Crafting the Perfect Resume
How to Stand Out and Increase Your Chances of Getting Invited to Interview in a Digital World
Since last week’s focus was on helping employers increase their chances of hiring the right candidate, this week I want to address candidates directly. Previously, we discussed how to “get the interview” by simplifying and streamlining your LinkedIn profile. Now, let’s shift focus to your resume. Some common questions I get are, should it be colorful or black and white? Should I include all of my professional experience? How many pages should it be? Should it be heavily designed or simple and straightforward? I’ll share insights on what I tend to look for on the recruiter side and how to improve your chances of getting an interview based on your resume alone.
If you haven’t read my newsletter about tailoring your LinkedIn profile, I recommend reading that first here: Appealing to Businesses Part 1: Getting the Interview. Tailoring and clarifying your professional experience on both your LinkedIn profile and your resume is crucial.
Whether you’re a small business thinking about growing your team or a candidate who wants to have a better idea of how employers approach the hiring process, I hope you will find the information in these weekly newsletters helpful and if so — please first subscribe below!
I have had several conversations with friends in the last week who are extraordinarily frustrated with the job search process. They’ve been applying through digital platforms where they’re one of hundreds of applicants, sending their resume into an abyss, receiving no response or confirmation that their application was received. In today’s digital age, applying for jobs seems less about professional experience and more about branding yourself in a clear, compelling way.
When recruiters are combing through hundreds of applicants, they are looking for the candidates whose experience and job titles most closely align with the role they are hiring for. This means candidates with consistently similar professional experiences get noticed first. However, if your career path has been more winding, don’t worry—there are ways to tailor your resume to appear as the “right fit” for the job, increasing your chances of receiving an invitation to interview.
How Do You Know if Your Resume is "Good"?
From my limited experience, there is no right or wrong way to design a resume layout, but you can be clear or unclear. Whether your contact info and education are in a sidebar or your experience is listed top-to-bottom, the key is clarity. Your resume should make one thing obvious: you are the right person for this job, and you should do that in as few words as possible.
So, how can you make sure your professional direction comes across clearly? These are the four key areas I want to focus on:
1. Your Title
2. Your Last 2-3 Job Titles and Companies
3. Your Education and Additional Skills
4. The Overall Look and Feel
Let’s break down why each of these is important.
Your Title
By title, I am referring to a a few key words to describe what you do at the very top of your resume, just below your name. A common mistake is skipping this part, assuming your work experience will speak for itself. However, my favorite resumes make it immediately clear who the candidate is and what they do. This is why I prefer a title, like "Marketing Manager" or "Operations Specialist," at the top of your resume over a lengthy career summary. You can do both if the summary adds helpful context, but keep it short. The goal is to make it easy for the recruiter/employer to understand your professional identity right away.
The Last 2-3 Places You’ve Worked
Your job titles and work history should support the professional identity you're presenting. For example, if your resume says “Recruitment, People, Operations” under your name (as mine does) your recent job titles and experiences should reflect those keywords. If some of your past roles don’t align perfectly with the story you’re trying to tell, highlight the aspects of those jobs that do, and minimize or omit irrelevant details. Adjust your descriptions to show a clear, consistent trajectory.
Also, keep your bullet points concise. Recruiters often scan resumes quickly, so avoid long sentences. Use brief, punchy phrases that highlight the most relevant aspects of your role, and make sure they align with the title at the top. I generally do not recommend your resume being over one page. You want to communicate who you are and what you do clearly and efficiently.
Here is the top of my resume, for reference:
Quick note on addressing gaps in employment – If you’ve been out of work for six months or more, find something productive to fill that gap. Employers may ask what you’ve been doing during that time, and it’s important to have a clear answer. Whether you’ve been freelancing, consulting, volunteering, or pursuing personal development, frame it in a way that supports your overall career narrative. Be prepared to either include it on your resume or explain it in the interview.
Quick note on tailing your language – If you’re applying for a position that matches your experience but the company uses slightly different terminology, tweak the language in your resume to reflect the job description. While you can’t do this for every application, it’s worth the extra effort for roles you’re particularly excited about. This makes it easier for recruiters to see how you align with their needs.
Education and Additional Skills
Keep this section relevant. If your degree or specific training doesn’t add value to the story you’re telling, simplify it. For instance, I don’t include the specifics of my major because it doesn’t align with the narrative I want to present in my resume. Similarly, only list additional skills that directly contribute to the job you're applying for. Be specific and selective.
Overall Look and Feel
Your resume’s design should match your professional identity without distracting from the content. If you’re a marketing professional, a visually appealing resume might make sense. However, if you’re applying for a more traditional role, keep the design clean and simple. The goal is clarity—your name, contact info, title, work experience, education, and skills should be easy to read and understand at a glance.
Applying for jobs in today’s digital world can be overwhelming and discouraging. But by implementing these strategies, I believe you can cut through the noise and make yourself stand out as a strong candidate. Hopefully, these tips help you secure more interviews and, ultimately, the right role.
If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to reach out. I’d love to hear what would be most helpful for you in future newsletters!!!
Thanks for reading!
Devin
PS. If you are a business in need of hiring support, send me an email! I don’t take a salary percentage of the hire or have any hidden fees or contractual obligations, just a transparent hourly rate to help businesses find and retain the right new hire for their business. Hope to connect with you soon! Recruitment@devintrevino.co