Lost in a Sea of Applicants? These Tips Will Help Your Resume Stand Out

Writing a strong resume can be a headache-inducing endeavor, but it’s also something that no job applicant can skip if he or she is serious about landing that primo job opportunity. There is a virtual sea of applicants in the job pool at any given time, and you need something that will help you stand out in such a large crowd. We’ve compiled a few tips here that will help give you a leg up against your competition.

Keep It Simple and Straightforward

Hiring managers are often inundated with dozens or hundreds of applications for each position they’re trying to fill. Now is not the time to show off your graphic design skills when going for a factory manager job. You shouldn’t be using colorful paper or pictures that you think illustrate your uniqueness. Yes, you want to stand out, but having a structured, organized resume is the way to do it, first and foremost.

You Can Embellish a Little… But Be Prepared to Back It Up

There is a fine line between embellishing your resume and flat-out lying. Interviewers and hiring managers can often spot fabrications from a mile away, but in those instances where they cannot, you’ll eventually be caught out if your skill levels and accomplishments fall way below the hype. If you want your resume to grab some attention, find inventive and fun ways to describe your previous job functions, but make sure it’s on the side of truth.

Have Someone Else Proofread the Resume

While it might sound odd to think that something as simple as correct spelling and proper grammar would help your resume stand out in a crowd of applicants, the truth is that people make little mistakes on resumes all the time. More often than not, this is caused not by the applicant’s lack of knowledge but by simple carelessness. You can help avoid this by enlisting the help of a friend or colleague who is good with this kind of thing to give it a quick read and point out any possible mistakes.

Avoid Anything Strange or Out of the Ordinary

It may sound like a stretch, but you’d be surprised at the types of things people put on resumes without even thinking about it. These include items such as immature nicknames, weird email addresses, and odd accomplishments. Your resume could appear professional and awesome, but if your email address is listed as something like “[email protected],” then you’re definitely going to give the wrong impression. Even if you’re going for a chuckle as a cheap way to grab attention, you’re taking a risk that is likely to backfire.

Do Your Research and Personalize the Resume

If you’ve ever had any experience with online dating, you’ve probably come across those single individuals who love to write one introduction and then send it out to dozens of other singles. These messages are always the first to be deleted, as they’re not only impersonal but also reek of desperation. Well, the same thing can happen with resumes. If you’re sending out the exact same resume to each potential employer, you could be missing a great opportunity. What you should do is conduct research about the company, position, interviewer, etc., and personalize the resume accordingly. But don’t go too crazy – you want to come across as sincere, not as a lovesick fanboy or fangirl.

If you’re a business owner or hiring manager, an applicant’s resume is only one part of the process. To protect your employees and customers, conducting background searches that will clue you into any possible problems in a potential worker’s past is essential. Give NationSearch a call today and we’ll help you figure out which types of background reports will help ensure your business’s safety.