People in charge of hiring see a tremendous number of resumes each and every day. With so many applicants to go through, they usually don’t waste time looking at resumes that don’t immediately capture their attention.

Using the tips in the following section, you can help ensure that your resume gets noticed so that it doesn’t just get tossed in the recycle bin.

1. Double check your resume for any mistakes.

Although this may seem obvious, it is staggering how many resumes are submitted that have obvious errors. From punctuation problems to misspelled words, any type of error can create the wrong impression.

Sometimes, it is extremely difficult to spot errors in your own work. After you spend a lot of time putting together your resume, your brain may have a hard time picking out problems.

That is why it is extremely beneficial to have several of your friends or family members proofread your resume for you. Consider assigning them each with a different task.

For instance, have one person check your resume for any grammatical errors. While another person checks for spacing problems or spelling issues. These simple steps can help keep you from sending in a resume that has errors.

2. Fine-tune your resume so that it fits perfectly with the job description.

Your resume should be adapted to each job that you are applying for. Read through the job description, looking for important keywords.

Then, go through your resume and incorporate those keywords into your description of your past experience. This will make it easier for the person in charge of hiring to see that you are a perfect fit for the job.

This extra step is something that you should do every time you apply for a job.

3. Streamline your resume.

Avoid the temptation to list every accomplishment you have ever had on your resume.

Longer is not necessarily better when it comes to resumes. In fact, most of the time, longer resumes get discarded. That’s because it is a lot harder for the person viewing them to dig through all of the information to find any relevant details. Keep the wording of your resume as concise and to-the-point as possible.

In terms of the layout itself, use fonts that are easy to read and try to keep as much white space on the paper as possible. If your resume is too cluttered, it can make it difficult to read.

A hiring manager should be able to see all of your accomplishments at a glance. So they can quickly get a clear picture of why you are an excellent candidate for the job.

4. Incorporate keywords.

When a hiring manager writes a job description, they are usually extremely explicit about what they are looking for.

The job description itself will often contain keywords that precisely describe the ideal candidate. By identifying these keywords, you can make sure that your resume matches up perfectly with the job description.

There are tools available that you can use to help identify the most commonly used keywords in the job description. Then, it is simply a matter of adding those keywords to your resume wherever they will fit. This can allow the recruiter to instantly see that you are an excellent candidate for the position.

If you feel this is all too much for you then look for professional resume writers.

5. Focus on what you accomplished – not what your duties were.

You can change the way that a recruiter thinks about you by focusing on everything that you accomplished in your last position rather than by simply listing your job duties.

Be as specific as possible when highlighting your accomplishments.

If you managed a project that increased sales and reduced waste for your previous company, include key figures in your description showing the exact impact of that accomplishment.

6. Choose your wording carefully.

Active words that show you taking action to get results are always more powerful than passive words. When listing each of your accomplishments, choose words that show that you were actively involved in the process.

Words such as “launched”, “designed”, “implemented”, or “negotiated” all show you taking action to make things happen in your previous job.

These powerful words can help build a picture in the mind of the hiring manager that shows how effective you are at your job. You can find lists of powerful verbs online that you can use to describe your past roles and responsibilities.

Keep in mind, your resume is usually the first introduction that a recruiter has to you and your capabilities. It is important to create a concise, well-written resume that captures their attention and helps you stand out as a candidate. Otherwise, you risk having your resume get tossed into the “no” pile without a second glance.

The 5 Most Effective Ways to Overcome Resume Writing Problems

When you’re putting together a well-written CV, you may probably have to overcome a number of challenges, whether you’ve job-hopped, had a long gap between jobs, or involved in a stint that didn’t’ work out.

When you experience such problems, it doesn’t mean that you’re not a worthy employee. It means that you must understand what the employer wants, and work on it.

You just need to be creative and a little adjusting to your resume. You can write it yourself or hire resume writing services to help you out.

So, to help you write an excellent resume, here are some common problems you may experience when writing your resume, and how to overcome them.

1. Frequent Job-Hopping,

We all have that one moment when we had to job hop either because of layoff due to downsizing, company closed, or relocation to another city. In most cases, job hoppers include a “reason for leaving” and give a detailed explanation.

When you address these gaps, you make it less of an issue since you explain to the employer the reason for your job hopping.

To ensure that you’re not falling back, it’s important to engage in other activities such as voluntary work, freelance work, traveling, or any other activity that may improve your skills and experience.

Also, just to make sure that you don’t miss on what is happening in your line of career, always keep-up-to date with the frequent changes in your industry.

Most of all, don’t lie about the reason for the gap in your resume.

2. Overqualified for a Certain Job.

Sometimes when you’re seeking a balance between work and life, or facing high levels of unemployment, you may find yourself in a situation where you’re overqualified for the jobs you’re applying for.

For the employer, they may conclude that the job may not be satisfying enough and you may end up leaving soon. So, you miss the opportunity.

The best thing is to present your resume at the appropriate level. Emphasize on the most relevant transferable skills and ensure that you focus less on areas where you’re overqualified.

For instance, you can place your employment history and experience above your education to help hide that you have a Master’s degree. It’s not about leaving the education information out, but it’s changing the emphasis of it in your CV.

3. Spent Almost Your Entire Working for One Company.

One employer may see this as a sign of loyalty and commitment, but another one may describe it as reluctance to change.

In reality, it should not bother you as long as your resume gives a detailed explanation of all the different skills and experience you have gained in this particular organization.

So, as you prepare what to write in your resume, prepare an answer as to why you have remained in one organization for a long time. Make sure you include a positive reason.

You can say that you choose to continue working in the same company because of the benefits you got from training that fostered development. It shouldn’t seem like you were afraid or stagnant in the same place.

4. You Have Done a Variety of Short Roles.

In this era, it’s common to include short roles in your resume but it should be done in a proper way accompanied by an explanation.

If not, it can be a turn off for recruiters. Some employers may assume that you may have been fired or lack commitment.

To avoid being seen as an unreliable candidate, give an explanation of the purpose of each role and how you benefited before moving on.

This is a clear indication that you fulfilled the important roles that you were assigned and you added value to the organization. If you were involved in a lot of contract roles, include them in your resume to show the reader that you have lasted for long in permanent positions.

5. You Were Fired From Your Last Job.

In your resume, there is no room to include all the reasons for leaving your job role. In fact, you should not mention it in the first place. Instead, it’s much better if you fill this space by selling your strong points.

But, when you go to an interview, you will definitely need to address this issue. The best way to handle it is, to be honest, and convey your regret and emphasize what the whole experience taught you.

Furthermore, an employer will dig deeper to try and find out what happened on their own, so be truthful from the start.

It doesn’t matter what stage you’re in the job you’re looking for, having the right skills and experience to create an excellent resume is a key factor. You may consider highlighting your strengths above your weaknesses and cut out any unnecessary information or making minor changes to stand out in your resume and land your dream job.

These tips will help you understand what problems to look out for and how to go about it. In the end, you should be able to write a winning resume that attracts the employer’s attention.