7 tips on how to write a resume that works

As you launch your job search, there are several items in a long list of to-dos that you need to check off, from updating your LinkedIn profile and making a list of jobs you’re interested in to researching open jobs and companies you’d love to work for. With the many items on your list, you might consider pulling up your old resume thinking it’s good enough—it’s one last thing you’ll have to do, right?

To put it politely, reconsider. Your resume is the first impression that most recruiters and hiring managers will have of you, so you want to ensure you know how to write a good resume. Your resume should clearly showcase your talents with a compelling edge that boasts about who you are succinctly. We’re not saying that you need to rewrite your entire resume from scratch, but you do want to update it to ensure it’s current and doesn’t go into the trash bin when you apply for your dream job.

How to write a good resume

Here are seven tried and true tips on how to write a resume.

1. Lead with a compelling summary

Today, the summary takes the place of what used to be an objective statement that simply shared the goal of your resume. A summary is what recruiters and hiring managers have come to expect, which provides them with a summary of your skills and experience. This is where you will share a quick “story” about yourself to grab the company’s attention. Think of it as your elevator pitch, but in written form. Include the highlights of your skills, experience, education, and training that align with the role for which you’re seeking or applying.

2. Underscore your quantifiable impact

Your resume should include your work experience, and in most instances, your jobs should be listed in chronological order. Included with your past jobs will be a list of bullet points that highlight your responsibilities. However, you’re missing a golden opportunity if all you do is list what your job duties were vs. what you accomplished while working there.

In other words, your resume should show how you made a difference and help you shine and stand out vs. merely telling the reader what you did. You want the recruiter and hiring manager to be able to visualize how what you accomplished in the past could apply to help you succeed at their organization.

Use as many numbers and quantifiable data as possible that show your impact. In addition, report on project outcomes and solutions you and your team delivered.

3. Highlight your tech skills and other hard skills

In our high-tech world, tech skills matter. Highlight your technical skills and knowledge, including software and applications you’re familiar with, if they could prove beneficial to your future job. Refer to job descriptions and include any tech skills and certifications you possess that are required or preferred for the position.

In addition to tech skills, which are a type of hard skill, be sure to showcase other hard skills required for success on the job. Examples of hard skills, which are measurable, include:

• Verbal communication
• Written communication
• Problem-solving
• Data entry
• Data analysis
• Foreign languages
• Design
• Programming
• Social media marketing

4. Include your soft skills

Soft skills, though difficult to measure when compared to hard skills, are essential for success in many positions. Where possible, highlight your soft skills. Instead of simply listing your soft skills, find ways to highlight them throughout your resume. For example, the following statement speaks to one’s ability to inspire, communicate, and be inclusive:

“Led team of 10 to collaborate and exceed quarterly goals by 15%.”

Examples of soft skills include:

• Delegation
• Courtesy
• Diversity awareness
• Inclusiveness
• Inspiring others
• Wit
• Persistence
• Tenacity
• Self-awareness
• Self-confidence
• Emotional intelligence
• Empathy
• Adaptability

5. Showcase your uniqueness

If there is anything unique that can help you stand out from the competition, be sure to highlight it. If you have written a relevant published article or blog, mention that. Or, for example, if the organization you’re applying with has international operations or a client base of different ethnicities, and you’re fluent in more than one language, you want to make that stand out. At a minimum, include it in your summary and your list of skills if it’s appropriate to include one on your resume.

It’s also alright to include some personal outside interests like volunteering since managers like to get a sense of who people are outside of work. However, don’t go overboard and, keep outside interests limited to those that also speak to your ability to do your job. Volunteering, for example, shows you are a caring person, which serves teams well.

6. Incorporate keywords

Keywords can help your resume get a leg up by allowing it to catch the attention of the bots, or applicant tracking system (ATS) software, used by most organizations to support their applicant tracking system. Human readers also take note of keywords as they scan your resume at first glance. Refer to the job posting for relevant keywords to also include in your resume, where appropriate.

This is so important today, that Ladders’ Premium service matches the keywords on member resumes with the keywords on live job descriptions, so they can instantly view what they have and what they’re missing.

7. Proofread and edit

A grammatical error on your resume is one of the top reasons your resume might end up in the bottom of the trash can. Glaring errors on resumes aren’t nearly as rare as you might think. Proofread your resume more than once before sending it, and then ask someone else to review it. Another option is to consider downloading proofreading and editing software, like Grammarly or ProWritingAid, both of which have free versions.

Final words on how to write a resume that works

Though writing a resume is hard work, the payoff is worth it—a good resume will increase your odds of landing an interview once you hit submit. And if you’re still unsure where to begin and what to update or simply don’t have time to do it yourself, there are several resume-writing services available to support you, including free resume rewrites and downloadable, editable templates optimized for hiring teams.

Regardless of what you choose, take action to support your job search journey.