You could spend hours or days working on your resume, but it only takes an HR manager or recruiter approximately 15 seconds to decide if you’re a candidate worth pursuing. It is undoubtedly disheartening, but it is an important reminder that you must be diligent in creating your resume to make it stand out. You must have all the critical components if you want to know how to get your resume noticed. 

How to Get Your Resume Noticed: 8 Strategies that Work!

The days of generic CVs are long gone. The stiff competition in the employment market demands that you step up your game with your resume with practical strategies. You won’t need a secret formula or tool to get hired. 

These simple strategies, when done correctly, should help your quest to land that dream job. 

1. Match Keywords from the Job Posting

Organizations and hiring managers are turning to automated tools to simplify and speed up the screening process of applicants. Some job positions receive hundreds to thousands of applications, which can take time to review manually. Automation tools make it easier for organizations to screen applicants so they can focus on the most relevant candidates for the job.

You can increase your chances of moving on to the next screening phase by matching keywords in your resume with the job description. This strategy will alert the automation tools of a match, which helps you to outsmart the AI and pass the initial screening process.

2. Highlight Relevant Work Experience

Too often, applicants are excited to show off their skills and past work experience that they would give equal space in the resume for all their past jobs. However, this mistake could be why your resume does not get the attention it deserves.

The hiring manager needs to know if you have the skills and experience to match the position they require. Spare them the hassle of detailing all your work experience and focus on the most relevant experience that will make them consider you for the job. 

For example, suppose you are applying for an editorial position, and you’ve worked as an assistant editor. In that case, your resume should only mention that job or any other relevant past work experience. There is no need to mention that you worked as a store attendant. 

3. Show Them Results

Let the numbers do the talking. Metrics that show your ability to deliver results in your past work experience can prove valuable in getting hiring managers to notice your resume. Hiring managers want to focus on applicants who can promise that they can do the job and be able to prove that they’ve done it. 

For example, your resume should mention how you managed the sales team and increased revenue by 20%. Or, you can demonstrate how you helped your previous employer achieve their OKRs with your help. 

4. Less is More

Keep your resume clear and concise. Less here does not refer to the amount of text you add to your resume but rather to focus on the relevant information. You don’t need two pages for your resume. 

Avoid the fluff and get straight to the point. Make sure to add a header, summary or objectives, and body to your resume. You must focus on quality over quantity. 

5. Don’t Forget the Summary or Objective

Recruiters read hundreds, if not thousands, of application letters and resumes daily. They don’t have time to read through every word of your resume. Hence, you can do the hiring manager a favor. Adding a summary or objective at the top of your resume provides the hiring managers some insight into your resume (before they read the entire document). 

The summary and objective should be concise and provide highlights of your resume (such as your skills, experience, and education – if relevant). The objective statement should also detail your career goal. It is a great way to pique the hiring manager’s curiosity and help them consider if you’re a good candidate. 

6. Optimize Your Cover Letter

Some hiring managers believe that cover letters are no longer necessary. However, cover letters that are well-written and personalized to the job posting can help your resume get noticed – or even get you hired.

Use the cover letter as an opportunity to expound on the relevant skills listed on your resume, especially if you believe it will give you a competitive edge over other candidates. Avoid the unnecessary ramblings about your personal and work life. This information is not only irrelevant to your job application but can even turn hiring managers off . 

7. Tailor it to the Industry

Personalized resumes give you an advantage over other candidates because they show your in-depth knowledge of the industry and your attention to detail. Your resume should mention the specific position or role you’re applying for rather than being generic. It is crucial for hiring managers to understand if you have adequate knowledge of the industry and if your skills are relevant for the position. 

With that said, you should omit any skills or work experience irrelevant to the job description (unless the skills and experiences are complementary to the desired position). 

8. Proofread, Proofread! 

Proofreading your resume isn’t a game-changing tip, but it can considerably impact your application status. It is essential to pay due diligence and proofread your resume to ensure it is easy to read and free from grammatical errors. Even a misspelled word can leave a wrong impression on the recruitment manager. It reflects not only your aptitude, but also your lack of attention to detail.

It is recommended that you review your resume a few times before you submit it. If you’re unsure, you can ask a family member or a friend to look over it and see if they can identify errors you might’ve missed. 

The Bottom Line

Embarking on a job search is a scary process. If you’re struggling to land that interview, don’t get discouraged. Use this as an opportunity to get back on the drawing board and incorporate these strategies to build a resume that will get you noticed.