A resume isn’t just a document—it’s a marketing tool. It’s your chance to show employers what you bring to the table, the skills you’ve built, and the impact you can make on their team. Whether you’re just starting your career, changing industries, or applying for jobs across Alaska, these strategies will help you stand out and get to the interview stage.
1. Keep Your Resume Clear, Simple, and Easy to Read
First impressions matter, and most employers will only spend a few seconds scanning a resume.
DO:
- Keep it to one page unless you have enough relevant experience to justify two.
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Use a clean, easy-to-read font (10–12 pt).
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Place your most relevant experience at the top.
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Use short, skimmable bullet points—not paragraphs.
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Ask a mentor or colleague to review for errors.
DON’T:
- Use personal pronouns (I, me, my)
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List high school once you’re in college or beyond (unless directly relevant)
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Include personal details like age, marital status, or a photo
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Use complex graphics or templates from Canva (application systems may reject them)
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List references (send them separately if asked)
2. Tailor Your Resume to the Job
No two jobs are the same—and your resume shouldn’t be either.
Read the job description closely and match:
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Key skills
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Required qualifications
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Software or tools mentioned
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Industry-specific terms
Employers and their Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) look for keywords. Using the same language as the job posting can help your resume rise to the top.
3. Make Your Resume ATS-Friendly
Most employers, especially larger companies, use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to sort candidates (e.g. Workday).
To help ATS’s scan your resume:
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Use simple formatting and standard headings (Education, Experience, Skills).
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Avoid text boxes, graphics, columns, or charts.
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Save and submit as PDF or .docx, unless instructions say otherwise.
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Use keywords directly from the job description.
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Keep dates and titles formatted consistently.
4. Focus on Experience—Not Just Job Duties
Employers care about what you accomplished, not just what you were responsible for.
Include:
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Part-time, full-time jobs, and seasonal work
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Internships
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Volunteer roles
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Leadership positions
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Projects (school, community, or independent)
5. Write Strong, Results-Focused Bullet Points
Your bullet points should do two things:
- Show what you did
- Show the impact you had
A great formula from the attached resource is:
Action Verb + Skill/How You Did It + Task + Result/Outcome
Examples:
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Maintained a clean and organized store environment by restocking shelves hourly, improving customer satisfaction for 100+ daily guests.
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Collaborated with team members to meet sales goals, helping increase annual profits by 5%.
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Trained and supervised 10 new employees using weekly coaching sessions to build confidence and improve team performance.
Whenever possible, quantify your results—numbers catch attention.
6. Use Strong Action Verbs
Start every bullet with a verb that reflects your impact. Examples include:
Led, improved, organized, collaborated, created, supported, supervised, analyzed, trained, managed, designed, built, implemented
Avoid weak phrases like “responsible for” or “helped with” when possible.
7. Highlight the Skills Employers Want Most
Across various industries, employers consistently look for:
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Communication
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Teamwork & collaboration
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Problem solving
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Adaptability
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Customer service
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Leadership & supervision
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Attention to detail
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Time management
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Work ethic
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Administrative & technology skills
If you have these skills, show when and how you used them.
8. Include Additional Sections (If Relevant)
These work especially well for students, early-career applicants, or career changers:
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Certifications
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Language skills
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Technology/software skills
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Projects
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Research experience
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Community involvement
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Field or lab skills
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Awards & achievements
These sections can help fill gaps and provide a fuller picture of your abilities.
9. Final Steps: Review and Refine
Before submitting your resume:
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Print or save a clean PDF
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Double-check spacing, alignment, and headings
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Make sure your contact info is correct
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Confirm your file name looks professional (e.g., FirstName-LastName-Resume.pdf)
