5 Tips to Make Your Resume Stand Out
It is a well-known fact that job hunting is no easy task and you need to make use of all the tools that can help you get hired. You should start by making sure that your resume showcases all of your accomplishments and gets you noticed. Here is what you can do to improve it.
Use Design
You know the importance of first impressions and you always take the time to show up on time to an interview wearing the most professional outfit. Your resume should also receive your total attention and having one that is attractively designed will do just that. Opt for:
Using a resume template Using bullet points instead of run-on sentences Writing that highlights relevant information and places it in such a way that makes it easy to find Making use of free design software
Start With Your Lawyer Profile
You should summarize in a few sentences who you are as a lawyer and what you bring to the table. In three sentences talk about:
Your specialty Your passions Your most salient accomplishments
Showcase Your Special Skills
Use this section to paint a picture of your special skills. These could be critical thinking, problem-solving, mediation, conflict resolution, negotiation, or the ability to manage pressure.
Base Your Resume on Action Words
As you start on the employment section, carefully choose the words that will highlight details relevant to the position you are applying for. Avoid making a list of places where you work splattered with words such as “worked”, “participated”, or “did”. Look for stronger words like “advocated”, “negotiated”, or “counseled”.
After each law firm name, including the number of years you were employed there, your title, and relevant experience.
Highlight Relevant Education
Depending on how far ahead you are in your career, some educational information may no longer be relevant. It may not be useful to list every course you took or every summer internship you had. You may want to highlight honors, legal designations, and memberships. If you feel there are aspects of your education that you would like to highlight but are afraid they would take up too much space on the page, you may expand on them in your law firm cover letter. Only do so if it is relevant to the post you are applying for.
It may no longer be relevant to list your GPA or class ranking if you graduated several years ago and have already been employed for a while. At all times, make sure to re-read your resume to confirm that it is geared to the specific role you want.
