Your resume is competing against dozens of others for the same role.
Hiring managers spend less than 10 seconds scanning it before deciding to keep reading or move on to the next one.
Less than 10 seconds. That's it.
If yours looks like everyone else's, you're getting skipped. Here's how to make those seconds count.
What hiring managers actually look for
Harvard Business Review studied what makes resumes stand out. Here's what actually matters:
1️⃣ Show results, not just responsibilities
Don't tell them what your job was. Show them what you accomplished.
Instead of: "Managed social media accounts"
Write: "Grew Instagram from 2K to 15K followers in 6 months, generating 50+ qualified leads"
Use numbers everywhere: percentages, dollar amounts, time saved, people impacted. Hiring managers want to see what you actually achieved, not just what your job title was.
2️⃣ Customize for each job
Hiring managers don't want to see everything you've ever done. They want to see you can do THIS specific job.
The "one resume for everything" approach doesn't work anymore. You need to customize - but there's a smart way to do it without starting from scratch every time.
3️⃣ Make it scannable
Those seconds need to count:
- Clear section headers
- Bold job titles and company names
- 1-2 readable fonts
- Proper spacing between sections
- Keep it concise - most resumes are 1-2 pages
Make it easy for busy hiring managers to quickly see your value.
The smart way to customize your resume
Here's the process that actually works:
Step 1: Build your base resume
Create one strong resume that works for most applications in your field:
- All current and recent jobs with your best accomplishments
- Key achievements quantified with numbers
- Core skills and certifications
- Relevant projects or side work
- Interests, causes, or activism (this is now acceptable to include)
- For less-known companies, add a one-line description of what they do
This becomes your starting point. Instead of rewriting from scratch, you'll customize by swapping in the most relevant bullets and adjusting language for each role.
💡 Pro tip: Career gaps are no longer stigmatized. If you have them, include brief context. Hiring managers understand life happens. If you have strong recommendations or endorsements, consider adding a brief quote. Even experience from retail or service jobs shows valuable transferable skills - don't dismiss them.
Step 2: Analyze each job description
For every application, spend 10 minutes understanding:
- The 3-5 key requirements they actually care about
- Their exact keywords (if they say "project management," use "project management" not "project coordination")
- What problem this hire is supposed to solve
Step 3: Customize strategically
Use your base resume to create a targeted version for each application:
- Swap in your most relevant achievements for this specific role
- Adjust bullet points to use their exact language where possible
- Emphasize skills that match their requirements
- Remove or de-emphasize anything that doesn't serve this application
This takes 15-20 minutes per application. But 5-10 well-customized applications get way better results than 50 generic ones.
Using AI to speed this up
If you use ChatGPT to help modify your resume, make sure you give it detailed context - the job description, your target role, what you want to emphasize.
Or use tools like LockedIn that automatically research the job and company, then give you specific resume tips for that role. No prompt engineering required - just paste the job URL.
Tools that actually help
Manual approach: Read job descriptions, highlight keywords, rewrite your resume yourself. 20-30 minutes per application.
AI-assisted options:
- ⚡ LockedIn - Paste job URL, automatically researches the company and role, then generates personalized resume tips along with a cover letter. Automatically organizes your job search. Free tier (3 uses/month), $9.99/month for unlimited.
- 💬 ChatGPT - Free or $20/month. Write detailed prompts with the job description and your experience. Good if you know how to prompt well.
- 📊 Teal - All-in-one platform. Upload resume or import from LinkedIn, match to saved jobs, get AI suggestions. Free with limits, $29/month for unlimited AI.
- 📝 Kickresume - AI resume builder with templates and suggestions. $19/month or $7/month annually.
- 🎯 Rezi - AI resume builder with keyword optimization. Paste job descriptions and manually select what to emphasize. $29/month for Pro or $149 one-time for lifetime.
- 📋 Huntr - Job tracking plus resume tools. Free tier limited, $40/month for unlimited AI.
Stay organized
Track your applications so nothing falls through the cracks.
Teal and Huntr offer detailed boards where you can manage your entire pipeline. LockedIn automatically organizes by job postings researched - each posting is saved with its cover letter, resume tips, and outreach messages together.
Follow up after applying
Don't just apply and wait. Modern networking is about building real relationships:
- Week 1: Submit your application
- Week 2: Connect with people at the company on LinkedIn
- Week 3: Follow up with the hiring manager via email
Find the recruiter or hiring manager's email. Send a brief intro. Mention why you're interested and that you're looking forward to hearing from them.
Most people don't do this. Which is why you should.
The reality
Generic resumes don't work. The job market is brutal right now - hiring managers want to see quantifiable achievements and clear proof you can do the specific job they're hiring for.
A well-customized resume with the right keywords and real results helps you stand out from the pile.
Whether you do that customization manually or use tools to speed it up is your call. But you can't skip it.
For job seekers: Tired of manually customizing your resume for each job? Try LockedIn free. Get specific resume tips for each role based on automatic company research.
For students: Not sure how to translate your coursework and internships into resume achievements? LockedIn helps you tailor your experience for each role. Get started free.
For career switchers: Repositioning your experience for new industries takes work. LockedIn researches each company automatically so you can focus on highlighting transferable skills. Try it free.