help me beef up my resume

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How To Beef Up A Resume?

There are a number of reasons that applicants get passed by for positions that they apply for: perhaps they aren’t qualified, someone is more qualified, or an incomplete or ineffective resume. Actually, one of the most common reasons that an applicant gets passed over for a follow up interview is not because they didn’t offer the right qualifications or skills; but because their resume is not effective enough to get attention and make them look like an exceptional candidate for the position. Here are some great tips on making your resume more effective. Here’s how to beef up your resume.

1.Research Industry

The first place to start in beefing up your resume is to thoroughly research what your industry is looking for in the way of career qualifications, education, and skills. Look into the specifics of job postings in your field that are on target with what your career is. You see in job postings what employers require in the way of education, skills, achievements, years of work experience, and the like-and know what you need to improve in your own career qualifications.

2.Expand on Skills

Everyone has skills, but are you reporting the right skills on your resume? Probably not. Or maybe not all of the skills an employer wants. This said, you need to consider all the skills that an employer may be looking for in a candidate for their position, both in a general and specific manner. So, consider first that every employer wants some with great organizational, leadership, team playing, and communications skills. Next, include all of these and other skill sets that an employer may be looking for. Once you have these sub sections in place under your skills, start including examples in which you showcased these skills through responsibilities, achievements, etc. Only with proof, will an employer really be able to see that you have these important skill sets, as well as can offer them in important situations in their company.

3.Boost Achievements

Make sure when trying to dress up an ineffective resume, that you spend some time on your achievements. Perhaps, like many, you do not even have an achievements and skills section. If so, start considering all the possible situations in your professional life that could be measured as achievements. This means collaborating on a project that won a company a client, saving money for the company, or bringing in new business with a new initiative. Brainstorm all the little things that you have done both singlehandedly and as a part of a team, and include these in an achievements section.

4.Include Testimonials

Another great way to make your resume sing is to include a few testimonials from supervisors and/or colleagues from previous jobs under your achievements or employment history section. Get a couple of glowing quotes from a reference, and include it is one of these sections; so that you not only have your word on your capabilities and qualifications; but you also, have someone else’s.

5.Customize

Lastly, remember the importance of not just sending out the same resume to every position that you are interested in. An employer will see this, and consider you someone who isn’t interested in their position-you are just interested in any position. Moreover, you look unmotivated, which is the last attribute that an employer wants in a potential employee. This said, review the job posting for what they require in a candidate and include this in your resume, with detail.

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How to Improve Your Resume in 8 Steps

Employers often receive hundreds of applications for a single job opening and might only give your resume a quick once-over. That’s why it’s essential to write a resume that stands out.

As featured in *

1. Choose the best template

2. Tailor your resume

3. Use action verbs

4. Add numbers

5. Link to your LinkedIn

6. Fill the page

7. remove unnecessary clutter.

8. Ask a friend to proofread

More resources

Follow these 8 expert tips to improve your resume so you can confidently hit “Send” on your job application.

Our free-to-use resume builder can make you a resume in as little as 5 minutes. Just pick the template you want, and our software will format everything for you.

1. Choose the best template for your target job

For creative fields like graphic design or marketing, you might opt for a more visually striking resume template that showcases your design skills.

On the other hand, traditional industries such as finance, law, or healthcare often prefer a simpler, more straightforward layout. For these fields, stick to clean, professional resume templates with clear headings and an organized layout.

Remember, the goal is to make your resume easy to read and navigate. Regardless of the design you choose, make sure that the most critical information stands out and that the overall layout enhances, rather than distracts from, your content.

An infographic depicting the difference between creative and formal resume styles.

Use a resume template that offers a matching cover letter template . The consistent formatting helps make your application look more professional.

2. Tailor your resume to each job posting

Your resume needs to address why you’re the ideal person for the job. The best way to do this is by tailoring the information you include for each job listing.

To write a targeted resume , start by carefully analyzing the job description. Take note of any key skills, experience, and qualifications the employer is looking for that match your skills. Next, strategically incorporate relevant keywords and phrases from the job description into your resume.

This shows the hiring manager that you’ve paid attention to their specific needs, making them more likely to call you in for an interview.

Remember, tailoring doesn’t mean fabricating. It’s about thoughtfully presenting your genuine experiences and skills in a way that aligns with the job requirements.

3. Use action verbs in your work experience section

Passive phrases like “responsible for” or “duties included” can make your accomplishments seem lackluster.

Instead, replace these weak words with powerful action verbs to breathe life into your resume and portray yourself as a dynamic, results-driven professional.

Here are some examples of the difference action verbs can make:

Missing action verbs

Participated in budget planning
Assisted with marketing campaigns
Worked on employee training program

Using action verbs

Streamlined budget allocation process, saving the company $100,000 annually
Developed and executed targeted marketing campaigns
Designed and implemented comprehensive employee training program

4. Beef up your resume with numbers

Still starting every bullet point on your resume with “responsible for” or “duties included”? It’s time to make some improvements.

Quantifying your achievements is one of the most effective ways to make your resume stand out. Numbers provide concrete evidence of your impact and make your accomplishments more tangible and impressive.

When reviewing your work experience, ask yourself:

How much? (e.g., budget managed, revenue generated)
How many? (e.g., team size, number of clients)
How often? (e.g., frequency of reports, regularity of meetings)
By what percentage? (e.g., efficiency improved, costs reduced)

Even if you don’t have exact figures, you can use ranges or estimates. The key is to provide context that allows the hiring manager to understand the scope and impact of your work.

Here are some examples of bullet points that go from dull to dynamic when numbers are added:

Missing numbers

Shampooed and groomed dogs and cats
Responsible for ordering grooming supplies

Using numbers

Shampooed and groomed 30+ dogs and cats daily
Reduced monthly grooming supply costs by 15% through negotiation with new suppliers

5. Include a link to your LinkedIn or website

Worried that your resume doesn’t give employers the full picture of your value as a candidate? That’s where LinkedIn comes in handy.

Adding a link to your online presence on your resume provides employers with a more comprehensive view of your skills, personality, and professional brand.

Consider adding the following to enhance your resume:

LinkedIn profile: LinkedIn is often the first stop for recruiters looking to learn more about candidates. Ensure your profile is up-to-date, comprehensive, and aligns with your resume. Use a custom URL (e.g., linkedin.com/in/your-name) to make it look polished and easy to read.
Portfolio website: If applicable to your field, create a portfolio website showcasing your best work. This is particularly important for creative professionals, writers, and developers. Include the URL on your resume, ensuring it’s clickable if you’re submitting digitally.
Other relevant profiles: Depending on your industry, other platforms such as Github, Behance, Dribbble, or X might be worth linking to in your header

Before including these links, double-check that all publicly visible content is professional and presents you in the best light.

While conciseness is generally a virtue in resume writing, having too much white space can be just as problematic as overcrowding. A resume that looks sparse might give the impression that you lack experience or have little to offer.

If you’re early in your career or changing fields, you might struggle to fill a full page with relevant professional experience. In these cases, consider including:

Relevant coursework
Academic projects
Volunteer work
Internships
Certifications
Professional development courses or workshops
Extracurricular activities
Honors and awards

While filling the page is important, it’s equally important to make sure that every word on your resume serves a purpose. A cluttered resume can overwhelm hiring managers and obscure your most impressive qualifications.

Here’s how to streamline your resume:

Focus on recent and relevant experience
Eliminate redundancies
Remove outdated skills
Use concise language

8. Ask a friend to proofread your application

Even if you’re a professional editor, you should get someone to proofread your resume for common resume mistakes . The energy you pour into creating your application puts you too close to the content, and you probably don’t have the time needed to reset your perspective before you submit everything.

That’s why you should get a fresh set of eyes on your resume. Just remember to proofread any changes your friend makes to ensure they didn’t accidentally mess anything up!

If you don’t have anyone to help you proofread, try out your word processor’s spell checker, install Grammarly to catch mistakes as you write, or use a free resume review service.

More resources that show you how to improve your resume

How to write a resume
How many jobs to list on your resume
Common resume formats
Skills for a resume
Resume samples
Online resume creator

Lauren Mastroni

Digital Content Writer

Lauren Mastroni is a Digital Content Writer dedicated to crafting engaging content and providing actionable advice that empowers people in their job searches. An enthusiastic contributor to the Resume Genius team, Lauren has a passion for developing valuable resources for job seekers. Lauren holds an M.S. in Psychology from University of Derby and currently lives in Taipei, Taiwan. She enjoys learning all she can about the career space, and is committed to helping job seekers of all experience levels navigate the job hunt and advance their careers. You can reach Lauren at [email protected].

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Top 12 Resume Boosters To Quickly Improve Your Resume

12 resume boosters to help you improve and enhance your resume quickly, including common mistakes to avoid and tips for changing careers.

a year ago • 6 min read

Improving your resume is always challenging. How do you know where to begin? You might have relevant experience and competitive skills, but you're still not seeing results. Where are you going wrong? And how can you improve your resume without it taking all day?

The answer is resume boosters: Simple tricks to improve your resume and make it stand out from the rest.

In this article, we’ll explore 12 quick and easy ways to boost your resume, as well as long-term strategies to beef up your CV and common mistakes to avoid.

What are resume boosters?

Simply put, resume boosters are ways to make your existing resume more effective without having to start from scratch. Common resume boosters include:

Tailoring your resume to modern recruiter expectations
Updating your resume to highlight competitive skills
Cutting irrelevant or outdated information
Using simple formatting and layout options

Below, we discuss the top 12 ways to quickly enhance your resume, as well as long-term strategies to improve it over time.

Top 12 resume boosters that can improve your resume today

Updating your resume may seem daunting, but these 12 tips will help you spruce up your existing resume with just a few tweaks.

Tailor your resume

Gone are the days of sending the same resume to every job posting. Modern recruiters prefer to see experience directly related to their field to quickly assess if you're the right fit.

To tailor your resume, include only your most recent work experience in related fields and skills/qualifications directly relevant to the employer. Mirror the wording of the job description, use the job title in your resume header , and write a resume summary to highlight key accomplishments.

Once complete, run your resume through our Targeted Resume tool to compare your resume to the job description and receive tailored feedback on how to improve.

Stick to one page

To a recruiter, less is more. Keep your resume to one page by cherry-picking your most recent experience and removing any outdated or extraneous sections, such as hobbies , interests , or references.

Include keywords for ATS

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are automated scanners that filter resumes depending on predetermined keyword criteria. If your resume doesn't include specific keywords, ATS might reject it before it gets into the hands of a recruiter.

To ensure this doesn't happen, use a keyword finder to scan the job description for essential keywords and make sure they appear at least once on your resume. If you’re missing a crucial keyword, rephrase your work experience to include that skill, or consider investing in industry-specific training.

Use bullet points

As mentioned above, the less a recruiter has to read, the better. Instead of listing work experience in long-winded sentences, opt for short, snappy bullet points to describe your skills in a succinct manner.

Create strong power phrases

Use power phrases to create memorable, stand-out statements throughout your resume. A power phrase consists of a strong action verb , followed by a specific task/project you completed, and ends with a quantified result/metric . Follow the layout below to create your own power phrases.

How to boost your resume using bullet points and power phrases

Quantify wherever possible

Whenever you list work experience, expand on your skills using quantified metrics such as numbers and percentages. This provides concrete proof of your skills and helps explain why your achievements are relevant.

For example, instead of saying that you "managed a team and oversaw successful projects," state that you "managed a team of 10 and oversaw 5 successful projects.”

Promote hard skills over soft skills

Your resume skills section should include only hard skills . These are technical skills learned through work experience or education. Soft skills , like leadership or communication , should instead be exemplified through power phrases in your work experience section .

Highlight transferable skills

Even if your past experience is in a different field, you can always find transferable skills between industries. Consider the keywords related to the new position, and expand on how you used those specific skills in previous roles.

Update your tech proficiency

Tech skills are constantly evolving, and staying up-to-date with modern tools and platforms is a great way to boost your resume, especially for remote job opportunities. Remove outdated tech skills and list industry-specific software, like Trello, Teams, and Slack. Also, highlight any previous remote work experience to take advantage of the rise in remote work opportunities.

Remove outdated education

Remove any education older than 20 years, as it’s likely not relevant to your current skills or work role. Highlight education completed in the last ten years, even if it's from a non-traditional learning platform. The one exception to this rule is a university degree, which is beneficial to include despite being outside the 20-year window.

Use a resume scanner

Once you have successfully updated your resume, upload it to a resume scanner to check that it includes all relevant details, is tailored to your application, contains the right keywords, and is optimized for ATS filters.

Top tip for career changers: Use non-work experience to highlight key skills

If you're struggling to list relevant work experience for a new career change , remember that you can use non-paid experience to highlight relevant skills. Volunteering, internships, freelance work , and community engagement can be a great way to showcase competitive skills when you lack traditional work experience.

Resume boosters that take a little longer but are a great investment for your resume

The above list of boosters are quick, easy fixes to enhance your resume, but investing a little time in education and alternate resume formats can significantly improve your application and set you up for future success.

Create an online resume

Online resume platforms like LinkedIn are highly beneficial for a modern job search. Follow these tips and tricks to optimize your resume for online platforms , and remember to update your online resume every time you update your regular resume .

Pursue further education

If you're missing specific keywords or skills for an application, consider online or formal training to enhance your resume. Online platforms such as Coursera and Google Career Certificates provide affordable online training that can quickly boost your resume with competitive new skills.

Volunteer work or internships

If you’re considering a career change and are looking for relevant experience, volunteer work and internships can provide great experience to add to your resume and showcase your dedication to your new field.

Create an online portfolio

Especially useful for creative roles , an online portfolio is a great way to showcase past work and beef up your resume. Creating a portfolio can take some time, but online platforms such as WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix offer free professionally hosted portfolios that make the whole process quick and easy.

Learn a new language

With the rise in remote work opportunities and an increasingly globalized workforce, being bilingual can significantly boost any resume. Even if you're only a beginner, include a second language on your resume and state that you are “conversational” or “beginner”.

Common mistakes to avoid when improving your resume

Before you submit your resume to your next application, double-check for these common mistakes:

Over-relying on buzzwords

Buzzwords are overused, cliched words such as 'hard-working’, 'self-motivated', or 'team player' that take up space without adding any detail to your statements or experience. Swap out any buzzwords for action verbs to make your resume more engaging and less generic.

Neglecting the top sections of your resume

The top sections of your resume, such as your header, contact info, and summary, may seem redundant, but they're the first things a recruiter reads. Optimize your contact information for a modern recruiter by replacing your full street address with an email address and including a link to an online resume or portfolio. Use a tailored job title in your header, and replace your resume objective with an optimized resume summary highlighting your most notable achievements.

Exaggerating

We all want to put our best foot forward, but don't make the mistake of exaggerating your experience. Be prepared to be questioned in an interview about anything you write on your resume, and make sure you can back up your claims with actual experience.

Including references

Including references on your resume is an outdated practice. These days, if a recruiter is interested in your references, they will reach out and ask. Listing references takes up unnecessary space and could be seen as unprofessional.

Neglecting proper layout and formatting

Fancy resume templates may look exciting, but using graphs, images, graphics, and colors makes your resume harder to read for recruiters and ATS filters. Stick to a one or two-column layout, standard font choices , and Word or PDF file format . Better yet, use a resume template when crafting your resume to ensure you are using optimal formatting.

Using a one-size-fits-all resume

As mentioned above, sending the same resume to multiple applications actually reduces your chances of success. Though it may seem like more work to tailor your resume for every job posting, using a quick online scanner can help you update your resume each time, and a little work upfront can significantly improve your application's success.

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10 Ways to Improve Your Resume

Your resume is often a first impression for potential employers. Make it a good one with these tips.

[Featured image] A person with curly hair and glasses works on a resume on a pink laptop computer.

Whether you are creating a resume for your first job or applying for a role in a new company or industry, your resume often creates the first impression an employer has of you, your skills, and your potential. Make that first impression a winning one with a few enhancements and priority updates.

10 winning resume updates

Use these 10 tips to highlight your credentials, qualifications, experience, and accomplishments in one document.

1. Select the best template for your skills, experience, and goals.

While you can build a strong resume on a blank document, consider using a template from a graphic design tool like Canva to build your resume, giving it a more eye-catching appearance.

When choosing the design and layout , think about the following:

The role you’re applying for, and the job description. For example, a graphic designer might choose a bold, colorful template, while someone in accounting or finance might prefer a more traditional or corporate layout.

The aspects of your professional history that are the most relevant

Besides your name and contact information, the sections you'll need include education, previous employment and professional experience, tools you are trained to use, technical skills , certifications and courses you’ve completed, awards you’ve received, and hobbies and interests.

How to position these sections within the template in the most advantageous way

2. Add skills or areas of expertise near or below your name.

Summarize who you are as a professional before providing all of the details. This section can take up two or three lines on your resume and should include your area of expertise, such as “design thinking specialist” or “investigative journalist,” and a list of your most relevant skills.

For each job you apply to, think about which skills the employer would most likely hire you for, and include those. You can often determine what's most important to the potential employer by examining the job listing. Try to keep your skills list specific and quantifiable, for example, "Agile project management" or "Python programming."

Read more: What Skills Should I Include on My Resume?

3. Include a robust and compelling objective.

In addition to conveying confidence in your abilities, this section can demonstrate to employers that you are intentional about your career and the application you are submitting.

A resume objective can expand what you include in your area of expertise section by listing your professional goals and what you’d like to contribute to the company to which you’re applying.

4. Display your online presence.

Near your name and contact information, list any online accounts you have that can showcase your interests, passions, or previous work. The list could include social media, an online portfolio, or your website.

Be sure to remove anything from your online accounts that you don’t want a potential employer to view. Post content that may be relevant to the job you’re applying for or that is your original work.

Read more: How to Use LinkedIn - A Guide to Online Networking

5. Use relevant keywords.

One of the most important things to get your resume seen is to use keywords optimized for the applicant tracking systems (ATS) that recruiters and employers use to find prospective employees. An ATS allows recruiters to process hundreds of resumes for relevant keywords and narrow down the pool of applicants they’ll invite to an interview.

Find the best keywords by:

Reviewing the job listing for keywords

Googling “[industry] keywords” and making a list of the most relevant ones

Using a free ATS to scan your resume for opportunities to optimize your keywords

Using industry-specific terms and jargon also demonstrates your familiarity with your new field.

Read more: Resume Keywords: How to Find the Right Words to Beat the ATS

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6. Use action verbs.

In conjunction with your ATS keyword research, use action verbs , such as “managed,” “implemented,” or “developed,” to describe the tasks you performed or projects you completed in previous roles. Action verbs are a great way to specify your experience and emphasize your technical skills.

Here’s an example a cybersecurity analyst might use: “Implemented a backup system to add a layer of security company data.”

7. Quantify your accomplishments in previous roles.

Include a sentence with your job scope and a bullet list of accomplishment items under each job. Try to be specific and use concrete metrics that demonstrate the impact of your accomplishments. If you boosted social media engagement in your last marketing job , for example, include the percentage of that increase.

A formula for resume success

Use this formula when highlighting your professional accomplishments: "[Action verb] [X] to [Y], resulting in [Z]." Here’s an example a social media marketer might use: “Designed visual content to improve brand awareness, resulting in a 30-percent increase in Facebook conversion.”

8. Include a section for hobbies and interests.

This section can show more of your personality and abilities you did not list in other areas of the resume. Your hobbies and interests can be great conversation starters and position you as a well-rounded employee with versatile skills.

If you're looking for your first job and don't yet have much professional experience, you might turn to your extracurricular activities as a way to highlight key job skills, like problem solving, critical thinking, creativity, or teamwork.

9. Get ahead of concerns.

At the same time that you include details about your professional history and career objectives that employers will find attractive, remain mindful of potential red flags on your resume and address them.

Red flags might include short job durations and gaps in employment in your job experience section. For gaps in your employment history lasting longer than six months, consider including what you did during that time. Caregiving, travel, volunteer work, and independent projects are all opportunities to highlight related, transferrable skills .

Read more: How to Get a Job with No Experience: A Job Seeker’s Guide

10. Eliminate clutter.

Once you have most of the sections filled in, scan the resume for unnecessary details that you can remove. These might include:

Job experience from long ago, particularly if it’s not relevant to the position you’re applying for

Graduation dates

Details from your hobbies and interests section that are the least relevant

Buzzwords like “self-starter” and “hard worker”

Typically, your resume should fit on a single page, unless you have more than 10 to 15 years of related professional experience.

Next steps

As you continue along your career path, treat your resume as an evolving document that you regularly update as you gain experience, skills, and other qualifications. Looking for new skills to add to your resume? Consider a Professional Certificate in data analysis, project management, cybersecurity, or IT support, designed to get you job-ready in as little as three months.

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5 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Resume

Published: May 06, 2021

Your resume is your first opportunity to sell yourself to recruiters and hiring managers. It can also be your last if your resume is outdated or too thin. Here are five tips that will help you immediately update and beef up your resume.

1. Streamline for easy reading

You might not have given much thought to the overall structure and style of your resume, but a messy and unstructured layout often points to a messy and unprofessional candidate. As such, you need to create a well-presented resume that looks neat and professional. In order to do this, you need to ensure that there are no massive blocks of text. Be sure to use headings, sub-headings, and bullet points to help you break the text up and organize the layout effectively. You also need to choose a clear, professional font such as Cambria, Calibri, or Helvetica, and make sure it’s not too big or too small. A 12-point font is recommended.

2. Cut the fluff

If you haven’t updated your resume in a while, you might look back and realize that you were trying to fill the space with a lot of irrelevant information. You might also find that it’s packed with clichés. Now is your chance to go through and cut any unnecessary fluff words. This means removing any skills, qualifications, or hobbies that aren’t relevant to your target roles. It’s also a good idea to remove clichéd phrases such as “passionate team player” or “proven track record.” Remember, your resume should ideally be just one page long, and never longer than two pages.

3. Add facts and figures

The best way to show recruiters and hiring managers how you can add real value to their organizations is by including facts and figures from your time in school or from your work experience. Some examples of these facts and figures could be:

Trained seven new team members during my summer role as a ...
Graduated third in my class ...
Voted ‘Volunteer of The Year’ during my time with ...

Including examples of your key achievements and quantifying these not only helps recruiters and hiring managers see why you’re a good fit but also helps you stand out from the competition. And with more recruiters looking at candidates' social media presence , you can also document your achievements on platforms such as LinkedIn, Twitter, or even your own blog.

4. Triple-check your spelling and grammar

Although it might sound basic, you’d be surprised how many people still get this wrong. You need to re-read your resume several times and check it thoroughly for any spelling or grammatical errors. This can instantly improve the quality of your resume and ensure that you don’t look sloppy or unprofessional. Keep in mind that spellcheck doesn’t catch everything. Still, an online grammar and spellchecker should be your first line of defense against mistakes. Second, have someone else read over your resume for you. Third, read it backwards, from end to beginning. Looking at it from a different perspective might allow you to catch something you otherwise wouldn’t have.

5. Gain new skills and qualifications through online courses and volunteer work

Your resume can be drastically improved by the addition of new qualifications, skills, and experiences. Although you might still be studying or have only just graduated, don’t let your education stop there. Consider taking an online course related to your chosen field (and if you do begin to take a course, you can certainly add that to your resume before you complete it: “Currently enrolled in …”). Alternatively, see if you can gain experience through an internship or volunteer work. Nonprofits and NGOs are always looking for volunteers to further their causes. This can boost your skillset and allow you to contribute to meaningful causes. Of course, it will also give you more to shout about on your resume.

Andrew Fennell is the founder and director of Job Description Library and StandOut CV , two leading UK careers advice websites. He is a former recruitment consultant and contributes careers advice to publications like Business Insider, The Guardian, and The Independent.

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5 ways to make your résumé more impressive without lying

There should be no temptation—or need—to lie on your résumé.

[Photo: Perawit Boonchu/Getty Images]

BY Donna Svei 3 minute read

Have you ever been tempted to stretch the truth on your résumé? Surveys show that up to 80% of people have lied on their résumés. But I have good news: You don’t have to do that to look impressive.

I was a retained search consultant for more than 25 years and have held C-level corporate executive positions. These days, I write executive and board résumés and I have found that there are many techniques applicants can use to help make their résumés impressive—without lying.

Here are five tactics all applicants should try.

1. Format flatteringly

First, use a simple format . Doing so demonstrates that you can organize information for a user’s benefit. That valuable communication skill will instantly make you more impressive than 99% of the other applicants for most jobs.

Many design executives engage me to write their résumés. They recognize reader-centric design when they see it. And they don’t confuse narrative résumés with visual creative portfolios. They know that narratives and visuals have different design requirements.

2. Less hyperbole, more facts

Next, check your résumé’s headline and branding statement. I have found that when job seekers don’t understand their value, they describe themselves with overused , hyperbolic words. Recruiters immediately recognize these types of claims and aren’t impressed.

Some hyperbolic descriptor nouns include “disruptor,” “expert,” “guru,” “thought leader,” and “visionary.” Check the definitions of those words. If you don’t match up, delete them from your résumé. Then, invest in better understanding your value. Trust me: It’s there, waiting to be discovered.

Beyond nouns, be wary of exaggerated adjectives. Recruiters often aren’t impressed by adjectives because they’re typically opinions, not facts. Some hyperbolic adjectives include “distinguished,” “outstanding,” and “unique.”

These lists aren’t comprehensive. However, these examples demonstrate the types of words that can seem impressive to job seekers but don’t pass recruiters’ scrutiny. Recruiters’ private reactions are often, “Show me, don’t tell me.” If any of your descriptors might make a recruiter think that, delete them.

3. Persuasively frame your experience

Third, look at your experience and frame it to persuade your target employers to talk with you. Applicants can do this by highlighting the elements of your experience that interest potential employers and delete irrelevant (or potentially negative) information but don’t stretch the truth.

Negatives rarely impress on résumés. Because of that, when a fact is described negatively, I ask myself, “Can I reframe this as a positive?” It might be as simple as changing “reduced turnover to 10%” to “increased team retention to 90%.”

Employers want to know about your fit for their job, so it is crucial to address their interests. And no one expects you to describe your biggest failure on your résumé. Beyond that, recruiters and hiring managers don’t want to wade through irrelevant clutter.

You should never lie on your résumé. To make sure you stay true to yourself, ask yourself the following: “Would I be comfortable posting this résumé on LinkedIn?” “How would my colleagues react if they read this on LinkedIn?” “Would I be confident discussing this information in an interview?”

4. Show off who you’ve worked with

Instead of being tempted to resort to hyperbole and lies, share your accomplishments and their impact .

One technique I like to use on résumés is something I call “affiliative branding.” An early-career client I once worked with wanted a specific job but couldn’t land an interview. We analyzed the posting and saw that the job involved working with well-known artists. My client had that impressive experience but hadn’t mentioned it in their résumé. We wrote a bullet that named a few of the top artists they had worked for (affiliative branding) and described my client’s wins. They got the job three weeks later.

5. Eliminate or update outdated information

I once worked with a client who was a top executive in a start-up that was acquired by a well-known company—a successful exit. But then the acquirer failed months later in the dot-com crash. We thought that linking my client to that company’s almost-forgotten name would generate age bias , so we eliminated it and consolidated their experience from that point back.

In another case, a client pioneered a billion-dollar product category for their company. The first product became a household name, but newer products have followed it. We featured the product in an earlier version of my client’s résumé. In the current version, we updated their story by focusing on the category because it’s now more impressive than the initial product.

Every résumé benefits from exploring and discovering the truth, deciding which relevant, positive information to present, and crafting compelling framing. When you do that, there should be no temptation—or need—to lie on your résumé.

Donna Svei writes executive and board résumés. She’s a frequent writer and speaker on résumé and LinkedIn topics. Previously, she was a retained search consultant for 25-plus years and a C-level corporate executive.

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45 Quick Changes That Help Your Resume Get Noticed

There is certainly a time and a place for a resume overhaul. Taking a couple hours to really clean up your resume is worth doing before you start a job search, or even just once a year as a tune-up.

But sometimes, you don’t have that kind of time. Sometimes, you just have a few minutes, and you want to spend them giving your resume a quick polishing-up. And for those times, we made you this list of resume updates that only take a few minutes, but that can make a big difference in making your resume shine.

Choose how much time you have, pick a (mini) project, and get ready for your resume to be that much more eye-catching.

1. Switch the Font

Ready, switch the font of your resume to Helvetica, Arial, or Times New Roman—in other words, make sure it’s not hard to read (or stuck in Word’s standard Calibri). Using a common, clean font may not make your resume the prettiest out there, but it will make it more readable (and less likely to be rejected by applicant tracking systems).

2. Remove “References Available Upon Request”

If they want references, they’ll ask for them! Use the extra space to add a detail about your abilities or accomplishments.

3. Delete the Resume Objective

That boring boilerplate “I am a hard working professional who wants to work in [blank] industry” is a bit obvious—why else would you be submitting your resume?—and takes up valuable space.

4. Spell Check

...and correct any mistakes .

5. Save it Correctly

Save your resume as a PDF if it’s in any other format. That way, the formatting won’t get messed up when your resume is opened on a different computer. (To see exceptions to this rule, click here .)

6. Change the File Name

Change the file name from “Resume” to “[First Name] [Last Name] Resume”—it makes things easier for hiring managers and ensures your resume doesn’t get lost in the crowd.

7. Remove Your Address .

If you’re not local, recruiters might not look any further. If you are, recruiters may take your commute time into account and turn you down if they think it would be too long.

8. Add Your LinkedIn Profile

In its place, add a link to your LinkedIn profile, as well as any other relevant social media handles (Twitter if it’s professional, Instagram or Flickr if you’re applying to social media or creative positions). Caveat: Never include Facebook, no matter how clean you keep it.

Don’t want to drop your whole ugly LinkedIn URL onto your resume? (Hint: You shouldn’t.) Create a custom URL to your public profile using simply /yourname (or some similar, simple variation if somebody already has your name). LinkedIn has instructions on its website .

9. Make All Your Hyperlinks Live

Your resume is most likely going to be read on a computer, so making things like your email address, LinkedIn and other social profiles, and personal websites clickable makes it easier for the recruiter to learn more about you.

10. Delete Irrelevant Data

Omit any references to your birthdate, marital status, or religion. Since it’s illegal for employers to consider this when looking at your application (at least in the U.S.), they can’t request it (and offering it makes you look a little clueless).

11. Get Rid of That Grad Year

If you’re more than three years out of college, remove your graduation year . Recruiters only really want to know that you got a degree, and you don't want them to inadvertently discriminate based on your age.

12. Move Your Education

While you’re at it, do a little rearranging, and move education down below your experience. Unless you’re a recent graduate, chances are your last one or two jobs are more important and relevant to you getting the job.

13. Make it Readable

To improve readability, increase the line spacing (also called leading) to at least 120% of the font size. To do this in Word, go to Format and select Paragraph. In the pulldown under Line Spacing, choose Exactly and set the spacing to two points above the size of your font (so, 12 if your font is 10 point).

14. Reduce Your Margins

Need a little more space to work with? Reduce your top and bottom margins to 0.5" and your side margins to no less than 0.75". This will keep your resume clean and readable but give you more room to talk about what you've got.

15. Leave High School Behind

Remove anything high school-related unless you’re a year out of college or need to bulk up your resume and did something highly relevant (and awesome) during your high school years.

16. Update Your Skills Section

Add any new skills you’ve gained, and remove anything that is a little dated (nobody wants to hear that you have Microsoft Word experience anymore—they expect it).

17. Break Up Your Skills Section

If you have lots of skills related to a position—say, foreign language, software, and leadership skills—try breaking out one of those sections and listing it on its own (“Language Skills” or “Software Skills”).

18. Double-Check Formatting

Make sure formatting is consistent across your resume. You want all headers to be in the same style, all indentations to line up, all bullet points to match, and the like. You don’t want the styling to look sloppy!

19. Remove Acronyms

Find any acronyms, and write out the full name of the title, certification, or organization. You should include both, at least the first time, to make sure the recruiter knows what you’re talking about and so an applicant tracking system will pick it up no matter which format it is looking for. For example: Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

20. Get Rid of Distracting Design

Unless you are a designer or are submitting a ( carefully crafted ) creative resume, remove any photos or visual elements. On a more traditional resume, they generally just distract from the information at hand (and can confuse applicant tracking systems ).

21. Work Around Your Gaps

If you have gaps of a few months in your work history, swap out the usual start and end dates for each position with years only (e.g., 2010-2012).

22. Do a Verb Swap

Swap out a couple of your boring verbs for some more powerful (and interesting) ones. Check out our list of resume action verbs if you need inspiration.

23. Now, Do an Adjective Swap

Swap out a couple of generic adjectives or titles (words like “detail-oriented” or “experienced” are overused and don’t tell a recruiter much) with stronger language that better describes your more unique strengths.

24. List Your Promotions Correctly

Worked multiple jobs within the same organization? Learn how to list them right on your resume, then update it as such.

25. Leave History in the Past

As a rule, you should only show the most recent 10 to 15 years of your career history and only include the experience relevant to the positions to which you are applying. So if you have anything really dated or random, remove it and use the space to bulk up other sections or add something more relevant.

26. Look for Orphan Words

Go through line by line and take note of any orphan words (single words left on a line by themselves). See how you can edit the previous line so they can fit—making your resume look cleaner and opening up extra lines for you to do other things with.

27. Make it Skimmable

Make your document easier to skim by adding divider lines between sections. Check out section three of this great guide for instructions.

28. Use Numerals

Include any numbers on your resume? Go through and change them all to numerical form, instead of written out (i.e., 30% instead of thirty percent). Even small numbers that are often spelled out should be written numerically—it makes them pop to the reviewer and saves space.

29. Read it Out Loud.

This will not only help you catch any spelling or grammar errors, but it will also help you notice any sentences that sound awkward or that are hard to understand.

30. Check Out the Top

Look at your resume “above the fold.” In other words, take a close look at the top third of your resume—the part that will show up on the screen when the hiring manager clicks “open” on that PDF. That’s what’s going to make your first impression—so make sure it serves as a hook that makes the hiring manager eager to read more.

31. Shorten Your Bullet Points

Make sure you have no more than six to seven bullet points for any given position. If you do? Cut and condense. No matter how long you’ve been in a job or how good your bullets are, the recruiter just isn’t going to get through them.

32. Identify Your Narrative

Give your resume to someone who doesn’t know you well to look at for 30 seconds. Then ask: What are the three most memorable things? What’s the narrative? Take this feedback and think about how you can adjust your resume to get it closer to where you want.

33. Use a Word Cloud

Similarly, drop your resume into a word cloud generator and see which keywords are popping out. If the most prominent ones aren’t what you want to be remembered by, or if there are important words that aren’t present, think about how you can tweak your resume to make that more clear.

34. Quantify Everything

Go through your bullet points , and add as many numbers and percentages as you can to quantify your work. How many people were impacted? By what percentage did you exceed your goals? (And, yes, it’s OK to estimate as long as you can roughly prove it.)

35. Make Your Benefit Clear

Pick a few statements to take one step further, and add in what the benefit was to your boss or your company. By doing this, you clearly communicate not only what you’re capable of, but also the direct benefit the employer will receive by hiring you.

36. Consider Adding a Qualifications Section

Perhaps in lieu of your now-deleted “Career Objective?” This should be a six-sentence (or bullet pointed) section that concisely presents the crème of the crop of your achievements, major skills, and important experiences. By doing this, you’re both appeasing any applicant tracking systems with keywords and giving the hiring manager the juicy, important bits right at the top.

37. Update Your Header to Make it Pop

You don’t have to have a ton of design knowledge to make a header that looks sleek and catches a recruiter’s eye. (Hint: Use this same header on your resume and cover letter to make your “personal brand” look really put together.)

38. Fill it Up

Need to fill up more space on your resume, or feel like you’re light on the experience? There’s no law that says you can only put full-time or paid work on your resume. So, if you’ve participated in a major volunteer role, worked part-time, freelanced, or blogged? Add a couple of these things as their own “jobs” within your career chronology.

39. Or, Cut it Down

If you need more space on your resume, check and see if any of your formatting decisions are taking up unnecessary space. Does your header take up too much at the top? Do you have any extra line breaks that you don’t really need? Tinker around with the formatting and see how much space you can open up (without your resume looking crowded or messy).

40. Make Your Bullet Points Make Sense

Look at each bullet point and make sure it’s understandable to the average person. Remember that the first person who sees your resume might be a recruiter, an assistant, or even a high-level executive—and you want to be sure that it is readable, relevant, and interesting to all of them.

41. Use a Resume Template

Download this free resume template so you’ll look extra polished.

42. Update All Your Roles

Make sure all of the experience on your resume is updated. Add any awards you’ve received, new skills you’ve taken on, articles you’ve published, or anything else awesome you’ve done.

43. Spread the Word

Hop over to your LinkedIn profile, and make any updates you’ve just made to your resume to your summary and experience sections there.

44. Ask a Friend to Help

Email three of your friends or professional contacts asking (nicely!) for a peek at their resumes. You might be able to get some inspiration for your own (or even help them out).

45. Get That Baby Out There

Find an awesome job to apply to with one of our partner companies, then get started on your cover letter with our easy-to-follow guide .

WANT YOUR RESUME TO HELP YOU GET A JOB?

Of course you do.

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5 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Resume

1. Streamline for easy reading

2. Cut the fluff

3. Add facts and figures

Trained seven new team members during my summer role as a ...
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4. Triple-check your spelling and grammar

5. Gain new skills and qualifications through online courses and volunteer work

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The Best Online Courses to Take to Beef Up Your Resume

While quarantine may seem like an excellent time to pick up a new skill or hobby, many of us may have started out strong but have since lapsed, getting all too used to at-home life. It’s time to change that.

This summer, instead of being bummed out about missed vacations or beach days, why not take an online class or course to not only add a new skill or area of study to your repertoire, but to beef up your resume at the same time?

Here are some of the best online classes we found that can help to kick your resume up a notch.

Google Analytics

Entrepreneurs, bloggers, and e-commerce all have one thing in common — they’re nothing without analytics. Anyone who works on a website needs to be able to gather and analyze data regarding site visits, clicks, read-throughs, sources of traffic, etc. to grow and thrive. With Google Analytics for Beginners , new users will learn how to create and operate a Google Analytics account, implement tracking codes, set up data filters, run reports, and set up shortcuts. It will also teach you how to analyze the Audience, Acquisition, and Behavior reports.

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is something all businesses with a web presence need to know. From understanding how search engines work to how to properly write SEO-optimized content, there’s a myriad of ways that SEO is incorporated into a wide spectrum of careers. Through UC Davis via Coursera.com , you can take a basic Introduction to Search Engine Optimization or become an SEO expert with their Search Engine Optimization Specialization course .

Social Media Marketing

Social media has become ingrained into our everyday lives both personally and professionally. But just because you know how to post a picture of your cute dog on Instagram hardly means you’re a pro. Luckily, there are tons of online courses available that can help you learn a bit more about the social media outlets, and how to best use them to market in your field.

HubSpot Academy offers a free social media marketing course complete with a certification where you’ll learn how to “build an effective social media strategy, set up social listening and moderation, create social content, extend your reach, excel in digital advertising, measure ROI, and more.”

LinkedIn Learning Certifications

LinkedIn Learning offers on-demand courses and continuing education opportunities as well as courses to help prepare for professional certification exams. Through this platform you can become an Adobe Certified Associate in Photoshop, learn about diversity recruitment in the realm of human resources, become a certified Microsoft Office Specialist, and more.

Project Management

Hone your leadership skills. Show off your ability to organize, lead and manage large projects within your organization by obtaining a PMP (Project Management Professional) certification via the Project Management Institute . The Project Management Basics – An Official PMI Online Course, costs $400 for non-members, but is the official PMI course to build project management skills and prepare for the Certified Associate in project Management certification exam.

Author: Erin Nicole Celletti

Erin Celletti is a freelance journalist and the Director of Communications at Integration Charter Schools. With seven years of classroom teaching and leadership experience, Erin has a BA in Journalism from Quinnipiac University, as well as a M.S.Ed. in Childhood and Special Education from St. John's University, and a M.S.Ed. in School and Building Leadership from Wagner College. Erin lives in Hoboken, NJ with her husband, and baby girl on the way. Her work has also appeared in BRIDES, Teen Vogue, Allure, and TODAY Parents.

3 Ways to Beef Up Your Resume

Perhaps you’re just starting out. Or maybe you’ve just never had a stellar resume to work with. But just stating where you worked and the tasks that you did at your last job will hardly get you noticed for any future opportunities.

You know you need some resume help, but you don’t know where to start. Fortunately, the answers can be found in your existing resume. All it takes is a little digging into your past experiences to see that your blasé resume has always had what it takes to be rich, substantial and enticing.

1. Numbers and Statistics

Did you manage a portfolio, email campaign or a classroom? Regardless of your last position, most of the tasks that were your responsibility are quantifiable. In every job, you’re going to have a success rate or a percentage increase to showcase. If you lack any real professional experience, that’s ok. As stated earlier, any task and any job can provide you with a resume full of figures that prove you’re a stand out employee.

Hcareers , a site devoted to the hospitality industry, interviewed Peter Shrive with Cambridge Management who turned working at an ice cream stand into a marketable opportunity. He stated, “What you did was purchase raw materials, planned inventories, dealt with 31,000 customers, grew sales by X%, generated Y% in profits, managed banking, handled cash transactions, honed customer service skills, arranged for repairs, located and hired staff, worked with the owners.”

2. Office Accolades

Don’t limit your resume to the day-to-day tasks you performed as an employee. Think beyond what you personally did at your desk, like philanthropic efforts you helped lead in the workplace. Your resume can exhibit how well-rounded you are as well as how you work with a team.

If you can’t claim that type of personality on your resume, it’s time to put in some effort. Identify needs on your team as well as in your workspace and take initiative. This will in turn not only boost your resume but the references your managers and coworkers will later give when it’s time for you to move jobs.

3. Extracurriculars

Finally, don’t forget to include some of your extracurricular activities outside of work on your resume. Potential employers look at your activity outside of the office for a better idea of your levels of motivation and ambition as well as your time management skills. These activities help to round you out as a person and not just an employee. They humanize you in a way that statistics on paper may not be able to.

By now you know that the resume is your first impression, and it needs to set you apart from other applicants. Getting detailed and showing quantifiable evidence of your professional experience will show potential employers that you yield results. And providing them a bigger picture of who you are as a person with office accolades and extracurriculars will convince them that you’re not just someone that might be a great addition to the team; you’re someone they want on their team.

What are some other tips for (legitimately) beefing up a resume? Share in the comments!

Kathryn Randolph

Kathryn is a freelance writer currently living in Chicago, Illinois. She holds a B.A. in English Writing from DePauw University and has five years experience writing for major job search and higher education websites. When she's not writing for the web, Kathryn is hanging out with her new baby girl, traveling, cooking, reading and running. She believes that the perfect job is out there for everyone and hopes to help Spark Hire job seekers discover their career passion and pursue it.

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How to improve your resume: 6 steps to beef up your CV.

Do you want to get ahead in life? Of course you do! The best way to give yourself an edge is by having a great resume. A lot of people do not pay much attention when writing a resume. The feeling there is that the cover letter is the place for writing while your CV is there just to list data and facts, but a well-crafted resume will show employers that you are the perfect fit for the job, and help you stand out from everyone else.

Here we'll discuss why improving your resume is so important and how to improve your resume to make it shine brighter than all the rest. So let's get started on crafting a first-class CV that will open up doors of opportunity.

Why is a good resume so important?

It's quite simple: a great resume can open doors that were previously closed to you. It's your chance to stand out from the competition and prove why you're the perfect candidate for the job. Plus, with a well thought out and well made resume, employers are more likely to take notice and call you in for an interview - so don't underestimate its power.

With a top-notch resume, you'll be able to show off your skills and experience in the best possible light - making it easier than ever to land that dream job. So don't skimp on effort when creating a resume: take the time to make sure it's polished and professional, so you can really show potential employers what you have to offer. After all, having an outdated or lackluster resume won't do you any favors.

As the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance at a first impression so make sure yours is as good as can be.

How to improve your resume?

Now that we’re on the same page as to why a resume is important, it’s time to take a look at how to improve your CV. We’ll go over some general tips and advice in order to get you started and to give you an idea of what steps to take.

Trim the fat.

Write your resume without resorting to fluff. This means that you should focus on quality instead of quantity and list only those experiences that are relevant to the job. You don't need to include every summer job or volunteer experience you had in high school. Instead, highlight skills that are pertinent to the job and any accomplishments that you achieved along the way.

This also means to keep your resume concise — if it's longer than two pages, edit it down even if low on fluff. After all, employers won't spend lots of time reading through a long-winded document. They want to quickly understand who you are and what you bring to the table. Make sure your resume conveys that in as few words as possible.

Graphic showing ways how to improve your resume

Keep it simple. Keep it elegant.

When looking for a design for their resume, people tend to go overboard because they think that will get them stuck in the employers mind, and they’re right - but not in the way that they think. The most important aspect of a resume is that it is a fast way for your employer to learn about you. If your design is cluttered and busy then it takes away from the text itself and it shows poor decision making on your part.

That doesn’t mean that your resume needs to be boring and bland. An elegant color combo paired with a design that highlights and elevates the CV shows to your potential employer that you have a personality and restraint. Apart from that, it makes it easier on the eyes of the person who has to read all the resumes sent to them.

Present yourself as a person.

Instead of simply listing your skills and qualifications, talk about the unique experiences that make you who you are. Make sure to include hobbies, interests and any other activities or accomplishments outside of your job experience. Your resume should reflect more than just a professional background – let it represent the real you.

The reason why you should do this is because a lot of employers are looking for more than just someone who’s good at what they do, they are also looking for a culture fit in the team. Transcom places great emphasis on who our employees are as people, even to the extent of making it some of our core values. That’s because we know that bad team chemistry brings bad team results.

When it comes to composing your resume, think of yourself as a storyteller. You want to use language that is clear but also engaging. Don’t be afraid to show off your personality, you are more than just your work. But, through all of this, still keep in mind our first piece of advice about keeping it concise.

Start from the end.

When creating a chronology of your employment, try to organize it in such a way that the most recent experience is at the top. This might seem counterintuitive because we all like to start at the beginning in order to give a complete picture of our employment story, but employers are most interested in the last thing you did.

That doesn’t mean they won’t read the rest or that they won’t think of it chronologically. It just means that you need to put the most relevant and important information at the top to make the whole read easier.

Highlight important information.

We already talked about how readability is paramount in knowing how to improve your CV. That’s why you need to make sure that your resume stands out and that the most important information is clear and easy to find. This will not only give the reader an idea of what is important but also draw and guide their attention quickly and efficiently. This makes your resume easy to reread and to know or remember anything important about you at a glance.

To do this, you should consider highlighting key points or skills by bolding, underlining, or italicizing them. Apart from that, you can also have an “At a glance” section which saves the recruiters time and show that you know how to recognize what is important enough to highlight it.

Proofread. Now, do it again.

When you’re finished with writing your resume, please proofread it. There’s nothing that shows that you’re not the right candidate for the position, any position, like not taking a couple of minutes extra to proofread what you’ve written.

While a CV without errors might not get you extra points, one with errors will definitely net you negative ones. This automatically shows that you’re not detail oriented and that you allow oversights to happen in important matters. Our advice? Proofread it immediately and then do it again. A good way to make sure you’ve covered all bases is having someone else proofread your text or use one of the many proofreading tools available. Why? Because it’s easy to accidentally glance over mistakes in your own text while to others they will stick out like a sore thumb.

In conclusion.

How to Beef up Your Resume in 2022

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In order to stand out from the crowd, you need to have a resume that is not only up-to-date but also reflects your skills and qualifications. A good resume should be able to tell the story of your life. But, how do you create a resume that will stand out in a pile of hundreds? You need to think about what employers are looking for. You need to think about which skills they want, and how they want them organized. The following are some tips on how to beef up your resume in 2022.

Optimize The Format

The first thing that you need to do is to check the format of your resume. This is important because employers are more likely to read resumes that have a clear and concise format, rather than those which are messy and hard to understand. Everything from your spacing to the excel date format of your experience should be neat and uniform so that recruiters have an easy time looking through it.

You should also make sure that your resume has a professional-looking design, as well as a good use of color and font. You should also design it so that it highlights your strengths and achievements while minimizing your weaknesses and failures. Design, arrangement, and format are the cornerstones of a strong resume that stands out from the rest.

Add All Relevant Skills

In the future, there will be more demand for people with skills in STEM fields. However, you should not let this discourage you from applying to jobs in other fields. You can beef up your resume by adding skills that are related to the job you are applying for.

You should also make sure that your resume is up-to-date and relevant. This means that you need to update it every time there is a change in your work history or if you get a promotion at work.

These days, it's not enough to have a degree or certification. You need to have relevant job skills that make you stand out from the crowd. The best way to do this is by developing your own skill set and gaining experience in fields that align with your field of interest. If you do not have the right skills for a job, then you can always consider taking a course that helps you obtain them.

Highlight Your Digital Presence

In 2022, it will be important to have a resume that stands out from the crowd. This means including a personal website, social media profiles, and an online portfolio. It's also important to include an email address with your domain name if you have one.

Remember that your resume is no longer just a piece of paper. Assume that your potential employer will be searching for you on Google and LinkedIn. Be sure to clean up your presence on these platforms and others to avoid any potential problems with your past or your online image.

Get Clear On Your Intentions

Nowadays, most job recruiters skim over resumes . This means that you need to be punchy with your language and your intentions. How can a job know if you're the right fit if you are meandering and failing to let them know why you are the right match for their job listing?

Make sure that your resume is concise and clear about what you want from the job. Employers don't have time to go through lengthy resumes that are not focused on what they are looking for, so it's important to be specific about the position you are applying for and how it aligns with your skillset.

It is always important to have a good resume. But in the future, it will be even more important to have a resume that stands out. Remember to align your resume with these tips and you'll put your best foot forward when applying for that job you've always dreamed of.

Related: 4 Areas Where Customer Awareness in the Job Search is Key: The Hiring Process

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5 tips to beef up your resume, the resume builder, from volunteer work to internships, here’s a list of the best five ways to enhance your college resume..

By Olivia W. McCoy , University of Georgia

Before the writing, the correct sizing and font, the one page dilemma and the hair pulling comes the toughest part: Actually doing things to put on your resume.

There are some options outside of selling your soul to student government or the circumlocutive debate team, however.

Here are five tips to beautify your college resume.

1. Snuggle a Pup

By donating your time, you’re able to make that fluffball’s day and vice versa! There is no stress relief like cuddling a kitten during finals week.

The best part: This kind of thing looks great on your resume! Not only does it show that you care about things outside of your own well-being, but by sticking with an activity—say playing fetch at the shelter once a week—it shows dedication and reliability. What kind of employer wouldn’t want that in the work place?

2. Babysit Some Munchkins

There is something so satisfying about having a baby falling asleep on your shoulder, and the toddlers will crack you up with their constant clumsiness. Another fantastic way to procrastinate on your homework, am I right?

At least in Denton, TX, the commitment was only once a month and—I saved the best for last—you get paid! It’s not a salary or anything, but it’ll fund a couple nights out on the town.

Your letters of interest will shine when you mention how much you looked forward to spending time with those kids and how easy it was to bond with someone outside of the college bars. Just don’t mention how many times you winced at an unwelcomed bodily surprise, and you’re golden!

3. Snag an Internship

I’m sure you knew all of this, but how is anyone supposed to get any experience without any experience in today’s day and age? Internships.com . Really, it’s that simple.

There are more things out there than you can imagine, and they’re ALL desperate for a free and legal work horse.

4. What to Avoid

In this case, focus on something specific for your resume. Do you want to work with people in some fashion? Then only mention your volunteering and community involvement. It’s ok to leave off that you worked as a bus driver through college. Or maybe you’re an inspiring financial junkie. Close in on your studies and school related activities. If that’s the case, you might want to consider shooting for an organization’s accountant spot. Sell that shit, literally.

5. What to Do

Find some things you love to do, and do them. Sure, building houses for the homeless looks good, but if you’re miserable doing it, you’ll end up resentful of your past self and what a shame and waste of time it would be to spend your short life in a resentful grudge against yourself. Besides, who wants to live in a house constructed by a clumsy college kid with little to no experience with a hammer?

Olivia McCoy, University of Georgia

English and french, social media, leave a reply, related posts, how to prepare for a job interview, put your free time on your resume, a college student’s guide to finding a work-from-home job, alternatives that show talent besides resumes, after graduation, what’s next, why volunteering and interning are equally important, getting back to work: a deep dive into student employment, how college students with social anxiety can still network successfully, taylor swift and the maritime superstition of football fans, ‘star trek’: jake sisko’s coming of age story, dark cafes and big yellow taxis—the everlasting world of joni mitchell, bridgit mendler: where is she now, the parallels between ‘the talented mr. ripley’ and ‘saltburn’.

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6 ways to beef up your resume — without lying, skills you have, but didn't know employers cared about..

Is this true or false: "The hardest job you'll ever have is looking for a job?" Absolutely true. Selling yourself to future employers is usually infinitely more difficult than performing the actual duties of the job. Between competition and the constant rise in the required qualifications, there are always reasons to doubt yourself. And if you have little experience, didn't go to a prestigious school, or haven't worked at all, you probably feel like your resume is a little lackluster. In truth, you have skills and qualities that maybe you don't even realize would look great on a resume, or even an application for schools, internships, scholarships, and grants. Here are some life experiences that could beef up your resume and set it apart from the rest.

1. You have a job (especially the same one for a long period of time).

Many people think the work experience portion of a resume is about quantity. Some presume that having worked at multiple places makes a candidate appear to be in demand with employers, or a go-getter who works well with others. However, working short stints at several different places over a short period of time makes a candidate seem noncommittal. On the other hand, being able to hold down a steady job shows a potential employer that you are hard-working, dedicated, and loyal to your company. Employers looking to fill full-time, long-term positions need to know that a candidate has what it takes to stick it out with their company.

2. You have children.

This can be a scary thing to admit to potential employers when you are looking for a job. But being a parent requires a ton of perseverance, passion, and even improvisation. Being the head of a household also involves responsibility, prioritization, budgeting, and discipline. These skills can lend themselves to almost any field, and are especially good for jobs working with children. It also gives employers a heads-up that you have something to work hard for — and something to come home to. This way, your availability may be less of an issue when you are hired. Try adding it to your objective like this: "Enthusiastic mother of two seeks challenging work with steady hours."

3. You do (or have done) community service.

Community service can look great on a resume or scholastic application. Employers, admissions reps, and people who grant scholarships want to see that their applicants play active roles in their communities. Not only does it show that you care about something bigger than yourself, but it also means that you take time out of your busy schedule to do something for the people around you. Above all, doing something without pay doesn't mean you're doing nothing. You could be learning great skills in a community outreach program that could help you in a future job or internship position. If you don't have much work experience, use your community service as work experience. List your duties as you would any other job, and include the word "Volunteer" in your position title.

4. You play a sport.

You probably only think of sports as something you do to have fun and keep your body in shape. But any professional will tell you that playing a sport builds great skills in a player concerning teamwork, leadership, and discipline. As captain of the women's volleyball team at Medgar Evers College for two years, I've learned so much about leadership, communication, fairness, and sacrifice. These are invaluable lessons that I might never have learned in the workplace. Having played a sport, even if it isn't a team sport, can be a great highlight of your resume or application.

5. You are knowledgeable about social media.

In the age of sweeping technology and internet branding, knowing how to use social media and create a presence online is a huge plus for job applicants. After all, that's probably how you got to this article in the first place. The internet is making the world smaller every day, but believe it or not, there are still lots of companies building their internet reach. They're looking to hire teams to manage their online presence and spread the word about their products and services. They are looking for you! Sell your social networking prowess in a "Skills" or "Proficiencies" section on your resume to make the best impression.

6. You are proficient in photo or video editing platforms.

Maybe you only play with Photoshop to get the best selfies or pictures of your dog. But that sets you apart from so many other people (like myself, currently) who have no idea how to use any Adobe products! If you know anything about using special software, it could be very useful in almost any career path. Whether you edit photos, videos, create websites, or do graphic design in your spare time, you have skills that will set you apart from a bunch of less skilled applicants. You can include specific software by introducing it this way in the "Skills" section: "Proficient in..."

What tricks do you use to beef up your resume? Let me know in a comment!

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

Top Creators

1. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society 2. Radhi, SUNY Stony Brook 3. Kristen Haddox , Penn State University 4. Jennifer Kustanovich , SUNY Stony Brook 5. Clare Regelbrugge , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Résumé gaps don't have to kill your job search — here's what to say about them

Slowdowns in some industries mean it's taking longer for some workers to land new roles.
The pandemic helped normalize résumé gaps, with many workers experiencing employment disruptions .
Career experts advise explaining gaps briefly and then pivoting to relevant skills and strengths.

When Vicki Salemi's father got sick, she cut back on her work as a freelance writer to spend time with him.

After he eventually died in late 2012, she was devastated.

"He was my best friend," Salemi told Business Insider.

As she tried to recover, she faced another problem: There was a hole in her résumé that made clear she hadn't been working for a while.

So Salemi, now a career expert for Monster, added a line to her CV to show that the monthslong gap existed for good reason. She didn't want anyone to wonder what she'd been up to — or question it and risk derailing her momentum in an interview she might otherwise be crushing.

"I didn't want to get asked about it because I was knee-deep in grief," she said.

Salemi isn't alone in having a résumé where the end of one job doesn't align neatly with the start of the next. Between layoffs , gig work, and the economic and social quagmire of the pandemic, many workers have blank spots in their formal work history . But that doesn't have to be a dealbreaker when it comes to finding another role .

The pandemic poked holes in work

The trick to dealing with résumé gaps is to have an explanation, career experts told BI. Sometimes, it's best to put the reason on the résumé itself, Salemi said. One bright spot for her after her father died was that she ultimately got the job.

"I remember when I had that phone interview with my future boss, she was like, 'Oh, I'm so sorry to hear that,'" Salemi said. "She just addressed it, acknowledged it, and then moved right on."

Julia Toothacre, chief career strategist at ResumeTemplates.com , told BI that her advice on résumé gaps is far different from what she would have said a decade ago. Breaks in work experience are often just a thing now and don't necessarily have to be papered over.

It's OK to say you were laid off

Toothacre said that, unlike in the past, it's generally not as detrimental to be up front about a work drought on a résumé. That doesn't mean some people in charge of hiring won't ding applicants for it. But she said that itself can be a useful red flag for job seekers.

"If that's a situation that you're in, you don't want to work for that person anyway," Toothacre said.

She recommends that if you were laid off, note that on your résumé. Or, she said, you could add a section that talks about being off work for personal reasons like having to care for someone.

Depending on the grounds for the break, it can be wise to be somewhat circumspect, she said. If you were off because of a protracted illness, it might be smart not to go too deep into it. Even though employers shouldn't discriminate against people for, say, having young kids who need attention, it can happen.

Yet Toothacre said the decision by LinkedIn to let users add a career break to their profile has helped normalize the idea that not all formal work unfolds without interruption.

Salemi, from Monster, said in her experience more job seekers have gaps than don't. And many people tend to overthink how to address them, she said. Her advice is to be prepared to talk about the breaks — and use that explanation to move the conversation forward.

Even for workers who were fired, they could say something like, "I was the last one in, first one out," Salemi said. Then comes the pivot. One example she offered: "But the past three months really gave me clarity for this job I'm pursuing because my strengths are in sales," she said.

Don't dwell on the gap

Salemi said the key is to address the hiatus so an interviewer doesn't get stuck on it. For those who might have done something like get additional education, build their skills, or work on a side hustle, it can be OK or even beneficial to talk about it, she said.

There are other ways job seekers can downplay fallow spots in their formal work history. One is to perhaps not list start dates and end dates using months. Instead, Salemi said, consider using only years.

Another technique is to position the skills up top instead of first listing work history in reverse chronological order. That can help a busy recruiter focus on what's most important, Lee Woodrow, owner and principal consultant at Bigger Fish Executive Branding, previously told BI.

Salemi said it's no surprise that having too many gaps can be a problem. But for most breaks, explain it and move on. If possible, do it in a single sentence with two parts. The first portion is why the gap exists, and the second is why you're the best person for the job, she said.

"Especially if you're a top candidate, it's not necessarily a liability for you," Salemi said.

Do you have something to share about what you're seeing in your job search or in the workplace? Business Insider would like to hear from you. Email our workplace team from a nonwork device at [email protected] with your story, or ask for one of our reporter's Signal numbers.

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From red carpet to Twitter beef with ‘Borderlands’ and how Lisa Loeb stayed

High profile’s sarah hepola also talks with the co-founder of a new dallas-based streaming service for “pets and pet lovers.”.

6:00 AM on Aug 14, 2024 CDT — Updated at 9:03 AM on Aug 14, 2024 CDT

Singer Lisa Loeb wore her trademark nerdy glasses in a photo shoot on Jan. 20, 1996, for a...

On a red carpet inside the Texas Theatre last Thursday, Randy Pitchford was all smiles.

“Gimme your best GQ!” said a cameraman, as the founder of Frisco’s Gearbox Entertainment placed a hand on the lapel of his blue-and-black sequined jacket, military-general style.

I’d come to the Texas premiere of Borderlands , a sci-fi fantasy based on Gearbox’s blockbuster first-person shooter game, to find out what a Dallas red carpet might look like. Pretty fun, it turns out. Sexy cosplayers flashed neon from their eye-popping costumes, bags of free popcorn lined the refreshments counter and 250 Gearbox employees clogged the lobby in a very gamer mix of black hoodie and fishnet stockings.

For a tech geek, Pitchford looked surprisingly at home in the mad swirl. One of the film’s executive producers, he hammed it up for the cameras, reminding me a bit of the magician Penn Jillette, a friend of Pitchford’s who once nudged him to buy Hollywood’s fabled Magic Castle venue and clubhouse. Pitchford is a magic obsessive, but on this night, he seemed lost in the magic of Hollywood, enumerating the movie’s A-list cast for each reporter: Cate Blanchett, Kevin Hart, Jamie Lee Curtis.

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Randy Pitchford, founder and president of Gearbox Entertainment and executive producer of...

But the weekend wouldn’t be so kind to Pitchford. “ Borderlands Crumbles,” read the Variety headline . Over on Rotten Tomatoes , the movie had an abysmal rating (below 10%), and Pitchford wound up sparring with random critics on Twitter/X.

“This movie is a literal slap in the face,” wrote a user on Friday.

”Literal?” Pitchford shot back playfully. But the hits kept coming — boring, bloated, poorly cast (too old), poorly written (cliched), the insults ran the gamut — and he began blocking accounts , though later he unblocked a few, saying he’d moved too fast when the criticism turned nasty and personal.

“Man is having a live meltdown in front of all of us lol,” read one response.

Nobody will hate you like someone who once loved you, and the pile-on seemed to come from Borderlands super fans enraged by the fate of their franchise. By Saturday evening, Pitchford had spun the narrative , tweeting in a more collected tone:

“So what you’re saying is: You like what my friends and I do with our Borderlands video games even more than you like what some of the biggest and best cast and crew of film makers on the planet have done. I’m super flattered! We’re working extra hard [for] you on what’s next....”

How Lisa Loeb stayed

Thirty years ago this month, Forrest Gump ruled the box office, IBM introduced something called a smart phone, but who needed one of those when, across malls and dim cafes, you could hear the girlish alto of Lisa Loeb confessing, “You say I only hear what I want to.”

On Aug. 6, 1994, the Hockaday grad became the first unsigned artist to hit #1 on Billboard with “Stay (I Missed You),” a landmark she’s celebrating all month on social media with #30daysofstay. This Wednesday at 7 p.m., she’ll host an interactive Q&A on Instagram Live with producer Juan Patino.

Loeb never hit #1 again, though she stayed plenty busy : Fifteen albums, a Grammy for best children’s singer in 2018 and a collaboration with the Nashville folk group the Hollow Trees, including a recent toe-tapping single, “ Take It While the Takin’s Good .” She’s got her own line of eyewear at Costco, and this Saturday, she gives the keynote at the 10th annual State of Music in Media Conference in California.

Singer Lisa Loeb and her trademark nerdy glasses in 1996.

Once the poster child for the one-hit wonder, Loeb has become an emblem of Hollywood survival. Her long resume includes a Food Network show, a Sirius radio show, commercial voice-overs and even a GEICO ad , in which she pokes gentle fun at herself, strumming her guitar in a black turtleneck as she sings, “You say I’ve got a crack in my windshield.”

Loeb was profiled in The Dallas Morning News in 1996, when she posed for a series of goofy and good-natured shots. Photographer Ariane Kadoch shot her doing half a back bend, and smiling up at what was probably the top of a ladder, those tortoise-shell glasses in center frame. Hey, if you’re going to stay around — and Loeb did — it helps to be flexible.

Cats and dogs, living together

When I heard about Buddi , a new Dallas-based streaming service for pets and pet lovers, I thought I’d found the perfect while-you’re-away programming for my handsome but slightly bored cat, Wallace. Nope. A common misconception, explained co-founder Layla Kasha, who runs Buddi with her husband Ryan Sullivan, but Buddi isn’t for pets, it’s about pets.

A subscription service available on mobile devices as well as Roku, Apple TV and Amazon Fire, Buddi features a mix of reality programming like Kitty 911 (following volunteers at a Vancouver kitten rescue) along with canine classics like Rin Tin Tin .

Maybe you’re thinking: But there’s already a streamer for pet videos, and it’s called the internet. Ah yes, but the web is a tricky place for children, and Kasha has heard stories of little ones sitting down to some funny cat video only to see a commercial for the latest slasher film.

“Imagine a Netflix but only family-friendly pet content,” Kasha told me. Good news for pet-loving families, bad news for Wallace, currently staring into space.

CORRECTION, 9:02 a.m., Aug. 14, 2024: A previous version of this story misidentified one of the co-founders of Buddi. His name is Ryan Sullivan.

Sarah Hepola , Staff Writer . Sarah Hepola is a features staff writer. She has more than 25 years of journalism experience including with the Dallas Observer, Austin Chronicle, Salon.com and Texas Monthly. She is the author of the 2015 best-selling memoir "Blackout" and was the host/creator of the Texas Monthly podcast "America's Girls," about the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders.

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How To Beef Up A Resume?

1.Research Industry

2.Expand on Skills

3.Boost Achievements

4.Include Testimonials

5.Customize

How to Improve Your Resume in 8 Steps

6. Fill the page

1. Choose the best template for your target job

2. Tailor your resume to each job posting

3. Use action verbs in your work experience section

4. Beef up your resume with numbers

5. Include a link to your LinkedIn or website

8. Ask a friend to proofread your application

More resources that show you how to improve your resume

Related Articles

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Top 12 Resume Boosters To Quickly Improve Your Resume

What are resume boosters?

Top 12 resume boosters that can improve your resume today

Tailor your resume

Stick to one page

Include keywords for ATS

Use bullet points

Create strong power phrases

Quantify wherever possible

Promote hard skills over soft skills

Highlight transferable skills

Update your tech proficiency

Remove outdated education

Use a resume scanner

Top tip for career changers: Use non-work experience to highlight key skills

Resume boosters that take a little longer but are a great investment for your resume

Create an online resume

Pursue further education

Volunteer work or internships

Create an online portfolio

Learn a new language

Common mistakes to avoid when improving your resume

Over-relying on buzzwords

Neglecting the top sections of your resume

Exaggerating

Including references

Neglecting proper layout and formatting

Using a one-size-fits-all resume

Spread the word

10 Ways to Improve Your Resume

10 winning resume updates

1. Select the best template for your skills, experience, and goals.

2. Add skills or areas of expertise near or below your name.

3. Include a robust and compelling objective.

4. Display your online presence.

5. Use relevant keywords.

Build job-ready skills with a Coursera Plus subscription

6. Use action verbs.

7. Quantify your accomplishments in previous roles.

A formula for resume success

8. Include a section for hobbies and interests.

9. Get ahead of concerns.

10. Eliminate clutter.

Next steps

Keep reading

5 Ways to Immediately Improve Your Resume

5 ways to make your résumé more impressive without lying

1. Format flatteringly

2. Less hyperbole, more facts

3. Persuasively frame your experience

4. Show off who you’ve worked with

5. Eliminate or update outdated information

Explore Topics

45 Quick Changes That Help Your Resume Get Noticed

1. Switch the Font

2. Remove “References Available Upon Request”

3. Delete the Resume Objective

4. Spell Check

5. Save it Correctly

6. Change the File Name

7. Remove Your Address .

8. Add Your LinkedIn Profile

9. Make All Your Hyperlinks Live