How to Design a Resume That Stands out and Gets an Interview

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How to Design a Resume That Stands out and Gets an Interview
(Photo : Unsplash)

There is an art to resume design. If you want to impress someone who likely has many resumes to sort through, you have to stand out from the herd.

Depending on your field and the specific position, the person in charge of hiring may receive an average of 250 resumes for each advertised job opening.

This can be overwhelming, and he or she wants to get through them fast. You want to be noticed above all others, but how?

If you're wondering how to design a resume that makes the hiring manager stop in his or her tracks in a good way, then read on. Keep your resume at the top of the pile and out of the wastebasket.

How to Design a Resume That Works

The key to designing an unforgettable resume is to make it stand out. The best way to do this is by being a bit creative while still keeping it classy and professional.

When it comes to figuring out how to design a resume that will get noticed, use color and interesting layout, but don't overdo it. Too much of anything will overwhelm the reader and may have an even more negative effect than a traditional resume might.

Use Eye-Catching Color

Most resumes a hiring manager will receive will be in black and white. If you add a little color to your fonts or headlines, this may be enough to get them to read further.

Add a Photo

A professional photo of yourself might be a nice touch and will help the person reading your resume to put a face with your name. Using a photo editor can add clarity and effects to your photo to make it even better.

Try Templates

There are hundreds of websites out there that offer hundreds of resume templates. Take your time looking them over and choosing one that matches your tone, intent, and personality. 

Choose Simple Fonts

It may be tempting to use fresh, new fonts that are unique in your resume, but this is the one area in which attempts at creativity will likely fail you. No matter what else you choose to do with your resume, the most important part is that the text is easily readable so the person doing the hiring can get to know you and can learn about your qualifications.

Avoid Novelty Resumes

You want to be different, but not too different. Some people believe submitting an odd-shaped resume or printing their resume on an object other than paper will get them noticed, but more than likely, the hiring manager will just be annoyed by this. Stick with standard resume paper for best results.

Be Concise

You may be fortunate to have tons of experience in your field, but don't go on and on. You'll send a much better message to the powers that be if you are brief and concise.

Tell them who you are and what you can do in as few words as possible. Doing so also demonstrates confidence.

Proofread

One of the very best, timeless tips for resumes is to proofread it multiple times before sending it. Unfortunately, many people ignore this tip. Make sure everything is spelled right and that you use grammar and punctuation correctly.

Even a single mistake may be enough to get your resume tossed. If you're don't feel confident doing it alone, ask a friend, or use an online proofreading tool

Happy Job Hunting

Learning how to design a resume is vital to a successful job search. Fortunately, doing so is not difficult.

Apply the above tips to your own resume and you will soon see a higher frequency of responses, which will lead to interviews, which will lead to job offers. Good luck! 

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