After three months of job searching in America without much luck, I found myself asking the same question many people face: how to improve on my resume? Like many others seeking work, I discovered that making the perfect resume takes more than just listing your experience. Through my own struggles and helpful feedback I got from Reddit's resume community, I learned valuable lessons about what really works.
Three months ago, I moved to America and started applying for administrative and secretary positions. Even though I had years of HR experience and used AI tools to create my resume, I wasn't getting any responses. Even when I shifted my focus to entry-level positions, the silence continued.
My son looked at my resume and said it "didn't look promising," but couldn't explain why. That's when I decided to ask for help online. The feedback I received completely changed my approach to resume writing.
One of the biggest mistakes on my resume was including my Green Card status right at the top. Multiple people told me to remove this immediately. According to career experts at Harvard FAS Career Services, your resume should focus on your strongest assets and skills to differentiate you from other candidates. Here's why personal status information can hurt:
In today's political climate, mentioning immigration status can unfortunately work against you before employers even read your qualifications.
My original bullet points were too vague and short. Instead of "Managed onboarding process," I learned to write:
The key is adding specific numbers and outcomes that show your real impact. Career experts at the University of Michigan Career Center recommend using the "Bullet Plus" model: Action Verb + What + How/Why/Impact.
Research from career professionals shows that employers initially scan a resume for 30 to 60 seconds. Here's the order that worked better for me:
I had a sales job from 2005 that wasn't helping my application for administrative roles. Removing irrelevant positions gave me more space to detail my relevant HR and administrative experience. As noted by Canadian job search experts, older jobs and experience that are more than 15 years old should either be cut out or minimized.
Instead of using one generic summary, I learned to customize the top section for each application. For administrative roles, I highlighted my organizational skills. For HR positions, I emphasized my recruiting experience. This approach aligns with advice from TopResume career experts who emphasize the importance of tailoring your resume for each job listing.
Employers want to see measurable results. Here's how I transformed my weak bullet points:
| Before | After |
|---|---|
| "Handled recruitment" | "Successfully recruited 30+ candidates quarterly for diverse roles" |
| "Managed employee relations" | "Resolved 95% of employee conflicts through mediation and policy guidance" |
| "Updated procedures" | "Streamlined 15 HR procedures, reducing processing time by 40%" |
My original resume was too long and cluttered. I condensed everything to one page by:
I moved away from plain text to a simple, professional template that was easier to scan. Nothing too flashy, but clean and organized. Career development experts emphasize that employers spend an average of 8 to 10 seconds reading a resume, so clear presentation is crucial.
My original skills section was a huge block of basic abilities that any college sophomore would have. I replaced it with:
Instead of listing one-word skills, I learned to use skills-based statements that prove I have that skill. For example, mentioning specific awards or promotions that show evidence of my abilities.
As someone new to America, I faced additional hurdles. Here's what I learned:
Many immigrants find success by:
Some companies actively value diversity and are more welcoming to international experience. Research companies that:
Many job seekers use the same resume for every application. This rarely works because:
Instead of "responsible for" or "duties included," use strong verbs:
One thing I learned is how important Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) are. Many companies use these systems to filter resumes before human eyes ever see them. According to recent industry data, some resume builders report 95% success rates in passing ATS systems. To improve your chances:
After implementing these changes, I noticed:
The key was making my resume tell a clear story about my value to employers.
For every application:
Ask someone in your target field to review your resume. They can spot issues you might miss and suggest industry-specific improvements. Professional career centers like Indeed's career advice recommend getting multiple perspectives.
Track which versions of your resume get responses. If something isn't working after two weeks, try a different approach.
Based on guidance from Coursera's career experts, here are the most important points:
Learning how to improve on my resume wasn't a one-time fix. It required ongoing adjustments based on the types of roles I wanted and the feedback I received. The most important lesson? Your resume should make it easy for employers to see why you're the right fit for their specific needs.
Remember that behind every resume is a real person with valuable skills and experiences. Sometimes it just takes the right presentation to help employers see that value. Don't give up, keep refining your approach, and stay open to feedback from others who want to help you succeed.
The job market can be challenging, especially for newcomers to the country, but with a strong resume that clearly communicates your worth, you're setting yourself up for the best possible chance at landing that perfect role.