When you’re writing your resume, you worry that it will just be passed over with barely a glance once you turn in your job application. Considering the Career Builder survey that found 23% of hiring managers spend less than 30 seconds looking at a resume, those fears are far from unfounded!
We know you’ve heard that your cover letter can make or break your chances. And you’ve probably also been told to focus your resume for the specific job you’re applying for, so you highlights the exact skills the employer is looking for. But how exactly do you make your resume stand out from the pile? Once you’ve written a good cover letter that’s tailored to the job you’re applying for, and tweaked your resume to draw attention to the qualifications a particular position requires. There are still a few resume makeover tips you can try to make yourself look a lot better on paper.
Volunteer Work
Volunteer work shows that you’re engaged with and value your community. It can also be a great way to let a future employer know that you have a lot of other skills. If you’re not a volunteer for a non-profit organization, consider becoming one. Not only will you have the advantage of knowing you’re helping a great cause, but you’ll add a little polish to your resume as well. So whether you’ve been volunteering with a local veterans group, or building homes for underprivileged people, it’s time to get that experience listed on your resume!
Online Certifications
Yes, that thing your friends have been telling you is true! There are many free and relatively easy online certifications you can get to make yourself immediately look better than your peers. If you work a lot with Google Analytics or Google Adsense, you can get basic certifications for free online. For a fee, Facebook and Adobe offer online certifications for under $200.
Join Professional or Industry Organizations
Join a local or national professional organization or a fraternal professional organization dedicated to your particular industry. It helps if you actually go to the organization’s events and network with your fellow members, but even if you don’t, just having those organizations on your resume can make you look more serious about your career.
