Online job applications are the most common way of applying to a job, and at the same time, it is the hardest way to get invited for an interview, due to competition. Anyway, with a good resume, you can get noticed and catch the attention of the recruiters, and therefore get you the job you want.

Although you might be a great engineer, and confident in coding, the recruitment process may feel uncommon territory to you when it comes to applying for jobs. Since your resume is the first thing recruiters see from you, you need to know how to satisfy the ones reading it. Statistics show that recruiters spend on average 6 seconds scanning through every resume, so a plus for you is to make it noticeable.

Even if it is not as straightforward as writing code, putting together a perfect resume can be easy. If you know how, of course.

We have combined a few techniques and things you should know before sitting down and writing your resume for the job you always wanted.

In this article we will show you:

• How to target your resume for the specific job
• How use tips and tricks to highlight your best abilities
• How to format your resume
• How to make a creative design and layout that will stand out among the many competitors

The formatting of the resume is the most important thing, since it is the first thing that catches the attention of your recruiter, and also it is the way your professional data is structured. Typically, resumes contain a few sections, including contact information, personal statement, education, work experience, and so on. We will dig into every section separately, to show you the best way of structuring it, and the data you should put in it. Your resume should look something like this:

1. Contact information

This is the first section, and also the one that should be written very briefly. Be concise with the information, include only the most important data, and structure it in a nice and readable way. Include data such as: first and last name, job title, email, phone, and relevant links.

2. Personal Statement (Introduction)

To get noticed, you need to write a short, but strong introduction. The introduction or personal statement is kind of like a sales pitch to the recruiter, that will make them consider your application for the job position. Here you should include keywords that describe you as a professional, and it should not be longer than 3-5 sentences.

3. Work experience In this section, you should highlight the most valuable work experience you have, especially the ones related to the job you are applying to. Write about your responsibilities at the previous jobs, achievements, and rely on actual numbers (for example: "... leading to 15% sales increase").

4. Education This section generally should be organized by the following rule: the less work experience you have, the more info you should include here to compensate.

Generally, you should mention your degree(s), relevant coursework, dates, and brief school details.

5. Skills Here you should include skills relevant to the job position (usually the ones listed in the job description). As a software engineer, focus on software tools, rather than the ones like Microsoft Office and similar.

Format the Skills section in a way that you will divide the skills based on your expertise, or by a logical group (Soft/Hard skills, Programming languages/ tools, etc...).

Remember that not only this section, but your whole resume shows your skills, so mention all of your skills in the different sections of the resume as well.

6. Other You can add more sections if needed, such as: Personal Projects, Certifications and Awards, Languages, Hobbies, Attended courses or conferences, Publications, etc.

Keep in mind that these sections should be brief, concise, short, and show the most relevant information for the job positions. The recruiters most probably would spend the least amount of time on these sections, as they are "nice to have" ones, and are not the ones based on which the decision will be made.

Tips & Tricks for writing

We are going to mention a few tips and tricks you can use when writing your resume. You can possess great skills, capabilities, and have amazing past work experience, but if you do not make it sound amazing, your resume might not be paid attention to. The choice of words matters, and the way you say things makes a big difference.

Here are some word suggestions you can use to describe both your hard skills:

• Analyzed
• Accelerated
• Solved
• Rebuilt
• Applied
• Modified
• Decoded
• Verified
• Enhanced

Also, think about those soft skills and describe them using action verbs like these:

• Persuaded
• Negotiated
• Conceptualized
• Expedited
• Motivated
• Advocated

The way you format your CV or resume also can make a big difference in getting it noticed and taken into consideration. The things you should keep in mind when considering a layout for your resume include:

• Clearly label the sections of your resume
• Leave an appropriate amount of white space
• Proofread carefully
• Have someone else look it over
• Put your contact information in a prominent spot

And here are some things NOT to do when formatting your resume:

• Use too many graphics or images
• Use artsy fonts that are difficult to read
• Try to put too much information into each description

Last but not least, when sending out your resume, send them a portfolio. That will make you stand out from the competition, and present yourself in a good way. This portfolio can either be a text document with descriptions and screenshots of your past projects, or simply a compilation of Github links to your personal repositories, so the employers can take a glance at your code.

One Pager Cheat Sheet

• With the right techniques, targeting and creative design, you can make a stand-out resume and increase your chances to get the job you desire.
• The formatting of your resume is key for it to be noticed by recruiters, and the content should be structured into several sections such as contact information, personal statement, education, work experience, and more.
• Include only the most important data such as first and last name, job title, email, phone and relevant links to create a nice and readable contact section on your resume.
• In your Personal Statement, succinctly pitch yourself as an ideal candidate for the job with 3-5 sentences, using relevant keywords.
• Boldly highlight the most relevant work experience, detailing accomplishments and providing tangible evidence of successes such as sales increases.
• Organize your Education section by including degree(s), relevant coursework, dates, and brief school details, especially if you have less work experience.
• Include relevant Soft and Hard skills in the Skills section, and mention all skills in the other sections of your resume as well.
• You can add sections such as Personal Projects, Certifications, Awards, Languages, Hobbies, and more to highlight relevant information on your resume, though recruiters will spend the least amount of time on these "nice to have" sections.
• By using the right action verbs to emphasize your hard and soft skills, as well as having a well-organized format and sending a great portfolio, you can make your resume stand out from the competition.