Make it clean and attractive: See that your resume doesn't look slipshod and disorganized among stack of attractive ones. Design wise it should simple and soothing to eye. It means it should have proper alignment, spacing, same size fonts throughout, and clear fonts (no fancy ones).
On the language side, it should have full sentences and no fragmentation. Avoid acronyms. All types of grammatical errors should be corrected. In other words, it should be reader-friendly.
It should be an eye-catcher: Most candidates think that employers read their resumes thoroughly. They go through those that catch their attention. Studies show that reader's eye hits the middle of the first page, moves to the left and then to the top of the page. So put your narration of your present job in the middle.
Clarity is the hallmark: Busy hiring managers cannot waste their time reading the entire resume to find out whether a candidate is right for them. Make your resume more a fact sheet than an essay on your experience and capabilities.
Briefness is welcome, yet you have to back up your claims to showcase an exciting profile. Hiring managers like clear data points to get a hang of your role and yet they like to know the impact of your performance in that role. Quantify your value in the past by answering questions such as:
How much time did you take to complete a project? How much money did you save by changing a procedure? How many people report to you? What was your output (such as the number of sales or new clients etc)?
Take care that your desire for brevity doesn't cost you the job. While you describe your titles and functions, use such terms that are understandable by hiring managers. So is the case with the companies you worked with. Mere mentioning their names makes no sense. You should name their area of operations.
Concentrate on your accomplishments: You most explain to the recruiters and hiring managers why you are the right fit for the job. You have to emphasize those areas of your career that are relevant to the job you are seeking. Give importance to your accomplishments in areas relevant to the job. Descriptions of honors or promotions, and performance-review quotes documenting strengths and quantifiable achievements can arrest the attention of hiring managers.
