Resumes and portfolios are an individual’s digital-first impression. It is what will make an impact on potential employers and help them decide which candidate to call for an interview. Does your resume give the right and required impression? Does it make the potential employer think of you as a probable employee? For this purpose, it is imperative to have an attractive introduction. Here are a few tips to help you create impressive resumes and portfolios!

Simplicity
One of the top priorities of any portfolio or resume is to keep it simple. It should be easy to read and understand, and, therefore, you should also choose and use simple and readable fonts. This is because the recipient will not spend too much time reading your resume for the information they need, and if it is difficult to read, they will move on to the next one. Therefore, ensure the layout is simple, clear, and key information such as skills is easy to find.

Relevant experience first
When writing about your job responsibilities, it is a good idea to highlight your most relevant experience first. Think about which parts of the current job are most suitable for your applied job, and then list them first. The first two lines of the first paragraph in your resumes and portfolios should highlight your biggest accomplishments. Using statistics in the first line and soft skills in the second line is suggested. This way, going through these lines will showcase or depict what you can do.

Statistics and illustrations
Try to use the statistics wherever possible, such as, if you are in sales, you can write that the sales have increased by a certain percentage (mention a figure) due to the way you trained the staff in various selling techniques. These statistics or numbers will make a great difference, especially on the hiring manager or recruiter who spends a few seconds scanning through your document. These numbers will help to show what you can do. Using illustrations and graphs to depict your skills is another way of making your resume impressive and attractive.

Use a thesaurus
Resumes and portfolios may get repetitive very soon. So, try to use a thesaurus. This will help you to avoid using repetitive words and make your resume and portfolio more interesting. But be cautious, avoid the overused buzzwords, and replace passive words with words that speak and describe the action.

Proofread
Once you have created a well-framed and descriptive resume or a portfolio, ensure that you proofread it. This will help to spot typos and grammatical errors. Correcting these errors is essential when it comes to resumes and portfolios. Proofreading can be accomplished in two parts: running a spell check and then reading it aloud. Some typos are not caught by the spell check, so reading it aloud would solve this problem, and certain typos or grammatical errors can also be removed. You can also ask a friend or family member to read through your resume to spot errors or to add to it.

Add a photo
Including a photo in your resume or portfolio will make it more personable. Also, hiring managers will be able to equate a face with your profile. Place a professional photo of yours at a non-obstructive position such as at the top of the resume, behind the header or, next to your name.

Utilize color
Using color and creating a color scheme will surely add uniqueness to your resumes and portfolios. Certain sections may be highlighted by using different color schemes. You may pick a color scheme that showcases your personality. It will also represent your creativity and professionalism. That said, it is important to ensure that your chosen color scheme maintains the information clarity on your resume and portfolio.

Cover letter
Once the resume or portfolio is completely ready, pair it with a well-written cover letter. A well-written cover letter and a strong resume will increase and boost your chances of landing an interview; hence, the chances of getting the job are higher.

Other than these tips, mentioning volunteer work that you might be doing will also be helpful. Also, cutting the clutter in both the content and appearance is suggested.