5 Things That Will Stand Out on Your Resume

The resume, or CV (curriculum vitae) as it is used in the United Kingdom and other parts of Europe, is one of the only documents you possess that summarizes your professional ability. For some it's been the foot that's gotten them into the door of great wealth, and for others it's the thing that has gotten them close but no cigar awarded. What is it about resumes that some employers look for certain things while other employers look for other things? I think there should be a consistent format about what is required on a resume and what isn't. Even if you go to certain recruiters, you'll get different answers about what works and what doesn't. What I want to do is outline five things that I believe you should have on there that other people may not tell you to include.

Tip #1 - Include your soft skills.

Soft skills are an art form by themselves. A lot of people have the hard skills set - the skills required for the job, but perhaps they're not people-friendly. They may not work well by themselves, or in a group. They may not be sociable. These are also things employers look for because it's one thing to have a person who can do the job, it's another to have a person that has a good chemistry with your company and the people in the company.

I remember I had a job interview (it was a third interview) with this one company and they asked me all sort of questions unrelated to the job itself. They asked me about my favorite movies, what books I liked to read, what I do for fun, that kind of thing. We had a great time during the interview and I felt comfortable being around the mixture of people that were in that interview.

Tip #2 - Include your objective.

You may not know what your objective truly is, but I'd recommend thinking of something. You can always adjust this to fit the job requirements or the industry you want to work in. What I don't recommend is having an objective that's contradictory to the job you're applying for. For example: if you're applying for a job in the tobacco industry, don't have an objective that reads, "I want to stop smoking in all forms forever. I hate what cigarette smoke does to our society." I don't fault you for what you feel but use sense in terms of your objective. If your objective is contradictory to the job you're looking at, find another job to apply for.

Tip #3 - Include your education (that's not pertinent to the job requirements).

Some will say not to include education that's not pertinent to the job specifications; I disagree wholeheartedly. Include as much education as you possibly can, including certificates, associate degrees, professional degrees, honorary degrees, and any other degree you've received. My thinking is this - if for some reason you don't get hired for the position you applied for, a recruiter may notice something and have other options for you. Usually companies put your resume inside a database so that if they're searching for people qualified for open positions they do a keyword search and names will come up. If you just have information pertinent for one type of person you're limiting the amount of keywords that could pull your name up. Okay, so you didn't get the financial analyst position (or whatever position) but you could qualify for business manager. Does that make sense?

Tip #4 - Add books or magazines that you read.

I've found this to be a question that comes up in interviews often. I would say not to include anything of a private nature unless for some odd reason it's applicable to your job search. Books or magazines that are along your line of work, definitely add them.

Tip #5 - Add any professional organizations that you are a part of.

If you hold positions in these organizations, include those as well. Some employers want to see that you're not just interested in money but in the work that you do. Being a part of a professional organization shows employers that you care enough your work that you're willing to spend time outside of work to advocate for it in some way. So be sure to add these to your resume if you are a part of a professional-based organization.