Windy Woods Digital Solutions

I could write a book on how not to apply for a job! I have been hiring and screening applications for almost my entire career. Most recently, I have spent the last 15 years reviewing 1000s of applications for remote digital roles.

How to Stand Out

The recent trend is to get creative with resumes. But honestly, it usually makes it harder for a hiring manager to find what they need. Resumes that are easy to read and highlight the critical skills and experience for the specific job are the ones that stand out.

Formatting Correctly

There is not one best way to format a CV. It depends on the job and your experience. But the key is that what is best about you is at the top and easy to find. Don’t make your resume too long or provide only highlights. I always find it a red flag when their resume is too short when considering someone’s place in their career. Simple formatting is better. The only exception is a more creative job where you will want to highlight those skills. But even for those, make the resume simple and provide a portfolio of your creative work.

What Do Hiring Managers Want

Hiring managers will have different preferences, so consider not locking into anything too specific. My favorite thing to see is a cover letter. Fewer people use those these days and not all hiring managers read them – but a powerfully written, engaging, and short cover letter helps you stand out. As for the resume, I glance first at the specific job experience to see if it generally matches what I need. I look at the job titles, the companies, and how they highlight their successes. I also look at how long they have been at each position and whether they mention if they are currently employed or not. If I like what I see, then I go deeper. Do they have a degree; what did they study? Do they list other skills or help me understand them more as a person? Etc.

Final Tips

The most important tip: tailor the resume to the specific job and ensure that you are highlighting your strengths for that position.

A few other relevant tips:

• Include more than just your work experience. Share your hobbies, personality and where you spend your time when not at work (volunteer experience, etc.).
• Elaborate on the key points (for example, if you have specific success metrics, mention them), and explain what you did in your job that had an impact – not just the job title or tasks.
• Lastly, be clear on the companies you have worked for – not everyone might have heard of them or their products.