4 resume strategies to stand out in a competitive job market

When it comes to resumes, context is key.

Resumes are more than a list of experiences—they’re your personal brand on paper. Hiring managers skim through stacks of applications, so how can you make yours memorable? Here’s how to craft a resume that grabs attention and tells your story effectively.

Who are you?

Your resume should introduce you beyond just credentials—it should give hiring managers a reason to remember you. What’s your unique point of view and what does it reveal about you to the company?

Hiring managers see a myriad of resumes while searching for the perfect candidate, so it’s important to bring memorable qualities to the table. Implement “scroll-stoppers.” What’s something about you that would make others curious or form a tie between you and the person reading your resume?

Scroll-stoppers could be as simple as adding a highlight color or more complex, like revealing a particular hobby or interest. A candidate with a bright highlight color may be expected to have a bold personality. Another candidate might have a clearly sectioned resume, hinting at organizational skills and an eye for detail. Listing ‘Key Achievements’ may indicate that someone is focused on outcomes.

Attempt to read your resume as if you were meeting yourself for the first time. What would you want to know about this person professionally and what would you be curious to know about them personally?

Find your key message

Next, find your key message. This is the space where you can articulate what qualities, values and goals are most important to you. Similar to a company’s mission statement, a key message serves as a window to what makes your work meaningful. Think of your key message as your professional tagline—what’s the one takeaway you want an employer to remember?

For accountants, these could look like:

• Skilled in identifying financial risks, reconciling discrepancies, and implementing solutions that enhance financial accuracy.

• Dedicated to delivering accurate financial reports, optimizing tax strategies, and driving business profitability.

• Committed to maintaining financial integrity through meticulous record-keeping, tax compliance, and process optimization.

It could also tell a more general theme:

They say money talks—I make sure it speaks clearly and follows the rules.

If accounting is the language of business, consider me fluent.

Numbers don’t lie—but they do need a good translator. That’s where I come in.

Every number has a story. I make sure it’s accurate, ethical, and audit-proof.

Understand Appropriate Language

Authenticity is important, but it’s essential to first understand the language and culture of the companies that you are applying to. Ask yourself how you can speak their language. This is not to say change yourself to fit the company, but rather, how can you translate your key message and values to complement theirs?

Look at the company’s website. Do they use colloquial or formal language? Are they a new company or do they have roots in the industry?

A ‘Hello, My name is’ resume with a ‘money talks’ key message may resonate with the expectations of a new-age, casual workplace, but could fall flat when read by a traditional, buttoned-up firm.

Similarly, a black-and-white resume of bullet points and metrics may not be memorable to a vibrant workplace, but could be seen as helpful and respectful to an established company.

Ultimately, context is key– understanding what’s appropriate within a company’s culture ensures that your skills are framed in a way that resonates with the right audience.

Strive for brevity

It’s tough to remember one thing when there are several aspects of your resume competing for a hiring manager’s eye. For this reason, it’s important to use concise language and ensure that you are only adding elements that matter. Less is more. Don’t overuse jargon because your true message could get lost in translation.

Instead, focus on what’s memorable, valuable and relevant to the position.

Jessica Barboza, Marketing and Communications Intern, The Ohio Society of CPAs