How to Write an Eye-Catching Resume

Across the globe, September marks the 12th annual "International Update Your Resume Month," so now is a good time for you as a job seeker to take a look at your resume to make sure it stands out from the crowd and grabs the attention of hiring managers and recruiters.

- Start from the top

Mary Eileen Williams, author of "Land the Job You Love: 10 Surefire Strategies for Job Seekers Over 50," noted that resume screeners spend as little as 30 seconds deciding whether your resume is worth reading all the way through. Therefore, she said, candidates must make sure their key skills and experience are placed in the right order - from top to bottom and left to right.

"This principle holds true for each section. Oftentimes, a reviewer will scan through the first page noticing where you worked and the first couple of bullets under each position. Therefore, you'll want to make certain you select your strongest bullet points for the top of each list.," Williams wrote in the Huffington Post.

- Keep it simple

You should always remember that your resume is an introduction of sorts, one that should pique a hiring manager's interest so that he or she will want to get to know you better.

Career coach Ford R. Myers said job seekers need to keep their career summary section as short as possible.

"The 'Career Summary’ is a brief statement of who you are, where you're 'coming from,'  and what skills and expertise you have to contribute to an organization,"  Myers noted in the Native American Times.

An online resume builder will help you create a professional customized resume specific to your career field.

- Use action words

Another way to make sure your resume is eye-catching is to include an array of action verbs that best describe your skills and accomplishments.

"Words such as 'direct,' 'launch,' 'initiate,' 'devise' and 'lead' have a lot more impact than a passive phrase like ‘was responsible for,'" Myers added.

- Sell your potential

Employers do not just want to see what you have accomplished in your past jobs, but want a sense of what kind of worker you will be. Always make sure you can back up your resume with examples of your success and how that will benefit the company in the future.