Maybe you’ve applied for five jobs this week. Or fifteen this month. Still waiting. Still refreshing your inbox. It gets frustrating. You tweak your resume a little. Try a different template. Add more words. Remove others. But somehow, nothing seems to work.
Here’s the thing: your resume might be getting lost in the crowd, or worse, ignored completely. That doesn’t mean you’re not qualified. It just means the paper doesn’t speak as clearly as it should. The good news? You can fix that. And no, it doesn’t take a miracle or a masterclass.
In this post, I’ll show you how to write a resume that gets noticed. Nothing too fancy. Just clear, honest stuff that works. You’ll see real examples. You’ll learn what to keep, what to skip, and how to write in a way that makes someone want to read.
2. Understand What Specifically Employers Search For
Most recruiters won’t spend time reading every word. They do a quick scroll. It’s looking through a hundred resumes in a few minutes. It’s pretty brutal.
That’s about how long it takes them to glance at your name, then take a sip of tea—your resume gets about 8 seconds of attention. They either decide it’s a “yes,” “no,” or “next.”
Most recruiters focus on these specific areas:
- Contact and name – Relevant info; will decide in a few seconds.
- Position title and short description – Will it scream, “I’m the right fit”?
- Employment history – Is it concise or a wall of text?
- Competences – Relevant and clearly stated, directly linked to the role.
Missing any of these will make the rest of your CV go unseen. If the best items aren’t on display, there’s no chance anyone is stepping in.
3. Don’t Overdo, Don’t Overthink It. Be Straightforward
On resumes, simplicity wins the day. Stick to a clean professional layout devoid of weird fonts, neon colors, or cramped text. Clear spacing is a must.
- No photos (unless you are in a country or industry that demands them).
- No distracting or unrelated graphics.
- Use bold headings for easy scanning and quick access to the critical information.
4. Be Sure to Get the Top Section Right: Contact, Title and Summary
The first part of the resume is the first impression, and therefore critical.
- Contact information is vital to be accurate. An incorrect number can cost the opportunity.
- Job Title: Tailor and customize based on the position.
- Summary: Sell the skills and value in two to three lines at most.
Career specialists at Indeed say a resume that’s written with a specific role in mind can give you a serious edge. Jessica Hinkle, who’s spent over a decade hiring people, puts it plainly: she only calls candidates whose skills match what’s in the job ad. Out of 35 applications, she might speak to just five. That kind of focus does more than tick boxes. It shows you’ve paid attention. It tells the employer you get what they’re looking for. And it can help you get past those keyword scanners many companies use before a human even sees your name.
Example: “As a digital marketer, I have over three years of experience managing paid ad campaigns for ecommerce brands. I am quick with data and great with people.”
5. Work Experience: Evidence of Impact, Not Just Work Tasks
- Start each bullet point with a powerful verb. Don’t forget to use bullet point format.
- Remember, focus on impact, rather than spending time on outcomes. Quantify whenever possible.
- Don’t use vague phrases such as “responsible for”.
Example: Combined blog content with SEO enhancements to increase organic traffic by 45% in 6 months.
6. Education: Maintain Brevity
- Write down your qualification, institution, and year of graduation.
- Mention any awards or recognitions relevant to them.
- List them above your work experience if you are a newly minted graduate.
7. Skills Section: Quality Over Quantity
- Stick to 5–8 essential competencies.
- Ensure these competencies align with the position you are applying to.
- Don’t use: “email” and “communication” (unless central to the position)
- Do: If it makes things clearer, categorize them as Technical Skills and Soft Skills.
Example:
Technical: SEO, Data Analysis, Python, Canva
Soft: Leadership, Problem Solving, Strategic Thinking
8. Optional Sections That Support Your Application.
Include only if they support your application:
Certifications include specific certificates as PMP, Google Analytics, AWS Certified and others.
Languages: English (Native), French (Intermediate)
Tools: Canva, Figma, Excel, Salesforce
Volunteer Work: Industry participation, leadership or teamwork relevance.
💡 Tip: Well-structured and well-placed additional sections provide relevance and are useful.
Key Mistakes to Avoid
Every single detail on a resume matters. Make sure to avoid the following mistakes at all costs:
- Spelling Mistakes: A single typo might demonstrate a lack of attention to detail and could cost you an opportunity.
- Long paragraphs: Long paragraphs are tedious to look at, and a quick scan will miss out on vital sections due to the recruiter’s aversion to dense text.
- Overly Used Expressions: Overused phrases such as “team player” and “hard-working” do not hold any weight without evidence to back them up.
- One-size-fits-all: Customization is key not only to resumes but to all documents. Tailor them to fit each position you are applying for.
Before Hitting Send
After filling out all of the sections, the file must be saved as a PDF unless otherwise directed. Additionally, change the file name to reflect who the document is for and in what format it is saved, such as: Sarah_Olu_Resume.pdf.
Review it on desktop and mobile to check alignment and spacing.
Conclusion
You always want to present yourself with a well-structured and elaborate resume. Focus on clarity. Don’t go overkill on designs. Every time, less is more. Get straight to the point.
Action step: Work on one section at a time, and focus on details; every tweak helps.