Andrei combines academic knowledge with over 10 years of practical experience to help job seekers navigate the challenges of resumes, interviews, and career growth. Through the Novorésumé Career Blog, he offers actionable advice to simplify and ace the job search process.
Updated on 12/17/2025
Writing a job-winning resume is much more than just listing your work experience. With competition getting tougher, optimizing your resume in its entirety can make the difference between getting called for an interview and being overlooked.
That’s why, you must highlight the right qualifications, make your achievements stand out, and ensure your resume is visually appealing and professional.
Fortunately, there are proven strategies to make your resume stand out to hiring managers.
Whether you're a recent graduate or a seasoned professional, the right improvements can transform your resume from average to exceptional.
In this guide, we'll show you 12 tried-and-tested ways to improve your resume and perfect your job application, from choosing a professional template to checking your online presence.
The first thing your potential employers see is your resume. Take it to the next level and make it stand out by using our professional resume builder!
Many job hunters see their resume just as a work history document, but it's more than that. This professional document isn’t simply a list of past jobs and responsibilities – done right, it can show hiring managers what a great addition you’d make as an employee.
So, by improving your resume, you get:
More interviews from the applications you submit.
Better performance in applicant tracking systems (ATS).
Stronger impression on hiring managers.
Greater confidence when applying for jobs.
Higher response rates from recruiters.
Clearer showcase of your experience and qualifications.
Better match with the jobs you really want.
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Quick Tip
Are you writing your resume for the first time? Learn how to make a resume with our step-by-step guide!
12 Ways to Improve Your Resume
Ready to take your resume from average to impressive?
We've gathered 12 tips that can transform your resume into a powerful tool for landing interviews!
#1. Optimize the Formatting
Before you can do anything else, you should make sure to pick the right resume format. These are your three main formatting options:
Reverse-chronological. This is the most popular resume format in 2026, listing your most recent work experiences first.
Functional. Also known as the skills-based resume format, it emphasizes your skills and abilities rather than your work history.
Combination. Sometimes called hybrid, the combination resume format incorporates elements from the two above-mentioned formats.
Their main difference lies in how they order and prioritize sections:
In 99% of the cases, we recommend using the reverse-chronological format. It's what hiring managers are most familiar with, works well with Applicant Tracking Systems, and highlights your most recent work experience first.
So, unless you have specific reasons to choose another format (such as changing careers or having significant employment gaps), the reverse chronological format is your safest bet.
#2. Choose a Professional Template
Creating a resume from scratch can be frustrating and time-consuming. You'll spend hours adjusting margins, experimenting with fonts, and trying to fit everything perfectly on one or two pages.
Not to mention – your resume should also pass the ATS, which filters resumes based on some pre-requisites before passing them on to the hiring manager. ATS typically scan for relevant keywords and proper formatting, filtering out applications that don't meet job criteria.
Novoresume templates check all the boxes – they’re HR-approved, visually appealing, and ATS-friendly.
#3. Focus on Your Skills
The Novorésumé HR survey found that skills remain one of the most important sections of resumes.
With that in mind, you should always put your skills section front and center, instead of downplaying it.
No matter your profession, make sure to include both hard and soft skills, as employers typically look for well-rounded candidates with technical expertise and interpersonal abilities.
Here are the top 10 soft skills you can use to your advantage regardless of your industry:
#4. Update Your Resume Summary or Objective
Think of your resume summary as your elevator pitch – it's the first thing hiring managers see and can determine whether they continue reading your application.
When writing your summary, include:
Your professional title and experience level (years in the field).
Standout accomplishments that relate to the target position.
Core skills and specializations that match the job description.
Keywords relevant to your industry that showcase expertise.
Suppose you are applying for a software engineer position. Here’s how you could apply all the elements we mentioned above:
Correct example
"Full Stack Developer with 5+ years creating scalable web applications that reduced load times by 40% and improved user retention by 25%, specializing in React, Node.js, and AWS architecture."
While a summary highlights your experience, a resume objective focuses on your goals and what you hope to achieve in a specific role. Objectives work best for recent graduates or for those considering changing careers.
An effective objective should include:
Your career goals as they relate to the position.
Key skills that transfer to the new role.
The values you can bring to the job.
Your passion for the field.
Try to avoid writing generic resume objectives that don’t tell anything valuable about you and your aspirations. Here’s a great example of an effective resume objective:
Correct example
"Computer Science graduate with internship experience developing Python microservices seeking to leverage CI/CD knowledge and GitHub contributions to enhance backend infrastructure as Junior Developer at TechCorp."
#5. Check Your Digital Presence
A recent survey revealed that 70% of employers use social media to screen candidates during the hiring process, and 54% have rejected applicants based on their social media profiles.
So, take control of the narrative by checking your online presence and ensuring they only find positive and professional information. Either remove any content that could harm your professional integrity or make your social media accounts private and only accessible to your close friends and family.
When it comes to your resume, include links to your professional online profiles in your contact information section.
Your LinkedIn profile, personal website, or online portfolio can give employers immediate access to examples of your work and additional background information.
#6. Weave in Relevant Keywords
Resume keywords are specific words or phrases that describe job requirements – the skills, abilities, expertise, and values recruiters look for in candidates.
When you apply for a job, either the ATS or the hiring manager will scan your resume for relevant keywords. Including the right ones shows you did your homework and are attentive to detail, increasing your chances of getting an interview.
To find the most effective keywords for your resume:
Study the job description carefully and identify repeated terms and required skills.
Search online for "[your industry] resume keywords" to discover commonly valued terms.
Include industry-specific terminology that proves you understand the field.
Let’s say you are a digital marketing manager. This is how to recognize relevant keywords from the job ad:
Check the following two examples to see how they can help your resume stand out:
Correct Example
"Directed the customer service team and implemented feedback protocols that boosted satisfaction scores by 27%."
Incorrect Example
"Was responsible for the customer service team and helped improve satisfaction scores."
Even though both achievements say the same thing, the action verb in the second example can make you a more appealing customer service candidate in the eyes of potential employers.
But how do you know which words to include?
The specific action verbs you choose should align with the position you're targeting. Start by carefully reviewing the job ad to identify key responsibilities and requirements. Then match your relevant experiences to those requirements and select powerful action verbs that accurately describe your achievements and responsibilities.
Here are the ten most powerful action words that you might want to include in your resume:
Top action verbs:
Achieved
Implemented
Developed
Managed
Increased
Created
Reduced
Launched
Led
Delivered
However, be careful not to overuse them. As a general guideline, limit yourself to one or two action verbs per bullet point.
#8. Quantify Your Achievements
To take your work experience section from good to great, replace vague descriptions and responsibilities with relevant, measurable achievements.
Backing up your accomplishments with facts and figures helps hiring managers understand the real impact of your contributions.
Consider what key performance indicators (KPIs) were used in your current and previous roles. How was success measured? How did your work contribute to the team or company objectives?
Practically speaking, quantify your achievements by focusing on:
Percentages of improvement or growth.
Dollar amounts saved or generated.
Time saved or efficiency improved.
Team sizes managed.
Project scopes and budgets.
Customer satisfaction scores.
The Laszlo Bock formula is a great way to quantify your achievements: “Accomplished [X] as measured by [Y] by doing [Z].”
Let’s say you’re making a data analyst resume. Here’s how the formula works in practice:
Work achievement:
Improved data processing efficiency by 30% as measured by reduced query response time by developing automated reporting dashboards in SQL and Python.
#9. Address Employment Gaps
Employment gaps can be huge resume red flags – if you fail to address them. Hiring managers typically notice long periods of unemployment lasting longer than six months, as well as frequent job hopping.
So, if you have a significant employment gap in your work history, don't try to hide it. Instead, be upfront, explain the reason, and show how you used that time to grow professionally or personally.
Whether you cared for a family member, went back to school, or took some time off to travel and see the world, telling the hiring manager will do you a big favor.
And, as we already mentioned, it also helps to show you used the time off work productively
For example, any of the following could testify to your professional development:
A strong resume isn't about cramming in every detail of your career – it's about presenting the most relevant information that aligns with the job you're targeting.
Make every word count by including only information that shows you’re the perfect candidate for the job.
Go back to your resume and remove any of the following:
Older positions that don't relate to your current career path or the position you’re targeting.
Basic skills that most candidates have.
Unnecessary personal details like your age and nationality.
This AI assistant is accessible to everyone and offers multiple ways to enhance your resume-writing process:
Brainstorming tool: Overcome writer's block by generating ideas for different resume sections tailored to your experience.
Smart editing partner: Transform basic job descriptions into impressive achievement statements that capture hiring managers' attention.
Quick customization: Easily adapt your resume for different job applications without spending hours rewriting it from scratch.
Fresh perspective: ChatGPT can identify achievements you might have overlooked and suggest stronger ways to present them.
Language enhancement: Get suggestions for powerful action verbs and industry-specific terminology that make your experience stand out.
Format flexibility: Reshape your content between bullet points and paragraphs while preserving your key accomplishments.
When using ChatGPT, think of your prompts as clear instructions to a professional assistant.
ChatGPT understands detailed and precise commands, so your results will be better when you provide ChatGPT with clear details about what you need help with.
These are some of the most effective ChatGPT prompts you can use to enhance the quality of your resume:
Top ChatGPT prompts:
Analyze my resume's structure and suggest a better organization for my sections: [paste resume]
Review my professional summary and suggest ways to make it more impactful: [paste summary]
Help me rephrase my work experience to better align with these job requirements: [paste requirements].
Review my resume for a [job title] position in [industry]. I have [X years] of experience and these are my target companies: [list companies]. What should I improve? [paste resume].
Compare my skills with this job description and identify any gaps I should address: [paste skills and job description]
Review my resume for [industry] and suggest industry-specific terminology I should include.
Is my contact information complete and properly formatted? [paste contact section]
Check if my resume uses consistent tense throughout: [paste resume]
#12. Proofread Everything
The difference between a good resume and a great one often comes down to careful proofreading. Hiring managers won’t take your application seriously if they find typos and grammatical errors
To ensure your resume is clear and polished, go through this checklist before sending it to your potential employer:
Before you turn your resume from good to great, let’s do a quick recap of what we’ve covered:
Use a professional, ATS-friendly, and visually appealing resume template to stand out.
Quantify your achievements using active verbs, numbers, and percentages.
Tailor your resume with relevant keywords from the job description to pass ATS screening and show employers you're a perfect match.
Start with a powerful summary or objective that highlights your qualifications and what makes you unique.
Remove outdated or irrelevant information and focus only on details that support your candidacy for the specific position.
Use tools like ChatGPT to help brainstorm, edit, and optimize your resume content when stuck.
Thoroughly proofread your resume to catch errors that could create a negative impression with potential employers.
Remember that your resume is a living document - regularly update it with new skills, achievements, and experiences to ensure it accurately reflects your professional growth.
