Your resume is your first opportunity to make a great impression on potential employers. It’s your chance to highlight your skills, work experience, education, and the value you bring to a company. A well-crafted resume not only helps you stand out but also increases your chances of landing an interview.
Follow these expert tips to make your resume shine and ensure it gets noticed. Plus, we’ll walk you through how to upload it to AbilityLinks so you can connect with inclusive employers and take the next step toward your dream job!
10 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out
- Keep It Clear and Concise – Use a clean, easy-to-read format with bullet points and clear section headings. Keep it to one or two pages max.
- Choose an Accessible, Professional Font – Stick to simple fonts like Arial, Calibri, or Verdana in size 11 or 12 to improve readability for both employers and screen readers.
- Prioritize Key Information – Put your most relevant skills, experience, and accomplishments at the top so employers see them first.
- Highlight Your Achievements, Not Just Job Duties – Instead of listing responsibilities, showcase how you made an impact in previous roles.
- Use Strong Action Words – Start bullet points with verbs like achieved, led, designed, implemented, improved, or collaborated to show your contributions.
- Incorporate Numbers When Possible – Quantify your achievements (e.g., "Increased social media engagement by 50%" or "Managed a team of 10 volunteers").
- Include Keywords from Job Postings – Many employers use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) to screen resumes. Use relevant keywords from job descriptions to increase your chances of getting noticed.
- Proofread and Edit for Clarity – Avoid spelling or grammar mistakes. Free tools like Grammarly or built-in spell checkers can help.
- List References If Required – Instead of saying “Available upon request,” include up to four professional references with contact information.
- Make It Accessible – Save your resume as a Word document (.docx) or accessible PDF so screen readers can easily process it. Avoid excessive formatting, tables, or images that may create barriers for employers using assistive technology.
Need Help Uploading Your Resume?
Uploading your resume to AbilityLinks connects you with inclusive employers who value diverse talent. Be sure to keep your profile updated and customize your resume for each application!
After you create your resume, uploading it to AbilityLinks is the next step! This will help employers learn more about you! Follow these steps to upload your resume:
If you are a new user:
- Click sign up in the upper lefthand corner of the website
- Under "Resume" click on "select a file to upload"
- Choose the correct file and click open!
If you are an existing user:
- Login to your account
- Scroll over to your name in the top right corner of the website
- Click on the "My Profile" option in the dropdown
- Under "Resume" click on "select a file to upload"
- Choose the correct file and click open!