Let’s create a resume together that will make an impact on hiring managers and compel them to take a little extra time on you. To achieve this, start by developing a strong format, utilize an eye-catching objective, include your soft and hard skills and add a notable cover letter. By taking these extra steps, you can leave a lasting impression that gives you an advantage over other applicants.

Format

To have a successful resume, it is essential to follow a clean and easy-to-read format. Starting from the top, make sure to add your name, number, email and address if applicable. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to contact you. Following this, you will move to your strong objective.

Afterward, you will want to jump right into job experience. Keep in mind that reverse chronological order is the best way to showcase your qualifications since hiring managers are looking for relevant information. After you have listed your job experience, you’ll go into your skills, certificates and education. Be sure to prioritize the category that is most relevant. Ideally, you will want your resume to be one to two pages long so hiring managers can quickly scan through your credentials. You can do this by aiming to keep each role four to six bullet points long.

Utilize a strong objective

Your objective will be the first thing a hiring manager sees, meaning your objective is the foundation for your entire resume. Having a strong foundation can get your resume moved to the top of the pile. Craft a powerful objective in two to three sentences that highlight a few of your most pertinent skills and what you can provide for this particular job role. Take a look at several examples before you get started to get a clear idea of what you would like to include in your short summary.

Include soft and hard skills

Whether you have been in the field for the last 20 years or you’ve recently graduated, it’s valuable to understand what soft and hard skills will get you into your dream position. Read the job description a couple of times to ensure you understand what is required and have a grasp on what skills you possess that will enhance performance for the company.

As Zippia explains, “Hard skills are your job-specific and technical abilities, while soft skills are the intangible traits and abilities that make you an effective employee and team member.” Here are a few examples to make certain you have a clear understanding:

Soft skills

• Timekeeping.
• Creative thinking.
• Conflict resolution.

Hard skills

• Data engineering.
• Spoken languages.
• Programming skills.

Knowing the difference between the two types of skills can help you develop more skills and create an outstanding resume.

Add a cover letter

Make a lasting impression on a hiring manager by adding a well-written cover letter. A cover letter is a short summary of why you are interested in a job. This should be about four paragraphs long as it gives you the chance to include more details about your past experiences. Don’t hesitate to do extensive research on the company so you can present yourself as a highly valued candidate.

Are you ready to get the job position you have been waiting for? Tailor your resume to your needs by using a clean format, composing a compelling objective statement, discovering what hard and soft skills to feature, and preparing an engaging cover letter.

Lindsey Certonio is a project manager at Stage Marketing, a full-service content marketing agency based in Provo.