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Writer's pictureAlya Emira

How to Make Your Resume Stand Out

Student at a job interview
Writing a Resume

If you’re a student or recent graduate entering the industry for the first time, it might seem intimidating to make a professional resume. Job searching is tough work, so it’s important that you first consider the basic requirements needed when making a resume.


What Should My Resume Look Like?

Having the right fonts, layouts, and structure could be important in making sure that you pass the initial screening. A general rule that you should follow when making a resume is to keep it clear & concise. Although it might be tempting to make your resume stand out by adding unique graphics, fonts, and colours, it might be safer to go with a simple, professional layout. Try to stick to basic colours and fonts to ensure the content of your resume is clear and easy to read.


When applying for graduate roles, internships, or entry-level roles, it’s recommended that you keep the length of your resume to one page. A common mistake applicants tend to make is trying to fit in too much information or embellishing their resume to try to stand out. Instead of doing this, try keeping your resume short and highlighting your most relevant experience and best achievements.


Take a look at some of these examples below!




What Kind of Content Should I Include?

Resumes should generally always include personal details, education, experience, and skills. It might be a good idea to tailor your resume according to what kind of role you’re applying to by only including skills and experience relevant to the role. Although it might be more time-consuming to customise your resume according to each role you apply for, this might also save you time and effort in applying to more jobs with the same generic resume.

If you’re just entering the professional job industry and have not yet gained a lot of relevant work experience, a good alternative is to include any relevant academic or personal projects. This shows that you have put the skills and theories you’ve learned to use in a practical experience.


Outside of this, some other useful things you can include would be achievements, extracurriculars, certifications, and volunteer work. These extra additions to your resume can help showcase your proactivity, work ethic, focus, and desire to achieve. For an additional personal touch, you might also add a short section describing your interests or hobbies.


How Can I Stand Out?

In a 2018 study by Ladder’s Inc, researchers found that on average, recruiters will typically only look at a resume for 7 seconds before deciding whether they want to reject an applicant.


The research found that resumes that took advantage of the F and E reading patterns performed better. The common F and E reading patterns were the findings of the Nielsen Norman Group study which used eye tracking to identify most common reading behaviours in web users. Readers will typically scan the page in 2 horizontal movements and then do a final vertical scan along the left side of the page, forming a rough F shape. Behaviours vary as some readers might read in a pattern more similar to an E shape.


The F and E reading patterns show common reading behaviours
F and E Reading Patterns

But what are the implications of this study when it comes to making resumes?

  • Utilising bold, large fonts for headings will capture recruiters’ attention

  • Using bullet points will keep your resume concise and emphasise the most important information.

  • You might also include a short paragraph describing yourself, at the top of your resume to quickly give recruiters an idea of your skillset and career goals. Make sure to keep it short yet informative.


With the increasing use of Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) in the hiring and decision-making process, it might also be the case that your application was unsuccessful simply because it was filtered out. An ATS is a type of resume-scanning software used to collect, sort, scan, and rank job applications. These systems are usually used by large companies who receive hundreds of applications per role. An ATS would therefore help them cut down on time taken to look through applications. So, what can you do to make sure your resume is picked by the system out of the hundreds?


First, make sure that you’re not making any of the following mistakes that might hurt your chances of getting noticed.

  • Use the right file type - although you might use PDF to keep the design and format, it might not be compatible with some ATS software, so it might be better to use Word instead.

  • Try to avoid using fancy templates in case the system can't read the content due to formatting or scrambled information.

  • Do not include graphics or charts as the ATS will not be able to read them.

  • Don’t include important information such as contact details in the header or footer, as it might not get picked up by the system.


Luckily, there are some tricks that will help you get favoured by the ATS software. First, you should aim to include as many quantifiable achievements as possible. For example, instead of saying “Improved business processes” you might say “Improved business processes, resulting in an increase in productivity of 20%”. The ATS software will automatically favour statements like these as they show your achievements and skills. Remember that the person interviewing you may ask you to further explain your achievements. Therefore, make sure not to exaggerate your achievements as any claims made need to be able to be justified.


Additionally, you might also want to include keywords to help you seem more attractive to recruiters and the ATS. You can do this by looking at the job description for the role you want and making sure that you’ve included some of the key skills and traits they are looking for in your own resume. You should also check similar roles and see what other keywords are being used. The more your resume matches with the required skills in the job description, the more attractive you become as an applicant.


You can find more information on resumes, cover letters, and interviews on our website here!


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