A Simple Resume Trick That Can Help You Get Picked

In this blog post, I want to talk about a short but important topic, something that I believe can make a real difference, especially if you’re in the middle of job hunting.

Now, let me say this upfront: what I’m about to share will not guarantee you a job, but I strongly believe it can improve your chances of being noticed, especially during the early resume screening process. If you apply this idea the next time you write or revise your resume, it can create a subtle but powerful positive impression in the mind of the person reviewing it, even if they only look at it for a few seconds.

The Common Mistake Most of Us Make

Here’s something I really want you to understand. I know you are a hard worker. You’ve worked hard, earned your experience, completed your education, and now you want to show all of that in your resume. That’s totally natural. You want to showcase what you’ve done, the roles you’ve performed, the teams you’ve managed, and the results you’ve achieved.

That makes sense because you’ve lived those experiences. You’ve thought deeply about your skills. You’ve put effort into learning and doing. And so, when it’s time to write your resume, you end up glorifying yourself, and in many ways, you should.

But here’s the thing: when you’re applying for a job, especially when you’re asking someone to consider you, it’s no longer just about how good you are in general. What matters more is how good you are to them. In other words, it’s not about how great you think you are, but about how valuable you can be to the company.

There’s a very important distinction there, and once you understand it, you’ll see your resume in a different light.

Why They Hire You in the First Place

Let’s step back and think for a moment. Why would a company hire you?

It’s simple. They have a problem to solve. They have work to be done, and they are looking for someone who can step in and take care of that. They are not hiring just for the sake of hiring. They are looking for someone who can help them get things done, someone who brings value to the table.

Now, assuming the hiring process is fair and based on merit, the person reviewing applications will be looking for the candidate who appears to solve that problem best. That means they are not just scanning for past experience, they are trying to answer the question, “Can this person help us?”

So, when you write your resume, ask yourself: am I just talking about myself, or am I showing how I can help them?

An Example That Makes the Difference Clear

Let me give you a real-life example to explain this point. I once helped revise a resume for a colleague’s son. He was applying for internships and entry-level roles. Here is how he originally wrote one of his resume points:

“Performed daily and weekly audits of major equipment in a small-scale manufacturing facility.”

Now, there’s nothing technically wrong with that sentence. But what is it actually saying? It’s focused entirely on what he did. It’s about him. It does not immediately help the recruiter understand what he can bring to their company.

So, I helped him rephrase it as follows:

“Ability to perform thorough equipment audits in a manufacturing environment with consistency and attention to detail.”

Do you see the difference?

Now, the sentence reflects capability. It signals a skill that can be applied to a new company’s needs. It’s no longer just about the past, it’s about what he can do for the future employer.

This small shift makes a big difference. If a human is reading the resume, this new version is more likely to create a positive impression. They’ll think, “Okay, this person seems capable. Let’s give them a shot.” That’s the kind of response you want.

What You Can Do Next Time You Update Your Resume

So, here’s the key takeaway from this blog:

When you write your resume, don’t just describe who you are, focus on how you can be valuable to them.

Yes, use tools like AI if you want. Make your resume clean and eye-catching. But before you hit submit, ask yourself: am I just writing about what I’ve done, or am I showing what I can offer?

This small shift in your writing can increase your chances of being shortlisted, especially if your resume is being reviewed by a real human.

Final Thoughts

No resume trick can guarantee a job. But writing your resume with this simple mindset shift, from self-description to value demonstration, can help you stand out. It shows that you understand what hiring is really about, solving problems and providing value.

So, the next time you apply for a role, remember this: companies don’t hire you because of how great you think you are. They hire you because of how helpful you can be to them.

I’ll write more on job applications and professional growth soon. But for now, take this one idea, apply it, and let it work in your favor.

See you in the next post.

Disclaimer: This blog is based on personal experience and professional observations. It is intended to offer advice and insights, not guarantees. Outcomes may vary based on industry, job type, and hiring process.