5 Resume Tips You Need To Know

It’s true: hiring managers spend an average of 6 seconds looking at your resume. You have 6 seconds to wow them, how can you make it count? Luckily, there are a few resume tips and tricks you can use to stand out from the crowd. Let’s get started!

1. Be consistent with your verb tense.

Resumes shift and change often based on what you’re currently doing or learning, so, odds are you aren’t completely redoing your resume every time you update it. This can create inconsistencies with verb tenses, which can make reading (and retaining!) the information on your resume difficult. Keep it simple: Use present tense when describing your current responsibilities and tasks, and use past tense when talking about your academics or past job experience. You’d be surprised how much of a difference this makes!

2. Be concise.

Nothing kills a resume more than long and hard-to-read paragraphs. Draft what you want to include in your resume, then do a few sweeps for clarity. Read it out loud, and take out anything that seems irrelevant, wordy, or clunky.

3. Include all the right information.

Another obvious but often overlooked resume tip: don’t leave something important out! Remind yourself what is needed to be a dental hygienist: proper education, experience, and solid interpersonal and communication skills. These three sections need to be clearly identifiable and easy to reference.

4. Show AND Tell

It’s easy enough to slap, “Great interpersonal and communication skills,” on your resume, but how can you prove it? Stating specific instances of your interpersonal and communication skills is the way to go. Here are a couple of thought starters to display your communication and interpersonal skills:

– “Created and gave educational presentations at workshops and educational events.” (This shows leadership and presentation skills.)

– “Experienced with pediatric dentistry.” (This shows that you not only have experience working with kids but also that you have a trusting and warm personality that helps children feel at ease!)

5. Use specifics.

Take some time to (roughly) calculate the number of patients you’ve cared for on a weekly/monthly basis, the software you’re proficient in, and any other measurable skills you can provide. Those solid numbers are eye-catching and, if you get the interview, can be a conversation starter.

Use these resume tips to help bolster your job-seeking efforts and land your dream job! Still need help? Download our FREE Jobseeker Toolkit for our best tips and strategies for all stages of the jobseeking process.