7 Awesome Tips to Boost Your Resume

By Katka Mrvova

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When you’re job hunting, you should follow the newest trends in resume writing, just like in fashion. A resume that got you a job a couple of years ago, might easily be thrown into trash in 2016.

In the past, recruiters spent twice as much time going over a candidate’s resume than today. In 2016, if you’re lucky to get a human read your resume (many companies use ATS – Applicant Tracking Systems), be sure that he or she won’t be wasting more than 6 seconds on average if you’re resume looks, well, average.

So, if you haven’t done so already, it’s about time to give your resume a little facelift.

Here are a couple of valuable tips for you to modernize your resume and make it stand out in 2016. Good luck!

1. Pimp your resume

Give it a modern look. The design of your resume is what makes the first impression so it’s crucially important. First, you have to consider what industry you want to work in. If you’re applying for a creative job, (e.g. graphic designer, copywriter, architect, etc.) you can afford to go a little wild and create a resume that’s a bit off-the-wall. It might look something like this:

For public sector jobs or corporate jobs it’s best to go for a more traditional resume. We’re not saying you can’t stand out. Even if your industry requires a strictly professional looking resume, it doesn’t have to be boring. Just pick a neat, clear structured template without much embellishments. Here’s an example:

The newest trends in resume writing are in favor of monochrome design. The world is obsessed with minimalism right now and so are the hiring managers. If you love colors, add some subtle color details to your resume in headings, borders, icons or graphs. Since the current trends don’t support photos on resumes, be original and create your own logo instead.

2. Simple fonts win

When it comes to fonts, minimalism scores again. Pick an easily legible, preferably a sans-serif font, e.g. Arial, Cambria, Helvetica or any other similar typeface. Choosing a universal typeface is practical since they translate well between different operating systems. Even though it doesn’t make much difference now that the vast majority of resumes are being sent as PDF files, these standard fonts are still popular with the hiring managers.

Special tip: Use bolded font to highlight information you wish the hiring manager to notice first. Put your greatest achievements or skills you’re best at in bold because a human eye subconsciously focuses on highlighted text. It works, right?

3. Lose the resume objective

Resume objectives belong to history. Most hiring managers don’t like seeing objectives on resumes since they’re usually just cliché statements that don’t add any value to the candidate. Depending on the amount of your experience, you can consider writing a short executive summary. It can easily be just a couple of bullet points summing up your most powerful skills. Keep in mind that your summary should communicate your aptness to the job position in question.

4. Ditch buzzwords

Are you a proactive, self-motivated professional who thinks outside the box? Alright, but so are most of the people. Don’t be like everyone else and forget these buzzwords. Buzzwords don’t appeal to the human reader and are not at all helpful when your resume gets through the ATS. Your copy should also contain the keywords from the job description. That’s crucial if you want your resume to survive the Applicant Tracking System.

A little tip: Delete the good old “References available upon request” line.

5. Slim down the copy

These are busy times and hiring managers are just not that keen on reading long bodies of text. So, after you’re done with your resume, run your eyes through the text once or twice more and consider cutting it down a little. Shorten sentences, delete the fluff, keep the most important information only and use bullet points to make your content easier to read. Don’t overflow your resume with text. Let it breathe!

6. Digitalize your resume

We live in an online world so showcase something different than just a written word. Your resume content is essential, but it could offer a richer experience to the hiring manager: Add a link to your personal website or your LinkedIn profile to your resume.

You don’t have a personal website? Create one with Kickresume.

Hyperlink your email address to make it easier for the hiring manager to contact you. Where appropriate you can even attach links to your social media sites. The hiring manager will google you anyway and by providing the links on your resume, you’ll appear confident with your social media presence.

7. Be a bit bold

By bold, we don’t mean rude or silly. Taking a risk to make your resume unique and a bit unconventional pays off sometimes. People who have the courage to present themselves differently than the rest are often viewed by the hiring managers as the most creative and resourceful ones.

If you see it fit for the job position you’re applying for, try using a soft slang here and there, make a little joke, or be brutally honest and write something you wouldn’t normally put on your resume. This will help you stand out and be remembered. But be careful not to overdo it or your resume might end up on a pile of shame!

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