Ultimate Resume Tips for Acing Every Job Application

A resume is a document that summarizes your professional experience and education. It’s often the first impression a potential employer has of you, which is why it's important to make sure it's well-written and presentable.

The rules for resume writing are always changing. So, what should a resume look like in 2022? Whether you’ve written hundreds of resumes before, or are applying for your very first job ever, we’ve got you covered. We’ve rounded up our top tips for writing and designing your most impressive resume yet!

Keep reading, because we’ll even tell you how BeFunky’s wide range of resume templates, available in the Graphic Designer, can help you get the job done quickly and easily.

1. Use a Resume Design Template

A well-designed resume is easy to read and will catch the eye of hiring managers. You can create your own from scratch, but BeFunky is home to all sorts of wonderful resume design templates that you can quickly customize with your own information. You’ll find them in the Graphic Designer’s Template Library. Just search “Resume” in the search bar to locate them.

Simply swap out the photo for one of your own (if you’re including it), edit the existing text, and switch up the color palette, if necessary. The best part is that these customizable resume templates have been professionally designed by our team of graphic design experts, so they’re sure to help your application stand out!

2. Be Consistent With Your Formatting

When designing your resume, it’s also important to be consistent, especially with your formatting and layout. First impressions are lasting impressions, so make sure your resume looks polished and professional.

Use consistent spacing between lines of text, with double spacing between each paragraph (including the header). Additionally, use bold or italics sparingly; these should be reserved for titles only (like “Professional Summary”) and not used in any other way except as specified by job posting guidelines or employer preferences. Underlining is also not recommended, since it tends to make words look smaller than they actually are.

You’ll also want to use bullet points instead of paragraphs when listing your work experience and achievements. This makes it easier for employers to read through quickly and find exactly what they're looking for. It also helps them understand how your past jobs relate to the job you're applying for—which can be tricky if they're completely unrelated!

Finally, make sure your resume isn't too long or too short. A good length is one page, but if you have more experience than that, two pages is fine as well.

3. Don't Forget Your Contact Details

It's important to include your contact details in your resume, so that employers and recruiters can easily reach out to you when they’re interested in hiring you. Ideally, you should include the following details:

• Phone number
• Email address
• Postal address
• Portfolio link (if applicable)

Make sure that the spelling and grammar are correct, and that this information remains up to date.

4. Use Professional and Complementary Fonts

The typeface you choose for your resume is another important element, because it can make or break the document. To ensure that your resume is easy to read and scan, use 1-2 fonts that are:

• Consistent throughout the document
• Easy on the eyes
• Compatible with other aspects of design

For example, if you use a lot of colors within the design of your resume, you’ll want to avoid decorative fonts throughout your document, so there isn’t too much going on visually.

When in doubt, the best font advice is to pair a Sans Serif font for the headings with a Serif font for the rest of the content.

5. Include Details That Are Relevant to the Job You’re Applying for

Including relevant details on your resume is a great way to make sure that the hiring manager pays attention to your application. It also proves that you’ve thoroughly read through their advertised role and know exactly what their requirements are.

Relevant details include any skills, experience, and education that are related to the job you’re applying for. If you’re putting yourself forward for a photography job, for example, then listing the fact that you were the head photographer for your school magazine is a great idea.

6. Mention Any Awards or Accomplishments

Along with your skills or education, you should also include any awards and accomplishments that are relevant to the job you’re applying for.

You don’t have to list everything you've ever won, but instead, focus on awards that demonstrate relevant skills. For example, if you were a writer for your college newspaper and won an award for outstanding writing, include it in your resume. If you received a certification as a public accountant (CPA) while working at an accounting firm, mention this too, since it speaks to your education and experience with financial matters.

7. Include a Well-Written Summary

A well-written summary can make your credentials stand out among other applicants and spark a recruiter's interest in you as a candidate.

The first piece of advice is to make it brief and to the point. A summary should be no longer than 3 or 4 sentences and the first line should be a form of action (i.e., "delivered…", "managed…", etc.). If possible, aim to include keywords from your resume that are most relevant to the position you're applying for.

You should also write in third person. In other words, write as if someone else is writing about you.

8. Back Up Your Past Job Success With Quantifiable Data

If you’re making claims about your skills and abilities, aim to back them up with quantifiable data. This means using a lot of numbers and statistics. When you say you’re good at something, show the reader just how good you are by giving those all-important stats.

For example:

• “I made X sales in my first month on the job”
• “I saved my company $Y in annual cost savings by implementing X process change”
• “My team achieved Z% increase in productivity thanks to my leadership style”

9. Include a Link to Your LinkedIn Profile

When it comes to social media, LinkedIn is the professional network of choice. Therefore, it's important that you include a link to your profile within your resume.

Make sure that this is an up-to-date version of your LinkedIn profile, as you want potential employers to see you as someone who is professional and committed to putting their best foot forward in terms of their career.

Land Your Dream Job With a Professional Resume

Writing a resume is challenging, but it's also an important part of the job search process. By following these tips, you can create a well-written and professionally designed document that shows off your skills and experience in an eye-catching way.

Ready to create your best resume yet? Head to the Graphic Designer to tweak one of our resume templates within minutes!

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