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Enhancing Your Resume: Sound...

Enhancing Your Resume: Sound Better to Employers

8 min read · Updated on June 25, 2024

What are the secrets to learning how to sound impressive on a resume?

Today's employers often need to sift through dozens or even hundreds of applications to find a handful of candidates they want to interview. If your resume is dull and uninspiring, you'll never stand out from the crowd. That's why it's important to know how to sound impressive on your resume. Without the right strategy, however, that can be easier said than done!

In this guide, we'll explain the benefits you can enjoy when you learn how to sound impressive on your resume, explore tips that can make your resume details more compelling, and provide some examples that show you how to turn boring information into a more dynamic and interesting presentation.

Why does your resume need to be impressive?

If you've ever struggled to gain traction in your job search and have been disappointed in the number of interviews you've received, chances are your resume isn't making the right impression on employers. The good news is you can change that dynamic by learning how to sound impressive on your resume. If you can accomplish that feat, you'll enjoy a whole host of benefits, including:

Separating yourself from the competition

When you learn how to sound impressive on a resume, you can immediately differentiate yourself from candidates who are still relying on dusty old resume habits from yesteryear. While other job seekers are focused on dry lists of job roles and skills, you'll be emphasizing the key qualities and achievements today's employers expect to see from top candidates.

Establishing yourself as a professional and expert in your field

With a clear and concise resume that delivers compelling content to highlight your qualifications, you can demonstrate you're the professional hiring managers are looking for. Conveying skills, experience, and achievements in a compelling way can help to prove you're an expert in your field who can provide real benefits to any team.

Highlight your skills and potential value as an employee

The key here is “value.” Ultimately, all employers are looking for candidates who can bring value to their organization – which is why those boring resumes no longer resonate with hiring managers. When an employer picks up your resume, they have one main question in mind: “What can this candidate do for my company?”

By learning how to sound impressive on a resume, you can help that employer see your unique value proposition and inspire them to invite you for an interview.

Tips to help you learn how to sound impressive in your resume

Now that we've explained why it's so important to know how to sound impressive on a resume, it's time to explore some of the best ways to achieve that goal. The following tips can help you bolster your resume to create a truly compelling document that makes the right impression on employers.

Tailor your resume to the job

When you're trying to figure out how to sound impressive on your resume, start by reviewing the job description for the position you're seeking. The job posting will typically include specific skills and experiences the employer expects great candidates to bring to the job. The words they use to describe those qualifications are keywords you should add to your resume.

If the job description calls for project management experience, make sure you include those exact words in your resume – either in your skill section or in one of the bullet point achievements you list in your work experience section. Including those keywords can help you speak directly to the employer's needs, which will help you stand out from the competition.

As an added bonus, the inclusion of those specific keywords will also help your resume satisfy any applicant tracking system the employer is using. Those systems scan for unique keywords related to skills, educational credentials, and experience. If your resume fails to get past those ATS screenings, chances are the employer will never get a chance to see it.

Related reading : How to Make an ATS-Friendly Resume - Tips for ATS 2024

Create a compelling skills section

If you've only been listing a few key skills in your resume, it's time to focus on revamping your Core Competencies section. The most effective resumes list anywhere from nine to fifteen skills in that section – including a balanced mix of both hard and soft skills. You should always start by identifying any required skills in the job description and then add other relevant skills to round out your list. You don't need to include everything you know how to do, but you should make sure your skill list demonstrates your expertise.

Related reading : What Are Skills? (With Examples and Tips on How to Improve Them)

Use powerful verbs to describe achievements

It's also important to use powerful verbs when you're describing your achievements. Never use boring terms like “responsible for” or “led” – hiring managers' eyes will often glaze over when they read that type of dull language. Instead, use more powerful and descriptive words like:

Spearheaded

Implemented

Facilitated

Revolutionized

Accelerated

Reorganized

We've compiled a list of more than one hundred of these power words that can help you sound more impressive to employers. Before you finalize your resume, make sure you check out that list and see which ones will work for you:

Related reading : 100 + Keywords, Verbs and Action Words for Your Resume

Focus on value

This is probably the single most important tip for anyone who wants to learn how to sound impressive on a resume: emphasize your value. Of course, that doesn't mean you should use your resume to boast about yourself or describe yourself as a valuable asset. Instead, you need to include examples of accomplishments that demonstrate your value.

The key here is to create bullet point achievement examples for each job title you include in your work experience section. Describe those accomplishments using real numbers that prove the type of value you can provide to any employer who's savvy enough to offer you a job. For example:

Reorganized sales funnel process, reducing customer acquisition and onboarding time by 33%, contributing to 27% boost in sales volume and 21% increase in profitability

Designed and executed marketing campaign for online rebranding of ABC Corp., doubling customer engagement and increasing online sales revenue by 42%

In each of those examples, the candidate expresses value by highlighting specific achievements that demonstrate how they used their skills and expertise to create tangible and quantifiable results for their employer. By incorporating that strategy into your resume, you can more effectively highlight your potential value as an employee by demonstrating your proven track record of success.

Related reading : 47 Accomplishment Examples for Your Resume: Expert Picks

Weave testimonials into your resume

Have you been recognized for a major achievement? Have supervisors praised you for your innovation, problem-solving, or leadership abilities? You can add testimonials like that to your resume, too – but only if you know how to do it the right way. The key is to include that testimonial in one of your bullet points. For example:

“Received company praise and promotion for my proven ability to provide innovative solutions that consistently boosted productivity and profits.”

Eliminate or explain employment gaps

While most employers understand that even the most talented individuals may have some employment gaps in their work history, it doesn't hurt to minimize those gaps as much as possible. There are some effective ways to do this without resorting to dishonest means.

For example, if you have six months of unemployment between two jobs, you can close that gap by listing any skill development, freelance jobs, or volunteer work you did during that time period.

Create a stellar profile summary

Once you've completed the main sections of your resume, go back and draft a truly compelling profile summary statement. This should be a three to five-sentence paragraph that highlights your years of experience, job title, notable skills, and an attention-grabbing achievement. This summary should be placed near the top of your resume – below your resume headline and above your core competencies section. Use power words, several keywords from the job description, and real numbers to quantify your accomplishments.

Related reading : Resume Profile Explained (with Examples)

Learn how to sound impressive on a resume and land more interviews!

The job market is more competitive than ever before, and it's vital to stand out from the competition if you want employers to take notice of your qualifications. By learning how to sound impressive on a resume, you can create a more tailored and compelling resume document that speaks to each employer's needs. That can help capture their attention and increase the odds you'll be offered an interview opportunity.

Need more help learning how to sound impressive on a resume? Our team of resume experts is always available to provide the insight and assistance you need. Get your free resume review today!

This article was originally written by Rachel Fletcher. It's been updated by Ken Chase.

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More From Forbes

How to make your most boring jobs sound more interesting on your resume.

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You’ve finally found it: The job listing that appears on your computer screen with a glowing beam of light and a rousing rendition of the “Hallelujah Chorus” playing on repeat.

Alright, maybe that’s a little bit dramatic. But, the point remains the same: You’ve found an open opportunity that sounds like it could be the perfect fit for you. There’s nothing you want more than to land this job, and you know you have the qualifications to make it happen.

But, every time you return to your resume to make those oh-so-necessary tweaks, you’re confronted with the same glaring issue: All of your experience sounds so boring .

You assisted clients. You made cold calls. You analyzed data. Blah, blah, blah. Yes, it’s all important information. However, when your main goal is to stand out from the competition and grab that hiring manager’s attention, you wish there was a way to make it all sound a little less snore-worthy.

Watch on Forbes:

The good news? There is! As with anything, it’s not so much about what you say—it’s about how you say it.

A Quick Word Of Caution

First things first, be forewarned that there’s a big difference between making your experience sound better and blatantly lying.

While there are some clever tactics you can implement to spice up the way your qualifications are presented, the content itself should always be truthful. Your mom was right—honesty really is always the best policy.

1. Focus On Achievements

One of the biggest faux pas I see is that the summaries of past positions read like straight up job descriptions. They detail the daily duties that person completed (think answering phones or planning marketing initiatives), rather than the things that person accomplished while in that role.

Remember, hiring managers don’t only want to see what you’ve done—they also want to see how good you are at it. So, make sure to set your sights on your achievements, rather than just your daily tasks. And, as always, quantifying your bullet points is highly recommended!

Instead Of:

Cold called prospective clients to increase sales of Dunder Mifflin paper.

Increased sales of Dunder Mifflin paper products by 23% in the first quarter through effective relationship building and cold calling.

2. Include Examples

Admittedly, this tip will work better for some people than others. However, anytime you can show rather than tell, that’s a great opportunity to separate yourself from the pack and make a powerful impression.

This doesn’t need to be anything complicated—no, you don’t need to mail a USB full of presentations or a leather-bound portfolio after you’ve submitted your application.

But, if there are natural places where you could include a real example (whether it’s a website or the specific name of a project you worked on that the hiring manager could Google) directly on your document, that’s a surefire way to add some flair and added context.

Created, planned and executed various community events.

Spearheaded the creation of St. Louis’ first ever “Restaurant Week” promotion.

3. Remove Cliché Words

Managed, led, communicated, assisted.

They’re all words that appear at the front of nearly every single bullet point on nearly every single resume that has ever been written. In fact, these verbs are so oft-repeated that most people’s eyes just skip right over them.

As you might guess, using the same language as every other resume that’s in that ever-growing pile isn’t a great way to stand out and make your mundane experience sound a little zippier.

This is why it’s smart to go through your document with a fine-tooth comb, identify those cliché words you’ve used numerous times and find a more creative way to replace them. Need some help? This list of 185 powerful verbs will be your lifesaver.

Managed a team of 10 customer service associates.

Directed a team of 10 customer service associates to provide outstanding service to clients and increase repeat business by 48%.

4. Include Testimonials

Alright, the idea of including testimonials might seem a little strange. However, rest assured that this doesn’t need to mean listing an entire page of glowing recommendations from past supervisors. In fact, there’s a relatively easy way to incorporate positive reviews from past employers without being over-the-top about it.

The secret to doing it? Think back on any compliments or recognition you received from a boss—whether it was done in passing or in a formal performance review. Then, include that as a bullet point.

“Most people don’t know you can use the praise and positive feedback they’ve gotten from their superiors on your resume. But you definitely can,” says Muse writer, Aja Frost, in her article on how to best describe entry-level positions .

Add This To Your Resume:

Recognized by manager for ability to take complex technical topics and distill them to a broader audience in a manner that’s easier to comprehend.

You know there’s a lot of competition in your job search. And, feeling like your experience is so dry and dull that only a Ben Stein voiceover could do it justice is definitely discouraging.

However, you don’t need to resign yourself to having a resume so boring it makes the hiring manager’s eyes instantly glaze over. Instead, roll up your sleeves, get to work and use these tips to transform your past positions from humdrum and tiresome to engaging and attention-grabbing.

How To Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting On Your Resume was originally published on published on The Muse .

Kat Boogaard is a freelance writer, covering topics related to careers, self-development and the freelance life. Say hi on Twitter @kat_boogaard.

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Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

Your resume is arguably the most valuable piece of paper for your career. But this document can be daunting for many. Maybe you’re not sure how to fit in all your information onto one page. Maybe you’re not sure about the right way to format and write your resume. Maybe you don’t even know what the heck a resume is!

Whatever your concern, we’ll break down everything you need to know about making the perfect resume, from scratch.

What Is a Resume?

What are employers looking for in a resume.

Pick Your Format
Start With Your Basic Information
Add in Your Work Experience
Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience
Don’t Forget Your Education
Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests
Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)
Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)
Edit and Refine It

What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?

A resume is a summary of your career, whether yours is just getting started or has been going on for years. Coming in at around one page in length (two only under specific circumstances), it showcases the jobs you’ve held and currently hold, the responsibilities you’ve taken on, the skills you’ve developed, and the qualities you bring to the table as an employee. Together, those things make it super easy for any hiring manager to see your qualifications and fit for a role.

For all the work you may put into writing one, hiring managers actually spend very little time—mere seconds in many cases—looking at your resume. But despite this sad fact, it’s safe to say that creating a great resume (rather than hastily throwing one together) still matters.

“If you miss the mark, your resume may never be read. Even worse, you might be removed from the applicant pool by a computer before a human even knows you exist,” says Muse career coach Heather Yurovsky , founder of Shatter & Shine. So you want to get it right because, as she explains, isn’t the goal to “spend less time looking for a job and more time in a role you love?”

You might be wondering if you can lean on your LinkedIn profile instead of writing a resume. The answer, sadly, is no. Most hiring managers still expect you to submit a resume, even if they also look at your LinkedIn. Even if you don’t need a resume for a job you’re applying for now, you’re going to need one at some point in your career—they’re not anywhere close to going out of style. So it’s best to always have one at the ready should an opportunity pop up.

And although LinkedIn has plenty of benefits, a resume has one clear advantage: While your LinkedIn is usually a broader picture of your career trajectory, your resume gives you the opportunity to tailor your career story to a specific role or company (more on that later).

Oh, and you’ve probably heard of something called a CV? It’s slightly different from a resume , and usually more common with academics and job seekers outside the U.S.

Hiring managers look for three things on your resume, “What did you do? Why did you do it? And what was the result?” says Muse career coach Martin McGovern , owner of Career Therapy. “If you can answer all three of these questions in...your resume bullet points, you’re going to be on the right track.”

Clear, easy-to-understand language is key. “The truth is that most resumes make no sense. They are stuffed with jargon, they are too technical, and they are filled with redundancies. Try to read a resume that isn’t yours and you will quickly realize that it feels like an alien wrote it,” McGovern adds. Put yourself in the shoes of a recruiter who has no idea how your role works—how can you make your resume accessible to them?

The hiring manager also cares about more than just you and you alone—they care about you in relation to them. “Hiring managers want to see if a candidate matches the requirements” of the role they’re hiring for, Yurovsky explains. “Your resume should paint this picture so the hiring manager not only knows what day-to-day responsibilities you can handle, but why you, above other[s], bring value to their organization.”

How Do You Write a Resume?

Whether you’re someone who’s never written a resume in your life, or you need a nice, thorough refresher on the process of creating one, follow these steps to go from a blank page to a complete—and dare I say beautiful—document.

Related: This Free Worksheet Makes It Easy to Create (or Update) Your Resume

1. Pick Your Format

Before you start typing one single thing, you have to decide what you want the overall resume to look like.

Resume builders can be helpful for this step—they’ll take all your basic information and organize it for you, eliminating some of the legwork. You can also use a pre-made outline, such as one of these free Google Docs templates .

But it’s often safest to start with a clean slate all on your own and eventually upgrade to a more advanced layout. (If you'd still like a place to write all the relevant information before you get started, check out our resume outline .) This allows you to course correct, edit and re-edit, and choose a resume format that best fits your particular situation (after all, not everyone has a career trajectory that’s easy to compartmentalize).

In general, you’re most likely to cover and/or include sections on the following:

Your work experience
Your non-work experience, including professional organizations, community involvement, or side projects
Your education and certifications
Your skills (specifically hard skills) and interests

So how do you format and organize all of that information?

By far the most common (and safest, if you’re not sure which route to take) option is reverse chronological order . This means you organize your experiences from most recent to least recent. So your work experiences would go above your education, and your current role would go above previous roles you’ve held. This of course has its exceptions—maybe you went back to grad school between jobs, or your most recent role is irrelevant to the job you’re applying for. So the whole page may not be exactly in reverse chronological order depending on your situation. It’s just a guideline.

There’s also something called a functional or skills-based resume . This is used pretty rarely, mainly with career changers and those with limited or complicated work histories. It gets its name because it’s primarily about listing your skills rather than experiences, and showcases them above your work history and education.

You can also opt for a combination resume , which is a mix between a reverse chronological resume and skills-based resume. It highlights your skills at the top, but allows just as much room below to cover your job and school experience.

Use caution when choosing these two formats: “Combo and skills-based [resumes] can be hard to follow, because [they force] the reader to hunt for connections between your skills and experience, and [don’t] provide the full context of your work,” says Muse Career Coach Angela Smith , founder of Loft Consulting. “I’ve also heard a lot of recruiters say that they automatically discount skill-based resumes because they feel the candidate is trying to hide something. I don’t necessarily believe that, but I think it’s important for job-seekers to know that perception is out there.”

2. Start With Your Basic Information

Your contact information should always go at the top of your resume. In this header you’ll want to include anything that could be helpful for a recruiter to get in touch with you. Usually, this means adding in:

Your full name (preferably the name you use across the web)
Your phone number
Your personal email address

You might also choose to include other basic information, such as your LinkedIn or personal website URL, your GitHub (for technical roles), your social media profiles (if relevant to the job), or your address. If you’re looking to move for a job, you may choose to leave out your address or write “open to relocating” to better your chances of getting an interview.

The key is to make this part as clear as possible. If a hiring manager can’t reach you, there’s no point in perfecting the rest of your resume.

3. Add in Your Work Experience

This section will most likely be the bulk of your resume. Even if you’re changing careers, employers still want to see where you’ve worked, what you’ve done, and the impact of that work to get a sense of your background and expertise.

Your “Work Experience” might be one entire category, or you might choose to break it up into “Relevant Experience” and “Additional Experience” to highlight the jobs that are most important for hiring managers to focus on. Either way, you’ll almost always want to have your most recent experience at the top and your older experience down below.

Within your work experience, you’ll want to include each official job title, the company (and possibly its location), and the years you worked there. Below that, you’ll add in two to four bullet points explaining what you did in that job, the skills you built and exercised, the tools you used, and the results of what you did. If you accomplished a lot during your time there, focus on the responsibilities that made the most impact or you’re the most proud of, as well as the ones that best align you with the job you’re applying for (more on that in the following sections). It’s key here to list, if relevant, quantitative as well as qualitative accomplishments.

For example, you might write:

Associate Accountant, Finances and Co., Ann Arbor, MI September 2017 – Present

Manage billing and invoicing for more than 50 clients, ensuring the deadlines and needs of our enterprise partners, including Big Company and Super Star Org, are met
Collaborate closely with sales, account management, and project management teams on project setup, maintenance, and invoice management
Assist in the streamlining of invoicing guidelines and procedures through documentation and the implementation of new software, resulting in an average two-week decrease in total time spent per client

Your resume bullets should be in past tense if you’re referring to past jobs and present tense if you’re talking about your current roles. In addition, your bullets should always start with a strong action verb that best describes what you did. And if you have examples of your work, consider hyperlinking them here as well.

If you have a ton of experience and this category is starting to run long (read: over one page), consider kicking out your oldest jobs unless they’re super relevant to the job you’re applying for, or extra impressive for your field.

Not sure where to start? “It’s helpful to do a brain dump and create a document that has everything and anything you consider as experience or an achievement,” says Yurovsky. From there, she explains, you can start to whittle down what is and isn’t important. And you can refer to this document later if you ever decide to update your resume for a specific role.

Need more specific advice on listing your work experience on your resume? Check out these additional resources:

When you’ve held multiple jobs at the same company: 2 Jobs, 1 Company: How to Show Multiple Positions on Your Resume
When you’re not sure what your accomplishments are or how to explain them: Resume Revamp: How to Turn Your Duties Into Accomplishments
When you want to spruce up a boring or insignificant job: How to Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting on Your Resume
When you’re considering fudging a job title: The Answer to “Can I Change My Job Title on My Resume to Make It More Accurate?”
When you’ve had a bunch of short-term gigs: How to List Temporary Jobs on Your Resume

4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience

Anything you’ve done that’s not work experience—your side gig, volunteer work, special projects—can be hosted under clearly-labeled sections (“Volunteer Experience” or “Activities,” for example). Depending on how robust your work experience is, these things may be worth including, particularly if they’ve helped you level up your skill set or better align you with your dream job. Plus, they make you look that much more well-rounded, passionate, and hardworking.

If you’re a recent grad, you might also build out a section for on-campus activities, such as clubs, organizations, or leadership experience. This can be a great supplement if you’re lacking in the jobs department. You can frame these just as you would professional jobs—including your title, the organization’s name, and bullets describing what your role was and what you accomplished.

Read More: This Is Exactly How to List Volunteer Work on Your Resume

5. Don’t Forget Your Education

If you’re still in school or just graduated, your education can go at the top of your resume, but for pretty much everyone else, this goes near the bottom. Most people include their school, graduation year (for folks less up to about a decade out of school), major, and degree. Brand-new grads might also write in their GPA, honors and awards, study abroad, thesis, or other notable achievements. But keep this section super simple, as you don’t want it to take up too much space over your work experience.

It’s possible you have unique education experience, such as taking an online course or certification. If you did this specifically as a way to boost yourself within your industry, definitely include it. Again, list everything more or less reverse chronologically—so a grad school degree would go above an undergrad degree, and a more recent relevant online course would go above that.

Learn more about the ins and outs of listing your education on your resume:

How to (and How Not to) List Education on Your Resume
How to List Online Courses on Your Resume the Right Way (Because Yes, There Is a Wrong Way)

6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests

The skills section of a resume gets a bad rap, but it’s just as important as the rest of the stuff you include. It’s a quick list a recruiter can scan to see if your skill set aligns with what they’re hiring for. And it’s super ATS-friendly (ATS stands for “applicant tracking system,” the robot that in some cases reads your resume before a human does) because it allows you to add in keywords the machine is scanning for.

Usually this section goes at the bottom of your resume, but in special cases—such as a skills-based resume or when someone’s switching fields—you may place it further up.

What exactly do you throw in here? You’ll want to list any hard skills and applications you’re familiar with (Photoshop, SEO, JavaScript, to name a few examples), and, if relevant, your level of expertise. Avoid including soft skills here, like time management or public speaking—save those for your bullet points instead.

Be strategic when filling in your skills. Don’t list things you actually couldn’t do at a high competence level (I’m looking at those of you who say you’re “great” at Excel), and maybe nix skills that are completely irrelevant to the job you want. For example, you may not even need to include Excel if you’re applying for say, a design position, unless it’s listed as a job requirement.

Maybe you’re thinking, I’m a really good volleyball player, but that’s not a “skill,” right? No, it’s not, but it is a hobby. Adding in a hobby section at the bottom of your resume is underrated, and frequently a smart choice. It can be a great conversation starter with a hiring manager, and it can show that you’re a good culture fit—or a culture add—for the company. Also, it’s just a nice way to add in some of your personality. So tack on a bullet point listing out some of your interests, such as hiking, rowing, or crafting (no more than five to seven work-appropriate verbs), and you’re all set here.

7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

You may have heard of a resume summary statement . They’re not super common, but they can be useful to include near the top of your resume if you’re looking to add clarity or context to your resume. If you’re a career changer, you might find a summary statement helpful in explaining your leap and tying your experience to your new path. Or if you’re a more experienced professional, you can use a summary statement to highlight a theme that brings your career trajectory together.

Overall, you probably won’t need a summary statement if your career is pretty linear and your bullet points do a great job of emphasizing what you have to offer in terms of skills and experience. But if you think it makes sense to include one, “Take the time to think about what the person reading your summary wants to know before you write it,” says McGovern. “Good summaries explain why you do what you do and how it can help. For instance: Merging a background in ABC, I help companies improve XYZ through 123. Summaries shouldn’t be any more complicated than that.”

So, taking McGovern’s example, you might say:

Merging a background in social media marketing and PR with seven years in the consumer tech space, I help companies improve their internal and external communication and brand awareness through data-driven, quality content and strategies that align with the modern trends of the space.

Yurovsky adds that “you don’t want your summary statement to be a dense paragraph with too much information. You want it to be easy to read, concise, and memorable. Almost like a tagline.”

Read More: 3 Resume Summary Examples That’ll Make Writing Your Own Easier

8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)

Once you have your resume written out—you’ve broken down your work experience, tagged on some activities and additional experiences, and listed out your skills—it’s important to go back to the job description (or multiple job descriptions, if you’re applying to several similar jobs) and make sure that what your resume says matches up with the kind of candidate the employers are looking for. In other words, tailor it .

Let’s explain further. You’ll want to begin by tackling the ATS . This means combing the job description to see if individual words and phrases line up. What skills are they asking for, and have you listed them (so long as you actually have them)? What words are they using to describe their ideal hire, and do you use similar language in your resume?

Next, take a bird’s-eye view. If you were the hiring manager for the role, where on your resume would your eyes be drawn to? And what would you be looking for? Whatever you think will be most important for the recruiter, make sure it’s near the top of your resume, or otherwise emphasized.

Finally, dig into the role and responsibilities of the job. Does your resume reflect similar experience? If not, is there a way you can spin it so that it’s clear you’re capable of doing the job (and doing it well)?

These articles can help you if the word “tailoring” makes you start to sweat:

What It Really Means to “Tailor Your Resume”
Your Guide to Making Unrelated Experience Look Relevant on Your Resume
A Cool Trick: How to Spin 1 Resume Bullet 5 Different Ways

9. Edit and Refine It

Please, please don’t just write your resume and shoot it out without giving it a second glance. Hiring managers may not spend hours browsing it, but if there’s one thing that sticks out more than anything else it’s a glaring typo.

The best approach? Write a rough draft, then leave and come back to it later with fresh eyes to give it an edit.

Cover the basics: Is your contact information correct and updated? Are you using the right verb tenses? Does everything look consistent and accurate in terms of spelling and grammar?

Then do some cutting if your resume’s quite long. It’s no longer a hard-and-fast rule that all resumes must be only one page—but consider it a smart guideline for most applicants, especially if you've got less than 10 years work experience. The exception is if you’re very senior or very established in your career; in this scenario, a two-page resume isn’t completely out of the question. Everyone else, read this article for advice on how to cut your resume down.

Formatting-wise, it’s key to consider a couple things. First, what font are you using , and is it legible (for a human and a robot)? When in doubt, go with one of these simple, but sleek, options: Arial, Arial Narrow, Calibri, Cambria, Garamond, or Helvetica.

Second, are you going to save it as a Word document or PDF ? Neither option is wrong, although a PDF helps ensure that your formatting is maintained, no matter what type of computer the hiring manager uses to open the document.

Third, is your resume formatted in a way that it’s skimmable? If it’s feeling crowded or overrun with words, read this: 12 Tiny Changes That Make Your Resume Easy for Recruiters to Skim .

Once you’ve given it a few good looks, it may be worth sending it to a friend or colleague (or even a career coach ) to get a second opinion. Don’t just have them edit it for spelling and grammar—they should dig into your bullets and offer feedback on whether or not your resume is showing you in the best possible light (it’s smart to also send them the job description for something to compare it to).

Here’s the thing: Your resume won’t ever look exactly like someone else’s, nor should it. How you choose to format it, organize your information, and talk about specific experiences depends not just on your career path, but on your field, the job you’re applying for, the company that job is at, and more.

So there isn’t a universal way to do a resume. But there are common themes. To give you some context as to how yours might turn out, here are three examples of different kinds of resumes.

The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume

As previously mentioned, a reverse chronological resume is preferred by many coaches and HR experts, mainly because it’s super readable. When everything’s in a clear order, it’s easy to skim and even easier to draw lines between experiences.

Who it’s good for: Just about everyone—from students applying to internships all the way up to senior-level executives (with an optional resume summary statement)

Download an Example Chronological Resume for a Software Engineer

how to make your job sound better on a resume

The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume

Rather than listing out your experience in reverse chronological order, a functional or skills-based resume has bullet points that reflect how each of your skills is demonstrated by the work you’ve done over the course of your career. At the bottom, you’ll include everything else, such as your education, job history, professional achievements, community involvement, and other technical skills. This is a good option if you have a somewhat all-over-the-place work history and want to tie everything together neatly.

Who it’s good for: Career changers whose work experiences may not appear to be relevant and people with an abundance of temporary jobs or gaps in their work histories.

Download an Example Functional Resume for a Project Manager

The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website

This resume type is characterized by how it’s formatted visually. You may choose a reverse chronological order or skills-based style to organize your information, but also use graphics, colors, unique fonts, and even multimedia elements to help that information pop. Keep in mind that any creative resume is still likely subject to an ATS—and certain elements may be unreadable by a robot. So consider going this route only if you know a human will be reading your resume (and that said human might enjoy it).

Who it’s good for: People applying to creative roles (designers, editors, writers, marketers, video producers, for example), startups, or fun companies, or to jobs where a creative resume is encouraged, if not required.

Download an Example Infographic Resume for a Designer

Not a designer but want your resume to look just as pretty as this example? Check out these articles:

5 Sites to Create an Awesome Infographic Resume (Even if You’re the Least Creative Person Ever)
How to Build a Resume Website That Will Impress Every Hiring Manager Who Sees It
5 Digital Tools That Will Make Your Resume Infinitely More Beautiful

Your resume is a living, breathing document. So while you won’t go through this whole process every time you apply for a job, you should be thinking about all these things as you go to update your resume for your next career step. You might decide later on to switch up the order, or remove or add things, or even get creative and try out a whole new format. If you’re not getting the calls back you expect, you may decide to scrap it and start over —and that’s totally OK.

Regardless of where this piece of paper goes and how it grows, when you give it the care and attention it deserves, you set yourself up for success. And you’ll make it that much more likely that you’ll land an interview and get the chance to prove to the hiring manager—over the phone or in person—what you’ve got to offer.

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How to Make Your Resume Work History Look Better

How to Make Your Resume Sound Better

Tips for writing your resume job descriptions, an example of a revised job description, what to include in the revised description.

Georgijevic / Getty Images

How can you make your resume sound better? When you’re writing the work history section of your resume, there are a few goals to consider. It’s important to get your resume noticed by the hiring manager and to show a strong career record, presented in reverse chronological order.

However, your resume isn’t just a list of what you did when. Rather, it’s your most valuable tool in landing an interview—a “sales pitch” for your candidacy. Thus, the experience section needs to highlight your best qualifications for the job for which you’re applying.

You can write job descriptions that will make your work history sound better, get past the applicant tracking system , and impress the hiring manager. Even if you had a boring job, you can focus on your best skills and highlight them on your resume.

Don’t make stuff up, because hiring managers do check. Instead, filter your responsibilities and focus your resume on the attributes the employer is seeking.

Review these tips for improving your resume job descriptions, as well as a “before and after” version of a revised position description.

Edit your resume for every job . It can be time-consuming, but the more time you invest in your resume, the more you’ll get out of it. Take the time to review and decode the job posting , so you know what the company wants in applicants. Make a list of what the organization is looking for, and highlight those qualifications on your resume.
Prioritize . Take the time to tweak your resume for every job you apply to. List your most relevant duties first, being sure to connect your accomplishments to the job description . Move your other responsibilities down the list. You’ll be able to “mix and match” based on the job opening, so your top qualities are always listed first.
Use bullets in addition to narrative paragraphs . To highlight your work achievements, format them in a bulleted list immediately following a short narrative description of your specific work responsibilities. This will allow the accomplishments to “pop” on the page, setting you apart from your competition.
Quantify your accomplishments. Numbers work well on resumes. They are informative and noticeable. For example, “Increased fiscal year revenue 25%” sounds much better than “Improved revenue.” Use percentages, dollars, and numbers instead of words to show what you achieved at the positions you have held, and selectively boldface these figures so that they immediately catch the hiring manager’s eye.
Show what you have accomplished on the job . Include actionable achievements, not just descriptions of your daily tasks. Hiring managers want to know why you were a stellar employee, not what you did at work. Use action words to describe your duties. Here’s a list of resume action verbs and power words to get you started.
Keep it concise . You don’t need to include everything you did at every job you’ve ever had on your resume. Three or four sentences for each description, followed by a few bulleted achievements, is plenty. Include your most valuable contributions to the organization. You’ll have an opportunity to discuss your other duties in-depth when you interview.

Here’s a “before and after” version of a job description, written to highlight the candidate’s best attributes for the job.

Before: I was responsible for website design and development for a variety of clients. I oversaw data optimization, product uploads, and product management, and diagnosed and repaired product issues. My responsibilities included implementing and managing projects from design through launch. I managed search engine marketing, SEO, and online advertising for several clients including strategizing solutions for optimizing visibility.

After: Created, developed, launched, and managed websites for a variety of clients with an emphasis on state-of-the-art, responsive, and user-focused designs. Implemented data, product, and design enhancements. Managed search engine optimization and marketing and monitored site statistics to optimize visibility.

Increased search engine traffic by 25%, pages per session by 18%, and doubled site revenue over the past year.
Trained and mentored 5 new team members in effective client relations strategies.
Implemented enhancements to employer’s website that increased client list by 45% between FY 2020 and FY2021.

Do you see the difference? By using active verbs and tangible bulleted achievements, the “after” example delivers a more persuasive argument for the candidate’s suitability for the job.

How To Make Your Skills Sound Better On Your Resume

Published on:

April 16, 2023

Writing your resume for the first time or editing it for the 100th can both be incredibly daunting experiences.

With today’s fast-paced, ever-evolving corporate environment, hiring managers are consistently searching for unique candidates in an oversaturated market.

This makes resume writing so much more integral to landing a job that you want.

Most hiring managers utilize applications called “Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS),” which help electronically filter through candidate resumes searching for keywords, required skills, and overall competency.

For example, if a job required Slack as a hard skill, and you fail to mention your proficiency within your resume, your resume will automatically be sorted out of potential applicants immediately.

That being said, making a point to highlight your skills effectively is essential to passing through the ATS successfully.

Keep in mind that hiring managers are sent hundreds to thousands of resumes per job advertisement. After making it through the ATS, your resume will have approximately 6-8 seconds to prove your worth.

This means that you should ensure it looks professional and highlights the key information in bite-size pieces for quick reading and digestion. Your goal is to provide information and make the hiring process as painless as possible for the employer.

The following part of this article will walk you through several suggestions to better your skills section so that it will pass inspection and highlights you as a strong and capable candidate for the jobs you are applying.

These suggestions are: (1) Do not list given skills, (2) Spotlight key skills, and (3) Highlight your knowledge by separating hard and soft skills.

By incorporating these 3 modifications to your resume, you’ve already created a great start to passing through the ATS and getting the hiring managers’ attention.

Resume Template

Tip #1: Do not list given skills

It’s in our nature to want to name each and every skill we have in order to show that we are qualified, if not overqualified, candidates. Though this approach worked in the past, now it’s more necessary to omit skills that would be assumed.

For example, previously it was necessary to indicate proficiency with technical skills including Microsoft Office and Google, however, now it seems redundant. In today’s technical climate, it is assumed that all applicants applying for positions have these commonplace skills.

Keep in mind that your goal of listing skills is to showcase your attributes, not bog down the hiring manager with information they already assume to know.

Tip #2: Spotlight “key” skills

The next suggestion is to spotlight “key” skills on each resume. This means that when applying to multiple jobs, ensure that you are adjusting your skills section based on the needs of the individual job.

It’s a great idea to use keywords and specific skills from the job description itself. If a requirement or specific responsibility is listed or has an apparent theme throughout the job description, use your skill section to highlight your ability to accomplish those tasks.

An effective way of doing this would be to rephrase their needs into your own voice and then adding that to your resume. For example, if the job description stated, “a strong background in CRM systems,” you could add, “Proficient with CRM system,” within your skills section.

However, avoid copying and pasting only the skills outlined in the job description, as this could be seen as unimaginative and hurt your chances of candidacy.

Tip #3: Emphasize the difference between soft skills and hard skills.

Previously, it was simple to add a single skills section and be content with your resume. Now, it is necessary to emphasize both hard and soft skills.

Hard and soft skills are equally important to create a compelling resume. An ideal way to include both skills is to create two separate lists. This allows for a hiring manager to easily read through both skillsets.

Remember, you have 6-8 seconds to convince the hiring manager that you’re a worthy candidate for the job.

In order to ensure balance across your resume, try to keep the number of skills on each list the same. For example, if you have 5 hard skills, ensure that you have 5 soft skills too.

In Conclusion

This article highlights 3 suggestions that you can incorporate into your skill section to make your resume stand out from others.

This includes: (1) do not list given or assumed skills, (2) take time to spotlight “key” skills, especially those that are discussed within the job description, and (3) emphasize the difference between your hard and soft skills by giving each their own section.

Marissa Letendre, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Marissa Letendre is a senior HR leader and resume expert with over 12 years of experience. She has worked for both startups and Fortune 50 corporations and has helped thousands land jobs at top companies. Marissa has written on a wide range of topics, including employee engagement, career development, resumes, job searching, recruiting, and organizational effectiveness and has been featured on sites such as Slack and The Undercover Recruiter.

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Tried-And-True Ways to Confidence-Ify Your Resume

May 8, 2023

Fact : Men apply for a job when they meet only 60% of the qualifications, but women apply only if they meet 100% of them.

But why is this the case?

It boils down to confidence—a quality that many women (yes, even me) struggle with when applying for a job. If you struggle with confidence while searching for jobs, you’re not alone.

However, one way to build and show off your confidence is through your resume. Learning how to make your resume sound better can be a great start to improving your confidence.

Why is Confidence Important in a Resume?

A solid resume is key for anyone on a job hunt, since it’s the first thing a potential employer sees about you.

That’s why it’s important to make a good first impression with a resume that not only demonstrates your experience and qualifications, but that shows your confidence in your ability to do the job better than anyone else.

Below, we discuss how to make your resume sound better by adding some confidence!

1. Customize Your Resume to Fit the Job Posting

Hiring managers are scanning for specific qualities in job candidates. So, if your resume doesn’t match those qualities, they may just toss it and move on to the next candidate.

Customizing your resume to address points that relate to the job you’re applying for is a great way to stand out among other candidates. This lets the employer know that you’re able to do the job, and that you cared enough to really study the job description and demonstrate interest.

2. Remember: It’s Okay to Brag

When you’re looking for a job, you have every right to talk about everything you’ve done that you’re proud of—whether it be experience, awards, or skills, you should give them the details!

If you’re not proud of your work or you don’t go above and beyond describing your achievements, then it’s very difficult to stand out among others. Showing off these aspects show that you’re both capable and trustworthy.

3. Include Examples

It’s important that you back up your statements with examples. For instance, if you have on your resume “planned company events,” you should elaborate on that. Include a brief description of one of these events and how it helped the company grow.

Note: Don’t add too much detail. No one wants to read a resume that has excessively long descriptions. Find a way to cut out any unnecessary wording and focus on making your point in 1-2 sentences.

4. Use the “XYZ Formula”

The XYZ formula is a way to format elements of your resume to make it easy-to-read and concise, while also providing context and flow.

In one sentence, it includes what you’ve accomplished (X) + the qualitative results (Y) + the skills or experience you utilized to achieve the outcome (Z). This use of both facts and numbers helps add credibility and gives insight into your strengths!

A sentence structure in the XYZ format should look like this: action verb, achievement, measurement, detail of what you did to achieve your goal. Here’s an example:

“Grew revenue for 15 small business clients by 10% quarter-on-quarter analysis through mapping new software features as solutions to their business goals.”

5. Avoid Cliché Words

There are several words that many people tend to use on their resume. Using the same cliché words that thousands of other people use on their resumes tends to get boring, and won’t help you stand out whatsoever.

Below is a list of words and phrases that are overused on resumes:

Detail-oriented
Team player
Self-motivated
Hardworking
Innovative
Responsible for

Try to find different words that portray the same meaning. For example, instead of “team player,” try “team-oriented” or “collaborative.”

This way, you still describe yourself with the same attributes. However, it won’t look like the same cookie-cutter resume sections that the hiring manager has probably seen many times before.

Want to Learn How to Make Your Resume Sound Better? Enlist the Help of a Professional Performance Coach

Before you display your confidence on paper, you need to find it within yourself.

At Stiletto, we provide professional performance coaching to help individuals and organizations find confidence and clarity in the workplace.

We work with individuals and organizations to create deep self-awareness and effective actions to make positive changes. We hope that these efforts are reflected in all of our clients’ everyday lives so that they can eliminate vulnerability and intimidation in order to achieve their goals.

If you want to feel more empowered in your professional life, contact us today!

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How to make normal things sound better on resume.

Professionals whose job descriptions include reading and sorting through resumes for a company consistently say that most resumes are ineffective. The most common offenses relate to boring job descriptions written in drab language that fail to adequately convey the value that the job seeker offers. For job seekers, making normal things such as mundane tasks or routine assignments sound better can give their resume a much-needed jolt. It can make a crucial difference on the way to landing a job.

Write in a vibrant style to make mundane tasks sound more impressive. Avoid the recital of boring lists in favor of pointing out duties that demand responsibility and a sense of purpose. For instance, instead of: "I answered phone calls at the front desk each morning," write: "I actively managed incoming verbal communication for the firm."

Highlight the results of your ideas and suggestions, not just that you had them and submitted them. Anyone can spout off a series of ideas. Focus on the outcome instead. For example, don't write: "I suggested our magazine should start a theater-review column." Instead, write: "My idea for a theater-review column raised the profile of our publication in the community and led to hundreds of dollars per quarter in new advertising revenue."

Use dynamic verbs to make normal tasks sound better. For example, "I was a teacher for two years" does not convey much of anything. Instead, write: "I actively engaged with students, kept learners on task, managed divergent learning styles within a classroom and presented material in a creative way."

Write in specifics instead of relying on overused terms and phrases such as "team player" or "self starter." For example, "team player who makes valued contributions to office projects" sounds normal, at best. Make it sound better by writing: "Worked with public and private fund-raising officials, doctors and cancer researchers to raise donations by 70 percent year over year."

Add a splash of color to your resume if you work in a field such as entertainment, marketing or promotions. This will not work in conservative lines of business, but if you are in a creative field, change the color of headings or key words from traditional black to maroon or gold. This tactic will make normal-sounding elements shine.

Never lie or exaggerate on a resume. Simply use your writing and organizational skills to create a better presentation of the facts.

Junior copywriter job description →.

Creative Designer Job Description →

How to describe yourself on a resume →.

The Average Salary of a Fortune Cookie Writer →

How to Write Employment Prospecting Letters →

A Publisher's Yearly Salary →

"Happy About My Resume: 50 Tips for Building a Better Document to Secure a Brighter Future"; Barbara Safani; 2008
"One Hundred and One More Best Resumes"; Jay A. Block and Michael Betrus; 1998
"Resume, Application and Letter Tips for People With Hot and Not-So-Hot Backgrounds: 185 Tips for Landing the Perfect Job"; Ron Krannich, Caryl Krannich and Caryl Rae Krannich; 2006

Steven Wilkens has been a professional editor and writer since 1994. His work has appeared in national newspapers and magazines, including "The Honolulu Advertiser" and "USA Today." Wilkens received a Bachelor of Arts in English from Saint Joseph's University.

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How to make any job sound...

How to make any job sound impressive on your CV

7 min read · Updated on May 18, 2022

If you want to impress a recruiter, it starts with a CV that sells you at your best.

Picture this. You've found the perfect job. You have the relevant experience, the job is at the right level, it's with a company that suits your values, and the salary is in line with your expectations.

But there's an issue. You're not sure your CV is displaying your candidacy in the right way, even though you know you're a great fit for the job. You're not sure that you stand out.

Writing a CV can be daunting – and writing the perfect CV takes time and effort. Not only to detail relevant information, but also to display your talent in an extraordinary way. No fear: there are ways to make any job sound impressive on your CV. Use the following suggestions to tweak and tailor your CV to show recruiters that you're the best candidate for the job.

Inject keywords into your CV

One way to make your experience immediately impressive is by using keywords from the job description throughout your CV to tailor it to the role. Using the same language and phrases shows the recruiter that you're a good match for the position. Plus, it will aid your performance when up against applicant tracking systems .

Before you optimise, you must first find the best keywords to use in your CV . Sift through the job description and highlight any skills that align with your own abilities. Also, make a note of industry jargon that can be leveraged. Then, naturally pepper the keywords throughout your document to show how you're a good fit.

Reduce irrelevant information

It's very common for job hunters to over write their CVs. And it makes sense. After all, you want to put your best foot forward and showcase everything in your entire professional repertoire. However, your CV will speak to different audiences, so reducing the fluff and customising your CV to a specific vacancy is essential.

Target the role you're applying for by removing details in your employment history that aren't directly related to the vacancy. You've already scanned through the job advert, so you will know what to cut - for example, skills that are not mentioned.

Don't feel you have to remove all irrelevant details, especially if it seems like there are yawning gaps in your employment history. But consider limiting them, as you don't want to cast shade over your top skills.

Use the active voice

Using the active voice is guaranteed to make any job sound impressive on your CV. This is because active words push your achievements to the forefront of the sentence and therefore highlight your abilities.

For example, note the difference between:

The active sentence: “Managed inventory activities, including ordering and re-stocking, for a workforce of 50.”

And the passive sentence: “Inventory activities, including ordering and restocking, for a workforce of 50, were managed by me.”

The passive is rather waffly and less dynamic.

Trace over your CV and swap passive sentences for active ones. Replacing the passive voice will instantly highlight your capabilities and create a pleasant read.

Leverage powerful verbs

Take the active voice one step further by using powerful and creative verbs to enhance your abilities and create a more engaging read. “Managed”, “led”, “communicated”, and “assisted” are common cliches and, while they do the job of describing your actions, they don't necessarily showcase your personality or make your CV sparkle.

Review your CV to identify verbs which are overused and consider finding an alternative. For example, instead of '“led” try “headed”, “directed”, or “oversaw”. You don't need to break out the thesaurus and go overboard, but do consider your word choice to aid storytelling and bring your personality to life. Here's a handy list of action words to use in your CV to help you.

Choose accomplishments, not duties

Another way to make a job look amazing on your CV is by listing your accomplishments rather than your responsibilities. While providing a list of your duties is likely to offer a decent overview of your experience, it doesn't differentiate you from another candidate with exactly the same job title and experience. Plus, a recruiter is likely to know what your daily tasks are from your job title, so you're not adding anything to your application.

Reframe the focus of your CV to highlight accomplishments. Consider what you achieved while carrying out your role and the successes that you generated from your actions. If you led a meeting, what was the impact of that? If you created a monthly report, why did it matter to the business? Consider how your role was connected to the bottom line in each of your experiences.

Quantify your achievements

Once you have identified your accomplishments, it's time to make them tangible with numbers. For example, which sounds more impressive?

Option one: “Analysed keyword performance data to optimise page rankings.”

Option two: “Analysed keyword performance data to optimise page rankings, resulting in a 14% YoY uplift in organic traffic.”

The chances are you'd pick option two, which is a little more descriptive and impressive thanks to the use of numbers. Any numbers that demonstrate your ability or quantify your achievements will show the recruiter your capabilities, which is much more convincing than simply telling them what you do day to day. Providing evidence of your growth and successes, no matter how small they seem, might help you to cinch the interview.

Prioritise readability

The most standout CVs have a clean and professional layout. Therefore, formatting is essential for making a job look good on your CV. You might have the best content in the world, but if the formatting is clunky and indigestible then a recruiter is likely to lose patience and walk away.

Ask yourself, can you easily scan your CV and identify key points? Is your CV pleasing to look at? You're looking for an even balance of text to white space and snappy sentences or bullet points, as opposed to blocks of heavy, dense text. In addition, watch out for typos and grammatical errors as they are equally detrimental to readability.

Include testimonials

While testimonials and recommendations are commonplace for LinkedIn profiles, they can also be used in your CV to add character and weight. However, we're not suggesting you ask your past managers to contribute a lengthy paragraph.

Instead, reflect on compliments and recognition from one-to-ones or appraisals. Then, include the commentary as a bullet point. For example, “recognised by management for the ability to discuss sensitive information from feedback interviews, distil them for stakeholders, and supply tangible solutions.”

Adding a testimonial is effectively another way to quantify your accomplishments and illustrate how impressive you are.

When you're job hunting, you have to be your own cheerleader. You may know you're good enough, and your friends, family, and fellow professionals likely will too. But if you don't blow your own trumpet on your CV, a recruiter never will.

Be bold, be brave, and don't be afraid to brag. Pretend your CV is an abbreviated quarterly report. It must provide context, details, and results to reflect the hard work that went into making something a success. Recognising your own achievements and channelling your joy and passion into your CV will make your job sound more interesting and impressive.

There are plenty of tips and tricks to make any job sound impressive on your CV. It all comes down to fine details, tiny tweaks, and confidence. Want to double-check you've done everything you can to make your job descriptions sound their best? Request a free CV review .

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Essential Tips: How To Make Waitressing Sound Good on a Resume

If you’re a hospitality professional wondering how to make waitressing or serving sound good on a resume, we have you covered in this step by step guide with examples.

2 years ago • 6 min read

Anyone who's ever worked in customer service knows it's not an easy job. You're on your feet all day, constantly multitasking, and singlehandedly responsible for keeping customers happy. But how do you translate all of that to a resume?

In this guide, we'll cover everything you need to make serving sound good on a resume, including:

What to put on a waitressing resume
How to come up with measurable, resume-worthy bullet points
Tips for highlighting transferable skills
Ready-made resume templates
Sample bullet points you can copy and paste

Want to dive right in? Here's a quick-start guide.

How to put waitressing or server on a resume

Look at the description of the job you’re applying for.
Make a list of the key skills and responsibilities they're asking for.
Brainstorm your own skills and accomplishments — everything from "fantastic at conflict resolution" to "turned over 100 tables on our busiest night without a single complaint."
Now try to match up the two lists. It's okay to think outside the box on this one — for example, if a job requires event planning, think about how many functions have been held at your restaurant, or how you handled overlapping reservations.
Work each of these examples into a bullet point focusing on what you accomplished.
If possible, add a number or metric to show measurable results.
Once you're done, upload your resume to our free ATS resume scanner for more tips and personalized suggestions.

Waitressing resume template

Here's an example of how to put waitressing accomplishments on a resume:

To get a headstart on your own resume, download one of our free ATS resume templates .

Tips for how to make serving sound good on a resume

Want to really level up your customer service resume? Here's how to:

Consolidate your waitressing experience

Highlight transferable skills.

Come up with concrete metrics

Target your resume

The nature of hospitality, waitressing and similar gig work means that you may have held several similar positions over a relatively short amount of time. Instead of having to find new ways to describe waiting tables for every job on your resume, consider using a single job heading that covers similar serving jobs at different restaurants.

How To: In your work experience section, create a single heading like “Professional Wait Staff” and group all your related positions underneath.

Professional Wait Staff , [Dates] Company #1, Location, Dates - Bullet point - Bullet point Company #2, Location, Dates - Bullet point Company #3, Location, Dates - Bullet point

Here's how it might look on a resume:

Consolidate similar jobs under a single heading to highlight your strongest accomplishments

More Tips: Read our guide on how to list work experience on your resume for a detailed breakdown of what your work experience section should look like and when it’s appropriate to bundle different positions together.

Related: How To Put DoorDash or Uber Eats on Your Resume

The good news is, serving jobs require a lot of in-demand skills you can use in other industries, like teamwork , adaptability , strong communication and interpersonal skills . But before you list “excellent customer service skills” on your resume, you should know that these are soft skills — not hard ones.

What does that mean? When it comes to soft skills, self-assessments are basically meaningless. To show a hiring manager that you have what it takes, you need to prove it.

How To: Instead of listing soft skills outright, choose accomplishments that demonstrate those skills in action.

DON'T: “Demonstrated excellent customer service skills.” DO: “Recognized as employee of the month on 10/2020; awarded to one person out of 50 employees.”

More Tips: Read our guide on how to include soft skills on your resume for all the do’s and don’ts when it comes to highlighting transferable skills.

Use metrics

Metrics are the key to making any resume look good. The trick is to quantify everything — even things you’ve never thought about in measurable terms.

How To: Use numbers to describe the number of customers you served, the size of your team, or the scale of the work you did.

Before: “Served food and drinks to customers in popular establishment.” After: “ Served 100+ customers daily in 20-table restaurant.”

More Tips: Our guide on how to quantify your resume has 50+ examples you can choose from on how to add meaningful numbers to your resume.

The first step to writing any successful resume is to tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. If you’re looking for professional jobs with a hospitality background, this may seem like a stretch, but it’s easier than it sounds.

What hiring managers are really looking for is somebody who will be successful in the position. That doesn’t have to mean that you have experience in a similar role — instead, match your accomplishments to the job you’re applying for and focus on highlighting relevant skills.

How To: If a job description lists “planning and scheduling meetings and appointments” as a key responsibility, think about a time when you had to plan or schedule something as a waitress or waiter at work. This might be organizing a weekly roster, suggesting extra staff to cover a holiday weekend, or organizing a staff function.

If the job description says: “Planning and scheduling meetings and appointments.” Your resume could say: “Scheduled 20+ staff on weekly roster to ensure full coverage on all shifts.”

More tips: For extra help in creating a targeted resume, use the tool below to get a list of skills and keywords relevant to the job you’re applying for.

Polish it to perfection

Once you’re done updating your resume, upload it to the tool below to check if you’ve shown enough relevant skills and quantifiable accomplishments. It’ll also identify any mistakes and give you suggestions for improvements.

Waiter and waitressing resume bullet point examples

If you’re ready to get started, here are some sample bullet points you can use to make serving sound good on your resume — no matter what job you're aiming for next.

Training others

Trained 6 new waiters and developed repeatable onboarding process; reduced onboarding time of new staff by 15%.

Training new employees is an in-demand skill in just about any profession. If you've ever helped out with training — whether that's showing a new hire around the restaurant or creating onboarding materials — highlight that accomplishment in your bullet points.

Scheduling and planning

Scheduled 20+ staff on weekly roster to ensure full coverage on all shifts, including extra coverage at short notice.

Scheduling is another transferable skill that you'll use in just about any industry. If you created rosters, handled shift changes, or arranged coverage for other staff, use a bullet point like this to emphasize those skills.

Business operations and development

Part of core team involved in transition to delivery/takeaway options to help restaurant survive during Covid-19; increased customer base by 10%.
Reduced unnecessary inventory and maintained a 3 percent over/short ratio, reducing waste by almost 4 percent.

Ultimately, what employers care about most is whether you can contribute to the bottom line. Highlight accomplishments that you can tie to measurable results like revenue growth and cost savings.

Sales and marketing

Collaborated with marketing team to redesign menu and increase revenue by 10%.
Spearheaded initiative to gain new customers; handed out 400+ promotional materials and grew revenue by 20%.

Looking to pivot to a different industry? Pick out examples of accomplishments that show different types of skills, like this one.

Financial handling

Balanced all transactions daily with credit card machines, cash registers and check scanners.

Even the smallest tasks can become resume-worthy accomplishments with the right spin. Focus on exactly what you did and any tools you used to emphasize technical skills as well as soft skills like attention to detail and trustworthiness.

Going above and beyond

Recognized as employee of the month in 10/2020; awarded to one person out of 50 employees.

As a server, you're probably used to going above and beyond — so don't let that go to waste. Even better if you can point to something concrete, like a major award or promotion.

Spread the word

How to list a bootcamp on a resume (and other resume tips), how to remove fillers from your resume, keep reading, how to show bilingualism on your resume (with examples), oops what to do if there’s a mistake on your resume, getting the basics right: resume line spacing, subscribe to our newsletter.

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Thank you for the checklist! I realized I was making so many mistakes on my resume that I've now fixed. I'm much more confident in my resume now.

Your résumé is probably getting too long. Here's how to fix it.

Job seekers are bulking up their résumés with extra details to stand out in a competitive market.
Experts warn that overly detailed résumés can be hard to navigate and may hinder job prospects.
AI tools and keyword stuffing contribute to longer CVs, but concise formats are still best.

It might be time to put your résumé on a diet.

In recent years, a competitive job market has ramped up the temptation to trick out résumés with added details about our skills and professional accomplishments, several career experts told Business Insider.

Yet a swole document can also be harder to navigate.

"You want to make your résumé a sales page, not a Wikipedia page," Madeline Mann, a career coach and CEO of Self Made Millennial, told BI.

Many job seekers believe that including extra detail will help show off their qualifications to employers. But, Mann said, employers have specifics they're seeking on a résumé — often what's outlined in the job description.

"You do not want it to be a treasure hunt for them to find those things," she said.

As word counts on our CVs creep higher, more employers might have to search for what they need.

A review by LiveCareer of some 50,000 résumés in its database found that, on average, they had nearly doubled in length from 2018 to 2023 as more job seekers did things like adding a section highlighting their skills.

LiveCareer also found that the number of people devoting résumé real estate to certificates, languages, and other accomplishments had about doubled.

James Neave, the head of data science at the job site Adzuna, told BI that he'd also seen CVs balloon. On average, the word count of the US résumés in its database has increased by about 40% since August 2021, he said.

Stay relevant

Neave said one culprit behind résumé creep could be the inclination to inject our professional calling cards with all of the keywords from a job description.

So-called keyword stuffing, where you add the operative words or phrases that appear in a job posting to your résumé, is nothing new. Yet more people hunting down jobs might be focusing on that in an attempt to shoulder their way past the applicant-tracking systems that most large employers use to sort résumés.

Jasmine Escalera, a career expert with LiveCareer, told BI that many job seekers feel the need to include more keywords, skills, and components like accomplishments in their résumés simply to stay afloat in a competitive job market.

That landscape appears to be growing a wee bit less forgiving. The US government's August jobs figures , released Friday, showed hiring came in below analysts' expectations. Downward revisions to June and July's payroll numbers also signaled that summertime job growth was weaker than previously reported.

Escalera said many job seekers want to add to their résumé to ensure someone reading it can understand the value, contributions, and accomplishments that would make them a good fit for a role.

But it's easy to overdo it, Escalera said. Adding too much risks having a recruiter overlook what's most important.

She recommends job seekers use distinct sections to help make their résumé easy to read. Escalera suggests working from the top down by starting with a professional summary. Unlike the "objective" that once took the top spot, the professional summary should focus on how the candidate can contribute to what the employer is seeking, she said.

But, unlike an objective that once might have been a sentence or two, professional summaries often get loaded up with how long we've worked, various skills, and the value we'd bring to a job, Escalera said.

"There's much more going into this thing to be able to stand out," she said.

Next up is a skills section. For people applying for roles with quantifiable results — like sales or marketing — it can be wise to then include a section on career accomplishments. Following that would be experience and, last, education.

AI doesn't always help

While using AI to write or revamp résumés hasn't been a thing for very long, Mann said that the technology could explain at least some CVs' newfound heft. That's because while the tech can help draft and proof résumés, AI can also bring its own risks, she said.

"It's the average of all the resources that are out there, so it creates these incredibly generic résumés," Mann said.

The reason, she said, is because many people have been writing résumés in rather generic ways for a long time so that's the bulk of what AI has been trained on.

Stick to two pages — maximum

For years, the advice has broadly been that newbie workers should keep their résumé to about a page. More seasoned workers, the thinking often goes, should cap their CVs around two pages and not go beyond three.

That advice still holds, Adzuna's Neave said.

"If I get a CV and it's like four or five pages, I'm inwardly groaning already," he said. That's because it's just harder to work with, Neave said.

He recommends people with five years or less of work experience cap a résumé at a page. For longer-tenure workers, two pages should suffice in most cases.

Focus on your most recent experience

Mann, from Self Made Millennial, said that because employers tend to care about your most recent work, it's best to focus the experience section on the past decade or about the last four roles.

For most experience beyond that, she said, it's often sufficient to drop in a bullet for that role or just name the jobs. It's still important that the résumé be an accurate portrayal of your career path, Mann said, but going into detail on the old stuff often isn't useful for employers.

"If a company is interviewing you and you're constantly going back 10-plus years to answer their questions, that is going to probably hurt you," she said. "They are more interested in what have you been up to lately."

Watch: "Don't run too fast" – the best advice Delta CMO Alicia Tillman received

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7 best AI resume builders of 2024 to land your dream job

person-at-laptop-using-ai-resume-builder

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7 best AI resume builders

What to look for in a resume builder , how to use ai resume builders effectively, how to create an excellent ai-built resume, is it risky to use an ai resume builder, build stronger resumes with professional coaching.

Job seekers often experience burnout from applying for jobs and the simple act of resume writing. If modern tools can make the process less daunting, why not seize the opportunity? Artificial intelligence helps you write and format professional resumes. Using the best AI resume builders can make your resume stand out among other candidates.

Creating a tailored resume with AI helps your job search and automates time-consuming tasks. Even if you’re new to using artificial intelligence tools, you can build the ideal resume with AI.

The job market’s expectations are ever-changing. Constant edits after looking at lists of resume dos and don’ts can be exhausting. Using modern tools for optimizing resumes and keeping them up to date saves time and energy.

Resume writing is one of the most handy applications of AI . Even top professionals can feel stuck when describing their previous roles and responsibilities . You can use AI resume writers to create a new resume or improve your existing resume.

Remember, your resume serves as a first impression to potential employers, and you have very little time to impress them. According to Indeed.com, hiring managers only look at resumes for an average of 6 to 7 seconds . This makes first impressions on any type of resume vital.

There are a few different types of resumes . For example, chronological resumes catalog your work experience from earliest to latest. Then, there are online resumes, which are searchable electronic versions of resumes. Finally, functional resumes exist for applicants with limited work experience. No matter the type you choose, you can create an eye-catching resume with the best AI resume builders. Here’s a closer look at a few of the best on the market, both free and paid.

While ChatGPT may not come to mind as the most obvious or best free AI resume builder, it’s a highly valuable tool for resume writing. It can help you design a template and structure your resume so it stands out . When building a ChatGPT resume , you can use it to brainstorm strengths and projects that would impress a hiring manager .

You can also use ChatGPT to build a cover letter and give your job application that extra boost. Its AI features are free to use, and you can check your resume for repetition and coherency. However, since it isn’t designed specifically to build resumes, it might not be as straightforward as some other AI tools.

You can create a free account on Kickresume for access to basic AI features and a few resume templates. A paid membership gives you access to more features and costs $19 per month.

Kickresume advertises itself as being ATS friendly. ATS stands for applicant tracking system, in which software scans resumes for keywords. It also claims to use natural language, undetectable as AI. When you’re trying to avoid getting flagged by a resume checker, that’s an incredibly useful feature.

The Kickresume platform also offers a cover letter builder that features various templates. The company even has human proofreaders to double-check your finished product.

Enhancv also prides itself on its ATS-friendly optimization capabilities with the premium plan. The AI software has a built-in content-checking tool to correct spelling and grammar mistakes. Its drag-and-drop editing is easy for beginners to use.

The Enhancv resume checker claims to perform over 250 different checks for optimal accuracy. Free accounts get access to all resume templates and basic resume sections. You can also choose from premium plans ranging from about $13 to $25 per month, depending on how much you’re willing to pay beforehand.

ResumeCoach

If you’re looking for a free resume builder, ResumeCoach is a solid option. It offers secure, permanent online storage and several template options, and it boasts that it’s recruiter-endorsed.

ResumeCoach advertises its AI technology as producing hire-worthy resumes. It also doesn’t require a sign-up until you want to save your progress.

Novoresume has a free option with eight templates and a premium membership for $20 per month, $40 per quarter, or $100 per year. The free version has a limit of creating only a one-page resume, while the paid version offers a limit of 10 pages. The premium membership also features a cover letter generator.

The website has resume examples and tips to inspire job seekers, and templates feature themes such as skill-based, minimalist, and modern.

Resumaker offers resume templates as well as cover letter templates. It claims to be HR-approved to help you land jobs, and the website is full of resume examples, cover letter examples , and CV examples.

Resumaker also has video tutorials for suggestions on resume creation and tips, including a spell-checker. Standard membership costs 99 cents for a two-week trial, then $30 monthly.

Resume Genius

Resume Genius offers a free resume builder with auto-formatting. The website also provides a resume checker, resume parser, and resume summary generator. Many resources available on the site can also help guide you through the process.

In addition to resumes, its AI technology works with cover letters and CVs , with templates for each. Creating online resumes is free, but a 14-day trial for PDF and Word document downloads costs $3.

person-typing-on-laptop-using-best-ai-resume-builders

When searching for the best AI resume builder, making a checklist of important features you want to prioritize can be helpful.

These are examples of excellent things to look for in an AI resume builder:

User-friendly
Fair pricing
ATS compatible
Built-in resume checker
Undetectable as AI
Grammar and spelling checker
Guides, tips, and tutorials

There’s no harm in testing out multiple AI models to see which works best. Once you decide on the right AI resume builder to use, you can get to work on creating your resume.

AI tools should enhance human creativity , not replace it. Efficient use of AI means using it as a starting point. Your resume should still reflect your voice and personality traits . Don’t blindly copy and paste every output the resume writer gives you.

Instead, use prompts to give you ideas and inspiration. For instance, you could use AI tools to brainstorm strong action verbs for your resume . AI tools can help you find synonyms for common resume words like “managed” to avoid repetition.

You can also use AI for tone optimization. The tone of your resume should be professional and consistent. Use commands like “convert this sentence into a professional and friendly tone” to achieve the results you want.

Your resume should consist of the following elements:

ATS relevancy: Your resume should be catered to the specific job field you’re applying for. Recruiters often use an ATS to see which resumes match the job description. ATS systems scan your resume for essential keywords. Using these algorithms is easier for companies than having hiring managers manually read hundreds of resumes in real-time. By building an ATS-friendly resume, you increase your chances of employers noticing you.
Good formatting : Hiring managers don’t want to sift through resume formats that are hard to read. So, it’s important that resume sections are easy to scan with adequate spacing and clear headings. If formatting is something you struggle with, you can find resume templates online.
Functionality : Resumes should be professional summaries of your work experience and capabilities. They don’t have to contain every project you’ve ever worked on. Instead, resumes can contain bullet points of your soft and hard skills and honors or awards . The rest of your information can go on your cover letter and LinkedIn profile.

With proper oversight and proofreading, the final product can be as impressive as any resume built from scratch.

Resume templates should include a resume summary, previous work experience, education, and personal information. You can also include a skills section for your resume and noteworthy projects or personal achievements .

First, you’ll want to browse resume templates and pick your favorite. Many resume builders offer free templates.

Next, you’ll want to feed your relevant information into the AI program. You’ll want to be as specific as possible. Include job title, duration, and responsibilities for all relevant work experience. If applicable, add your LinkedIn profile , portfolio , or professional website.

As you adjust the project, you can give the AI prompts such as:

The audience (hiring managers)
The objective (securing the given job)
Formats such as bullet points or sentences

Artificial intelligence was designed to mimic how humans learn . The more you interact with the AI model, the better the results will be. Tell it specifics about the job posting or position you’re seeking. You can also feed resume examples to AI programs to show them what you’d like to emulate.

Using an AI-generated resume is only risky if you don’t thoroughly check it before submitting it or let AI tools do all the work. You don’t want your resume to sound robotic to potential employers.

It’s wise to tweak the wording and sentence structure of your resume so that it appears to have natural language. The words should flow seamlessly and accurately to reflect your work experience and skills.

AI isn’t only used by potential employees. Employers use it in the hiring process as well. A 2024 Mercer survey found that 81% of employers use AI for screening candidates . In addition, 60% use AI for interviewing, 50% for candidate evaluation, and 38% for sourcing talent in the hiring pipeline. Employers also use AI to create job descriptions, communicate with candidates, and screen resumes.

Some hiring managers even use resume checkers to scan for plagiarism. Since artificial intelligence uses existing content to create projects, it may flag your resume for plagiarism if you copy and paste it. You can use plagiarism-checking software to vet your resume before submitting it.

Is using an AI resume builder cheating?

Using an AI resume builder to create your resume isn’t cheating. It’s being resourceful enough to adapt to modern technology. You are still the one who gained all the skills and experience necessary for the job. It’s different from lying on a resume.

A 2023 Job Seeker Report by iHire stated that roughly 17% of respondents reported using AI to create their resume or cover letter . An additional 40% said they haven’t yet but would use AI tools for that purpose. Using artificial intelligence during the job application process is far from uncommon.

If others are optimizing their resumes for job applications, it can benefit you to stay ahead of the game and use the tools you have available. Your resume is a reflection of you, so you’ll want to make it as polished as possible.

Knowing how to self-promote and identify your employee strengths is essential to resume building. While the best AI resume builder can help, you must have clear career objectives and confidence to achieve your goals .

If you’re serious about landing your dream job, career coaching sessions can equip you with the tools to do so. A career coach helps with confidence building, goal setting, and overcoming adversity. Get started with a BetterUp Coach today to build a stronger resume and land your dream job.

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Chris Helvajian

Chris Helvajian is a talent acquisition leader with more than a decade of experience in talent acquisition. He's passionate about creating scalable solutions to resolve recruiting problems at their root. His golden thread is "connecting people to opportunity." Chris is currently a recruiter at BetterUp and received his MBA at Chapman University.

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How To Make Waitressing Sound Good On A Resume

In This Guide:

Example of how waitressing experience looks good on a resume..

Waitressing experience can be presented positively on a resume by highlighting key skills and responsibilities that are transferable to other job positions. These may include:

Customer service: Mention how you have experience dealing with customers and resolving any issues they may have had.
Cash handling: Highlight any experience you have handling cash, making change, and balancing a cash drawer.
Multi-tasking: Waitressing often requires juggling multiple tasks at once, such as taking orders, delivering food, and cleaning tables.
Teamwork: Emphasize any experience you have working as part of a team, especially in a fast-paced environment.
Flexibility: Waitressing often requires being able to work varying shifts, weekends, and holidays. Highlight your ability to be flexible and adaptable.
Sales and upselling: Highlight any experience you have with suggestive selling and upselling menu items to customers.

It's also important to use action verbs and quantify your accomplishments, such as "Provided excellent customer service to over 100 customers per shift" or "Implemented a new upselling strategy that resulted in a 20% increase in sales".

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• Handled cash and credit card transactions and balanced cash drawer at the end of each shift.
• Worked as part of a team to keep the dining room clean and organized during busy hours.
• Implemented a new upselling strategy that resulted in a 20% increase in sales.
• Worked flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Trained new servers on customer service, cash handling, and menu knowledge.
• Contributed to the team effort by completing side work and other tasks as needed.
• Assisted in maintaining inventory and placing supply orders.

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How to Make Waitressing Sound Good on a Resume

You have a few waitressing jobs under your belt. That's great, but how do you stand out from the crowd?

And how do you spin your waitressing experience not just as a positive thing, but also as a way to add value to your future job?

In this article, I will teach you how to write a resume that not only impresses hiring managers but actually gets you the job you want . Read ahead.

Notice: these tips will work whether you want to continue waitressing or pivot to a different career.

Spice up your resume summary

Your resume summary is a brief paragraph where you summarize your past job experience, skills, and what you want for your next job.

It's almost like an elevator pitch for your career . Simply put, it's a way for you to sell yourself.

If you want to continue waitressing, write a summary focusing on your serving experience:

Summary: I have over 6 years of experience working in upscale restaurants, helping maintain high serving standards. Experience with POS systems and increasing restaurant profits through careful customer suggestions. Looking forward to helping your establishment become more successful.

If you want to pivot your career into something else, focus on your soft skills while downplaying your serving experience:

Summary: I have over 6 years of customer service experience, dealing with customers on a day-to-day basis, handling money, and working in a dynamic and fast-paced environment. Looking forward to transferring my skills to your business and help you be more successful.

Mention your waitressing skills

When waitressing, you will build two types of skills: soft skills and hard skills .

Your soft skills are things like your ability to communicate, attention to detail, social skills, hard work, or reliability.

Your hard skills will be practical skills you learn on the job such as dealing with POS systems and cash registers, food regulations, or cooking ability.

Whether you want to leave the industry or stay, both resumes should focus on your soft skills .

Now it's time to create a "Skills" section. Put your skills section right under your resume "Summary":

… [any other skills you gained through your career]

The first 5 bullets are all soft skills. These are great to have on your resume. The last 2 are serving related.

You only want to focus on your practical waitressing skills(like handling cash registers) if you want to get a job that makes use of those skills.

If you want to pivot away from waitressing, focus on your soft skills , and use them as a trampoline to a different career.

Change your job experience section

After your skills section comes your job experience. This is where you put your professional experiences, ordered chronologically(from latest to oldest).

A mistake many people make in this section is to state the work they did without spicing it up. Here's an example of a boring job description:

Job Experience:

Waitress / Host / Food Handler Olive Rome - Italian Restaurant (2018 - 2020)

Updated social media accounts with menu updates

It's an okay job entry. But it's boring. We could do much better.

Here's the new version with a focus on your waitressing achievements:

Successfully replaced the manager in his absence.

Go into the numbers, talk about your achievements . How did you help the restaurant? Spice things up!

Do you get the point? You don't need to use these specific examples. Use them as inspiration.

Group your waitressing jobs

If you had multiple waitressing jobs, especially jobs you held for small amounts of time, you can group them together.

This is also a perfect resume format for those who want to pivot their careers away from waitressing:

Experience:

Waitress, Host (2015-2020) Sweet Desserts, Austin, Texas (2019, 2020) Pancake Factory, NYC, New York (2017, 2018) Burger King, NYC, New York (2015, 16) 5 years of experience working as a waitress, providing exceptional customer service and helping business run smoothly.

This prevents you from having to repeat yourself, as many waitressing jobs have similar responsibilities.

Your bullets should be responsibilities and achievements that are generic enough they can fit all jobs you grouped.

Put testimonials on your resume

Another way to stand out is to ask your previous managers for testimonials.

You can then embed these testimonials on your resume . Either a testimonial per job entry or a section dedicated to testimonials. Either way will work.

Most people are not doing this, but it's a great way to stand out in a crowded field.

Tailor your resume to your future job

As I wrote previously, you need to tailor your resume to the job you want to get. Want to get out of waitressing? Focus your resume on skills that are portable to other careers.

For instance, if you want to get a call center job, mention how your customer service experience will make you the ideal candidate.

If‌ you want to keep working as a server, mention your practical waitressing skills every chance you get.

Should you put waitressing on your resume?

Absolutely yes! Even if it's not what you want your career to be focused on, it's better to include a waitressing job than having a resume gap.

It shows you can work hard for your goals. Don't remove it.

Other formatting tips for your resume

Mcdonald's interview questions and answers for 2024, 25 coach interview questions and answers.

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How to Make Your Voice Sound Better at Work?

Sudarshan Somanathan

Head of Content

September 4, 2024

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You know the feeling—you’ve got a great idea, but you’re not sure if it’s worth sharing. Maybe you think it’s too silly, or maybe you’re worried about being shot down.

It’s a common struggle for professionals.

However, in the corporate world, not sounding confident when you speak can significantly impact your career progression.

While much attention is given to physical cues like firm handshakes and direct eye contact, having an assertive, professional voice is equally important. Lacking confidence in your voice may prevent you from gaining respect, influencing important decisions, and advancing up the corporate ladder.

In this blog, we’ll explore a key step in mastering workplace communication: enhancing your professional voice to establish a strong professional presence.

Read on to learn how to make your voice more effective and authoritative at work.

What Does a Strong Professional Voice Sound Like?

Creates a solid first impression, establishes trust and authority, ensures clarity, motivates team members, 1. listen and learn, 2. try breathing exercises, 3. rework your posture, 4. stay hydrated, 5. do vocal exercises, 6. keep a check on your pitch, 7. regulate your pace, 8. practice enunciation techniques, 9. practice singing, 10. seek feedback, elevate the quality of your professional voice with clickup.

Have you ever noticed how experienced professionals can easily switch from being friendly in casual settings to sounding confident and authoritative during meetings?

That’s because they’ve mastered the art of vocal business communication.

To be successful in a professional setting, effective communication is essential, and a key part of this is your professional voice—how you speak and present yourself.

Following effective communication strategies can help you express your ideas, boost your confidence, and improve your professional relationships. And when it comes to overcoming the challenges of workplace communication , you must refine your natural speaking voice to make it professional.

A strong business voice should be:

Confident: Exudes self-assurance and conviction
Clear: Ensures your message is easily understood
Articulate : Uses precise and appropriate language to convey your points
Varied in pitch: Adapts to different contexts, keeping your speech engaging and dynamic
Low-toned : Reflects respect and authority, establishing your credibility

Understanding and improving your professional voice can enhance your communication and effectiveness at work. Let’s look at why this matters and how to make your voice better in a professional setting.

Why Does the Sound of Your Voice Matter?

While a polished appearance is important for making a good impression, the quality of your voice is just as crucial, if not more.

Here’s why:

When it comes to making a powerful first impression, how you speak does most of the talking (pun not intended). It depicts your confidence and knowledge, influencing how others perceive you.

So, if your business voice sounds polished and assertive, you can easily leave a strong first impression on your seniors and team members.

Whether you’re leading a team or pitching a product, gaining others’ trust is crucial to success. I f your voice sounds hesitant or unsure, it can undermine your credibility . To establish trust and authority in others’ minds, you need to ensure your speaking voice is clear, positive, and firm—in short, professional.

Additionally, consistently maintaining a confident tone will build long-term credibility and strengthen your professional reputation.

Clear communication is essential for ensuring that your message is understood. It also helps prevent confusion and keeps interactions smooth.

Suppose you’re presenting a PowerPoint presentation to your team, and someone has a doubt. If your voice isn’t clear enough, people may not be able to understand your explanation and may then find it hard to resolve their query. This is another vital reason professionals work on refining their business voice— to minimize gaps and maximize clarity in communication.

Great leaders share a key trait: they know how to engage and inspire their audience.

As a team lead, your role extends beyond providing incentives and perks. A confident and compelling business voice plays a crucial part in keeping your team motivated and focused , especially during challenging times. Just as a powerful leader’s speech can rally followers, your voice can drive your team’s enthusiasm and commitment.

Read More: 10 Best Workplace Communication Tools and Software in 2024

10 Tips to Make Your Voice Sound Better

A professional-sounding voice makes your interactions at work more effective.

Here are 10 simple tips to help you refine your voice and project confidence:

Just as writers refine their skills through reading, you can enhance your public speaking abilities by listening to seasoned professionals. It will help you gain inspiration and insight into how to refine your voice for a more professional sound.

The best part? It’s easy to incorporate into your daily routine. Tune into podcasts, interviews, or any content featuring prominent business figures. Pay attention to their choice of words, pitch variations, and emphasis.

While you shouldn’t mimic their style, focus on their vocal tone. Additionally, explore professional communication training videos on YouTube to gain a clearer understanding of what a polished business voice sounds like.

If you often run out of breath or sound tired while speaking, your vocal endurance might be low. Your lungs and diaphragm help keep your voice steady, but if they’re not strong, you might struggle.

To prevent this, breathe deeply before speaking and exhale with every sentence. You can also practice this breathing exercise at home— just pick a paragraph with a mix of long and short sentences and read it aloud the same way . This will strengthen your vocal endurance , improving your breathing and speech skills.

Poor posture can strain your throat muscles, cause breathing difficulties, and hamper speech delivery. So, if you want to improve your voice work, you need to start with correcting your entire body posture.

When speaking, make it a point to sit or stand upright. This allows your lungs to expand fully and helps you talk without getting breathless.

If you’re seated, don’t slouch—this will stress your vocal cords and negatively affect your voice quality . Sit straight, with your neck and shoulders relaxed. This makes your voice sound clean, resonant, and confident to your audience.

Proper hydration is crucial for maintaining a clear, strong voice. If your vocal cords are dry, your voice can sound hoarse and unclear. It can also cause you discomfort while speaking.

To keep your voice in top shape, drink plenty of water throughout the day—aim for 15.5 cups . And if you have an important meeting or presentation, make sure to drink extra water beforehand to minimize vocal strain and ensure your voice is clear.

Also, limit your intake of alcohol and caffeine, as they can dehydrate you and make your voice sound rough.

💡 Pro Tip: Avoid food that causes acid reflux or heartburn prior to your speaking appointments. These can trigger discomfort and disrupt your speech.

Vocal exercises, often used by singers and public speakers, are highly effective for strengthening your voice. They help you maintain vocal endurance and avoid strain, especially during lengthy speeches or presentations.

One simple exercise is lip trills : close your lips and blow air through them to create a “brrrr” sound. This technique helps relax your vocal cords and enhances your overall vocal performance.

Another effective exercise is humming. Gently hum a tune or a simple scale , focusing on feeling the vibrations in your lips and face. This helps warm up your vocal cords and improves resonance . Both exercises can be easily incorporated into your daily routine to support a stronger, more controlled voice.

ClickUp’s Personal Habit Tracker Template can be a powerful tool for building a consistent voice training routine. By breaking down your desired exercises into manageable tasks, you can create a structured plan to track your progress. Use it to set daily or weekly goals, assign due dates, and add notes to document your observations.

Maintaining a balanced pitch is crucial for clear and engaging communication. A pitch that’s too high or too low can distort your message and make it harder for your audience to follow. Aim for a mid-range pitch that’s soothing to the ear.

The other consideration is to avoid a flat, monotonous tone. To keep your speech dynamic and captivating, vary your pitch naturally— use a lower tone for emphasis and a higher pitch to convey excitement or urgency . This balance helps maintain your audience’s interest and ensures your message is delivered effectively.

For example, if you’re making a training video at work , your pitch should be varied to emphasize important points and keep the content engaging. Use a lower pitch for key information to convey authority and confidence, and raise your pitch slightly for enthusiastic or motivational segments to maintain interest and energy.

Nervousness can cause you to speak too quickly during a presentation, leading to a rushed and unclear delivery. Speaking too slowly can also cause your audience to lose interest.

To keep your listeners engaged, find a balanced pace. Take a deep breath before you begin, and focus on enunciating each word clearly. Also, instead of drastically slowing down, add pauses for emphasis and vary your speed to match the message’s tone . This approach maintains engagement and adds emotional depth to your speech.

If you struggle with pronouncing words clearly, practicing enunciation can make a big difference.

Start by rehearsing tongue twisters like, “ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers .” Focus on articulating each syllable clearly and with the right emphasis . This exercise improves your mouth movements and enhances your ability to pronounce complex words. In fact, regular practice will help you master complex words and deliver clearer, more confident speech.

💡 Pro Tip: To evaluate your enunciation, use a high-quality screen recorder . This will allow you to review your recordings and make necessary adjustments to improve your sound.

If you’re looking to improve your vocal skills, singing can be a surprisingly effective solution. In fact, regular singing enhances your vocal control, range, and quality . This makes your voice sound more polished and helps you stay in control during professional speaking.

Additionally, if you can incorporate vocal warm-ups into your routine, you’ll strengthen your diaphragm and improve your overall breathing technique. This further enhances your ability to speak clearly and confidently. Remember to only practice vocal exercises that you can do comfortably without straining your voice.

Practice is most effective when guided by constructive feedback. To assess whether your efforts to improve your business voice are working, seek input from friends and colleagues.

Deliver a brief speech and ask for their honest opinions on your vocal delivery. Alternatively, create a short video showcasing your skills and request feedback . This approach ensures you continuously learn and refine your vocal performance.

Improve your voice while recording

Have you ever noticed that your voice sounds different—often higher-pitched—when recorded ? This happens because you hear your voice through bone vibrations, which makes it seem deeper.

To ensure your business voice sounds polished and professional, invest in a good recording setup. A high-quality screen recorder for Windows and Mac can help you check if your voice is clear and professional. For the best results, use top-notch tools to enhance your audio quality.

That’s where ClickUp steps in.

Your one-stop powerhouse for all things work management, ClickUp provides features, templates, and tools that can significantly enhance the quality of your business voice recordings.

Want to record a video and assess how your business voice sounds? With ClickUp Clips , you can easily create and review videos to evaluate aspects like quality, pitch, and speed.

You can also share the clip with your team for their feedback. ClickUp’s commenting feature lets you gather all their input directly on the video, so you won’t need to sift through your inbox for responses.

With ClickUp Brain , you can transcribe videos to ensure your voice translates clearly and accurately . Additionally, the transcription enables you to check the grammatical accuracy of your speech , allowing you to make any necessary adjustments before your presentation.

So, if you have an important presentation coming up and want to verify the quality of your audio, this feature provides the tools you need to review and refine your content, ensuring your message is delivered with precision and professionalism.

Read More: We tested the 14 best free screen recorder tools (with no watermarks) in 2024

Your business voice is more than just how you sound—it represents your professional persona and establishes your expertise. Finding your business voice as a beginner can be challenging, often involving a process of trial and error.

That’s why following a systematic approach is crucial, as outlined in this blog. Certain tools can help streamline this process.

ClickUp offers advanced features to analyze and refine your professional voice during recordings (via clips) and live interactions—with ClickUp Brain helping to review and polish your delivery via its transcription features.

So why wait? Refine your business voice— sign up on ClickUp today!

How can I make my voice heard at work?

To ensure your voice is heard at work, focus on building confidence and assertiveness. Actively engage in conversations, share your ideas clearly, and practice speaking with conviction.

Make sure you rehearse key points beforehand and use deep breathing techniques to calm any nervousness. This approach helps you communicate effectively and assertively, making your contributions more impactful.

How to improve voice quality for speaking?

Improving your voice quality involves a combination of techniques and practices. Start by maintaining good posture and ensuring you’re well-hydrated.

Regular vocal exercises and breathing techniques can strengthen your vocal cords. Additionally, explore different vocal training exercises, such as pitch modulation and resonance techniques, to enhance your overall voice quality.

How can I make my voice sound better naturally?

To naturally enhance your voice, focus on clear enunciation and varied pitch modulation. Stay hydrated and avoid irritants like alcohol and tobacco, which can affect vocal clarity. Additionally, practice proper vocal warm-ups and exercises to strengthen your vocal cords and improve your vocal range. Regularly incorporating these practices can help maintain a strong and pleasant voice.

How can I use technology to enhance my voice quality?

You can use technology to enhance your voice quality by employing tools like voice modulation apps and audio editing software. These tools can help adjust pitch, reduce background noise, and improve overall sound clarity.

Additionally, consider using professional-grade microphones and headsets during recordings and meetings to ensure high audio quality. Voice analysis tools can also provide feedback on your speech patterns and areas for improvement.

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COMMENTS

How to Make Your Job Experience Sound Better
1. Focus on Achievements. One of the biggest faux pas I see is that the summaries of past positions read like straight up job descriptions. They detail the daily duties that person completed (think answering phones or planning marketing initiatives), rather than the things that person accomplished while in that role.
How To Improve Your Resume in 10 Steps (Plus Tips)
How To Improve Your Resume in 10 Steps (Plus Tips)
How to Make a Job Sound Super Impressive on Your Resume
Tips for Jazzing up Your Resume Job Descriptions. By. Madeleine Burry. Updated on February 1, 2022. In This Article. Use Numbers. Prioritize Readability. Talk Accomplishments, Not Tasks. Choose Powerful Words.
45 Changes That'll Help Your Resume Get Noticed
45 Quick Changes That Help Your Resume Get Noticed
Enhancing Your Resume: Sound Better to Employers
Before you finalize your resume, make sure you check out that list and see which ones will work for you: Related reading: 100 + Keywords, Verbs and Action Words for Your Resume. Focus on value. This is probably the single most important tip for anyone who wants to learn how to sound impressive on a resume: emphasize your value.
How To Make Your Most Boring Jobs Sound More Interesting On Your Resume
1. Focus On Achievements. One of the biggest faux pas I see is that the summaries of past positions read like straight up job descriptions. They detail the daily duties that person completed ...
How to Make the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)
How to Make the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)
How To Make Your Resume Look Good (So Employers Notice You)
2. Divide your resume into sections with headings. Presenting well-organized information is key to creating an attractive resume. You can divide your resume into sections and include information under headings. Dividing the information in your resume into sections can help keep it well-organized and easy to follow.
How to Make Your Resume Work History Look Better
Tips for Writing Your Resume Job Descriptions . Edit your resume for every job. It can be time-consuming, but the more time you invest in your resume, the more you'll get out of it. Take the time to review and decode the job posting, so you know what the company wants in applicants. Make a list of what the organization is looking for, and ...
How to Improve Your Resume: 12 Easy Steps to Beef it Up
How to Improve Your Resume: 12 Easy Steps to Beef it Up
How To Make Your Resume Sound Good to Hiring Managers
Consider following these steps to create a resume that gains the attention of hiring managers: 1. Prioritize readability. One of the most important steps toward ensuring your resume sounds good to hiring managers is prioritizing readability. There are several things you can do to ensure your resume is easy-to-read and visually appealing, including:
How Can I Make Myself Sound Good on My Resume?
5. Share: If you want to sound good on your resume, here are some proven tips: Utilize action verbs and power words to sound more confident. Research the employer and study the job ad carefully to tailor your resume to employer expectations. Feature relevant experience only, and carefully pick professional skills and resume keywords.
How To Make Your Skills Sound Better On Your Resume
Tip #2: Spotlight "key" skills. The next suggestion is to spotlight "key" skills on each resume. This means that when applying to multiple jobs, ensure that you are adjusting your skills section based on the needs of the individual job. It's a great idea to use keywords and specific skills from the job description itself.
How to Make Your Resume Sound Better
4. Use the "XYZ Formula". The XYZ formula is a way to format elements of your resume to make it easy-to-read and concise, while also providing context and flow. In one sentence, it includes what you've accomplished (X) + the qualitative results (Y) + the skills or experience you utilized to achieve the outcome (Z).
How to Make Normal Things Sound Better on Resume
The most common offenses relate to boring job descriptions written in drab language that fail to adequately convey the value that the job seeker offers. For job seekers, making normal things such as mundane tasks or routine assignments sound better can give their resume a much-needed jolt. It can make a crucial difference on the way to landing ...
How to make any job sound impressive on your CV
Use the active voice. Using the active voice is guaranteed to make any job sound impressive on your CV. This is because active words push your achievements to the forefront of the sentence and therefore highlight your abilities. For example, note the difference between: The active sentence: "Managed inventory activities, including ordering ...
25 Soft Skills That Will Make Your Resume Stand Out
As a result, possessing strong decision-making skills will enable you to make sound judgments that lead to successful outcomes for your team or organization. In a competitive work environment, the ability to make quick, decisive decisions can give you a competitive edge over others and demonstrate your leadership potential.
Essential Tips: How To Make Waitressing Sound Good on a Resume
How To: In your work experience section, create a single heading like "Professional Wait Staff" and group all your related positions underneath. Example: Professional Wait Staff, [Dates] Company #1, Location, Dates. - Bullet point. - Bullet point. Company #2, Location, Dates. - Bullet point.
Your résumé is probably getting too long. Here's how to fix it
It might be time to put your résumé on a diet.. In recent years, a competitive job market has ramped up the temptation to trick out résumés with added details about our skills and professional ...
7 best AI resume builders of 2024 to land your dream job
Using the best AI resume builders can make your resume stand out among other candidates. Creating a tailored resume with AI helps your job search and automates time-consuming tasks. Even if you're new to using artificial intelligence tools, you can build the ideal resume with AI. ... You don't want your resume to sound robotic to potential ...
How To Make Waitressing Sound Good On A Resume
1 min read. Waitressing experience can be presented positively on a resume by highlighting key skills and responsibilities that are transferable to other job positions. These may include: Customer service: Mention how you have experience dealing with customers and resolving any issues they may have had. Cash handling: Highlight any experience ...
How do you make your job sound good on resumes? : r/analytics
Focus less on the 'how' and more on the 'why'. Why were you asked or chose to do those things in the first place. I built a dashboard to provide sales teams with up to date information on product availability so they could provide assurance to customers. When I hire analysts that the detail I'm looking for. I don't care about the technology you ...
How to Make Waitressing Sound Good on a Resume
Put your skills section right under your resume "Summary": The first 5 bullets are all soft skills. These are great to have on your resume. The last 2 are serving related. You only want to focus on your practical waitressing skills (like handling cash registers) if you want to get a job that makes use of those skills.
How to Make Your Voice Sound Better at Work
10 Tips to Make Your Voice Sound Better. A professional-sounding voice makes your interactions at work more effective. Here are 10 simple tips to help you refine your voice and project confidence: 1. Listen and learn. Just as writers refine their skills through reading, you can enhance your public speaking abilities by listening to seasoned ...

Enhancing Your Resume: Sound Better to Employers

Why does your resume need to be impressive?

Separating yourself from the competition

Establishing yourself as a professional and expert in your field

Highlight your skills and potential value as an employee

Tips to help you learn how to sound impressive in your resume

Tailor your resume to the job

Create a compelling skills section

Use powerful verbs to describe achievements

Focus on value

Weave testimonials into your resume

Eliminate or explain employment gaps

Create a stellar profile summary

Learn how to sound impressive on a resume and land more interviews!

Recommended reading:

Related Articles:

Career Advice Newsletter

More From Forbes

Your Step-by-Step Guide to Making the Perfect Resume (With Examples!)

What Is a Resume?

What Are Some Examples of a Good Resume?

How Do You Write a Resume?

1. Pick Your Format

2. Start With Your Basic Information

3. Add in Your Work Experience

4. Consider Including Volunteer Work or Other Experience

5. Don’t Forget Your Education

6. Top It Off With Some Skills and Interests

7. Write a Resume Summary Statement (if Relevant)

8. Tailor It to the Job (and the ATS)

9. Edit and Refine It

The Most Popular: A Reverse Chronological Resume

The Unorthodox Route: A Functional or Skills-Based Resume

The Creative Angle: An Infographic Resume or Resume Website

How to Make Your Resume Work History Look Better

How to Make Your Resume Sound Better

How To Make Your Skills Sound Better On Your Resume

Tip #1: Do not list given skills

Tip #2: Spotlight “key” skills

Tip #3: Emphasize the difference between soft skills and hard skills.

In Conclusion

Marissa Letendre, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Our Latest Blog

20+ Resume facts

How to Write a Resume Personal Statement (with examples)

How to Include Contact Info on Resume

Professions

Tried-And-True Ways to Confidence-Ify Your Resume

Why is Confidence Important in a Resume?

1. Customize Your Resume to Fit the Job Posting

2. Remember: It’s Okay to Brag

3. Include Examples

4. Use the “XYZ Formula”

5. Avoid Cliché Words

Want to Learn How to Make Your Resume Sound Better? Enlist the Help of a Professional Performance Coach

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How to make any job sound impressive on your CV

Inject keywords into your CV

Reduce irrelevant information

Use the active voice

Leverage powerful verbs

Choose accomplishments, not duties

Quantify your achievements

Prioritise readability

Include testimonials

Recommended Reading:

Related Articles:

Career Advice Newsletter