How to Create a Resume that Makes You Stand Out from the Crowd

Having a resume shows that you are committed to finding employment and highlights features about you that may be important to potential employers. The best resumes are one page long, include experience/traits pertaining to the job you are hoping to get, and appear clean and professional.

• Keep it simple Potential employers most likely do not want to read a short story about you; save most of the details for your interview! Keeping a resume one page long allows employers to skim it quickly, noticing key words that jump out at them. Avoid cluttering the page by shrinking your line spacing or text size too much. If you have to choose between a couple lines of text spilling onto a second page and having line spacing and text size so small that it is difficult to read the words, choose the first option.
  

• Keep it relevant If you don't have much experience, focus on highlighting the attributes that make you a great employee (i.e., hard-working, reliable, attention to detail, responsible, team player, etc.). Include any education you may have. If you have had the same job for over a year, including that job and the dates of employment is a great way to show that you can commit to a company. If you have a lot of experience or worked somewhere for less then a year, only include details regarding the experience that will be of interest to the type of employer you are hoping to be hired by. Including a brief synopsis of your experience can be a great way to highlight some more skills that a potential employer may be looking for. If you are trying to get a job in construction, you can most likely leave out the details of your time working at a pet store if you have other things to include. Instead, leave it at the name of the company and the time period.

• Keep it professional While job search sites make it efficient for employers to find you, we recommend that you avoid printing/distributing the resume that they generate. Creating your resume using Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or another document creating software often produces a more coherent, put-together looking resume. There are often templates that you can use to add a pop of personality. If you use a template, try to choose a simple template that doesn't distract from the words that YOU write. If there are placeholders, make sure to either fill them in, or delete the filler words. Before saving your resume as a PDF, make sure to check for any spelling or grammatical errors. It can be helpful to have someone else take a second look at your resume.
  

• For jobs in construction If you are looking for a job in the construction industry, like an electrical apprentice position, there are certain things that you should definitely include if applicable. If you have any job experience or education relating to construction, building, or another trade. Any volunteer work involving landscaping or building is another excellent thing to include. If you have any military training, give a brief description of it.

Remember: You want to show off your skills, traits, and experience, but avoid exaggerating what you have done.