In order to be successful in your job search, people say you need to make your resume stand out from the rest of the people applying to the same position. This is really not as difficult as one might think. The hiring managers at Pongo can tell you many stories about the resumes we’ve received over the years for a variety of the positions we’ve posted. From our experience, just by practicing these four simple rules, your resume will easily stand out from your competition:

1. Send your resume with a well-written cover letter. Whether you send your resume by email, job board, or hand deliver it, a cover letter sets you apart from the crowd because it shows the hiring manager that you are truly interested because you have taken the extra time to write a cover letter.
    
2. Although you should do your best to prevent spelling and grammatical errors, your resume does not have to be “perfect.” Just make sure it’s well organized, relevant, and has the appropriate experience for the open position. We’ve seen SO many resumes that don’t even relate or demonstrate any of the skills we were looking for. Also, don’t make it longer than two pages. You should only have relevant experience and education from the last 10 years. Hiring managers don’t want to dig through pages to find what they are looking for. 
    
3. Hiring managers understand that people get fired, laid off, or take time off for family or medical reasons. You don’t need to hide that gap in your experience section on your resume. Just be honest and upfront if/when asked. 
    
4. Once you submit your resume, you may not hear back from the hiring manager right away for a number of reasons. You can follow up once to make sure it’s received, but do not hound the hiring manager with emails or phone calls once they’ve acknowledged receipt, unless they instruct you to do so. It could be something that moves your resume to the bottom of the review pile.

A little effort on your part can go a long way in making your resume stand out from the rest.

RELATED LINKS
Create an Attractive Resume Employers Will Notice
Critique Your Resume Like a Hiring Manager
"How Do I Make My Resume Stand Out?"
Hiring Managers Look for Related Experience First

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