DevonBerry, RN, PhD, is a nursing leader in Portland, Oregon, who has served in multiple academic nursing executive positions across the U.S. Most recently, Dr. Berry served as the Executive Associate Dean for the Oregon Health and Science University’s School of Nursing. He has also held director and senior consultant level positions at other universities including Cedarville University, Wright State University, and University of Cincinnati.
With over a decade of leadership experience, Devon Berry is no stranger to the hiring process. Nearly every employer requires prospective candidates to submit a resume. Though most are familiar with putting one together, the resume can be tricky because it’s a document you might update once a year—or only when you are looking for a job. Regardless, it should always be tailored to the position you are applying for and give employers a snapshot of your accomplishments that make a case for why you are the best fit for the job. While some industries have particular rules of what a resume should entail, there are three attention-getting resume tips that can help you stand out from the rest, no matter the job:
Keep it Straightforward
Unless you are applying for a design job, it’s best to stick to a classic resume look and let the content demonstrate how you stand out, not the layout of the resume itself. Keep it in reverse chronological order, with your most relevant and desirable experiences up top.
Focus on Achievements, Not Responsibilities
Achievements show the employer how good you were at your job, not just the duties you held. If your job isn’t easily quantifiable, you can be qualitative. For instance, if you were a receptionist, you could say “acted as a gatekeeper for a busy 20-person department, ensuring all callers received a warm welcome with quick, accurate answers to their questions.”
Be Concise
Try to keep everything to a page—the longer your resume, the less likely the hiring manager will see the parts you most want them to. If you list things like skills or volunteer work, make sure they are hard skills or things that are a big part of who you are—that you could expound on in person.
