Your resume is your first impression—your chance to convince a hiring manager that you’re worth an interview. But with so many resumes flooding recruiters’ inboxes, standing out is tough. Forget outdated advice like “make it one page” or “use fancy fonts to stand out.” Here are seven resume tricks that actually work.

1. Use a Strong, Specific Headline

The first thing a recruiter sees is your name and the title at the top of your resume. Don’t waste it with something generic like “Resume” or “Seeking Employment.” Instead, use a clear, powerful headline that tells them exactly what you bring to the table.

Example:
Marketing Manager | SEO Specialist | Growth-Focused Brand Strategist

If you’re switching careers or don’t have a clear job title yet, focus on your key skills. This instantly tells hiring managers what they should expect from you.

2. Ditch the Objective Statement

Old-school resumes had an “Objective” section at the top that usually read something like, “Looking for a challenging opportunity to utilize my skills and grow professionally.” That doesn’t tell an employer anything useful. Instead, replace it with a Professional Summary—a 2-3 sentence pitch that highlights your biggest strengths and achievements.

Example:
Results-driven sales manager with 8+ years of experience in B2B sales and client relationship management. Successfully increased regional revenue by 35% in two years. Passionate about leading teams and driving business growth through strategic planning and customer engagement.

This immediately tells employers why they should care about your resume.

3. Tailor Your Resume to the Job (Every. Single. Time.)

One-size-fits-all resumes don’t work. Companies use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan resumes for keywords matching the job description. If you don’t customize yours, it might not even be seen by a human.

How to do it:

• Look at the job description and pick out the most important skills and requirements.
• Make sure those keywords appear naturally in your resume (especially in your skills and experience sections).
• Adjust your summary and bullet points slightly for each job application.

Yes, it takes extra time, but it dramatically increases your chances of getting an interview.

4. Quantify Your Accomplishments

Hiring managers don’t just want to see what you did—they want to see how well you did it. Numbers and concrete results make your resume more compelling.

Weak: Managed social media accounts and created content.
Strong: Increased Instagram engagement by 60% and grew follower count from 5,000 to 15,000 in 12 months through strategic content marketing.

Adding numbers (percentages, revenue increases, cost savings, etc.) instantly makes your experience more impressive.

5. Use Action Words, Not Buzzwords

Hiring managers see words like “hardworking” and “detail-oriented” a hundred times a day. Instead of fluff, use strong action verbs that show what you actually did.

Boring: Responsible for handling client accounts.
Better: Managed a portfolio of 25+ high-profile clients, increasing retention rates by 20%.

Use words like:

• Spearheaded
• Developed
• Launched
• Increased
• Optimized
• Streamlined

These words make your resume more dynamic and impactful.

6. Keep It Clean & Easy to Read

If your resume looks like a cluttered mess, recruiters won’t even bother reading it. Follow these formatting rules:

• Use a professional, simple font like Arial, Calibri, or Times New Roman (size 11-12).
• Stick to clear section headings (Work Experience, Skills, Education, etc.).
• Use bullet points, not long paragraphs.
• Leave enough white space—don’t cram everything onto one page.

A well-organized resume is easier to skim, and hiring managers appreciate that.

7. Always Include a Skills Section

A dedicated Skills section helps recruiters quickly see what you’re good at. Focus on hard skills (software, tools, technical expertise) rather than generic soft skills.

Good Skills Section Example:

Technical Skills: Photoshop, Figma, HTML/CSS, Google Analytics
Marketing: SEO, Paid Ads, Email Campaigns
Project Management: Trello, Asana, Agile

This section also helps with ATS optimization, making it more likely your resume gets noticed.

Final Thoughts

A great resume doesn’t just list your experience—it sells you as the best candidate for the job. By using a strong headline, tailoring your application, quantifying your achievements, and keeping it clear and concise, you’ll dramatically improve your chances of landing interviews.

Want to take it a step further? Pair your resume with a strong LinkedIn profile and a well-written cover letter. Hiring managers notice when you go the extra mile. Now go land that job!