Resume Refresh: 5 Tips to Stand Out from the Crowd

A resume is a comprehensive summary of you as a professional, your first impression, and one of the two documents that will lead to an interview.

The word "resume" is derived from the French term for "summary." A resume is a synopsis of who you are as a professional, compiling your experience, education, certifications, and associations in an easy to read format. Your resume is often times your first impression to a hiring manager... so it needs to be good. Individuals have their own preferences on the "right" way to write a resume, and they can vary greatly. However, in this post you will find a guide on how to write a resume that all hiring managers will agree is good.

If you do not currently have a resume or simply want to start from scratch, download my free templates by visiting the Free Downloads Page here. In addition, be sure you download the free "Resume Refresh Checklist" here.

First, let's go over a few (controversial) opinions about what not to do...

One: Summary

You do not need a summary at the top. Unless you can answer the question, "What does your summary convey that neither your cover letter or the body of your resume do?" convincingly, you do not need to include it. If you still think you have a convincing reason to include a summary, consider modifying the body of your resume or your cover letter to convey that message. A summary section on the resume simply takes up valuable room and is repetitive.

Two: A Picture

Unless you are a model or are after some other occupation that must take physical appearance into consideration, you do not need a profile style picture on your resume. Personally, I rather not know what an individual looks like when considering them for a position. Despite every effort to work on not letting unconscious bias affect our thoughts, if you're human like me, a small sliver of unconscious bias likely still exists in some corner of your brain. However, if you are still set on using a picture, consider including your LinkedIn profile link, where hiring managers will be able to see your LinkedIn profile image instead.

Three: Skills Section

Again, why are your skills not conveyed in the body of your experience section? Now, if you are an engineer, software developer, creative, or likewise who has expertise in specific programs or has specific certifications, it's acceptable to add in a "Skills & Certifications" section. Examples include Six Sigma, Adobe Creative Suite, certain CAD programs, etc. This is not a place to drop the infamous Microsoft Office... sorry, that one should be a given. If it's not, please make it a priority to join one of the thousands of free, online classes on YouTube that will teach you everything you need to know.

Four: Multi-Page Resumes

Are you are a C-Suite level executive or have several publications you need to list? If not, consolidate, my friends. Unless you fit that description, you do not need more than one page. If you have an abundance of prior, relevant, and timely experience, two pages might be acceptable. Maybe. And even then, I challenge you to improve your cover letter so that you can keep the resume at one, single-sided, 8x11" page.

Now, let's dive into the five steps to refresh that resume...

One: Proper English

Your resume is your "best foot forward," and if you cannot adhere to the rules of proper English on this document, it is likely the recipient is going to be less than impressed. Check for abbreviations, comma usage, proper capitalization, spelling, typos, repetitive word or phrase usage, and proper verb tense. A rule of thumb- if it happened in the past, the verbs describing that time should be in the past tense, and if it is still presenting happening, the verbs should be in present tense as well.

Two: Email

If you do not already have a professional sounding email address, open another tab and create one. Right now. Choose from Yahoo, Gmail, Hotmail, etc. It doesn't matter which service provider you choose. Create one, now. If you have anything along the lines of "bengalsfan85@yahoo.com" or "ucincyalum16@gmail.com" immediately take it off your resume. Your email address should be an easy to read reflection of your name. For example, "FirstNameMiddleInitialLastInital@gmail.com" or "FirstNameLastNameYear@hotmail.com." Pet names, "glittery" words, and other irrelevant phrases are not welcome here. A rule of thumb- if you wouldn't want to spell out your email during an interview to the hiring manager, you should create a new one.

Three: Heading

The resume document's heading, bolder and larger than your body text, should include your address (without abbreviations for state/street/avenue/etc.), phone number in correct formatting (ex. (555) 555-5555), and if you choose, your LinkedIn profile link. However, do not include your LinkedIn profile if it is out of date. If you have a personal website that is relevant to your sought after position (for example, an artistic portfolio), include it here as well.

Four: Style

The style of your resume can vary greatly from the next candidates, however, there are a few guidelines you should always follow.

-Don't include bright colors that are hard to read or distract too much from the contents of your resume.

-Use a chronological approach under headings. For example, your most recent position should be at the top of the experience section, with prior positions following in reverse chronological order.

-Choose a font size of 8.5 or greater so the recipient can read your resume without a magnifying glass

-Use an easy to read, traditional font so that the formatting will not be compromised if the recipient does not have that unique font downloaded on their computer

-Draft simple phrases listed as bullet points, which are easy to read. Do not put your experience into paragraph form.

-Ensure your margins are no less than .5 inches in case the recipient wants to print your digitally submitted resume out

Five: Review

Who do you think of when you hear the phrase "well-spoken"? Reach out to them. Ask if they would mind taking fifteen minutes out of their week to review your resume with a fine tooth comb when it comes to grammar and general verbiage. Request specific feedback, such as on their initial thoughts when opening your resume. Was it "clean" and easy to read, or was it dense and hard to navigate? Were certain words or phrases used more than once or twice? Did each bullet point under "Experience" begin with a verb in the proper verb tense? Were those verbs repetitive? The more feedback the better.

(Side note: I do offer resume review sessions, please email me for more information.)

Other best practices to consider...

One: Hard Copies

Print out no less than 5 copies of your resume before an interview and invest in quality thick paper to print it on. Keep one in front of you for reference during the interview.

Two: White Space Ensure enough white space on page, if the entire document looks like one big text block, it is likely the recipient will not take the time to read your novel of a resume

Three: File Name

Save your resume in the format of "FirstName_LastName_Resume" in a simple Microsoft file format, such as .docx) so when a recipient saves it to their files, they don't have to guess on which one is yours. It'll be easy to find and reference again, if needed.

Now that your resume is clear, concise, and conveys exactly what the recipient needs to know, you're ready to go! Questions? Drop them in the comments below!

Don't forget to Pin this post on Pinterest for future reference or for a friend so they can take full advantage of these helpful tips, as well as download the free Simple Resume Template and the Resume Refresh Checklist.