How to get that resume seen by the right employer

If you go on Google and ask, “What should I include on my resume?” you would get so many different answers from multiple sources. Some will say that you must include a resume summary while others will talk about hiding your career gaps. Still, others will advise you to keep your resume to one page.

That is the beauty of resume advice. All of that advice is good for certain jobs in specific industries. If you try to follow each and every one of the resume tips on the Internet, you will come up with the worst resume ever. That's why we spoke with some of our best career coaches and resume experts to produce the best resume tips that will get your resume seen by the right employer.

Learn to let go of things

Take a very good look at your resume. Have you mentioned any items that have no direct connection to the job you are applying for? If so, it is time to remove those from your resume. We do not mean that your entire career history is irrelevant. Simply, if a skill or an experience that you have mentioned on a bullet point for a previous job is not related to the new job, replace it with something that will resonate with the new employer. Having trouble with the work experience section of your resume? Then, we have the best article that shows you how to write a killer career summary.

Remove your resume objective

While there are some resume experts who recommend job seekers add an objective to their resume, we believe that it is redundant. Most of the time, the objective of any resume is to score the job for which the author is applying. Instead, use that resume space strategically and include an unskippable resume summary statement. You can also add value to your resume by creating an eye-catching resume headline.

Show your career progression

The best way to get an employer interested? Showing them how you have climbed the career ladder in a noticeably short time to get to where you are today. Let your resume reflect your career journey. Have you worked at the same company for several years? Then, list down the multiple positions you have held with your employer. This is the best way to show your commitment and loyalty, as well as your ability and willingness to take on additional responsibility at work.

Focus on the quality of the jobs you add, not the quantity

It is OK to leave out certain jobs from your resume. You can choose to list them on your resume without going into detail about your responsibilities. This comes especially handy if you have had the same job title at multiple companies. Unless the job involved some noteworthy accomplishment, you can simply list the job title, company, and the dates at the end of your career history.

Personal branding resumes are the new black

A resume that does not paint a clear picture of who you are as a person feels very one-dimensional. Even though you may have added lists and lists of impressive skills and accomplishments to your resume, it wouldn't have that spark if you don't advertise your personal brand through the document. Show potential employers how you are an irreplaceable asset to your current workplace because of your amazing skills. And don't forget to show the reader the massive amounts of talent you have amassed through the length of your career.

Do not include a headshot on your resume

This piece of advice is not applicable to those of you working in modeling, acting, or performance arts. Also, if you're creating a resume for your international job search, you may want to consider adding a photograph to your resume. Headshots are considered necessary on resumes in most Asian countries. However, in the US, headshots on resumes are more likely to get you subjected to discrimination. That is why this resume practice is outdated in the American job market.

Be wise when you create the key skills section

There is no need for you to display 20-plus skills on your resume. Our resume experts agree that displaying 5 to 10 extremely relevant skills on your resume is the way to get noticed during a resume review. Hiring managers want to know which skills you excel at, not which skills you use on a daily basis in your job. The best way to show that you really have these skills? Incorporate them into the bullet points of your career history.