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Anyone who is looking for a job needs to make sure their resumé is up to snuff. Qualified candidates can find themselves not being considered for a position because their resumés just aren’t impressive. It might not seem fair, but no one is stopping you from making your resumé better, expect for yourself. For your resumé to stand out, it needs to be a reflection of you. Here are some questions you can ask to see if your resumé really reflects you.

1. Does it show why you’re qualified for this position?

Depending on the job, you need to tailor your resumé so it fits. Thanks to online applications, you can easily edit your resumé based on the job you’re applying for. This doesn’t need to be a drastic overhaul either. When you’re considering applying for a job, take a look at the requirements. Then, look at your resumé and see what you can add or subtract to better demonstrate your qualifications. You don’t want to add anything false or misleading, but you do want to make sure you have the best possible version of your resumé. 

2. Does it highlight your strengths?

A resumé shouldn’t just detail your work experience. It should tell a story that convinces a hiring manager within seconds that you deserve to be considered. One tool to help is imagining yourself in their situation. What would your resumé look like if it was that of the perfect candidate? Consider this and adjust accordingly. 

3. Is it the right length?

Don’t be duped into thinking a long resumé is a better one. Having a resumé that goes over one page doesn’t make you seem ambitious. It just makes you seem like you don’t know where to stop. You also don’t want a resumé that’s alarmingly scanty. Try your best to have it take up one full page, no more, no less. 

4. Is it focused?

A resumé with significant gaps with no explanation and a description of yourself that is contradicted by the rest of the document isn’t going to get you anywhere. A resume tip to use is seeing how each element relates to one that came before it. If it feels like things are jumping around too haphazardly, you need to figure out how you can retool it. This is a good opportunity to benefit from another set of eyes by having a friend or colleague review your resumé. 

5. Is it formatted correctly?

Designing a resumé is no time to get creative. You might think that a basic font with sections highlighting your work and education experience is boring, but that’s what wins out when it comes to getting called back. You can be creative in terms of describing your previous work experience and skills, but when it comes to formatting, it’s best to err on the side of practicality. One way to ensure this would be to use a resume-building site to help. Click here for more information on how these types of sites can point you in the right direction.

Taking a long, hard look at your resumé can reveal some rather profound truths. You can learn to see it from a more objective lens and realize what some obvious shortcomings are. You might have to swallow some of your pride in order to end up with a better resumé, but taking the time to improve things can really make a great difference.