Making My Resume Stand Out

Writing a unique resume for a company can be a lot like applying for a college admission. In order to get scholarships, financial aid and admittance to the honors college, a high school student has to excel in classes several years before translating that success to a paper application. The same concepts may help you write a dynamite resume.

Years of hard work may make finding a better job later in life feel like a certainty. However, you have to look good on paper first. Showing off your skills comes later in the job search process. Along with employing basic resume writing tips to consider, you also want to consider how to make your resume submission stand out.

A unique resume starts with who is in charge of your hiring process. Address the email that contains your attached resume to the relevant "Mr." or "Ms.," provided you can determine that person's name. Make a brief phone call to the human resources department to see if someone gives you a name. If you cannot find a name, address the email as "To Whom It May Concern" and include the company name with your resume submission.

Note elements of the job description that fit your experience and job skills. You may not be able to fulfill every line-item qualification, but focus on the ones you know best. For example, if you have administrative assistant skills, realize that a position for a real estate firm carries different skill sets than those at a lawyer's office. Your unique resume should reflect job skills pertinent to the company at hand.

Define your job goals, especially if you decide to change careers. Speak to other professionals in the field to ascertain what qualifications and skills you need for the job. Bolster what you lack through training, continuing education classes and company training. Include non-work related skills you bring to the company.

Use industry jargon and lingo in your unique resume. This shows you know what to expect from the job and you have the necessary skills to relate to others within the industry. Communication with others regarding ex parte orders, depositions and amicus briefs comes in handy for a legal administrative assistant.

Do not point out shortfalls. If you have the skills for the job but not necessarily the college degree, do not say so within the resume. Focus on qualities that demonstrate your knowledge of the job. If you are in the process of getting the relevant degree, expand on that during the interview. Your unique resume represents the best of your skills and experience, not what you lack.

Back up your accomplishments with relevant facts. If you helped your company increase sales, say how many quarters that occurred and how much sales increased with hard numbers. If you can type 70 words per minute, lay that out in the skills section.

Edit and revise your copy to make it grammatically correct without spelling errors. Someone who reads a great resume and then suddenly stumbles on incorrect verbiage may see you as a liability, not an asset.

A unique resume does not necessarily have funky formatting or light blue paper. The meat of the resume comes from the content included in the document, which forms the basis for a potential employer's call back.

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