1. Start With a Clear Resume Structure

A professional resume should be easy to read and navigate. Employers should be able to quickly find your most important information.

A typical resume structure includes:

• Name and contact information
• Professional summary or career objective
• Key skills
• Professional experience
• Education
• Certifications or professional training
• Relevant achievements
• Additional information, where appropriate

Keep the most relevant information near the top of the resume. If a recruiter only spends a short time reviewing your application, they should immediately understand who you are, what you do, and what you can offer.

2. Write a Strong Professional Summary

The professional summary is one of the first sections employers may read. Use it to provide a brief overview of your experience, strengths, and career focus.

Instead of writing a generic statement such as:

“Hardworking professional looking for a challenging opportunity.”

Try to communicate specific value.

For example:

“Results-focused marketing professional with five years of experience developing digital campaigns, increasing customer engagement, and supporting revenue growth across B2B and B2C markets.”

A strong summary should be concise, relevant to the position, and focused on what you can contribute to the employer.

3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job

One of the most effective ways to improve your resume is to customise it for each position.

Read the job description carefully and identify:

• Required qualifications
• Technical skills
• Soft skills
• Industry terminology
• Responsibilities
• Relevant certifications
• Specific experience requested

Then reflect the most relevant qualifications in your resume where they genuinely apply.

For example, if a job description repeatedly mentions project management, stakeholder communication, budgeting, and reporting, make sure your relevant experience demonstrates these capabilities.

Avoid copying the job description word-for-word. Instead, use relevant keywords naturally while describing your actual experience.

4. Use the Right Keywords

Many organisations use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to help screen resumes before they reach a recruiter.

An ATS may look for keywords relating to skills, qualifications, job titles, software, certifications, and industry experience.

For example, if the job requires experience with:

• Microsoft Excel
• Project management
• Data analysis
• Customer relationship management
• Digital marketing

Include the relevant terms in your resume if you genuinely have those skills.

However, avoid keyword stuffing. A resume should still sound natural and demonstrate how you have used your skills.

5. Focus on Achievements, Not Just Responsibilities

One of the biggest differences between an average resume and a strong resume is the way experience is presented.

Simply listing responsibilities tells an employer what you were expected to do. Describing achievements shows what you actually accomplished.

Instead of:

“Responsible for managing social media accounts.”

Try:

“Managed social media campaigns across three platforms, increasing organic engagement by 35% over 12 months.”

The second example provides measurable evidence of performance.

Whenever possible, include numbers such as:

• Revenue generated
• Costs reduced
• Sales increased
• Customers supported
• Projects completed
• Time saved
• Team size
• Productivity improvements
• Percentage growth

Specific results make your experience more credible and memorable.

6. Use Strong Action Words

The language you use can make your resume more engaging.

Instead of repeatedly starting bullet points with phrases such as “Responsible for,” use strong action verbs.

Examples include:

• Managed
• Led
• Developed
• Implemented
• Improved
• Increased
• Reduced
• Coordinated
• Designed
• Delivered
• Analysed
• Negotiated
• Streamlined
• Achieved
• Generated

For example:

“Implemented a new customer follow-up process that reduced response times by 25%.”

This is more impactful than:

“Responsible for customer follow-up processes.”

7. Keep the Formatting Professional

A visually appealing resume should still prioritise readability.

Use:

• Clear headings
• Consistent fonts
• Appropriate spacing
• Short paragraphs
• Bullet points
• Consistent date formatting
• Easy-to-read section titles

Avoid excessive colours, complicated graphics, decorative fonts, or large blocks of text.

For many professional roles, a clean and simple layout is more effective than a heavily designed resume.

8. Choose the Appropriate Resume Length

There is no single ideal resume length for every applicant.

Someone entering the workforce may only need one page, while an experienced professional with a long career history may require two or more pages.

The key is relevance.

Do not include every job, responsibility, or achievement from your entire career simply to make the resume longer. Prioritise experience that demonstrates your suitability for the position.

9. Make Your Skills Section Relevant

Your skills section should support the rest of your resume rather than simply listing random abilities.

Consider including a combination of:

Technical Skills

These might include:

• Software and applications
• Programming languages
• Data analysis
• Accounting systems
• Design tools
• Industry-specific technologies

Professional Skills

Examples include:

• Project management
• Communication
• Leadership
• Problem-solving
• Team collaboration
• Customer service
• Time management

Whenever possible, demonstrate these skills through your work experience rather than relying only on a list.

10. Include Relevant Education and Certifications

Education should generally include:

• Qualification
• Institution
• Location, if relevant
• Graduation year or expected completion date

You can also include relevant certifications, licences, professional courses, or training.

If you have significant professional experience, your work achievements may be more important than extensive detail about older education.

11. Avoid Common Resume Mistakes

Even a strong candidate can lose an opportunity because of avoidable resume errors.

Common mistakes include:

Spelling and Grammar Errors

Proofread your resume carefully. A single typo may not automatically disqualify you, but repeated errors can create an impression of poor attention to detail.

Using the Same Resume for Every Job

A generic resume may not highlight the skills most relevant to a particular position.

Including Too Much Information

Long paragraphs and irrelevant details can make it harder for recruiters to identify your strengths.

Using Unprofessional Email Addresses

Use a simple professional email address that includes your name where possible.

Exaggerating Your Experience

Always be honest about your skills, qualifications, and achievements. Employers may verify information during the hiring process.

Inconsistent Formatting

Check that headings, fonts, dates, spacing, and bullet points are consistent throughout the document.

Listing Duties Without Results

Whenever possible, explain the impact of your work rather than simply describing what you were assigned to do.

12. Proofread Before You Apply

Before submitting your resume, review it carefully.

Check:

• Spelling and grammar
• Contact details
• Employment dates
• Job titles
• Company names
• Formatting
• File name
• Relevant keywords
• Consistency of tense
• Achievement figures

It can also help to have someone else review your resume. A fresh pair of eyes may identify mistakes or unclear sections that you have overlooked.

13. Use a Professional File Name

Don’t submit your resume with a generic file name such as:

resume-final-final2.pdf

Instead, use a professional format such as:

FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf

This makes your application easier for employers and recruiters to identify and organise.

Build a Resume That Shows Your Value

A great resume isn’t simply a record of your employment history. It is a marketing document that presents your professional value to a potential employer.

Focus on the experience most relevant to the role, use keywords naturally, quantify achievements wherever possible, and keep the formatting clean and professional.

If you’re looking for additional career and professional resources, visit Big Gold Well to explore more information and opportunities.

Final Thoughts

Creating a resume that gets employers’ attention requires more than listing your previous jobs. Your resume should quickly communicate your experience, skills, achievements, and potential value to the organisation.

Start with a clear structure, tailor your content to each position, incorporate relevant keywords, highlight measurable achievements, and avoid common formatting and writing mistakes.

Most importantly, make sure your resume tells a clear story about what you can do, what you have achieved, and why you are a strong fit for the role.

With a focused and professional resume, you can make a stronger first impression and improve your chances of progressing to the next stage of the hiring process.

Explore more career resources: Big Gold Well