When writing a resume, you have one page to showcase your skills, experience and education to prove to an employer that you are fit for the position. This page must be organized strategically and demonstrate what you can contribute to the company. 

Employers on average spend six seconds reviewing a resume, according to job-matching service TheLadders. This cursory glance could make or break your chances of getting hired.

THE BASICS

A resume’s goal should be to separate yourself from other applicants, but all resumes need certain content. Contact information, education, work experience and skills are all necessary components of a complete resume.

Expand upon work experience by describing what you learned and how that knowledge will apply to future positions. This gives employers an idea of what you know and what you can contribute. 

Employers are also interested in an applicant’s skills, said Neal McKinney, career foundations program director at the University Career Center. When writing their skills section, applicants should consider which skills are directly related to the position to which they’re applying. McKinney said he advises students to stay away from just listing basic programs such as Microsoft Office because they are common. Instead, opt for skills that are unique and relevant to the job. 

MAKING A GOOD IMPRESSION 

To stand out to an employer, customize your resume to fit the job. Research the job description and incorporate some of the language used into your own resume. 

“Don’t make one blanket resume,” said Sue Rushkowski, WTOP human resources director. “Go through the job posting, and tailor your resume to that.”

Your resume doesn’t have to look fancy. But if you’re applying to a job in the arts, employers often look for creative layouts and designs. Adding graphics or images helps separate your resume from the rest.

Josian Colon, a senior recruiter for Target, said a resume that “showcases someone’s experience balanced with someone’s interests and personality” will stand out. 

WHAT TO AVOID

Incorrect grammar and spelling errors are major red flags for employers. Read and reread your resume several times to catch minor typos or omitted punctuation marks. Don’t just rely on spell-check. A clean resume shows you are taking the application process seriously and applying for this job is important to you.

Also make sure your resume isn’t too long. If it is, employers will quickly lose interest. McKinney recommends that undergraduate students keep it to a page, but he also says don’t limit yourself. If there is more information and experience that will sell your capabilities, add it, as long as it is relevant, clear and organized. 

“Some students spend time adding way too much detail when those are the things you want to save for an interview,” Colon said.

Refrain from adding personal information such as a personal Twitter account or Facebook profile, unless they are relevant to the position. And don’t supply a picture, Rushkowski said.

“[Pictures] make managers uncomfortable because they need to be blind to those factors,” he said.

Finally, take responsibility to do the research and understand the qualifications of a job before approaching an employer. 

“Resumes are supposed to be like a narrative or road map to help employers understand specifically how you fit into whatever job you are applying for,” McKinney said. 

Put time and effort into constructing a resume, and it will pay off when an employer takes an extra 10 seconds to review it.