30 Resume Tips To Help You Get Hired

If your resume hasn’t seen an update in a while, or if you’re creating one for the first time, knowing where to start can feel daunting. While you might be proud of your ‘beer pong champion’ title, it’s best left off your resume.

We’ve compiled a list of 30 essential tips to ensure your resume captures attention and increases your chances of landing that coveted job offer.

Key Takeaways:

Ensure your resume is current and concise, ideally limited to one page.
Customize your resume for each job application by incorporating relevant keywords from the job description.
Thoroughly proofread your resume and consider having someone else review it for errors before submission.

30 Resume Tips To Help You Get Hired

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30 Resume Tips To Help You Get Hired

Limit it to one page. The debate over one-page resumes continues. While some professionals advocate for two pages, only extend beyond one if absolutely necessary. If you’re early in your career, one page is usually sufficient.
Simplify your design. Prioritize clarity in your design, layout, color scheme (if applicable to creative roles), font choice, and language.
Use reverse chronological order. List your most recent experience first. Include only the past 10-15 years of your career and focus on relevant roles.
Omit the objective statement. Generally, you don’t need a summary at the top of your resume unless it’s particularly beneficial (see tip No. 22).
Be selective about what to include. Your resume should not be a complete list of every job you’ve held. Instead, it should serve as a marketing tool to present your best qualities to potential employers.
Focus on relevance. Ensure that the jobs, experiences, and accomplishments you include are pertinent to the position to which you’re applying.
…and timeliness. Avoid including outdated experiences that are over a decade old unless they are critically relevant to your application.
Don’t worry if you lack relevant work experience. If you’re new to the job market, highlight your academic projects and relevant accomplishments. Be specific about your achievements and express your fit for the role in your cover letter.
Limit bullet points. Aim for a maximum of five bullet points under each position to maintain clarity.
Be specific. Use quantifiable achievements to demonstrate your impact. For example, “Revamped website design, boosting company revenue by 40% in six months” is far more compelling than simply stating “redesigned website.”
Incorporate keywords. Recruiters often use keywords to filter resumes. Be sure to analyze the job description and include relevant terms in your resume.
Be truthful. It may be tempting to embellish your qualifications, but misrepresenting yourself can lead to serious consequences if hired for a role that exceeds your capabilities.
Include volunteer work and relevant activities. This is especially beneficial for those with limited professional experience. Volunteer roles, projects, and relevant hobbies can provide valuable insights into your skills and character.
Prioritize work experience over education. If you have relevant work experience, list it first, followed by your educational background in reverse chronological order.
Highlight academic awards. Recognitions and accomplishments related to your education can be more impactful than a high GPA alone. Mentioning high honors can catch the attention of hiring managers.
Showcase your skills. This is an excellent opportunity to utilize the keywords from the job description. If expertise in software like Photoshop is required, be sure to list it among your skills (but only if you are proficient).
Let your personality come through. While you should avoid being overly casual, especially for professional roles, showcasing your personality can help you stand out, particularly in creative fields. Feel free to share relevant interests.
Avoid being boring. Recruiters sift through countless resumes. Make yours memorable by adding unique touches while maintaining professionalism.
Choose your font wisely. A clean, modern font can elevate your resume. Avoid Times New Roman and opt for simple fonts like Arial, Verdana, or Helvetica, keeping the size between 10-12 points.
Exclude less significant jobs. If you held a position for a very short duration, consider omitting it to avoid raising concerns about your reliability.
Handle gaps in employment tactfully. For shorter gaps, consider listing only the years of employment rather than specific start and end dates.
Address significant employment gaps. In cases of extended gaps, it may be beneficial to include a brief summary at the top of your resume explaining your skills and reasons for re-entering the workforce.
Simplify your language. Clarity should be your guiding principle. Avoid jargon that may confuse or alienate the reader.
Minimize clichés. Phrases like “team player” or “hard worker” are overused. Instead, demonstrate these qualities through specific examples.
Diversify your language. Prevent redundancy by varying the phrasing of your bullet points. However, maintain consistency in your word forms.
Proofread carefully. Before submission, review your resume multiple times to eliminate any spelling or grammatical errors, which can undermine your professionalism.
Name your file thoughtfully. This simple step is crucial—especially if you’re applying to multiple positions. Rename your resume file to reflect the job you’re applying for (e.g., GOOGLE_RESUME_CK.DOC) or use a neutral name (e.g., CK_RESUME.DOC) to avoid confusion.
Proofread one last time. A final review can help catch any mistakes you might have missed. Consider asking a friend or family member for their input as well.
Customize your resume for every application. Unless the roles are strikingly similar, adjust your resume to highlight essential keywords from the job description and recent experiences. Keep your resume current as you gain new skills and experiences.

Author

Chris Kolmar

Chris Kolmar is a co-founder of Zippia and the editor-in-chief of the Zippia career advice blog. He has hired over 50 people in his career, been hired five times, and wants to help you land your next job. His research has been featured on the New York Times, Thrillist, VOX, The Atlantic, and a host of local news. More recently, he's been quoted on USA Today, BusinessInsider, and CNBC.

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