Seven Ways to Bring Excitement to Your Resume

John Krautzel
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A good resume makes an applicant stand out from the crowd by using creative techniques that catch the eyes of potential employers. In today's competitive job market, the best resumes stray from tradition with an assortment of unique, personalized elements that turn a once-boring document into an exciting story.

1. Use a Personal Branding Statement

Instead of starting with an objective statement, introduce yourself with a short profile that summarizes your career history and business talent. Create a personal branding statement or a short tagline that sums up your experience in just a few words.

2. Make It Active

Passive verbs create a boring resume. Instead of "duties included" or "had chance to," use words that paint a visual image of your previous experience. For example, saying that you "collaborated with a creative team of designers, including engineers and artists" is much more engaging.

3. Replace Overused Phrases With Real Examples

The best resumes never mention generic, worn-out phrases such as "team player," "motivated" and "hardworking." Rather than simply describing your experience and achievements, demonstrate your worth by explaining how your talent benefited previous employers.

4. Include a Personal Photo

A small, professional headshot is a great way to set your resume apart. This personalized touch gives potential employers the chance to match a face with your name and provides a proven advantage over candidates who do not include pictures with their resumes.

5. Optimize for Online Viewing

If your resume isn't posted online, you're missing out on dozens of job opportunities. The best resumes are formatted for optimal digital viewing. Use Georgia font rather than traditional Times New Roman for readability, and expand on your story by embedding links to online profiles or portfolios that relate to the position.

6. Add Distinctive, Relative Keywords

The best online resume is completely ineffective when it doesn't include the right keywords. Again, avoid generic phrases such as "great communicator" or "self-motivator." Choose words that represent the skills and experience that make you an ideal candidate for the position you are seeking.

7. Adopt a Nontraditional Format

The best resumes that attract the most attention are those that move away from traditional, boring templates to utilize fresh, creative presentation techniques and layouts. Update the layout and design of your resume with something more modern, or turn your resume into a Flash or PowerPoint presentation to demonstrate various job skills you bring to the table. The best resumes are interactive and often integrate video or infographic content.

Human resource managers browse through dozens of resumes each day. A good resume gets noticed, but the best resumes are usually the ones that earn an interview slot. Step away from the traditional, confined formats and overused, clichéd descriptions that make resumes boring. A few simple updates can make your resume more exciting and effective.


Photo courtesy of César Santiago Molina at Flickr.com

 
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  • Jennifer Szabo
    Jennifer Szabo •

    awesome advice, thank you!!!

  • John D.
    John D. •

    informative literature thank you.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Robin thanks for your comment. While it is true that having a photo "could" push a candidate out of the running due to preconceived prejudice, the tides on that are turning. With social media the way it is today, it's hard to hide who you are. Even if you don't include a photo on your resume, all the hiring manager needs to do is look you up on the Internet. Most of us have at least a Facebook page or a LinkedIn account in which we have included a photo(s). So the hiring manager is really not going to have a hard time finding you anyhow. So, unless you have shunned social media altogether, the photo issue is not all that important. And, as a PS. shunning all social media could work against you - depending upon the type of job you are seeking. So, it's a judgment call and there's really no right answer.

  • ROBIN MARTIN
    ROBIN MARTIN •

    While I agree with many of the ideas expressed in the above article "Bring Excitement to your Resume" there was one the popped up right from the start with red flags. One must keep in mind "excitement" can arise from both positive and negative. The previous article I read made it clear that 4. Include a Personal Photo - (unless applying as an entertainer or model) was one thing not to include as managers don't need to know hair or eye color to determine one's qualifications. Moreover it can even work against one's favor when applying should the hiring manager have any preconceived prejudice or beliefs regarding a certain look or fashion. Since you cant account for taste let the qualifications speak for themselves and send an exciting text only resume.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Patricia thanks for your comments. I wouldn't worry so much about a friend who airs their opinions on politics, etc. Employers are looking to see what you posted more than what others post. As for the personal information on applications - unfortunately there is not much that can be done about that. It certainly is illegal for them to ask for your age so they get around it by asking for a date of graduation from high school or something equally as lame. In addition, they can take a pretty good - educated guess - as to your age just from your resume. So there's no hiding that one. We hear from a lot of mature job seekers who have found positions in their 70's and above so the jobs are there. All we can tell you is to keep on applying. Talk it up with family and friends and let them know that you are looking for a position. You didn't say but I am hoping that you are at least drawing social security to help you get by. Sorry about the ex - we all have been there! Just don't give up. Jobs are out there. It's just a matter of finding the right one. Always be on the lookout for help wanted signs, too. If you see one, go check it out immediately. We here at Beyond wish you all the best.

  • Patricia K.
    Patricia K. •

    I have a question and a comment. Regarding the FB issue...my FB is relatively decent. I might like or share - once-in-a-while - a joke I find funny, but not distasteful or a post I find inspirational; however, a 'friend', more like an acquaintance, is VERY opinionated in a way I don't agree with usually about politics. I don't share or respond to her posts. Should I remover her? My second is a comment about request about personal information on a job app from a local hospital that includes a 'background check questionnaire and supplemental identifying information' that specifically asks your birth date, and also a 'survey' that asks your gender, race/ethnicity, and age - if you are less than 40, over 40, or rather not say. I am 68, and due to an ex that spent money faster than it was made in addition to being a scam artist, I left the marriage with nothing to rely on for retirement, and consequently must continue to work. I have excellent computer and office skills, but get no response to my resumes. Only one place I've applied to (4xs) has written saying someone else was hired. It's been more than a year and no luck as of yet!

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @WhoCares I just used the bar as an example. You are blessed that you are self-employed but not everyone has the luxury of being able to do that. For those of us who are looking for jobs and want to work for a company, keeping our social media sites clean is a necessity. Regardless of how any of us feel about it and how we think that these sites should be "personal", companies don't agree. They feel that by peeking into your social media sites they get a better feel for who the job applicant is and if they want to pursue this candidate or not. Sad but true - this is the way of our world today.

  • Who Cares
    Who Cares •

    @Nancy: Actually even if I was still working for a company I would take the same stand - personal is personal. I knew once and for all that I no longer wanted to work for anyone else when I was asked on an application for my Facebook site and login name and password. I was first in shock then disgust as I walked up to the receptionist and told her I was cancelling the interview. Unless going to a bar involves nudity or sexual content then it's a part of life.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Carmen you are so absolutely correct. Keep your social media pages clean and presentable. Think about those photos before you post them. Sure you had a ball at the bar on Friday and there are photos to prove it. Just don't be posting them on any social media sites - especially when you are looking for a job. And, not only when job seeking, but if you have a job - NEVER say anything negative about the company, your boss or your coworkers because it will come back to haunt you. Maybe not tomorrow but the Internet is forever. Once out there, you can't take it back. Always better to err on the side of caution.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Teresa thanks for your comment. There is no right or wrong way to do things when it comes to job seeking. Take what works for you and use it and disregard the other information. For instance, you could go to one recruiter and they could take a look at your resume and say that it's great. Then you visit a second recruiter and they could say that your resume is just terrible - that it's formatted wrong, etc. Everyone has an opinion and a way to do things. We try to offer suggestions from all around - not just from one source. Job seeking has changed so much over the past ten years. If you have a resume that is working - that is getting you interviews, then don't change it. But if you aren't getting any calls on your resume, you might want to consider some of the suggestions offered.

  • Teresa Lewis Watts
    Teresa Lewis Watts •

    Well, that's interesting: The article I just read---by the same author---"Don't Includes

  • Carmen B.
    Carmen B. •

    Whatever you do on social media will come to the light! Because you don't know who is looking at you on the social media so conduct yourself the right way.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    @Arden thanks for your comment. In today's world, job seekers will try anything that gets their resume in front of the right person. Using unusual fonts or a different format. Many job seekers are using a "storyboard" type of resume - telling a story of their career instead of using the standard chronological or functional type formats. The bottom line, of course, is that you want to get that resume through the ATS and on to the manager's desk so keywords are definitely key. @Who Cares thanks for your comment, too. You are right that everyone has an opinion. For me - I would rather keep my facebook and other social media pages clean and free of any questionable photos or postings. Since you are self-employed you can do as you wish with your social media sites. Most of us, though, are not self-employed and should care what the hiring manager sees. Social media pages can tell a hiring manager a lot about the candidate. So, for those of us who are not self-employed - pay attention to your social media sites and also to what you place comments on. Good luck to all.

  • Who Cares
    Who Cares •

    @Nancy: This whole idea that employers Google potential employees and check out their FB accounts is true - disgusting but true. Yes I have a photo on LinkedIn and I also have lots of photos all over FB - did I ever care what an employer found on my personal life? Nope - because it's my PERSONAL LIFE plain and simple. My FB page was never tied to my professional email either nor was my phone number out there. Even if they happened to find me by name then they would be able to see nothing since my profile is totally private. If they wanted to make up a fake profile and "friend" me as I have heard of being done then hey no problem - you get what you see. If they cannot handle the fact that my friends all ride motorcycles and have long hair and tattoos then phhhhttttt that's on them and really not my problem. Never was and never will be. I thank god every single day that I don't have to play these games with do this and do that or don't do this and don't do that. Before I went into business for myself I had one recruiter (temp agency hack actually) tell me to do one thing on my resume then the next one would tell me to do just the opposite. You know what they say about "opinions"? Everyone has one. Most of them don't count other than my own.

  • Andrew Jones
    Andrew Jones •

    Great info.

  • Arden M.
    Arden M. •

    On the adopt an unusual format. This only works if there are actually people looking at the resume. And a caution here, Do Not get too fancy or too artistic. I saw a new graduate once who had a four page resume and never a real job. If as many large companies do now, they scan the resume in and let word search look for appropriate skill words for match, the fancier and the more exotic, the harder it is to digitize the resume. Another reason they prefer an electronic copy. Can't believe these comments. They are hauling out all the old advice that has been superceeded by newer information based on current standards and practices.

  • Nancy Anderson
    Nancy Anderson •

    Great debate going on here. Everyone has an opinion regarding a photo - even though the photo was only one of 7 ways to improve your resume. Is it true that a company would discriminate based upon a photo? Maybe. But to be real - how many of you have a Facebook account with your photo on it? What about LinkedIn? What about right here at Beyond? Our world has changed drastically even in just the last year. Employers are going to look at your social media sites. They are going to Google you. They are going to see photos of you somewhere on one of your sites. What would you rather they see? A professional looking photo or the one from your last beach vacation? So unless you have been living in total isolation, they will see what you look like. It is your choice whether you include a photo or not. This is just one way - an option not a requirement. And surprisingly no one even mentioned the part about turning their resume into a presentation, video or infographic! Please know that these are simply suggestions for your consideration - not written in stone.

  • Lesley Marcille
    Lesley Marcille •

    Hi I don't believe in including a photo that is discrimination for looking for a job. The job should be based on your experience and what you are bring to the employer.

  • S M A.
    S M A. •

    need a good resume to findind job

  • Frank Z.
    Frank Z. •

    Personal photo exposes employers to Title 7 violations. Never do this!!!!

  • Angela G.
    Angela G. •

    I disagree with a personal photo on a resume. I have been recruiting for 9 years and we always advise a candidate that a personal photo doesn't belong on professional resume. Maybe if they are an actor - or - model where looks could be a deciding factor, but not in most businesses.

  • Lydia Lemus
    Lydia Lemus •

    I appreciate the fresh new approaches.

  • Jorge C.
    Jorge C. •

    Great piece of advice

  • Raymond R.
    Raymond R. •

    Finally, it should be an independent party, company hiring based on solely experience and position matching. Also the government should intervene so that some how the east, west, north, south job traffic, commuting situation should be taken care of. Meaning make it possible for people who want, to trade jobs. Those in the north doing accounting, switch with those in the south, as an example. All factors being considered of course, the company, individual, etc...

  • Raymond R.
    Raymond R. •

    Last comment: I dare that university someone says did an experiment, to do this experiment. Have 1000 applicants apply. 4 categories responses: 500 Black, 500 White, 500 Male and 500 females. Have the applicants attach photos, 500 good looking and young, and 500 not so good looking and old. Then let us know what you get, lets us know, get back to us with the results.

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