Whether you’re actively seeking new employment or might be open to a new career move, it’s a good idea to make sure your resume is ready when opportunity knocks. Making the following simple “renovations” can transform your resume and increase your chances of standing out in the crowd.

1.      Ask yourself: “Does this need to be in here?”

One page doesn’t provide a lot of space to describe your career history and accomplishments.  Review your current resume and edit unnecessary items.  Experts advise to skip an “objective statement” and instead prioritize your skills summary and professional experience above other elements. Then include education, certifications, and associations toward the end of the page.

2.      Use dynamic keywords.

“Dressing up” your resume with fancy (yet unnecessary) words is not a great idea, but including a few powerful keywords throughout it is critical.  Review how you’ve describe your past experience and consider replacing plain words with more compelling, persuasive ones.  For example, “forecasted” and “conceptualized” can provide more insight into the successes of your past positions than “predicted” or “created.”

3.      Clean up the layout.

Take a look at a printed copy of your resume.  Is it easy to read? Are the margins wide enough to let the text “breathe” and not look cluttered?  Is the font consistent throughout the document?  Be sure to fix any inconsistencies and arrange the elements to be visually appealing. The last thing you want is for a hiring manager to decide your resume is too hard to read, then discard it into the “reject” pile.

4.      Translate job responsibilities into results.

A resume should not just summarize your past “tasks.” Instead, it’s supposed to describe your achievements and the value you brought to the organizations you worked for.  Your resume should answer the questions: “Why should I hire you?” and “What can you bring to the table?” You must clearly identify the results you produced.  For example, did you save the company money, make tasks more efficient, or help the company achieve a major goal?

5.      Proofread… and then proofread again.

Typos can destroy the credibility of an otherwise excellent resume.  Put your resume aside, wait a few hours, print it out, and read it. You’ll catch a few errors that you had overlooked.  Repeat this process, and also ask a trusted friend to review it —they may suggest improvements that you hadn’t considered.