Crafting a resume that stands out from the competition is no small task. In today’s job market, hiring managers sift through hundreds—if not thousands—of resumes for a single position. So how do you ensure that your resume makes it to the top of the pile? It’s not just about listing your qualifications. A strong resume showcases your skills, highlights your accomplishments, and reflects the value you bring to an organization.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to make your resume stand out with practical tips, the best resume examples, and expert advice. Whether you’re entering the workforce for the first time or looking to level up in your career, these strategies will help you create a resume that leaves a lasting impression.

Start with a strong professional header

The professional header or summary section at the top of your resume is the first thing a hiring manager sees, so it’s important to get it right. Depending on your experience level, you’ll want to include either a brief title or a more detailed summary.

If you have lots of experience in your field (more than 3 years), opt for a summary that highlights your key skills and accomplishments. For example:

Summary: Software Engineer with 5+ years of experience in designing and supporting internal tools and dashboards. Known for strong troubleshooting skills and an analytical approach to problem-solving.

If you’re new to the field (0-3 years of experience), use a simple title like this:

Jane Doe | Software Engineer

Including your LinkedIn profile can also add depth to your resume—just make sure it’s updated with a professional photo, complete work history, and connections. Your LinkedIn can be a great way for hiring managers to learn more about your background and interests. To make your profile easier to find, customize your URL so it looks clean and professional. Here’s an example:

Before: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe-547681108/
After: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jane-doe

What makes a resume stand out

A standout resume captures attention from the first glance, starting with a strong professional header. For experienced professionals, a summary is your opportunity to highlight key accomplishments and showcase what you bring to the table. For instance, an experienced marketing professional might use a summary like this:

Summary:

Marketing Manager with 8+ years of experience driving successful campaigns for global brands. Expertise in digital marketing, team leadership, and project management, with a proven track record of increasing conversions by 30%.

For entry-level candidates, a clear and concise title works best. It communicates your role and the field you’re entering. For example:

John Smith | Marketing Specialist

Whether you’re experienced or just starting out, your professional header should reflect your strengths and position you as the ideal candidate for the role.

Highlight leadership skills and accomplishments

Leadership isn’t just about managing people—it’s about taking initiative, solving problems, and improving processes. Think about ways you contributed to your team’s success. Use real examples, like streamlining communication or implementing new systems, to show your leadership. Clear, concise bullet points will help.

How can you make your resume stand out

To make your resume stand out, focus on real examples that demonstrate your impact. Leadership doesn’t always mean managing people—it could be stepping up in challenging situations, guiding your team through transitions, or finding innovative ways to streamline operations. For example, if you introduced a tool that streamlined communication and boosted efficiency, that’s leadership. Make sure you use concise bullet points to highlight these experiences and tailor them to the role you’re applying for.

Use action verbs to strengthen your bullet points

A powerful way to enhance your resume is by starting each bullet point with strong action verbs. This grabs attention and shows your ability to take initiative and deliver results. For example, instead of saying “Was responsible for managing a team,” try “Led a team of 10 to complete projects ahead of schedule.” This approach not only strengthens your resume but also highlights your contributions in a clear and impactful way.

Resume that stands out

Using strong action verbs makes your resume more compelling by highlighting your achievements clearly and effectively. Below are some key action verbs and examples of how to improve basic bullet points.

Strong action verbs:

  • Led
  • Developed
  • Implemented
  • Managed
  • Optimized
  • Increased
  • Streamlined
  • Analyzed

Before and after examples:

Before:

Responsible for managing a team.

After:

Led a team of 10 to complete projects 20% ahead of schedule.

Before:

Trained employees on software.

After:

Developed training programs for 50+ employees, improving proficiency by 30%.

By replacing passive phrases with action verbs and adding measurable results, you turn simple tasks into clear achievements. These examples show what makes a resume stand out—specific, impactful language that highlights your contributions.

Quantify your achievements

One of the most effective ways to enhance your resume is by quantifying your contributions with numbers, percentages, or metrics. Hiring managers want to see specific results that show your impact. Whether it’s the number of customers you assisted, employees you managed, or revenue you contributed to, using metrics helps bring your achievements to life.

If you’re unsure of the exact number, providing an estimated range is still valuable. Always use numerals instead of spelling out numbers to make your data easier to read and more impactful.

Here are examples of how to turn vague statements into measurable achievements:

Weak:
Drafted and provided success stories to grant writer to use in our proposal

Strong:
Collaborated with grant writer to draft 6 success stories for a $200,000 proposal

Weak:
Reviewed guidelines and assisted with training employees

Strong:
Developed guidelines and trained 20-30 employees, reducing backlog by 85%

By adding numbers, you give hiring managers concrete evidence of your success, which helps set your resume apart and positions you as a strong candidate.

Diversify your vocabulary

Another key way to make your resume stand out is by avoiding the repetition of the same action verbs. Using varied language keeps your resume engaging and impactful. If you notice you’ve used a word like “Led” multiple times, swap it with synonyms like “Directed” or “Managed.” Tools like Power Thesaurus can help you find alternatives that fit the role you’re applying for. By diversifying your vocabulary, you create a resume that stands out with fresh, engaging language that keeps hiring managers interested.

Keep your resume design simple and professional

A clean, simple design is essential for a resume that stands out. Stick to standard fonts like Arial or Times New Roman for easy reading by both hiring managers and ATS systems. If you’re applying for a creative role, feel free to showcase your design skills, but keep it professional with soft colors and minimal graphics. Ultimately, it’s your content—not flashy design—that makes your resume stand out. A polished, straightforward layout lets your qualifications take center stage.

Best resume examples

For creative roles, knowing how to make your resume stand out involves balancing content with design. You can incorporate elements like soft colors or infographics to reflect your creativity, but it’s important not to compromise professionalism. Use muted tones and simple graphics that enhance your resume while keeping it readable and ATS-friendly. The key to a resume that stands out is maintaining a clean, professional look that highlights your qualifications while allowing your creative style to shine through in a polished way.

Align and organize your resume

A well-structured resume shows your attention to detail. Consistent alignment of dates, bullet points, and headings creates a polished, professional look. Clean formatting makes your resume easy to read and highlights your professionalism—key qualities that help you stand out as a strong candidate.

Include a customized LinkedIn profile URL

A customized LinkedIn URL adds a professional touch to a resume that stands out. Instead of a generic URL, personalize it to reflect your name (e.g., linkedin.com/in/yourname). This makes it easier for employers to find you online.

Make sure your LinkedIn profile is up to date and aligned with your resume. It should include your most recent roles, accomplishments, and skills. A well-maintained LinkedIn profile adds valuable context and strengthens the impact of your resume.

Key takeaways and moving forward

Creating a resume that stands out requires attention to detail, strong action verbs, and quantifiable achievements. Take the time to review your resume and ensure it reflects the tips above—diversifying your vocabulary, aligning your layout, and keeping the design simple yet professional. These strategies will help you answer the question “how can you make your resume stand out?” and showcase your qualifications effectively.

If you’re ready to take your resume to the next level, Prepory’s team of experts is here to help. Schedule a free consultation today, and let us work with you to create a resume that stands out and helps you land your dream job!

Frequently asked questions about how to make your resume stand out

A resume that stands out to hiring managers highlights leadership, problem-solving, and key contributions. It uses industry-specific language, is tailored to the job description, and demonstrates measurable achievements. For example, instead of stating “Responsible for managing projects,” try “Led a team of 10 to successfully complete 5 high-priority projects, resulting in a 20% increase in department efficiency.”

The best resume examples come from professionals in your industry who have successfully secured the types of roles you're targeting. Websites like Resume Builder offer templates that can help you organize your information effectively. Just remember, the best resumes are those that are tailored specifically to the job and company you're applying to.

For creative roles, you can use your resume to showcase your design skills and creativity—but make sure it’s still professional. Choose one or two colors to keep it visually appealing but simple. Include relevant portfolio links, and if possible, design your resume to reflect the kind of creative work you do, whether it's graphic design, writing, or web development.

Quantifying your achievements shows hiring managers the tangible impact of your work. Instead of vague descriptions, specific metrics like “increased sales by 25%” or “trained 15 employees” give context to your accomplishments and make your resume more compelling. Numbers stand out, and they help tell the story of what you’ve contributed to past roles.

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