top ten resume tips

one. Check your spelling and grammar.

If you build your resume in Word or Pages, spelling and grammar check is an automated service of the program. For instructions on how to run the program manually, visit this page.

two. Use no more than two fonts, one preferably.

You can use one font for headlines and one for your main body text, but no more than that. Choose a serif or sans serif font for both to show visual consistency. You can spice up fonts by making words bold, capitalizing all words, or uses kerning/spacing effects.

three. match language.

If you’re having trouble describing the work you performed, find a job posting for a similar role and start there. Use this information to match language in your resume to the job you want. Use the job posting of the role you want to match key words in your resume. Often times, the first person who sees your resume is a screener. Key words offer a quick way to make it through the first round.

four. use powerful action verbs.

When describing the tasks you performed in your role, vary the action verbs in each bullet. Here’s a great list of 185 examples to start with.

five. Don’t sell yourself short.

A few words can change a resume from mediocre to powerful. For example, instead of “part of the team that built the program” you can say “partnered cross-functionally to design innovative programming.”

six. add measurable results.

Look for opportunities to add measurable impact. Being able to showcase progress in any situation is key. This can include growth in a professional setting (i.e. driving revenue), as well as personal and leadership development (i.e. growing the size of your team, or changing a team’s behavior).

seven. Make your resume visually appealing.

Canva has hundreds of pre-made resumes ready and formatted. It’s simple and easy to use and update, and makes a huge difference in the visual presentation. A basic account is free.

eight. Use LinkedIn to your advantage.

A common resume should be one page. Sometimes, we have additional experience we want to highlight. Use LInkedIn to capture all your experience and keep your resume to the most relevant data. Ensure you have a link to your profile on your resume.

nine. Let your personality shine.

(This advice can be industry specific, so take it with a grain of salt). For example, if you’re applying for a creative role, you can use color, language and visual appeal to bring more intrigue to your resume and complement the style of the role you’re applying for.

ten. get your foot in the door.

Remember, a resume can help get your foot in the door, but you will land the job through the interview process. If you have any contacts at the organization, have them support you with a letter or email of recommendation to support getting a first-round interview.

For more tips and content editing recommendations, visit my LinkedIn profile.