A well-crafted resume is the foundation of a strong job application. You may be the most qualified applicant for a job, but you may not even get an interview if your resume is weak.

There’s a misconception that your resume is supposed to be written so you can be hired. While this is partially true, a resume’s primary goal is to grab the employer’s attention and help you earn an interview. The following pieces of advice can help you write an impressive and memorable resume for an employer so they’ll want to learn more about you in an interview.

1. Do Your Research

Research is the key component of a strong resume. When applying for a job, you’re looking to do more than simply appeal to an employer as a potential candidate. You want to look like the best possible option, which is impossible unless you have a knowledge base regarding the company and the position. 

“Remember that for every job you apply for, there are probably a dozen other applicants with equally stellar qualifications,” says Anthony Tivnan, President and Co-Founder of Magellan Jets, a company known for their private jet charter flights. “You’re all competing for the same position. The best way to stand out and write a memorable resume is to make it clear to the employer that you know who they are as a company.”

The research stage is also a convenient time to evaluate whether a business is somewhere you want to work. If you’re finding information during your research that you find concerning, you may want to look elsewhere.

2. Make It Personal

Employers care about and have a vested interest in their companies, and they want to hire a candidate who will feel the same way. It helps to make your resume personal and tailored to each company. 

“Show how well you would represent the brand by being their ideal candidate,” explains Natalia Kuvelas, Marketing Manager of Custom Goods. “Incorporate keywords and phrases you see repeated throughout their mission statement, vision statement, job postings, and website. Show them you know who they are and what’s important to them.”

This isn’t just applicable to small businesses; even big organizations want to hire people who will fit their company’s values and culture.

3. Focus on Skills, Not Duties

Don’t bore an employer with a list of general duties in your resume. Instead, identify the skills you’ve gained in your past experiences. If you’re struggling to differentiate between a skill and a duty, ask yourself, “Will this help me in the job I’m applying for, or was it a job-specific task?”

“Unless you’re applying for another restaurant job, letting an employer know that you can bus tables, fill out a seating chart, and deliver menus is a waste of space,” says Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder and CEO of OSDB. “Instead, focus on the professional development you gained while in that position. Training coworkers, communicating with customers, and problem-solving in a fast-paced environment are probably more relevant skills.” 

No matter what your previous jobs were, you gained invaluable experience that can help you in future positions. The key to creating a strong resume is to pinpoint the relevant skills you developed and explain them well.

4. Avoid Templates

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are newer programs that can read a resume and report the match to the job description as a percentage to the employer. The employer can then review the highest matches. However, templates cause many issues with these programs and can dramatically decrease the chance an employer will see your resume.

“While not every company uses an applicant tracking system, it’s better to assume they are and start with a blank document,” advises Travis Mydock, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney at Mydock Law. “With ATS, boring is better.” 

An ATS can’t read features like text boxes, accordion sections, or a broad range of other template formatting tools, so it’s best to avoid them.

5. Include Specific Examples

As you write your resume, remember to be specific. As mentioned above, you’ll want to ensure you are talking about skills, but you can back these skills up with specific examples. Elaborate on how many people you trained or include a statistic about the increase in productivity you achieved.

“You can be proactive by starting to keep track of improvements or accomplishments throughout your employment,” explains George Fraguio, Vice President of Bridge Lending at Vaster Capital. 

If your workplace has annual reviews, look back through your feedback for inspiration and data to include within your bullet points that support the skills you’ve listed.

6. Show a Variety of Skills

Employers want to see a well-rounded person when they look at your resume. The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) recommends including the eight key competencies when writing your resume.

“An effective way to make sure you’re incorporating all types of skills within your resume is to highlight each skill type with a different color,” suggests Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce. “This can give you an idea of which skills you may need to include or cut back on to create a resume that stands out.”

Mix hard and soft skills relevant to your position so that you can show that you’re a well-rounded option.

7. Highlight Your Digital Proficiency

In an increasingly digital world, being adept at various digital tools and platforms is a huge asset. Showcasing your expertise with certain software, digital marketing strategies, or other technical skills can give you an edge over other candidates.

“Digital literacy is now as fundamental as traditional literacy and numeracy,” asserts Dr. Doug Belshaw, an expert on digital literacies and the Web Literacy Lead at the Mozilla Foundation. “It’s not just about tools but understanding the underlying structures and nuances of the digital landscape.”

By highlighting these skills on your resume, you show your adaptability while demonstrating a proactive approach to modern-day workplace challenges.

8. Emphasize Continuous Learning

The ability to learn and adapt is highly valued, especially in dynamic industries. By showcasing your commitment to continuous learning — through online courses, workshops, or certifications — you convey a passion for growth and adaptability.

“Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field,” says Brian Tracy, a renowned motivational public speaker and self-development author. “Demonstrating your commitment to personal growth can set you apart from the rest.” 

Highlighting these ongoing educational endeavors on your resume can suggest to potential employers that you’re not only knowledgeable but also motivated and eager to evolve with industry trends.

9. Use the WHO Method

The What, How, and Outcome (WHO) Method is a fun way to make sure you’re including enough information in your bullet point for the employer to gain an understanding of what you’re trying to communicate and why it’s relevant to their job.

“Identifying all three components of the WHO Method helps an employer see what you’re capable of and gives them enough information to start formulating ideas about questions for an interview,” says Kevin Miller, Founder of kevinmiller.com. 

Ideally, you want your bullet points to be one line, so using this method can help you succinctly describe your skill acquisition.

10. Know Your Page Count

The general rule of thumb is one page for every ten years of relevant experience in your field. While it might be tempting to tell an employer about every experience you’ve ever had so that you sound more qualified, they only care about your most relevant and recent experiences. That means you might have to drop some experiences off of your resume to make everything fit.

“If you’re switching career fields, leaving out sections can be a bit of a disappointment to hear,” advises Max Schwartzapfel, CMO and Fighting For You lawyer. “However, it’s going to do you more good to list fewer bullet points with more relevant information than more bullets with less.”

Focus on the education and experiences that have best prepared you to be considered for this job, and go from there.

11. Link Your LinkedIn Account

Your LinkedIn account is a major advantage when applying for a job. While you are limited in pages on your resume, your LinkedIn account allows you to list a lot more experience, and you have significantly more space to list bullet points as well.

“Not only can your LinkedIn account help you network and job search, but it can also function as a resume extension,” explains Shelley Hancock, Chief Beauty Officer of Shelley Hancock Consulting. “Use your resume to hook them and your LinkedIn to blow them away and really stand out.”

Regular professional interactions and posts on the site, along with a complete and professional profile, will help you stand out as a go-getter while potentially showcasing additional skills that can benefit the company.

12. Keep It Relevant

Make sure whatever skills, experiences, or other information you’re listing are both professional and relevant. With the importance of relevancy, as you grow professionally, any resumes you’ve used in the past to apply for jobs will also need to be updated to show your current skill level in correlation to the job posting.

“Make sure your resume is relevant and accurate,” says Miles Beckett, Co-Founder and CEO of Flossy. “This seems like a no-brainer, but even a few bullets that don’t make sense for the job you’re applying for can cause an employer to think you may have submitted a general resume.”

Essentially, every bullet point should be included with intentionality toward the job you want.

Get the Job

Writing a memorable resume requires a lot of time, patience, and consideration, but it will be worth it in the end. As you’re applying for a job, it’s important to consider the employer who is going to be reading the application and the idea that they’re going to receive tons of applications from other applicants who are just as qualified as you.

To remain competitive, do your research and spend time customizing each resume by following the ten tips on how to make your resume memorable that employers themselves shared. Hopefully, using these ideas and information will make writing your next resume and scoring that interview easier!