One of the most important tools in your job search toolkit is your resume. Update your resume to showcase your skills, experience, and accomplishments to potential employers. To make sure your resume stands out, follow these tips for each section of your resume from Amanda Hill, Refactor Talent’s Senior Talent Partner.

• Name and Contact Information: Your name should take the first line with a slightly larger font then the body. You’ll follow with contact information including email, phone, LinkedIn profile address and current city.
• Executive Summary: Begin the resume body with this brief statement, three or four sentences, that highlights your experience, skills, achievements and possibly career goals (if changing roles). It’s the first thing potential employers will see, so make sure it’s impactful and calls attention to your unique selling points.
• Current and Previous Roles: Describe your most recent experience in the present tense, and describe each previous role in the past tense. Detail the value you created in each role and skill set explaining what you did and how you impacted the organization. Use numbers and metrics to demonstrate your accomplishments and showcase your impact. This is particularly important for roles where you can quantify your results.

Refactor Pro Tip – Use the RAS (Result > Action > Situation) formula to tell a result rich story as it ensures you are LEADING with the result.

• Job Titles: Optimize your job titles to match the job you’re applying for. For example, if you’re applying for a Project Manager position, make sure your job title reflects your experience in project management. Often times, companies may want to get creative in their titles – chief birthday officer, anyone?

Refactor Talent Pro Tip – We recommend using the title on your business card followed by your industry standard title separated by a forward slash.

• Technology and Skills: List the technologies, tools and skills you’ve used in your roles. It is important for recruiters and hiring managers to see exactly where and how you have used technology in your position.

Refactor Talent Pro Tip – Keep a repository of every piece of technology, internal acronym and project detail on a separate longer resume for potential future use.

• Education, Certifications and Projects: If you are seeking your first professional role, lead with your education. You’ll list relevant courses, significant projects and leadership positions held that are tied to the role you are seeking. If you haven’t completed your education, add “anticipated” next to month and year, so it is clear that you have not finished.

Refactor Talent Pro Tip – The biggest repository of professionals is LinkedIn. Look at similar profiles to yours and see what language they use to describe their experience and skills. Some profiles may also include sample resumes.

• Proof and Perfect: Read it over a few times, and use Word’s built in spelling and grammar check to proof out mistakes. Be sure to keep font, font sizes, spacing and formatting consistent throughout headings, each section, etc.
• Get a Second Opinion: Share your first draft with our recruiters for a final polish. We’ll make your accomplishments stand out with strong action verbs and numbers and include relevant keywords that attract recruiters.

Remember, your resume is your opportunity to make a great first impression, so spend the time to make sure it stands out!