Blog Post: Make Your Resume Stand Out Online

Many Job Seekers come to me with the same question, “How can I make my resume stand out?” First, you want to make sure your resume is actually seen. Many recruiters use keyword searches to filter through a large volume of resumes. For example, various companies search for their ideal candidate in the Jobing.com database (which is why you should all create a free Jobing profile and upload your resume). Many large companies also have software that scans incoming resumes into a database, making it easy to sort candidates who apply to their company directly.

To position your resume successfully in a database, it is important to include verbiage relevant to searches you would like high visibility in. For example, a recruiter may type “sales representative” into the keyword search box. Resumes that have those words appear heavily within their text will go to the top of the list. Remember, your resume may be pulled in a keyword search, but if it’s too far down you will likely be missed.

Resume databases are another great reason to have multiple versions of your resume. If you’re interested in a position in sales, marketing or customer service make sure you have a separate resume for each of those positions. Also, make sure each resume is rich with relevant keywords. This way you can submit the most appropriate resume to each position you apply for.

To learn which terms would benefit you the most, be sure you are researching the company and position. Look at their job postings and their own company website to see if any words or terms are reoccurring. Also, look at the way they label the positions. For example, do they list the position as sales representative or account representative? It’s time to start thinking like a recruiter. After reading the company website, their profile and the job posting ask yourself what words you would use to search for a candidate for this position. Those are the words you definitely want to include in your resume.

Looking for a job is a two-way street and it is incredibly important for you to do everything you can to stand out from the other candidates. Remember, companies are searching for you just like you are searching for them. Good luck!

Check Out This Video To Learn the 3 Big Resume No No's!