Your Resume: The 6-Second First Impression
Your resume has about 6 seconds to make an impression. That’s how long the average recruiter spends on an initial scan before deciding whether to keep reading or move on to the next candidate. So every word, every line, every formatting choice matters.
Let’s break down how to create a resume that stands out for the right reasons.
The Foundation: Essential Sections
Every effective resume needs certain elements. Get these right, and you’re already ahead of most applicants.
Contact details should be clear and professional. Include your name, phone number, email address, and LinkedIn profile. Ensure your email address is professional—[email protected] works far better than [email protected].
Your professional summary sits at the top and should be 2-3 sentences that capture who you are, what you do, and what you bring to the table. This isn’t a career objective—it’s your value proposition. Keep it specific to your target role.
Education should list the institution name, qualification, and year of completion. If any certifications have expired, clearly indicate that. Recent graduates should place education near the top; experienced professionals can position it lower.
Skills should include 5-10 relevant capabilities. Focus on skills that match your target role. Balance confidence and humility—don’t claim to be an expert in everything, but don’t undersell yourself either.
Technical skills deserve their own section, particularly for IT roles. Be specific: list “Windows Server 2016/2019/2022” rather than just “Servers.” Include version numbers where relevant. And most importantly: don’t lie. You will be caught out in interviews.
Professional Experience: The Heart of Your Resume
This section does the heavy lifting. Here’s how to make it work:
Make sure all information is accurate and consistent across your resume, social profiles, and LinkedIn. Include company name, dates (month/year), and job title. Optionally, add a quick sentence explaining what the company does, especially for lesser-known organisations.
List your key duties and responsibilities, but here’s where most people go wrong: they stop there. Duties describe what you were supposed to do. Achievements demonstrate what you actually accomplished.
The Power of Key Achievements
Including key achievements is one of the most powerful techniques for making your resume stand out.
Under each role, include 2-4 specific achievements. These should demonstrate impact and include quantifiable results wherever possible.
Weak: “Responsible for IT support” Strong: “Reduced average ticket resolution time from 4 hours to 90 minutes by implementing a tiered support system”
Weak: “Managed projects” Strong: “Delivered a $2.3M infrastructure upgrade 3 weeks ahead of schedule and $180K under budget”
See the difference? Achievements with numbers tell a story. They give hiring managers concrete evidence of what you can deliver.
Formatting That Gets Results
Structure and readability matter. A well-formatted resume is easier to scan, and easier to scan means more likely to be read.
Keep it to 2-3 pages maximum. One page is often too restrictive for experienced professionals; four pages is almost always too long. Two to three pages typically hits the sweet spot.
Use consistent formatting throughout. If you bold your job titles in one section, bold them in all sections. If you use bullet points for one role, use them for all roles.
Choose a clean, professional font. Arial, Calibri, or Garamond work well. Avoid decorative fonts that sacrifice readability for style.
Use white space effectively. Dense blocks of text are exhausting to read. Break up content with clear section headings and appropriate spacing.
Common Mistakes That Get Resumes Rejected
Typos and grammatical errors are immediate red flags. Proofread thoroughly—then proofread again. Consider having someone else review it with fresh eyes.
Generic content that could apply to anyone doesn’t help you stand out. “Hard-working team player with excellent communication skills” describes approximately everyone. Be specific about what makes you valuable.
Including irrelevant information wastes precious space. That hospitality job from 15 years ago probably doesn’t need three bullet points if you’re applying for a senior IT role.
Unexplained gaps in employment raise questions. If there’s a gap, address it briefly. Caring for family, travel, study, or career breaks are all legitimate—just be honest.
Tailoring Your Resume
One size doesn’t fit all. The best resumes are tailored to each application.
Read the job description carefully. Identify the key requirements and mirror the language where appropriate. If they ask for “stakeholder management” and your resume says “client liaison,” consider aligning your terminology.
Prioritise relevant experience. The most relevant achievements should be prominent. Less relevant experience can be condensed.
Adjust your professional summary for each role. It takes five minutes and significantly increases your chances of making the shortlist.
Final Checks Before Sending
Before you hit submit, run through this checklist:
- All contact details are current and professional
- No spelling or grammatical errors
- Formatting is consistent throughout
- Achievements include specific numbers and results where possible
- The resume is tailored to this specific role
- File name is professional (FirstName_LastName_Resume.pdf)
- PDF format preserves your formatting
The Bottom Line
Your resume is often your first (and sometimes only) chance to make an impression. It’s worth investing the time to get it right.
A strong resume doesn’t just list your experience—it sells your value. It tells hiring managers not just what you’ve done, but what you can do for them.
Need help refining your resume? Download our comprehensive Resume Writing Tips Guide for more detailed strategies and examples. Or get in touch—we’re happy to review your resume and provide feedback.
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