Tips for creating a standout resume
According to several studies, the average time a recruiter spends reviewing a resume during the initial screening is between 6 and 15 seconds. This may seem very short, but based on my experience as a recruiter, I can confirm that this figure is accurate.
In less than 15 seconds, a recruiter therefore decides whether a resume deserves a more in-depth review… or not.
How can you stand out at first glance?
The visual design of a resume does play a role, but far less than we might think. This doesn’t mean it should be neglected: clarity, structure, and readability remain essential. The goal is for key information to be accessible quickly and effortlessly.
However, what truly captures attention in just a few seconds is the use of keywords.
When I used to spend my days recruiting for multiple positions at the same time, I would list directly from the job description all essential technical terms, software, and required skills. These were the words I immediately looked for when scanning resumes.
A simple example: if I am recruiting a technical drafter and the job posting mentions the use of AutoCAD, I will first scan resumes looking for that keyword, and eliminate those where it does not appear.
How to identify keywords in a job posting
Most job postings follow a similar structure:
Company overview
Key responsibilities
Required skills
Each section is important:
1. Company overview
This section provides insight into the organization’s culture. It can help you adjust keywords related to soft skills such as customer focus, collaboration, autonomy, innovation, etc.
2. Key responsibilities
This section describes not only the tasks, but also the expected level of responsibility, often through the verbs used. For example:
Participate, support, assist → execution or support role
Manage, create, ensure, coordinate → more strategic or autonomous role
These verbs should be reused in your resume, as they give a clear tone to your experience and show that you understand the level of responsibility expected.
3. Required skills
This section includes technical skills, software, certifications, tools—essential keywords that should be integrated as they appear.
Mistakes to avoid for a standout resume
Using keywords is highly effective… as long as it is done thoughtfully and appropriately.
Here are the most common pitfalls:
Mistake 1: Using overly generic keywords
In the “Soft skills” section, stating that you are dynamic, autonomous, or adaptable will not help you stand out. Everyone uses these terms.
Instead, illustrate your skills and qualities with concrete examples. For instance:
Instead of writing Strong initiative, you could write:
“Implemented a new candidate follow-up process, reducing response time by 30%.”
Instead of Strong communication skills, write:
“Facilitated weekly meetings with 12 managers to align HR practices.”
Mistake 2: Adding keywords that do not reflect your real experience
An experienced recruiter will notice this very quickly. It is always better to remain authentic and support each keyword with a concrete example.
Mistake 3: Copy-pasting the job description into your resume
Drawing inspiration from the verbs and skills: yes.
Copying word for word: no.
Your resume should remain personal and reflect your own career path.
Keep in mind that your resume should represent you, and above all, you should feel comfortable with it.
How to make your resume more attractive to recruiters and ATS
Here are additional tips to increase your chances of passing the first screening:
Clear structure: Use explicit headings, bullet points, and an airy, well-organized layout.
Strong action verbs such as: manage, coordinate, optimize, analyze, develop, improve, implement (an excellent source of action verbs can be found here).
Measurable results: Numbers catch the eye and strengthen your credibility:
“Reduced turnover rate by 15%”
“Managed a portfolio of 40 employees”
Thematic consistency: Your resume should tell a coherent story aligned with the position you are targeting.
In summary
A standout resume is not necessarily the most visually impressive or original one.
It is the one that allows a recruiter to quickly, clearly, and unambiguously identify the key skills and keywords required for the role.
If you would like to go further, I offer a complete resume review to identify your strengths, optimize your keywords, and improve the overall impact of your document.
The first meeting is always free, so we can determine together whether I am the right person to support you.
