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Lightning HR Solutions Inc.

How to Make Your Application Stand-Out

Updated: Feb 22, 2023

If you are struggling to get interviews despite sending out hundreds of applications, it may be time to look at your resume and online profiles.


Your resume is literally the only information a recruiter will know about you until they schedule an interview, therefore, you want to make sure it is top-notch. Each industry prefers a different style of resume and so researching the perfect style is your first tip. This is easy, simply look at the resumes posted by others in your industry or ask a friend or mentor to take a look and make suggestions.


Below we share some important tips on how to get your resume noticed by employers. We talk about the Applicant Tracking System (ATS), what to include in your resume, how it should be written and finally the importance of your LinkedIn profile.



Build an ATS Friendly Resume


ATS stands for Applicant Tracking System. It is important for you to think about this system as you build your resume. This system provides specific recruiting assistance to companies and helps to automatically filter resumes from applicants. According to CNBC Make it, 75 percent of resumes are rejected before they reach the hiring manager or recruiters. This is because of the ATS and it is why you need to make sure your resume is ATS friendly.




What to Do and What to Avoid


When building your resume make sure that you keep consistent format throughout the document. Avoid including tables or images in your document. Write using bullet points instead of paragraphs, this helps the ATS read your resume.


You should include keywords found in the job description. Look to see if any of the words you used can be synonymous with a word found in the description. You should also be sure to use words common to your position that highlight your skills and credentials.


You should be specific with the words you choose. Don’t just start adding in any word remotely related to your job, they should flow seamlessly throughout your resume. Look at the company’s LinkedIn page to see how they describe themselves. Identifying key buzzwords for your industry will help you create a resume that the ATS will pick up.


Enhance Your LinkedIn

Did you know that over 50% of employers reject a candidate based on their social media profiles? The same goes for LinkedIn. LinkedIn is becoming more and more powerful in terms of networking and recruitment.


LinkedIn has great new features to help you stand out and let potential employers know that you are a job seeker. Your profile matters! You should have a clear, professional looking headshot as your profile picture. Utilize the new #OpenToWork or #Hiring profile frames. It is the first thing employers and network connections see and, according to LinkedIn, those who used these frames received 40% more InMails from recruiters.


Job seekers should have a linkedin profile that reflects their career goals, passion and interests well. You need to use some of the keywords that would allow recruiters to find you. Keywords that are specific to your desired job title and that illustrate your skills and experience. Linkedin pages should be aligned with your resume, this is again about being career focused. Recruiters do check profiles and use Linkedin to search for potential candidates using keywords. Here is a great list from Forbes for some stand-out ideas.


It is a good idea to contact past employers, managers, and colleagues for some endorsements. Your skills section is very important. It allows employers to see what your top skills are and if you have the credentials to back them up.


These are just a few tips that we wanted to share with you. Remember your resume should be ATS friendly, include bullet points, and keywords from the job description. Do not neglect your LinkedIn profile! It is a vital tool recruiters use.


We offer resume building services to help you make your application stand out. Please contact us at careers@lightninghr.ca to learn more.



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