4 Crucial Job Application and Resume Tips to Use Now

Looking for a quick and effective list of real ways to seriously improve your job application and resume? These four tips are for you!

Job recruitments are competitive. You want to stand out from the beginning in any way you can.

I’m a professional recruiter. I review hundreds of job applications and resumes every year, thousands even. So, here I am, coffee in hand, at it again: reviewing more job applications and resumes. As I look through the materials of dozens of eager candidates, I muse aloud, “Who is going to make my job easy today?”

This could (and should) be YOU!

You could be the person to make a recruiter’s job easy. That should be your goal. You want your job application and resume information easy to read, easy to understand, and easy to find. And you want to give it 110%. Recruiters and hiring managers will LOVE you for it!

So here we go. Here are 4 crucial tips to quickly make your job application and resume shine!

Job Application and Resume Tip #1: Be Organized

ORGANIZE your job application and resume information in a concise format that’s easy to read and sift through.

- Use bullet points and concise lists where possible.
- Highlight only the critical and most relevant information. You do not need to include every little detail of your job description or duties. And unless you are a brand new or young professional, you also don’t need to include every single job you’ve had since high school.
- Put your most related skills, education, and experience toward the top of any list. These should be the first things the recruiter gets to see. Then he or she will be compelled to keep reading!
- Don’t use full paragraphs to describe your experience in your resume. It is visually overwhelming and will likely exhaust the hiring team before they’ve even started reading.

Job Application and Resume Rip #2: Be Clear

CLEARLY describe your experience related to the job for which you’re applying.

- Make sure your information is clear and easy to understand.
- The first bullet point in describing each job or experience should be a basic summary of what it is you do or did. This is particularly true if you work in a unique industry or technical job.
- Be very careful not to use a lot of technical lingo and/or acronyms on your job application or resume. Remember that not everyone who reviews your materials will be a subject matter expert in your field. You do not want to lose them simply because they can’t understand your experience and don’t have the time to figure it out.

Job Application and Resume Tip #3: Be Transparent

EXPLAIN gaps transparently – gaps in employment, reasons for leaving jobs, missing requirements, etc.

- Be aware of areas on your resume or job application that might raise questions, and provide a transparent explanation.
- Give appropriate details on gaps in employment and reasons for leaving jobs. Remember, there is nothing wrong with taking personal time throughout your career, so you don’t need to be shy or ashamed! You also don’t need to air your personal business or any “dirty laundry” by any means, but you should make sure that you don’t just leave it blank. Hiring teams will be tempted to “fill in the gaps” for you and will question why the information is missing. Tell your own story. Don’t let others write it for you.
- Advocate for yourself if/when you don’t meet all of the job requirements. Address this issue and explain why you feel you are qualified or should be considered. Be clear about your willingness to meet requirements you don’t meet already. (ps: this includes willingness to relocate or meet other “logistical” requirements!)

Job Application and Resume Tip #4: ALWAYS Give 110%

GIVE 110% on your resume and every single job application you submit. No exceptions.

- Don’t be lazy, and don’t take shortcuts.
- Answer every single question on the job application (as appropriate). There is a reason you are being asked, and it is usually to make it easy for the hiring team to see your experience.
- Put GOOD effort into every question on the application. Don’t answer in short sentences. Don’t hold back on details. This is your chance to sell yourself, so use it!
- DO NOT use the phrase “Please See Resume” in response to any job application question. This appears lazy and arrogant. It looks like you can’t be bothered to provide the information for the hiring team. It looks like your time is too valuable to answer the questions, and you can’t be bothered. Don’t do it.
- Your job application and resume are “paper” representations of YOU and your BEST work (long before anyone will get the opportunity meet you). Make them count!

Key Takeaways for Impactful Job Applications and Resumes

Your ultimate goal with every job application and resume you submit should be to make it VERY EASY for the hiring team to see why you’re a great candidate. Be organized, concise, clear, and transparent. And most importantly, give them your VERY BEST EFFORT! Remember: these materials are the first representation who you are and what you’re capable of. So give them your best shot.