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Use a Standard format for your Resume – It Works There is no reason to ever try to be a pioneer when it comes to your resume. Tried and true resume formats have landed interviews for job seekers for many, many years. They are still around because they work. These resume outlines give hiring managers exactly what they need. If you are thinking about coming up with your own resume format, think twice about it. Simple and easily understandable is always better when it comes to writing a resume.

Make your resume relevant

Unrelated job experience or unrelated qualifications just bog a resume down. Try to stay on point and keep everything in the resume directed at your potential employer. No one will care that you were a busboy at a restaurant when you were in high school. If you want to enter the big leagues, companies want to know what you can do to improve their bottom line. Unless you are planning on picking up plates at their luncheons, then this experience has no business in your resume. If you really think about it there is plenty of relevant information that you can list, so run with that.

Use symbols to emphasis key points

As you are looking for ways to make your resume stand out from all of the rest, don’t neglect symbols. Things like #, $, and % stand out in the middle of a resume. Symbols are a great way to draws the readers eye to especially important points on your resume. If you managed a certain percentage of accounts at a marketing firm, then throw that percentage sign into your resume. If you helped land a certain dollar amount of business for a company, put a dollar sign in your resume. These things are impressive and eye catching. They will, if nothing else, make you stand out.

Consider the format of your resume

Do not automatically assume the only way to list the information on your resume is in reverse chronological order. Yes - Many recruiters are accustomed to this format, but it may not be the best choice for you if you have had a choppy work history or if you want to change careers. Consider a functional resume which will help you highlight your most marketable skills.

Make it clean and it will make sense

This one should be pretty obvious, but it is important that your resume be free of errors. Proofread and proofread again to make sure that you didn’t miss a basic grammar mistake or a typo. Spellcheckers don’t always solve the problem as they miss common mistakes such as using “from” in the place of “form”. Nothing ruins a good resume more quickly than bad grammar or a misplaced letter. Some hiring managers will simply lose focus on the good things in your resume when they see simple mistakes. Make sure that they have every reason to think only about your chances with their company.

A half page is a half effort

Make sure that your resume is either one full page or two full pages. If you submit a resume that includes a half of a page, it will look like you ran out of positive things to write about yourself. As a general rule, the best resumes will be loaded with solid information and references. Don’t short change yourself and certainly don’t let potential employers think that you didn’t have enough good things to say about yourself. The resume should finish strong, not with a thud.