With the current unemployment rate and the ease of online applications, employers are often bombarded with thousands of applications. This presents a unique challenge in understanding how to make your resume stand out from the rest. How can you increase your chances of getting a call back once an employer has your resume in hand? How can you even guarantee that they will notice your resume in a sea of applicants? We’ll give you some tips to increase your chances of getting a call back.

The most underrated tool that many applicants don’t take advantage of is the utilization of a cover letter. The purpose of a cover letter is to formally introduce yourself to your prospective employer. This is an opportunity to highlight your experience and qualifications as an applicant and to explain why you are the right person for this position. Many people don’t take the time to draft a personalized cover letter for each job they apply for, so by simply taking the initiative and writing a cover letter, you are already placing yourself ahead of the curve.

The second strategy to increase your chances of getting a call back from a prospective employer is to highlight your accomplishments in your resume, rather than focus on descriptions of jobs you’ve done. Employers can generally infer what your job entails based on the job title, but they are more interested in your accomplishments and capabilities within that position, rather than a general job description that they can get off of Google. Employers want to see why you are different from the other applicants and what unique abilities and experiences you can bring to their company. Anyone can say they are well-organized and good under pressure, but can you back that up with numbers or personal achievements? Personalize your job descriptions and focus on more than just the title.

The third strategy to ensure that you will get a call back from a prospective employer is to ensure that you have credible references other than family members. Whenever you submit an application, understand and expect that whoever is reviewing your application will contact the references you have provided. You should have both professional and personal references outside of your family who can attest to your work ethic and who you are as a person. Furthermore, understand that prospective employers might go further than checking your references and might check your social media and internet presence as well in order to further screen you as a prospective employee. Ensure that you are seen in a positive and professional light.

If you have the opportunity to fluff up your resume with credentials, education, and certifications, take it. These days, anyone in the workforce is generally expected to be proficient in Microsoft Office or Microsoft Excel. Don’t waste your time highlighting these skills on your resume. Rather, take the time to get some real certifications that you can use on your resume to prove that you have actual skills. A simple Google search will reveal many free, online certifications that you can get to stand out from the crowd. Demonstrate your ability to perform credible skills and use those certifications to your advantage by adding them onto your resume.

Finally, proofread your resume. Proofread it several times, and ask a friend to do the same. Many employers will toss a resume once they notice a simple grammatical mistake or spelling error. A resume should be the most professional and accurate representation of who you are as an employee, and you don’t want to ruin your chances of getting hired because you misspelled the date.

Take these items into consideration as you are applying for jobs, and remember that persistence is key! Don’t be afraid to follow up with an employer to ensure they received your application. If you need any help with your employment search, resume building, or interview preparation, contact AllStaff Employment Services by clicking here. We are here to help you!