15 Expert Resumé Tips For Anyone Who's Job Hunting Right Now

Time to dust off that old résumé.

When it comes to applying for jobs, having a stellar résumé is absolutely key. After all, your résumé is often the first thing that a recruiter looks at when you apply for a new role. And whether you're working on your first résumé or updating one you haven't looked at in a minute, it's a good idea to refine and polish your résumé so you know you're putting your best foot forward.

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TLDR; your résumé probably shouldn't be post-it size.

So I spoke with Scott Bonneau, Vice President of Global Talent Attraction at Indeed, to get some expert insights that can help, whether you're currently job hunting or just want to touch up your résumé. Here are 15 things that will help make your next resumé stand out in a good way:

By the way, these tips are all pretty general, but résumé standards may vary a bit depending on your field. Once you've got a handle on these basics, you might also want to google sample résumés for someone with the job you want to get a clearer view of current trends in the industry.

1. To start, hiring managers will likely only spend a few minutes looking at your résumé, so make sure it's easy to skim.

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"In today’s competitive job market and with the impact of the pandemic, it is more important than ever to showcase your most impressive and relevant qualifications," Scott Bonneau said.

So to create an easily skimmable document, make sure your résumé is broken up into clear sections, and use bullet points rather than full sentences to describe your work experience, skills, and education. You can also bold section headers to make it even easier to skim. This way, a recruiter or hiring manager can pretty much tell from a glance how qualified you are for the position.

2. And be sure to showcase highlights that make you a great candidate for the specific job you're interested in.

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"To show how you stand out from a pool of candidates, it is important to illustrate who you are as an employee to recruiters," Bonneau advises.

Some examples you can include are any accomplishments you've made, major contributions you've made in your current job, or other key elements that make you a great candidate for the specific position you're applying for. For example, if you're applying for a sales role that involves lots of public speaking and you're a new grad, definitely mention that you were a leader in your speech club in college. But on the other hand, if it's a web-coding job and you've been out of school for several years, your speech club experience will be a lot less relevant.

3. Include key categories in the body of your résumé so that recruiters know you're a well-rounded candidate.

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Including sections in your résumé helps organize the information you're providing, and at a higher level shows off that you're bringing a variety of work experiences, education, and skills to the table. Common résumé sections include name/contact info, summary or objective statement, professional experience, skills, and education/certifications.

4. When you're choosing a résumé template or format, go for something clear and legible.

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"When writing or updating your résumé, the goal is to produce a clean, professional, and easily readable document so employers can quickly understand why you’re a good fit for the job," Bonneau said. In some cases, a creative and visually appealing résumé for design or art-focused jobs might be a good way to show off your skills. But in general, recruiters usually prefer clean and clear formats that are super easy to read.

If you need help finding the right template, Canva has a variety of free and easy-to-edit options you can check out.

5. And always double check for spelling and grammar errors before hitting submit.

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"Proofreading should always be part of your process when updating your résumé to make sure it is error free before submitting to a recruiter," Bonneau said.

Pro tip: Use spell-check or Grammarly when you're working on your résumé to ensure no errors fall through the cracks. Another set of eyes doesn't hurt either, so ask a friend, mentor, past co-worker, or family member to take a look for you too.

6. Keep it short and concise so you don't exceed two pages.

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"It is important to only include the most relevant information and work experience. For example, remove jobs you held over 15 years ago, as well as those that do not relate to the job you’re applying to now, unless you have fewer than three years of work experience," Bonneau said.

While one page has often been the norm, two-page résumés seem to be the latest trend. At the end of the day, be sure to include what makes the most sense, so you don't overdo it.

7. How many bullets should you use to describe each position? Depends on the timeline of the job.

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"For your most recent and relevant job, include five to seven bullet points with experience and accomplishments that directly relate to the job description you’re applying for. For previous jobs, keep the bullet points to three to five at the most," Bonneau said.

When choosing what to include in each bullet, pick the most important highlights so that you'll stand out from other candidates, and try to include numbers that show your impact when you can. If you're a customer service rep, for example, "Resolved customer complaints while maintaining a 98% positive feedback rate," is a lot more impactful than just "Resolved customer complaints."

8. Want to up your chances of being discovered? Add important buzzwords and keywords that recruiters in your field are looking for.

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"Online job applications are often sorted through software called an 'applicant tracking system.' This software scans résumés and cover letters for relevant experience, skills, and other keywords so that qualified candidates are easy for employers to identify," Bonneau said.

If you're not sure what buzzwords to include, take a closer look at the job listing to see what recruiters are searching for in a potential candidate, and make sure you're including the most relevant terms. This also helps when recruiters are searching for potential hires organically.

But don't add anything you're not familiar with, just in case these points get brought up in an interview. You don't want to get put on the spot with any interview questions you simply can't answer.

9. Learn how to sell yourself by crafting an "elevator pitch."

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"This can be done through a video you make, a dedicated section at the top of your résumé, a written description in your email with a recruiter, a cover letter, personal professional website, etc.," Bonneau said.

For your elevator pitch, keep it short and sweet. Hit all the basic points like your name, biggest accomplishments, and anything else that makes you a unique candidate who's perfect for the gig. You can even practice your elevator pitch by sharing it with someone else so they can critique you on anything you could be missing. It's your time to show off!

10. Instead of only talking about your job responsibilities, discuss how you've contributed or made a positive impact at work.

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"For example, instead of saying, 'Responsible for office supply inventory,' you might say, 'Developed inventory checkout process, reducing office supply spend by 15%,'" Bonneau said.

Highlights like these make you memorable to recruiters because you're showing that you don't just do the bare minimum in a role, but you also look for ways to improve. All recruiters and hiring managers are curious what potential you can bring to the table and how you might ultimately benefit their team or company. Sharing how you've done so in the past gives them a window into what it might be like to work with you.

11. Depending on the industry you're applying to, brand yourself in a way that will help you stand out in a sea of candidates.

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Branding isn't just for, well, brands. You can also create a personal brand to show off what makes you a great candidate. Then, weave that message into your résumé, cover letter, and your website and any professional social media profiles you may have. If you're not sure how to brand yourself, look to successful and influential people in your industry for cues. But don't make your personal branding a copy of someone else's. You want your personal brand to be both professional and authentic.

12. Update your résumé and cover letter for each job application that you're submitting.

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You probably don't want to send the exact same résumé to every job you apply for. "Review the job posting and apply relevant keywords. Address any requirements, skills, and qualities you have that are also in the job posting," Bonneau advised.

Taking the extra time and care shows that you're genuinely interested in that particular role, as opposed to spamming every open position with the same résumé. Plus, taking a more tailored approach can often give you a leg up on the competition.

13. Chronological résumé formats are pretty standard, but skills-based formats are gaining popularity too.

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If you really want to shake your résumé up, consider trying the trendy skills-based format. "This is especially effective for those who work in industries that have been hit hard by the pandemic and are looking to make a career and/or industry change," Bonneau said.

A skills-based résumé puts a spotlight on exactly what it sounds like...your skills. You can pick and choose aspects that would be able to make you a fit for the job you're applying to. Another great time to consider using this résumé style is when you're a new grad with little to no job experience.

14. Thinking of using a skills-based résumé template? You can find examples and useful tips here.

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"In a skills-based résumé, the primary focus is the introductory paragraph and the candidate’s professional skills that directly relate to the position that they are applying for. The work experience portion of the résumé is much shorter than a traditional chronological résumé and does not include the time frame that each role was held," Bonneau said.

Although this is just one way to approach your résumé, a chronological format can still be the right choice for your job hunt. It all depends on what works for your situation at the end of the day.

15. Finally, no matter how you format your résumé, make sure that your most relevant experience sits near the top of the page.

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Whether you go the skills-based or traditional chronological route, adding experience that makes sense should absolutely be your top priority. If your most relevant experience was a couple of jobs ago, the skills-based route could be your best bet. Or perhaps your career path is focused on a certain industry, and you have lots of jobs to include — then maybe you should go for the chronological route.

Overall, take a careful look at your job history, and you'll find the format that calls to you. Best of luck on your job hunt, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

What résumé tips would you add to this list? Share your best advice in the comments below!

And for more on money and careers, check out the rest of our personal finance posts.