How Can I Make a Resume for a Job That Gets Noticed?

How Can I Make a Resume for a Job That Gets Noticed?

As a mid-career professional, you've built a wealth of experience, skills, and achievements that deserve to shine. But in today's competitive job market, where applicant tracking systems (ATS) filter out up to 75% of resumes before a human ever sees them (according to a study by Jobscan), crafting a resume that gets noticed requires strategy. This guide, tailored for professionals like you with 10+ years of experience, focuses on ATS optimization while delivering practical, actionable advice. We'll cover how to make a resume for a job that stands out, step by step, with real-world examples and insights to help you land interviews.

Understand the ATS Landscape First

ATS software scans resumes for keywords, formatting compatibility, and relevance. A Jobvite report reveals that 93% of Fortune 500 companies use ATS, making optimization non-negotiable. For mid-career pros, the goal is to highlight your leadership and impact without overwhelming the system. Start by researching the job description—identify 5-10 key phrases like "project management" or "team leadership" that match your expertise.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Make a Resume for a Job

Follow these steps to build a resume that's both ATS-friendly and compelling. Aim for a one- to two-page document, using a clean, professional font like Arial or Calibri (10-12 pt).

1. Choose the Right Format and Template. Opt for a reverse-chronological format, ideal for mid-career professionals as it emphasizes your career progression. Avoid fancy graphics, tables, or headers/footers that ATS can't parse—stick to standard sections: Contact Info, Summary, Experience, Skills, Education, and Certifications. Use one of 20+ professional templates from platforms like ApplyEngine.ai, which are pre-optimized for ATS parsing.
2. Craft a Targeted Professional Summary. This 3-5 sentence opener should hook recruiters. Instead of a generic "Experienced manager seeking opportunities," write: "Results-driven marketing director with 12 years in B2B tech, boosting revenue by 40% through innovative campaigns. Proven in cross-functional teams and ATS-optimized keyword integration for strategic hiring." Tailor it to the job's needs, incorporating 2-3 keywords naturally.
3. Quantify Your Achievements in the Experience Section. List jobs in reverse order, focusing on the last 10-15 years. Use bullet points starting with action verbs (e.g., "Led," "Optimized," "Delivered"). For each role, include 4-6 bullets with metrics: "Managed a 50-person sales team, increasing quarterly revenue by 25% via data-driven strategies." This demonstrates impact—recruiters spend just 7.4 seconds scanning resumes (per Ladders research), so numbers grab attention. Weave in job-specific keywords like "CRM implementation" without stuffing.
4. Build a Skills Section with Keywords. List 8-12 core skills in a simple bulleted or comma-separated list. Mirror the job posting: If it mentions "Agile methodology" and "stakeholder management," include them if they fit your background. For mid-career pros, highlight transferable skills like "Budget oversight" or "Crisis resolution" to bridge industries.
5. Incorporate Education and Certifications Thoughtfully. Place these lower unless the role requires specific degrees. List your highest degree first, then relevant certifications (e.g., PMP or Six Sigma). For mid-career, emphasize ongoing learning: "MBA, University of XYZ, 2005; Certified ScrumMaster, 2022."
6. Proofread and Optimize for Readability. Use standard headings (e.g., "Professional Experience" not "Work History"). Save as a .docx or PDF (text-based, not scanned). Run it through free ATS checkers like Jobscan to ensure 80%+ keyword match.

Actionable Examples for Mid-Career Resumes

Consider Sarah, a mid-career IT project manager applying for a senior role. Her original bullet: "Handled projects." Optimized version: "Directed 15+ IT infrastructure projects using Agile methodologies, reducing deployment time by 30% and saving $500K annually." This uses keywords ("Agile methodologies," "IT infrastructure") and metrics, making it ATS-scannable and recruiter-impressive.

Another example: For a finance director, avoid vague statements like "Managed finances." Instead: "Oversaw $10M annual budget for a 200-employee division, implementing cost-control measures that improved profitability by 18%." Such specifics showcase your strategic value.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mid-career professionals often overload resumes with early-career details—focus on recent roles to keep it concise. Steer clear of personal pronouns ("I led...") and acronyms without spelling them out first (e.g., "SEO (Search Engine Optimization)"). Don't ignore mobile readability; 50% of recruiters view resumes on phones (per Indeed). Finally, failing to customize per job is a killer—generic resumes get 30% fewer callbacks, per Harvard Business Review insights.

Industry Insights and Expert Advice

"For mid-career switches, quantify leadership impact to bridge gaps," says career expert Laszlo Bock, former Google HR head and author of Work Rules!. A LinkedIn study shows resumes with keywords from job descriptions are 40% more likely to pass ATS. Best practice: Update your resume quarterly, even if not job hunting, to track achievements fresh.

Tool recommendations include Google Docs for drafting, Grammarly for error-free writing, and ATS simulators. For deeper optimization, integrate tools like LinkedIn's resume builder with Chrome extensions for profile syncing.

How ApplyEngine Can Help with Making a Resume for a Job That Gets Noticed

If you're wondering how can I make a resume for a job that truly stands out, ApplyEngine.ai's AI-powered platform is designed for mid-career professionals like you. Our ATS resume optimization tool provides real-time scoring, analyzing your document against job descriptions to boost match rates up to 90%. Upload your resume, and get instant feedback on keywords, formatting, and structure—perfect for incorporating search keywords like "how can make resume for job" into tailored content.

Work with our AI Resume Specialists: Elena, our ATS expert, excels at parsing-proofing your resume to evade filters; Jordan handles general optimization for mid-career narratives; and Sarthi crafts job-specific versions, ensuring your experience shines. Choose from 20+ industry templates, edit section-by-section with AI suggestions, and optimize your LinkedIn profile via our Chrome extension for a cohesive brand.

Plus, automate applications and track progress. New users get $120 in free AI credits to kickstart your search. Whether tailoring for a promotion or pivot, ApplyEngine solves the "how can make resume for job" challenge by delivering personalized, ATS-optimized results that get you noticed—fast.

In summary, making a resume for a job that gets noticed is about precision: tailor, quantify, and optimize. Implement these steps, and you'll position yourself as the top candidate. Your mid-career expertise is your superpower—let it lead to your next opportunity.