By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

“You cannot swim for new horizons until you have courage to lose sight of the shore.” – William Faulkner

My services are designed to help people find their next role more quickly than they might otherwise. Whether it is the information I freely share here or elsewhere, the video courses, books and guides I offer inexpensively, the podcast I continue to deliver (launched in November 2010, No BS Job Search Advice Radio has more than 3000 episodes), my YouTube channel, the course presentations I do, or the coaching I continue to do, people need help with finding work and succeeding at it.

After all, a lot of layoff notices are still coming through the feed. I encourage you to do something simple. Share their posts to your feed without expectation. Share mine because the information may help someone turn a corner and help them land.

Subscribe if you haven’t already. Click the like button. Comment. Do things to help others who need to find work, like tagging people you know when you see a job that may fit them.

5 Resume Writing Tips to Attract a Potential Employer!

Here are 5 ideas to help create an attractive résumé (Attractive doesn’t mean ‘pretty,’ although it can be. I think of attractive as attracting people to you)!

 1. Keywords! 

Keywords are like “location, location, location” in real estate. They are the foundation of any good resume and how you will design a CV that will stand out. This is especially true when it comes to an online resume. To make effective use of keywords in your resume, start by choosing job-specific keywords that are relevant to your previous work experience, accomplishments, and career objectives. The keywords that a hiring manager or recruiter searches for in their applicant database or on a job board have to be included in your resume. A recruiter or potential employer is not looking for personality descriptors or vague soft skills like “team player” or well-spoken.” When writing your resume, use functional skills and individual job titles, such as fund accountant, contract negotiation, and benefit and loss management.

2. Make your resume specific to the job you’re applying for. 

Too many job hunters construct a resume that screams, “LOOK AT ME!” They brandish a list of responsibilities the prospective employer may not be concerned with. A better resume includes the duties from your prior jobs that are MOST APPLICABLE to the position you’re applying for. All of these are legitimate qualifications for the position, and they are exactly what an employer is searching for. Choose similar milestones and achievements and add them to the list as well.   

3. Don’t just mention responsibilities; include accomplishments and achievements.

Employers are interested in seeing what you can accomplish for them, as well as what value-added benefit or skill set you can offer. Select achievements that are relevant to the position you are interviewing for. To assist you in developing a resume that directly addresses a company’s demands, look beyond the job posting on the company’s website or LinkedIn profile to learn more about their philosophy, goals, and vision. An excellent resume focuses on the organization you want to work for as much as it does on you. Remember, AI can make it easier for you. Upload your resume without the contact information, as well as the job description. Ask it to tailor your resume to the specific job, being careful to ensure that the modified resume is accurate.

4. Write an interesting opening summary statement.

Your opening statement should be relevant to the position you’re applying for and sells your greatest attributes and skills pertaining to the specific role (Again, AI can help you do this). When reading an introductory statement, employers look for something that gets their attention because it fits what they are trying to find in someone. They want it to persuade them that you’re someone qualified for the position, and tempts them to read the remainder of your resume. Make it more than simply a resume factual statement—as if they haven’t already made it clear—you must respond to what the company wants and needs, not just what you expect from them.

5. In a primary knowledge or skills section, highlight your strengths.

Use industry-specific keywords in this section. Your chances of being entered into an applicant tracking system—or being the first to appear on a prospective employer’s job board search—increase dramatically if you include your keywords here and sprinkle them throughout your resume.

Your goal is to demonstrate to people that you have the experience they want and need so that you have the opportunity to interview for the position. Enticing them with keywords and looking for places and ways that you can WOW a potential employer so that they want to “ask you out” on an interview is the point of writing your resume.

Finally, make sure your LinkedIn profile and your resume are congruent. There were many people I never interviewed because the two were no aligned with one another, let alone, the position.

 Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2019, 2025

Last week, I released new content including:

Whether You Think You Can or Can’t  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-g2B

Using AI to Create Your LinkedIn Headline  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lNt

How Do You Address a Layoff In Your Resume? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lLM

The Way the System Is Set Up    https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lND

One of the Best Ways to Prepare for an Interview  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ffG

How Do You Avoid Self Sabotage and Find a Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-3fA

Networking Is Not Something You Only Do When Job Hunting  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-frs

Build a Powerful Network  https://youtu.be/Tta-wfceQuc

These Are Not the Best of Times  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lO5

The Interview Mistake Too Many Executives Make (And How To Correct It)  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-6vD

If You’re Going to Use AI to Write Your Resume https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lCm

Work for a Big Company? Nah!  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-9xF

Always Be Yourself  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-g78

When It Comes To LinkedIn, Recommendations, Skills And Endorsements Matter https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ebk

Success Scares People  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-gnR

So You Want a New Job? Do THIS First!  https://youtu.be/vZGUZmLJ8Y0

Ghosted by a Recruiter AGAIN?! Do This.  https://youtube.com/shorts/yYXrYWyWs24

No BS Career Advice: June 15, 2025  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-nfF

The Lazy Resume Mistake to Avoid  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-nf9

How to get the hiring manager to respond to you on LinkedIn  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-dJi

Testing for Critical Thinking in Sales Interviews  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ndT

Don’t Hide This! Conviction Advice  https://youtu.be/z1GgT00BXY4

Should Recruiters Explain Rejection?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-nfS

Effective LinkedIn Networking Strategies  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ng0

I Was Kept Waiting For 3 Hours! Was It OK to Ask Them to Reschedule?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ng9

Always Be on the Prowl Always be Looking for a Job  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2N1

The Top 10 Things To Do When Times Get Tough to Land A Job  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-d73

Do Job Boards Matter?  https://youtu.be/Xu3EiPr9qiI

Salary May Not Be Everything But …  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-nfS

Negotiating an Above Average Salary Offer  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-wy

The Harsh Truth About Your Job— It Has a Ceiling  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ngM

In What Way Has College Prepared You for This Job?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2Mt

What Should You Do If You Disagree With Something They Said? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-aSm

Finding a Job in the Real World: Job Search for Recent Graduates  https://youtu.be/nUoq7b-VQJ4  BTW, My book, “Job Search Strategies for Recent Graduates: A Guide to Your First Post-Graduation Job Search” is available on Amazon as a paperback, audiobook or for Kindle https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWKR72KK

Many Recruiters Will Look Here First   https://wp.me/p4aIk1-fqg

7 Things To Do If Your Salary Negotiation Fails  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jaZ

Don’t Fall for This LinkedIn Scam  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-nhe

The 7-Day Resume Writing HACK!  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-WL

Tell Me Something Negative You’ve Heard About Our Company  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-49U  My book, “The Right Answers to Tough Interview Questions,” is available on Amazon as a Kindle book, paperback and audiobook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093N9DJ9Y

They Are Watching You  https://youtu.be/7b90rhsSgJE

Where is the Best Place to List a Security Clearance on My LinkedIn Profile?  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lDX

Are You Playing By Someone Else’s Rules? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-iJu

Details Matter on Video Interviews: Don’t Screw Up! https://wp.me/p4aIk1-nhT

Using a Negotiating Framework to Get What You Want https://wp.me/p4aIk1-jq2

Tell Me Something Negative You’ve Heard About Our Company  https://wp.me/p4aIk1-49U  My book, “The Right Answers to Tough Interview Questions” is available on Amazon as a Kindle book, paperback and audiobook https://www.amazon.com/dp/B093N9DJ9Y

🤯 STOP Making This Resume MISTAKE! (It’s All About Metrics!)  https://youtu.be/VWTwV73luDg

In saw a few from other people:

Adam Karpiak shared this one: Search LinkedIn posts for “hiring [job title]” or “vacancy [role]” and filter by “Past 24 hours.” You’ll find hiring managers posting jobs that aren’t on job boards.

Executive Resume Branding: Differentiate Your ROI Above-the-Fold https://executivecareerbrand.com/executive-resume-brand-differentiate-your-roi-value-above-the-fold/

How To How To Stop Being Depressed About Job Search

The skills needed to find a job are different from those needed to do a job. You may be great at what you do, but job hunting, especially during difficult times, is very different than being a good employee.

Become an Insider at JobSearch.Community at any level, and you’ll receive access to all my video courses, books, and guides, plus the ability to ask me questions and/or be coached by me so that you don’t have to figure out what to do and how to respond.

Join me as an Insider at JobSearch.Community for advice about your job search and coaching from me (on Insider+, Insider Premium, Insider 30, Insider 60, or The Insider Bundle). You can also schedule a free discovery call with me to evaluate me as a coach.

Share this. Subscribe if you haven’t already. Click the like button. Comment. Do things to help others in need of finding work.

Jeff Altman

The Big Game Hunter*

www.JobSearch.Community

Ⓒ The Big Game Hunter, Inc., Asheville, NC 2007

PS Are you a recruiter or with a search firm with people you cannot help? Message me for information about becoming an affiliate at JobSearch.Community and earn 20% on 4 of the services I offer (not the two lowest cost ones)

Jeff Altman, MSW, CCTC Author

People Hire Me for No BS Job Search Coaching and Career Advice Globally Because I Make Job Search and Succeeding in Your New Job Easier | 5x LinkedIn Top Voice | Career Coach | Former Recruiter | JobSearch.Community

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