Learning how to make a resume is more complicated than a free resume template will have you believe- especially, how to make a good resume.

Here are 4 expert techniques to help you learn how to make a resume stand out:

FORMAT YOUR RESUME WITH MODERN BEST PRACTICES

There are plenty of free resume templates available, but they will most likely leave your resume looking outdated and very generic. Take a look at some expert resume samples to get an idea of a solid format to use.

The margins are often overlooked when it comes to resume formatting. And, of course every resume is unique and requires variation to fit content and context, but there are guidelines you can follow.

Larger margins allow less content to fill more space, which can be good for recent graduates or career transition resumes. On the other hand, smaller margins allow more content to be placed on the resume without moving onto additional pages.

Take caution not to overwhelm the page with text though- utilize white space for clarity and flow. The margin range I’ve found most effective is 0.6 – 0.8 inches all around, depending on your needs.

DITCH THE OBJECTIVE- USE A PROFESSIONAL PROFILE

The practice of including an Objective has become outdated, like WAY outdated. An Objective conveys what you- the candidate- are looking for, but a hiring manager doesn’t care much about what you want until they know what you have to offer. In the opening section (top 1/3) of your resume, it’s best to state your intentions.

While I often employ a “Professional Profile” and a “Skills” section to accomplish this, I also use specific titles or descriptions in bold print to draw the attention of the reader.

This can be something as simple as, Sales and Marketing Manager, or it can be more specific if you specialize in something or want to target a specific position.

The important take-away is that your positioning statement be visible right up front, so the reader doesn’t have to work too hard to understand the purpose of your resume.

USE KEYWORDS FROM THE JOB POSTING(S)

Job postings and descriptions often contain many keywords you can use throughout your resume to help clarify why you’re a match for the position.

You may not need to do this for every position you apply to, but if you really want the job, it’s worth it! Many career fields have common jargon and lingo right on the job description.

If there is a word or phrase you can swap out to make your resume more closely match job description, do it! But, be careful not to copy and paste the entire job listing (or even parts of it) into your resume, as Applicant Track Systems (ATS) are sophisticated enough to notice and may discard your resume.

FOCUS ON ACHIEVEMENTS OVER JOB DUTIES

High-quality, quantifiable accomplishments turn a mediocre resume into a promising one. These days, it’s not enough to simply list the duties and responsibilities of the position you held. Hiring managers want to see your contributions– they want to see how you made a difference.

Using dollar amounts and percentages is a great way to illustrate your success in current and previous positions – and the Applicant Tracking Systems are often set to search them out.

Being able to (honestly) state that you, “Increased sales by 20%” rather than just stating that you were, “Responsible for account management and sales”, makes a big difference. This is how you set yourself apart from the competition!

More examples are, “increased sales by [%] in [span]”, “decreased expenses”, “implemented a new process that caused [positive result]”, etc.

Accomplishments and achievements can be anything that indicates you not only showed up to do the job, but you were actually good at it and you made a positive impact.