information, try to keep it simple. Not everything has to be explained in a whole sentence, many things can be condensed to bullet points to tighten up the length of your resume.

  • Be smart with your formatting

Try to organize your information in an easily digestible format so that potential employers see the information you want them to see. The formatting of your resume shouldn’t be the reason you weren’t considered. Take some time to look at resume templates or completed resumes to get an idea of what works and what doesn’t.

    • Do:
      • Use bullet points to break up information so that it is easier to review
      • Use formatting like bolding to bring attention to important information and establish some organic separation between sections.
      • Choose a clean, professional resume template. (If you have an existing Indeed resume, great! Move the information over to a resume template for a more attractive, professional resume.)
    • Don’t:
      • Present your experience in one big paragraph
      • Choose resume templates that have many graphics, unless your experience is relevant to their use.
        • You want to avoid a “busy” resume where there’s too much going on.

  • Tailor your resume to the type of work that you want

Before you start writing, take some time to reflect on your experience and identify what direction you would like to go in. Identify the skills and qualifications that are important for the type of work you are trying to get into. Make sure to showcase your strongest skills and accomplishments that are relevant to the position that you want.

A resume is not only a view into your past experience, but is also indicative of your future potential. If you have experience that success is measured in certain ways, be sure to include data that shows you know what you’re doing.

  • For example, if you have increased sales year over year, bring some numbers in to demonstrate your skill in a way that is directly relevant to employers.

Consider looking at a resume of someone who is in the job role you are seeking, to see what they considered important to highlight in their skill set, but also to identify any gaps in your experience.

  • Use keywords that are relevant

How are employers finding your resume? Employers use sites like Monster, LinkedIn, and Indeed to find potential employees.

To find you, they have to search for either Job Titles or keywords that describe your experience. Look at a job description for your desired role, and see what skills and information that are relevant to you that you can include in your resume. You want to be easy to find and a relevant candidate.

If you have used particular software or interacted with certain products for your duties, make sure to mention the program/product type in your resume.

  • Proofread

Great! Your resume is complete. Or is it? Check over your resume to confirm that you have

    • Correct information
    • Your contact information
    • Proper grammar and spelling
    • Clean formatting

Get another set of eyes on your final draft, someone else may see something you missed.

All done? Get out into the world and be sure to upload your resume everywhere you can.
You want to be visible where employers are searching resumes, so be sure to visit Monster, CareerBuilder, Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Linkedin and more.

Stay tuned for more tips!