In today’s hyper-competitive job market, having a standout resume takes more than just listing your qualifications and experience. Recruiters and hiring managers want to see what sets you apart from the rest and how you’re going to add value to their organization. To achieve this, job seekers must go beyond the traditional resume format and inject creativity, personality, and a narrative that truly reflects their professional journey. Not sure where to begin? Adopt these nine ideas on how you can use unconventional content to make your resume a standout.
1. Tell Your Professional Story
Your resume is more than just a list of jobs; it’s a reflection of your career journey and achievements. One powerful way to make your resume more compelling is by transforming your job experiences into narratives that highlight the challenges you faced, the actions you took, and the outcomes you achieved.
Example: Instead of merely stating, “Managed a team of five,” try, “Led a cross-functional team of five to redesign the company’s project management workflow, resulting in a 30% increase in productivity and a 15% reduction in project delivery times.” This storytelling approach engages the reader and provides context, demonstrating your problem-solving abilities and leadership skills.
According to a post on MakeMyResume, framing your experience in a way that tells a story helps create a connection with the reader. "Think of your resume as a journey through your career, with each position being a milestone that led you to the next big thing," the site advises.
2. Highlight Non-Traditional Experience
Traditional job experience is valuable, but it’s often the non-traditional roles or projects that make candidates stand out. These can include freelance gigs, volunteer work, or even hobbies that have helped you develop relevant skills.
In a recent blog by Katrina Kibben, she emphasizes the importance of leveraging non-traditional experiences to showcase your versatility. For example, if you volunteered to organize a community event, this experience can demonstrate your project management and organizational skills, even if it wasn’t in a paid capacity.
Kibben points out that “job seekers often overlook these experiences, but they can be just as impactful as traditional work, especially when they show how you can bring something unique to a new role.”
3. Infuse Personality and Passion
Your resume shouldn’t just be a dry document; it should reflect who you are as a person. Infusing your personality into your resume can make it more memorable to recruiters. One way to do this is through a well-crafted “Personal Interests” or “About Me” section, where you can share what drives you, your values, and your passions.
Example: If you’re passionate about sustainability and environmental issues, and the company you’re applying to values corporate social responsibility, you could mention this in your resume. For instance, “Passionate advocate for environmental sustainability, with experience leading a company-wide initiative to reduce plastic use by 50%.”
According to MakeMyResume, it’s that personal touch that helps you stand out: "When a hiring manager can see a bit of who you are and what drives you, it creates a connection that goes beyond qualifications."
4. Incorporate Visual Elements
Visual resumes are gaining traction, particularly in creative industries. While it’s important to keep your resume professional, adding visual elements like infographics, icons, or graphs can make your resume stand out in a stack of text-heavy documents. However, it’s crucial to strike the right balance. “Design elements should enhance the content, not overshadow it. A well-placed graph or icon can highlight your key achievements without overwhelming the reader."
Example: If you’re applying for a marketing role, you could include a visual representation of your most successful campaigns, such as a bar graph showing the percentage increase in engagement or sales.
5. Emphasize Success with Metrics
Hiring managers love numbers because they provide clear evidence of your impact. Whenever possible, quantify your achievements to give a concrete sense of your contributions.
Example: Instead of saying, “Improved customer satisfaction,” it’s much stronger to write, “Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20% over two years by implementing a new feedback loop and staff training program.”
The article from WorkLife highlights the importance of metrics: "Quantifying your achievements not only demonstrates your effectiveness but also allows you to stand out as someone who can deliver tangible results."
6. Leverage Hidden Gems in Your Work History
Sometimes, the most valuable parts of your experience are buried in roles or projects that you might not immediately think to include. Digging deep into your work history can uncover hidden gems that add value to your resume.
WorkLife suggests, “Look beyond your primary job duties to find the standout moments in your career—those times when you went above and beyond or when you learned something new that could be relevant to your next job.” This could be a small project where you learned a new skill or an instance where you took the initiative on a task outside your usual responsibilities.
Example: Perhaps you took the initiative to mentor a junior colleague or volunteered to lead a task force. These experiences show leadership, initiative, and a willingness to go beyond the scope of your role.
7. Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
While it’s crucial to make your resume stand out visually and content-wise, it’s equally important to ensure it’s optimized for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). These systems filter resumes based on keywords and formatting, so make sure your resume is both ATS-friendly and visually appealing.
Use a hybrid resume format that combines a traditional structure with creative elements. Incorporate relevant keywords from the job description naturally into your resume, particularly in the skills and experience sections. Be sure to be thoughtful in the placement and use of these words so you still sound authentic. This ensures that your resume can pass through ATS while still catching the eye of hiring managers.
8. Regularly Update and Tailor Your Resume
Your resume should be a living document, constantly evolving as you gain new experiences and skills. Regular updates are essential, as is tailoring your resume to each job application.
Example: If you’re applying for a role in digital marketing, highlight your experience with SEO, content strategy, and social media campaigns. For a project management role, focus on your organizational skills, leadership, and ability to manage complex projects.
Remember, every job application is different, and your resume should reflect that. Tailoring your resume doesn’t mean a complete rewrite but adjusting it to highlight the most relevant skills and experiences for each position. Be selective in your choices and ensure they align with the job description and industry.
9. Seek Constructive Feedback
Before sending out your resume, get feedback from mentors, peers, or professional resume writers. They can provide insights you might have missed and suggest areas for improvement.
This is the most important step you can take as a job seeker. Seek outside perspectives from someone in the industry, an HR expert, and someone who is a grammar/spelling expert. These external insights will help make your resume polished and free of errors that might detract from your professionalism.
Conclusion
Making your resume stand out in today’s job market requires creativity, strategy, and a willingness to go beyond traditional formats. By telling your professional story, highlighting non-traditional experiences, incorporating visual elements, and quantifying your achievements, you can create a resume that not only passes the ATS but also captures the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. Regular updates, careful tailoring, and seeking feedback will keep your resume relevant and impactful, helping you unlock new opportunities in your career.
Every year we place thousands of job seekers in Technology, Office Professional, Engineering, and Trades/Technical roles. With over 100 recruiting consultants across Canada, we can help you find your next role or new career path with interview tools and resume support. For more information about Agilus, please follow us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or check out our current open roles.
