Career Choices
Experts answer questions
Q: I’ve been sending in my application for lots of jobs, but I’m not even getting a call. What’s the best way to make my resume stand out from the rest?
A: While many candidates want to provide a unique resume, the best way to make your resume stand out from others is to make sure it is easy to follow.
Making a resume clear is not complicated, but does take work. Use a legible font, such as Arial or Times New Roman. Make sure the resume is easy to follow by using a reverse-chronological-order format. Give enough information to reflect what you do, but keep some details for your interview questions. Your resume should serve as a 30-second “commercial” about your work history. Too much information on your resume becomes time-consuming to an employer — the initial 30-second glance must sell your skills. Remember, be clear and concise.
Use keywords. Many companies have transitioned to using keyword searches for resume reviews. If you have not listed particular software packages or skills you have used at previous jobs or in school, your resume may be overlooked. An effective way to do this is to include a section toward the bottom of your resume that includes keywords.
Use spell check. Many candidates send resumes that have multiple misspellings. With so many ways to avoid this mistake, employers feel these candidates simply are not detailed enough. With the auto review for software packages, this can lead to more trouble because words must be spelled correctly to be picked up.
Above all, be sure that you proofread your resume before you send it out. Be sure it includes current phone numbers and email addresses. We encourage candidates to send their resume in a Rich Text Format (RTF) document to prevent the loss of information during a system conversion; another acceptable format is a Word document as an attachment.
We discourage using the table format for emailing a resume; often, through the conversion process, systems remove the formatting, and sometimes it removes wording that is in the table format, including your contact information. This can be a vital part of making sure you get a return call or email that your resume has been received and reviewed.