There is no doubt that you would make a phenomenal first impression if you had the luxury of making that impression in person. Alas, the vast majority of job applicants do not have the opportunity to introduce themselves in the flesh and will have to settle for paper instead. But just because you can’t put your literal best foot forward doesn’t mean that you can’t stand out in another way — and that’s where a stellar resume comes into play. 

Needless to say, this is a tall order. The vast majority of resumes follow the same general format and seem to come from the same few templates. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t spruce up your one-page summary with a few tips. Here are 5 ways to make your resume stand out. 

1. Use your resume to tell a story

Make sure that your resume tells a cohesive and cogent story about the unique applicant that you are. Rather than listing accomplishments that seem entirely unrelated to one another, you’ll want to curate your experiences so they can tell a consistent story that aligns with your desired role. That could mean highlighting c