18 Tips to Help Your Resume Stand Out From the Rest (Infographic)

These quick tips can help you get your foot in the door at the company of your dreams.

learn more about Rose Leadem

By Rose Leadem

jamesteohart | Getty Images

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Landing a job -- or even a job interview -- isn't easy. One of the most important components of a successful job search is having a stellar resume. In fact, having a resume that makes you stand out from the rest of the applicant pool is usually the first step to getting your foot in the door. So, how can better your chances?

Related: 10 Tips for Landing a Job in a New City

If you have your eye on a specific job listing, run the listing through a cloud generator, which will pull out the most prominent words that you should include on your resume. These words can help act as a guide for tailoring your resume to certain jobs or companies. Next, be sure to format your resume in reverse chronological order, starting with your most recent experience at the top. Typically, recruiters take six seconds scanning an applicant's resume, so it's important to make it relevant, easy to read and to the point.

Related: 3 Questions Every Resume Should Answer

Don't include a photo on your resume unless it's specifically requested -- hiring managers reject a whopping 88 percent of candidates who do so. Instead, add a link to your portfolio, LinkedIn or Twitter. Seventy-one percent of hiring managers think this is an attractive feature to have on a resume. You should also include a summary statement and a list of your skills as these help recruiters and HR professionals easily find and learn certain information about you. In addition, remember to always illustrate your skills with numbers to show proof of your accomplishments, and limit yourself to six bullet points per job.

Related: How to Stand Out During a Job Interview

To learn more ways to improve your resume, check out Net Credit's infographic below.

Rose Leadem
Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Related Topics

Editor's Pick

The Dark Side of Pay Transparency — And What to Do If You Find Out You're Being Underpaid
Thinking of a Career Change? Here Are 4 Steps You Can Take to Get There.
A Founder Who Bootstrapped Her Jewelry Business With Just $1,000 Now Sees 7-Figure Revenue Because She Knew Something About Her Customers Nobody Else Did
Everything You Need to Know About Franchise Law
Marketing

Streaming TV Is the Future of Advertising — Without Breaking the Bank

Today's consumers expect personal, impactful ads. There's an advertising method that can get you there for half the price, making it the next frontier in digital advertising.

Business News

'Crying Northwestern Kid' Turned His Viral Fan Moment Into a Successful Harvard Admissions Essay. He Says the Experience Taught Him About Empathy.

Six years ago, Phillips was watching No. 8 Northwestern take on No. 1 Gonzaga during March Madness when he became a meme.

Branding

An Introvert's Guide to Building a Personal Brand

Uncovering your personal brand does not require extroverted personality traits. Here are a few tips for introverts who want to uncover theirs.