By Jeff Altman, The Big Game Hunter

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  

The 7-Day Resume Writing HACK!

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