Learn how to use online tools and resources to improve your resume for online job boards. Discover tips on format, achievements, keywords, editing, feedback, and updates.

Be careful with tools like Grammarly. It will pick up typos but will also highlight sentence fragments, which are okay stylistically with resume writing. Another tip is to read your resume out loud. The issues you will pick up, like too lengthy sentences or syntax issues, when you hear the words said out loud are amazing.

While there are numerous impressive resume builder tools available, it's crucial to consider the specific role you're targeting. Bold colors, elaborate headings, and excessive graphics might not always align with the expectations of the position. Remember, your primary goal is to make the essential information easily accessible to the recruiter, so avoid overloading your resume with intricate graphics, rating systems, and charts that might distract from the core content.

How do you use online tools and resources to improve your resume?

Your resume is one of the most important documents in your job search. It showcases your skills, achievements, and value to potential employers. But how do you make sure your resume stands out from the crowd and gets noticed by online job boards? In this article, we'll share some tips on how to use online tools and resources to improve your resume and increase your chances of landing your dream job.

1 Choose the right format

The first step to improve your resume is to choose the right format for your industry, role, and target audience. There are different types of resume formats, such as chronological, functional, hybrid, or creative. Each one has its own advantages and disadvantages, depending on your experience, skills, and goals. You can use online tools and resources, such as resume templates, examples, and guides, to help you decide which format suits you best. However, make sure to customize your resume to fit the specific job requirements and keywords, and avoid using generic or outdated templates.

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Karen Worthy

Helping Leaders Get Hired | Executive Career Coach | ex-Amazon | Start-up Leadership | Operations Nerd | Mom of 3
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Don’t get creative with the format unless you are applying for an extremely creative role like graphic artist. Everyone else should stick with the normal format. It makes it easier for recruiters to understand who you are at a glance.

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2 Highlight your achievements

The next step to improve your resume is to highlight your achievements and results, rather than just listing your duties and responsibilities. Employers want to see how you have contributed to your previous or current organizations, and what impact you have made. You can use online tools and resources, such as resume builders, action verbs, and quantifiers, to help you craft powerful bullet points that showcase your accomplishments. For example, instead of saying "Managed a team of 10 salespeople", you can say "Led a team of 10 salespeople to achieve 120% of the quarterly sales target".

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Natalie Gray
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While there are numerous impressive resume builder tools available, it's crucial to consider the specific role you're targeting. Bold colors, elaborate headings, and excessive graphics might not always align with the expectations of the position. Remember, your primary goal is to make the essential information easily accessible to the recruiter, so avoid overloading your resume with intricate graphics, rating systems, and charts that might distract from the core content.

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Karen Worthy

Helping Leaders Get Hired | Executive Career Coach | ex-Amazon | Start-up Leadership | Operations Nerd | Mom of 3
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Follow this formula for highlighting your achievement: Strong action verb + compelling metric + context + action Here's how it looks in practice: Exceeded sales quota by $2 million (#1 ranked sales person of the year) by launching an affiliate program for existing clients

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3 Optimize your keywords

The third step to improve your resume is to optimize your keywords for online job boards and applicant tracking systems (ATS). These are software tools that scan and rank resumes based on the relevance and frequency of keywords that match the job description. You can use online tools and resources, such as keyword analyzers, scanners, and optimizers, to help you identify and use the right keywords for your resume. For example, you can use a keyword analyzer to compare your resume with the job posting, and see which keywords you need to add, delete, or modify.

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Karen Worthy

Helping Leaders Get Hired | Executive Career Coach | ex-Amazon | Start-up Leadership | Operations Nerd | Mom of 3
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Focus on the more unique keywords when optimizing. For example, almost every job post says you need "communication" and "leadership". So don't worry about those - the recruiter won't be filtering based on those. Instead, focus on more uncommon skills, such as specific industry experience, specific software packages, or specific certifications.

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4 Proofread and edit your resume

The fourth step to improve your resume is to proofread and edit your resume for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. These errors can ruin your impression and credibility, and make your resume look unprofessional and sloppy. You can use online tools and resources, such as grammar checkers, spell checkers, and readability tools, to help you catch and correct any mistakes in your resume. For example, you can use a grammar checker to scan your resume for grammatical errors, and suggest improvements and corrections.

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Shelley Piedmont

☑️I Get Your Career From Stuck to Thriving 🧭 Career Coach 🧭 Former Recruiter 🧭 YouMap® Career Clarity Coach 🧭 Job Search Strategy 🧭 Interview Preparation 🧭
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Be careful with tools like Grammarly. It will pick up typos but will also highlight sentence fragments, which are okay stylistically with resume writing. Another tip is to read your resume out loud. The issues you will pick up, like too lengthy sentences or syntax issues, when you hear the words said out loud are amazing.

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5 Get feedback and advice

The fifth step to improve your resume is to get feedback and advice from other people, such as mentors, peers, or experts. They can offer you valuable insights, suggestions, and perspectives on how to improve your resume and make it more effective and appealing. You can use online tools and resources, such as resume review services, feedback platforms, and online communities, to help you get feedback and advice on your resume. For example, you can use a resume review service to get a professional critique and rating of your resume, and learn how to improve its content, design, and impact.

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Karen Worthy

Helping Leaders Get Hired | Executive Career Coach | ex-Amazon | Start-up Leadership | Operations Nerd | Mom of 3
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Even professional resume writers have someone else help them with their resume. Don't be scared to ask for fresh eyes to review it or help you write it.

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6 Update your resume regularly

The sixth and final step to improve your resume is to update your resume regularly, according to your career goals, achievements, and market trends. You don't want to have an outdated or irrelevant resume that doesn't reflect your current skills, value, and potential. You can use online tools and resources, such as resume trackers, alerts, and calendars, to help you keep track of your resume updates and submissions. For example, you can use a resume tracker to monitor the status of your resume applications, and follow up with employers when necessary.

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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How do you use online tools and resources to improve your resume?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose the right format

2 Highlight your achievements

3 Optimize your keywords

4 Proofread and edit your resume

5 Get feedback and advice

6 Update your resume regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Job Search Strategies

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How do you use online tools and resources to improve your resume?

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

1 Choose the right format

2 Highlight your achievements

3 Optimize your keywords

4 Proofread and edit your resume

5 Get feedback and advice

6 Update your resume regularly

7 Here’s what else to consider

Job Search Strategies

Rate this article

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