Where to focus on not to look just like everyone else?

​The time has come to look for a job. You’ve been editing your resume like a maniac, taking in all the advice on what to take out and what verbs to use. And after much tinkering and typo eliminating, you’re finally done—and it looks just like everyone else’s. How are you supposed to stand out now?

Here are five ways your resume makes a recruiter’s eyes glaze over and, more importantly, smart ways to fix that.
 
1. You Have a Generic “Experience” Section
 
Having a keyword right in your section heading has a great branding effect on your overall resume.
 
This is especially useful if you have a diverse range of experiences, but really want to show off your experience in one particular area.
 
2. You Focus on Responsibilities Instead of Accomplishments
 
You might still be falling into the trap of describing what you do day to day instead of the projects you’ve completed or the results you’ve contributed to. Here’s an example of how to detail between Bullets on Accomplishments:

• Coordinated 8 artist press releases that contributed to an increase in annual sales by 14%
• Compiled and maintained a mailing list of 12,000 customers, the art center’s largest ever
• Organized photo and press releases to CNS Television and Yorkville Daily News
• Collaborated on a team of 3 editors on the copywriting of promotional radio commercials for 16 Events.

 
3. You Use Tons of Clichéd Buzzwords
 
Recruiters hate seeing these overused buzzwords on your resume. Instead, think of examples of how you’ve demonstrated these traits in your work. Adding results and accomplishments to your resume is a much more interesting way to show off who you are—and ultimately, makes you much more memorable.
 
4. You Sound Like You Have No Life Outside of Work
 
How are you setting yourself apart from all the other professionals? How do you show your passion for your field or that you have other attributes to bring to your position?
 
Make sure to show that you do more than show up at work and do as you’re told [community engagement, volunteering]. Anything you include should be relevant to the job you’re applying for—it’s a great way to show off who you are as a person.
 
5. You Didn’t Include a Cover Letter
 
The cover letter is your chance to really introduce yourself as person and not just as a set of skills.
 
It’s so important to be open to advice and feedback as you’re creating or updating your resume, but be careful not to take out what makes you special. It could be that extra sparkle that gets your foot in the door!

A few more details can be found in this article.