How to Write a Standout Resume

Our Top Five Tips for Writing a Standout Resume 

Struggling to land a job interview? A standout resume is the key to landing your dream job. With countless candidates vying for the same position, it’s essential to create a resume that catches the employer’s attention. As the fastest growing recruitment agency in Australia, we know a thing or two about writing a standout resume! 

A standout resume is essential to make a great first impression on a potential employer. It is your opportunity to showcase your skills, experience, and achievements in a clear and concise manner. With the job market becoming increasingly competitive, it’s crucial for job seekers to have a resume that stands out from the crowd. A well-crafted resume not only grabs the attention of the recruiter but also increases your chances of getting shortlisted for an interview. 

Here are our top five tips to help you create a standout resume 

Tailor your resume to the job description

One of the biggest mistakes job seekers make is sending the same generic resume to every job they apply for. Instead, customise your resume to the specific job description by highlighting your relevant skills and experience. The best way to do this is to look at the job description and tailor your resume to outline what the employer is looking for – show them you’re the perfect candidate for the role! 

Use strong action verbs

A simple but effective way to make your resume read well to highlight your skills and accomplishments! Your resume should be action-oriented and use strong verbs to describe your accomplishments. Begin each bullet point with a strong action verb, such as “managed,” “led,” or “created.” 

Quantify your achievements

Don’t just list your job duties; quantify your achievements with specific numbers and data. For example, “Increased sales by 20% in Q1” or “Managed a team of 10 employees.” This will show the employer how you can help to improve their organisation.

Keep it concise and easy to read

Employers often receive dozens of resumes for a single position, so make sure yours is easy to read and to the point. Use bullet points to break up text and keep your resume to one or two pages. Don’t overcomplicate things, a clean resume with a small photo is ideal! 

Highlight your unique selling points

Finally, make sure your resume highlights your unique selling points. What sets you apart from other candidates? Maybe it’s a specific certification, a unique skill set, or experience in a specific industry. Whatever it is, make sure it’s front and centre on your resume. Make sure to showcase your unique set of skills, experience, qualifications and more – this is how you’ll get the job interview. 

We’ve asked our expert team of recruitment consultants with over 400 years combined experience in the recruitment industry to give you some additional tips to write a standout resume: 

• Don’t overcomplicate your resume – short and sharp dot points are key 

• Include a small photo of yourself on the resume 

• Less is more – instead of explaining exactly what you did in a previous role, be concise, I.e., ‘asset management’ 

• Keep your resume template simple and clean 

• Be honest 

By following these tips, you can create a standout resume that catches the employer’s attention and helps you land an interview for your dream job. Once you’ve got the interview locked in, check out our blog ‘How to Prepare for a Job Interview’ 

Don’t forget, your resume is often the first impression you make, so make it count!