“A strong resume is still the gateway to an interview.” -Alexandra Samuel, Vice President of Social Media at Vision Critical (Harvard Business Review)

While it is vital to create a stellar online presence on sites such as LinkedIn, your resume is indicative of your career goals and accomplishments. Perform an audit of your current resume. Does it:

• include your name and contact information on every page?
• appear polished and professional in design, with bullet points, bold text and lines?
• include an original design or is it based on a template?
• target your specific career goals?
• showcase your accomplishments through quantifiable means?
• include industry acronyms and buzz words?

How does your resume stand up to the competition? Here are three tips you can use to design a resume that will grab recruiters’ attention and propel you forward in your career goals.

Tip #1: Include A Profile Statement vs. A Career Objective

Instead of writing a few sentences as a career objective, use the top 1/3 of your resume to demonstrate your expertise. A profile is a much more effective way to present your goals, accomplishments and experience in a prominent location on the page. Your profile statement is your elevator pitch, and it will determine whether or not recruiters in the finance industry keep reading to learn more about what you bring to the table. When written well, your profile statement brands you, making you stand out and defining your value.

Your profile statement should include the following:

• A statement describing your profession or job title
• A statement describing your level of experience
• Your unique skills
• One or two of your measurable accomplishments
• A few of your professional characteristics
• A sentence demonstrating your career objectives

Depending on the length of your profile statement, use a paragraph format or bullet points to highlight your qualifications.

Tip #2: Include Keyword Rich Text vs. Non-Industry Specific Terms

For recruiters, keywords are nouns or noun phrases that identify skills or accomplishments that are unique for a specific industry. Many recruiters use computer software to scan resumes before they even look at them, according to Monster.com. Include the buzz words or acronyms that are related to that particular industry, to ensure that a recruiter will be eager to read it. Recruiters may look at hundreds or even thousands of resumes, so use keywords to make yours unique. Be concise, and use bullet points and bold text to accentuate the areas you want to draw the most attention to.

Tip #3: Focus On Your Accomplishments vs. Your Responsibilities

According to Yolanda M. Owens, a College Recruiting Specialist for AOL, it’s vital to, “Learn to recognize when compromising the quantity of your experiences will impact the quality of your employment story.”

In Owens’ article on Forbes.com, she cautions professionals to avoid listing the duties of a particular position in favor of listing quantifiable accomplishments. Increasing revenue by 25%, adding $100,000 to company profits, or using other variables to establish your past success will give recruiters an understanding of your qualifications.

In addition to your achievements, recruiters are seeking out professionals who demonstrate a passion for the industry, and a drive to succeed. An excellent resume, when combined with your online profile, will result in your professional brand. Recruiters will be compelled to learn more about you and what you can produce for their companies, but only if your resume clearly illustrates your abilities as well as your determination to outdistance the competition.