Top 10 Resume Tips for Professional Job Seekers

Top 10 Resume Tips for Professional Job Seekers

In today’s competitive labor market, you must stand out in a crowded job market. Writing an exceptional resume is crucial for professional job seekers aiming to secure their dream roles. In 2024, the expectations of employers continue to evolve, making it essential for candidates to keep their resumes up to date with the latest trends and best practices. In this blog, you will learn the Top 10 Resume Tips for Professional Job Seekers in 2024.

Whether you are looking for work straight out of high school, just finishing up college, or have been in the professional workforce for 10+ years, you should have a well-written resume to stand out from the millions of others searching for job opportunities.

Key Statistics to Know before Writing your Resume

• On average, recruiters spend only 6-8 seconds reviewing a resume (Forbes)
• Only 3% of resumes will result in an interview (Forbes)
• 60% of recruiters say that the biggest mistake job seekers make on their resumes is using too many buzzwords. (McKinsey)
• The average resume length is 489 words. (McKinsey)
• 83% of recruiters say they’re more likely to hire a candidate who has tailored their resume to the specific job they’re applying for. (Jobvite)

Top 10 Resume Tips for Professional Job Seekers

1. Tailor Your Resume for Each Application

Personalizing your resume for each job you apply for makes you stand out from other job seekers. A customized resume highlights the most relevant skills, experiences, and accomplishments that align with the specific job requirements. This not only demonstrates your genuine interest in the position but also shows that you have taken the time to understand the company’s needs.

Mid-size to large companies often utilize Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). In this instance, it’s important to incorporate keywords from the job description to pass through the ATS and catch the recruiter’s eye.

Our recruitment team reviews hundreds of resumes weekly, and investing a bit more effort to tailor your resume will boost your chances of securing an interview.

2. Emphasize your Achievements

To start, quantifying your achievements is crucial for a resume as it shows true results. It demonstrates your dedication to improving the company and is visually appealing. For instance, achieved a 50% increase in sales within one year. It’s important to provide as many details as possible.

Start your sentences with action verbs such as developed, implemented, and so on. Don’t forget about bullet points, this makes your achievements easy to read and helps important details stand out.

If you received any awards or formal industry recognition, be sure to include those to validate your achievements.

3. Modernize your Resume Format

Make sure to use a clean, modern design with plenty of white space. White space is your friend and avoid cluttered layouts. There are hundreds of free resume templates out there that you can find on, Hubspot or in Canva. The best professional and easy to read fonts include Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman.

4. Include a Professional Summary

As mentioned above, recruiters or HR Managers only spend 6-8 seconds reviewing a resume. The summary at the top is important and should highlight your qualifications and career goals. These summaries are tailored to specific job roles and highlight key strengths.

5. Showcase Transferable Skills

Emphasize any transferable skills that are relevant across various industries, such as leadership, communication, and problem-solving.

6. Utilize Skills-Based Formatting if Needed

Since 2020, numerous workers were laid off, and many parents stayed home with their children due to the pandemic. By 2024, with rising living costs, more people are returning to the workforce to meet financial demands.

Skills-based or functional resumes are gaining traction, especially for those changing careers or re-entering the workforce. This format emphasizes skills and abilities over chronological work history, making it easier to highlight relevant expertise.

7. Inclusion of Soft Skills

Employers are increasingly valuing soft skills like communication, teamwork, and adaptability. Resumes now reflect this trend by highlighting relevant soft skills and providing examples of their application. In recent years, adaptability and flexibility have become crucial in the workplace.

Many employees are taking on multiple roles, and employers need to know that you can handle change. Soft skills such as adaptability, resilience, and problem-solving show a candidate’s ability to excel in dynamic environments.

8. Include Continuous Learning

Continuous learning and professional development are prominently featured. Employers want to see initiative and that you make time to develop and enhance your skill set. If you do not do this, you will be left behind in the workforce.

List any relevant certifications, courses, and workshops that you’ve completed, showcasing your commitment to continuous learning. Highlight any new skills you’ve acquired, particularly those in demand in our industry.

There are many free resources out there to improve your training skills such as LinkedIn Training Courses and Hubspot Academy

9. Keep it Concise

Find a way to condense your resume to one or two pages if possible, focusing on the most relevant and recent experience. Additionally, it’s crucial to utilize bullet points for clarity, which helps recruiters scan your resume more efficiently.

10. Proofread Thoroughly

Nothing is worse than having all the right skills for a job but seeing typos throughout the resume. This is a turnoff for recruiters and employers. Ensure your resume is free from typos and grammatical errors. Use tools like Grammarly and have friends proofread it.

Conclusion

Crafting a resume that stands out in 2024 requires attention to detail, a focus on achievements, and an understanding of current hiring trends. By tailoring your resume for each job application, emphasizing your accomplishments, and keeping up with modern formatting and ATS requirements, you can significantly increase your chances of landing that interview.

Remember, your resume is often your first impression with potential employers, so make it count!

Need help with writing your resume?

At HireLevel, candidates turn to us for assistance in finding employment. Our team supports you throughout the entire hiring process, from reviewing your resume and providing interview tips to placing you with an employer that aligns best with your cultural preferences.

We are your biggest cheerleader and advocate for finding the right job.

Start by submitting your resume here, and a member of our recruitment team will be in touch shortly.

Check out our Professional Job Openings 

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