What are some tips for making your resume more impactful?

I would recommend making your resume minimalistic. Although visual complexity may be attractive, it could detract focus from a resume rather than improve it if excessively done. A straightforward, easy-to-read layout is more effective than a flashy one. Traditional layouts help emphasize an individual's credentials and achievements instead of creating a competition for attention with design elements.

Don't try to be too clever in the formatting of your resume. It should be simple and easy to read. The content should be 'the star of the show'. Always save it as a Microsoft Word document so everyone can open it. Also, exotic file formats (even PowerPoint) may not upload to the company's Applicant Tracking System.

Adjust your CV to the type of offer you are applying for. Try to summarise and highlight what is important, so that recruiters can easily visualise all the data. Remember that we only spend an average of 10 seconds on each CV.

Resume is your first impression always remember that. Keep it simple (single format), avoid grammatical mistakes (ask your friend to proof read), Use first page of your cv to highlight your professional summary and your hard and soft skills. Use the keywords from the job description of the position that you are applying for (Helps alot where ATS is involved). Mention proper months and dates infront of all your previous experiences. Avoid long details.

To make your resume more impactful, start with a strong summary that highlights your key skills and achievements. Tailor your resume for each job application, emphasizing relevant experience and skills. Use action verbs and quantifiable results to demonstrate your accomplishments and impact in previous roles. Keep the format clean and professional, ensuring easy readability. Focus on your most recent and relevant experiences, and avoid lengthy descriptions. Include specific keywords from the job description to pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Proofread carefully to avoid any typos or grammatical errors, as these can detract from your professionalism.

Imagine yourself going to Dominos and asking them to serve you Dal Chawal. Not making sense, right? Now imagine a recruiter looking out for the best Dal Chawal in the town and you send them Dominos address. Will it get them interested? Similarly, even if you have a lot of achievements, qualifications, and skills, but you do not include the exact things that the recruiter is looking for, it is impossible to surpass ATS let alone catch their attention. Instead of blindly applying to 100s and 1000s of jobs, apply to a few jobs but in a tailored manner. Quality over Quantity will always get your desired results.

Your resume is not about you, which I recognize sounds weird - your name is at the top and it's your experience... but hang with me here. Your resume is less about you and more about how you are fit for the role you are targeting. Try reading through the job description and asking yourself the following: - Am I speaking about the successes that highlight my ability to do the work they are asking? - Can I tie my experience to this company's biggest needs? - Am I prioritizing the success that the hiring manager will care about? Your resume is 100% a marketing tool. Treat it as an advertisement that speaks directly to your target audience about why you are the best person for the job.

In my previous role as an HRIS Consultant, I learned firsthand the power of quantifying achievements on a resume. Quantifying achievements isn't just about throwing numbers; it's about illustrating your contributions in a tangible, measurable way. Whether it's increasing sales, reducing costs, improving efficiency, or enhancing customer satisfaction, using numbers helps potential employers understand the scope and significance of your accomplishments. The key is to think about your achievements in terms of quantifiable outcomes. Ask yourself: How did my actions impact the company's bottom line? Did I save time, money, or resources? By what percentage did I improve a process or achieve a goal?

One professional's resume often seems similar to another if their duties and responsibilities are the same. So, you need to find ways to differentiate yourself from others. You'll need to list your outputs and achievements and, where possible, quantify these outputs and achievements. Facts and figures will add interest to your CV, industry awards, general accomplishments, unique roles, and examples or more extensive case studies. Your interests outside work will also speak volumes about your values and personal attributes and help differentiate you from others.

When you write your resume, you should start with a 'brain dump' of ideas around several categories that will make up your final document. This could be 5 to 6 pages long, but you should edit this down to 2, or a maximum of 3, pages of impactful copy. It should be written in reverse chronological order with more weight given to your recent experience - "you are what you can do now!" As well as asking someone else to review your CV, you should run it through a grammar and spelling tool like Grammarly. There are no excuses for mistakes these days.

You have invested time and energy to craft your resume, communicating to employers what you can do for them and why you are the right candidate for the job. Don't overlook the step of proofreading your resume. Taking the time to proofread your resume insuring that it is error free, is so important. This may be a small factor that sets you apart from the other candidates.

There are some other aspects of resumes you need to focus on as well. 🔍 Summaries: Use them if you are making a career pivot (Example: Teacher -> Data Analyst). Tell your story. If not, let your work experience speak for itself! 🧱 Achievements: Highlight your achievements, not just your responsibilities. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see the “so what’ of your positions. 🔐 Secret Hack: Get free resume feedback from Reddit r/resume subreddit.

Start your resume with a “Personal Statement” that introduces you to the recruiter or hiring manager. Don’t just say “X years of experience doing Y, searching for a job that blah blah.” Instead, give it a little personality. What’s your story? What makes you unique? What are you passionate about?