Resume Building 101: Essential Tips to Get Noticed by Employers

Your resume is often your first impression with a potential employer, so it needs to be clear, concise, and tailored. While the specifics vary by industry, there are some universal rules that apply to everyone building a resume.

Here’s what to keep in mind:

1. Keep It Focused

Resumes should generally be one page. If yours extends to a second, make sure that content is highly relevant to the role. Employers don’t want to sift through unrelated information.

2. Avoid Formatting Traps

• Skip the icons, graphics, and decorative lines. Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) read text, not symbols. If the software can’t process your resume, your application may never reach a recruiter.

• Stick with simple, left-to-right formatting using standard fonts.

3. Proof, Proof, Proof

Small errors can make a big difference. Check for:

• Typos and grammar issues

• Consistency in tense (e.g., past jobs = past tense, current roles = present tense)

• Alignment in formatting across sections

A fresh pair of eyes can also help catch mistakes you might overlook.

4. Show, Don’t Tell

Employers don’t want to see vague claims like “hard worker” or “team player.” Instead, prove your strengths with examples:

• Instead of “team player,” write “Collaborated with cross-functional team of 5 to streamline scheduling process, reducing delays by 20%.”

• Instead of “fast learner,” write “Trained and mastered new scheduling software within one week, improving department efficiency.”

5. Tailor Each Application

No two jobs are alike—even if the titles look similar. Align your resume with the specific role by:

• Using keywords from the job description.

• Emphasizing skills and experiences that match the employer’s values and requirements.

6. Leverage All Experiences

If you feel you don’t have “enough” relevant experience, broaden your perspective:

• School projects, volunteer work, or part-time jobs can highlight transferable skills.

• Instead of separating unrelated work, you can group everything under one section titled Experience to create a more polished look.

Last Thoughts

Your resume is more than a document—it’s a personal marketing tool. Keep it clean, clear, and tailored, and always focus on demonstrating value. Employers don’t just want to know what you’ve done; they want to know what you can bring to them.