Need help landing your dream job? A well-crafted resume is the key to unlocking this opportunity. However, submitting a mundane and generic resume significantly diminishes your chances of standing out among the multitude of applicants.

Here are some tips to help you create an eye-catching resume that will capture the attention of hiring managers:

1. Create an impactful and compelling professional summary

Think of the summary as your personal elevator pitch. Use 2 to 3 lines to highlight your key skills, experiences, and career goals. Ensure that your professional summary is succinct yet captivating, which is designed to pique the reader’s interest immediately. Here are some examples of well-crafted professional summary.

Example 1

Professional Summary:

Highly adaptable and Innovative Marketing professional with over 5 years of experiences in content marketing and brand management. Proven track record in strategising and executing successful marketing campaigns that increased 20% brand engagement and 30% brand awareness. Driven to bring innovative ideas and solutions to a dynamic marketing team.

Example 2

Professional Summary:

Highly adaptable and detail-oriented graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in engineering. Proven ability in designing and optimising complex mechanical systems through hands-on projects and internships. Familiar with CAD system, C++ and Python. Eager to contribute academic knowledge and practical experience to a forward-thinking engineering team in a challenging work environment.

2. Showcase your unique value

When describing your job experiences, avoid simply listing duties; this approach does not highlight your true accomplishments. Instead, quantify your achievements and their impact. For example, did you increase sales by 25% or did you streamline a process to save time and cost for the organisation? If you lack job experiences, showcase your accomplishments from school, such as project work, co-curricular activities (CCAs), or voluntary work. For example, did you work on a project that was implemented or did you win a national competition for the school? Let these achievements shine in your resume.

3. Use powerful words

Avoid using typical buzzwords such as “hardworking”, “responsible”, “passionate”. Instead, inject energy into your resume with powerful and trendy words like “spearheaded,” “revolutionised,” and “orchestrated.” Utilising these dynamic verbs will make your achievements more impressive and memorable to hiring managers, helping you communicate your skills and experiences more clearly to the recruiters.

4. Personalise with AI

AI resume builders enable you to input personal details, work history, and accomplishments, which it then uses to craft a personalised and distinctive resume suited to the job you’re applying for. This flexibility allows you to customise multiple resumes for different job applications, ensuring alignment with specific employer needs. However, it is essential to avoid directly copying content generated by AI tools. Always review and edit the copy for accuracy, grammar, spelling errors, and to eliminate any repetitive or irrelevant information.

5. Proofread the final copy

Human errors are inevitable, and the presence of spelling mistakes and improper grammar can quickly undermine the credibility you aim to establish with your resume. To ensure your resume effectively communicates your skills, qualifications, and experiences, increasing your chances of securing interviews and job opportunities, consider having a friend or mentor review it objectively.

By implementing these recommendations, your resume will become a powerful tool that unlocks opportunities and sets you apart from other candidates, positioning you for success in your professional endeavors.

This article is authored by Harveen Kaur Singh, Lecturer of School of Life Skills and Communication, Singapore Polytechnic