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Target your skillset. Don’t be vague. It’s not enough to place ‘trustworthy’ or ‘hard worker’ on your resume. You need to place specific skills in there that match with your chosen industry and will help you stand out.

Bonus Tip: NEVER lie on your resume. It’s the fastest way to lose a job and an interview. Checking whether you are who you say you are takes two seconds with an online search and if you get a job you’re not qualified for, by some fluke, you’re only in for bad references down the line.

Key Words Are Your Friend

The job description contains certain key words you can highlight in your resume. The potential employer’s eye will be drawn to them since they’re exactly what they need in the position. For example, ‘Research Assistant’ or ‘Lab Experience Required.’

It’s relatively easy to include these key words in your resume if you have the appropriate experience in the field.

No More Objectives

An objective is just a fancy way of stating what YOU want. The first thing a potential employer is interested in is what you can offer, not what they can offer you. It sounds harsh, but it’s true. Their first concern is whether you’re a good fit for the position and they’re not going to ascertain that by their discovery that you’re interested in the position because you love planes or trains or earning a steady pay check.

You want to immediately highlight your skills and relevant qualifications. That means no lengthy introduction of why you want them as your employer.

Skills and Experience First  

You want to present that which is most relevant to your employer. And what’s most relevant to them is the skills which match the position and your relevant experience in the field. Present your most recent period of employment below your skills. Your qualifications can come last, in this case – they’re not irrelevant but they’re not what your potential employer is focused on when reading your resume.

Make it easy for them. If you’re a match, let them see that right away, instead of drawing it out in long paragraphs.

Fancy Free

Present yourself in a way that grabs attention through words, not details. No bright colored resumes or fancy, cursive fonts. No perfumed pages or hand delivered resumes, complete with pink or blue bows. This is not a celebration, it’s an application.

If you want to stand out, do so with your professionalism. Plain, white paper, black font, and laid out in a manner which is easy on the eye. Recommendation: Arial or Times New Roman, 12 point font.