Resume writing tips: Three easy ways to get noticed

Everyone who needs a job is looking for resume writing tips on how to get their resume noticed. The first major hurdle every job seeker faces is getting the employer to pick their resume out of the dozens or even hundreds being considered.

If your resume isn't noticed, the potential employer will never even know about your skills and accomplishments.

Here’s three simple, easy ways to make sure your resume gets noticed.

1. Be different.

This is a little more complicated than it used to be. When I was looking for my first job several decades ago, a friend advised me to use off-white paper for my resume so it would stand out in a stack. Today, nearly every resume will be some shade of off-white, so you’ll have to get noticed another way.

One way is to use some type of graphic on your resume. You might use your photo, but also consider other element as well.

Be sure you don’t take this suggestion too far. You don’t want your resume to look tacky. Keep it professional.


2. Take chances.

This can also be taken too far, but the risk is well worth it. You want to point out every positive aspect of your experience that will help you get an interview.

For example, when I was first trying to get a job writing for a newspaper, the only experience I had was working on my school newspaper. A friend who was helping me with my resume asked me to tell him about the stories I’d written. One story had gotten attention across campus. The school’s president had written a letter to the editor calling it a fine piece of student journalism.

The story and the president’s letter were mentioned prominently on my resume. The result sounded much better than a generic listing that I’d been the associate editor at a school newspaper.


3. Know yourself.

This seems like it’d be obvious, but often our sense of humility makes it easy to overlook achievements that will improve our resume.

While working on one of my first resumes, the person helping me out asked me to tell him everything I’d ever done that involved writing. When I finished the list, we had a number of true experiences that I could add to my resume. I tailored those accomplishments to fit the job I was seeking.


These resume writing tips will help your resume get noticed in a way that makes it more likely that you’ll get an interview. Moreover, they’ll likely serve as entry points for you to mention while you’re talking with a potential employer.


Steve DeVane

(Note: This program has given me some great resume writing tips that have improved my job prospects.)

Resume writing tips: Emphasize skills, accomplishments

Most people involved in a job search are looking for resume writing tips. As the economy picks up and businesses begin hiring, more and more people will look for effective ways to get their experience and qualifications in front of prospective employers.

Most people can write their own resume, which is a great plan since the person looking for a job likely knows their skills, abilities and accomplishments better than anyone.

Most well written resumes includes items such as a career objective, professional profile, summary of qualifications, employment history and education. Here are three quick tips to help get your resume noticed by the one reading the job applications. They'll give you the competitive edge that's likely to land you an interview.

• Connect your resume to the position you are seeking. Many job-seekers make the mistake of sending a generic resume with no thought of the job description, job requirements or qualifications needed for the position they seek.

Pat Kendall, a former president of the National Resume Writers' Association, said in an interview with Newsweek that a resume has only seconds to catch a prospective employers eye. Job hunters should make sure that the message in their resume is targeted to the job for which they are applying, she said.

"Job seekers don't want to hear this, because it's not just one generic resume or application for every position. And if you're applying for several positions, then it's a lot more work," she said. "But it's critical to being successful and everyone wants to be successful. To do that you can't take shortcuts."

• Add specific information that focuses attention on you.

David Perry and Kevin Donlin, author and co-author of "Guerrilla Marketing for Job Hunters," appeared in a Wall Street Journal video focusing on how people looking for a job can stand out in a crowded market.

Donlin said testimonials help a resume get noticed. Such statements can come from an online profile or anyone who has recommended the person, he said.

"It definitely helps," he said.

Donlin also suggested adding a "P.S." to the cover letter sent to prospective employers.

"The P.S. always gets read," he said.

• Empasize your accomplishments rather than just your job descriptions. It's best if the achievements are supported by measurable information.

Penelope Trunk, a career advice expert, was quoted in a Washington Post story that job hunters should focus on their achievements.

"Employers want to know what you achieved in your prior jobs, not just your job title and where you worked," she said.

The resumes of many qualified candidates are never considered because they didn't follow that advice, according to the article. Resumes that get noticed are those that include quantified benefits brought to current and past employers.

These resume writing tips are well worth the effort. Once a prospective employer sees your experience and your qualifications, you're likely to get called in for an interview

Steve DeVane

NOTE — Job seekers looking for help writing their resumes might consider programs such as this one which are available at reasonable costs. Full disclosure: I found the information helpful and will receive modest compensation if you decide to purchase it.