Increase your job search success with a stronger resume

Want to boost the impact of your resume? Check out the tips below from Make Your Resume More Impactful in Five Steps by Michele Lando, in the advice section of the American Water Works Association’s Career Center. This website provides free resources about topics ranging from interviews and resumes to networking and salary negotiations.

Taking the time to boost the impact and readability of your resume can pay big dividends, especially since many job recruiters spend less than 10 seconds skimming a resume for details. The guidelines below can help you stand out as a job candidate.

Capture attention right away. Include a punchy summary statement with a notable accomplishment at the top of your resume, just under your name and contact information. Consider adding a phrase such as “award winning” or “growth generating” to highlight the achievements and skills you bring to a position. One example: “Award winning legal executive with 20+ years of experience leading global teams in a multibillion-dollar organization.”

Showcase your job skills. Under your summary statement, include a list of your job skills. Locating this near the top of your resume immediately shows you have the qualifications required for a position and are a valued candidate.

Include certifications and specialized training. These details emphasize the relevant skills and experience you bring to a position and demonstrate your motivation to further your career. They also can increase the number of keywords in your resume, which helps it pass through an automated screening system. 

List outcomes and achievements. Under each of your listed job titles, include bullet points quantifying your achievements. These may include the number of people you managed, the amount by which you increased productivity, any partnerships or sales you secured, the amount of savings you achieved, and awards and recognitions.
 
Proof for spelling and grammatical errors. It’s easy to overlook typos and other simple errors after you’ve spent time writing and re-writing your resume, but any mistake can be seen as a lack of attention to detail. Give yourself some time away from the document before reviewing, and then consider printing it out and reading it from the bottom up.