questions to ask to build a resume

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6 Questions to Ask When Writing Your Resume

Heidi scott giusto, phd.

Asking yourself thought-provoking questions is the first step to writing a good resume —a resume that makes your accomplishments clear to a reader. Precise language that includes context strengthens the quality of your application documents. Below are six questions to ask when writing your resume to ensure that your value, achievements, and skills are evident and unmistakable to your readers.

Asking yourself thought-provoking questions is the first step to writing a resume that makes your accomplishments clear to a reader.

Thought-Provoking Questions to Ask When Writing Your Resume

How does the reader know i was good at this job.

Even if you don’t automatically think in terms of accomplishments, you will likely be able to explain why you are good at your job. To help you articulate this, you could ask a trusted friend to take notes about what you share with them. After, review their notes and determine what would be beneficial to include in your resume.

Was there anything going on at the company that made my work particularly challenging?

This could include mergers and acquisitions, downsizings, aggressive growth, changes in leadership, and/or reorganizations. The larger context of your success in a role can be underscored by noting situational factors you had to face while still performing well or going above and beyond.

What were the results of this task?

Thinking in terms of specific results can help you demonstrate successful outcomes. Were your efforts rewarded? Did you complete the tasks on time or ahead of schedule? How important was the particular task in relation to the company’s larger objectives?

How did I mentor my staff (or lead the team)?

Describing how you did something can reveal greater context and demonstrate your approach to your work—in this case, how you lead people. You can also ask yourself this question in terms of your role. Were you were a team player or supported the work of others—or your accomplishments, such as finishing a particularly challenging project.

What did it feel like when I did ______?

Explore what motivates you and makes you feel particularly proud when you accomplish a goal or complete a particular task. Consider how you might incorporate that information into your resume in a way that complements the strengths and abilities you offer an employer.

How many? What was the monetary value?

Quantification provides clarity to a reader. “Led projects” and “Led 19 projects concurrently (values: $500K–$23M), completing each on time and within 2% of projected budget” each take up one line on a resume, but the latter provides details and speaks to a person’s skill.

If your resume is only a list of responsibilities and basic tasks you’ve completed, your contributions and value to a company are open to interpretation. This is why having a list of thought-provoking questions to ask when writing your resume can be helpful: clarity of writing aids the reader and eliminates ambiguity. You never want a potential employer to have visions of the turn-of-the-century classic movie Office Space when reading your resume, leading them to wonder: Is this person like Peter Gibbons? Only doing enough to not get fired?

Asking yourself thoughtful questions when writing your resume reduces the chances this problem will occur. The process can also give you a confidence boost when you see how impressive you look on paper .

Heidi owns and operates Career Path Writing Solutions, a communications consulting firm dedicated to helping individuals and businesses communicate when it matters most. She delights in helping job seekers navigate career change and guiding business owners to present their value proposition persuasively. Heidi earned her PhD in history from Duke University and teaches professional development for various university programs and organizations. She holds certifications in resume writing, interview preparation, and empowerment coaching, and sits on the Certification Committee of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches.

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16 Resumé Tips That Will Get You an Interview

8 Min Read | May 17, 2024

Believe it or not, creating a solid resumé is  just  as important as prepping for and nailing your job interview. After all, your resumé is your chance to make a strong first impression on the recruiter! But before you get too freaked out, know this: Building the perfect resumé is actually a lot simpler than it sounds. And once you’ve read these 16 tips, you’ll be ready to move forward into the job search with confidence.

1. Keep it one page.

Do you know how much time a recruiter spends looking at your resumé on the first go-around? About 7.4 seconds. 1   Whoa . So, if they have to flip or scroll through pages of your accomplishments and past experience, this party could be over before it even starts. Keeping things simple, relevant and to the point will earn you some respect right off the bat. If things go well here, you’ll have the opportunity to answer the most  common interview questions   in person !

2. Link to online portfolios.

Some job applications may ask you to send samples of your work, but even if they don’t, there’s still a classy way to show off what you do best. Try including a link to an online portfolio or professional website if you have one—that way you’ll be able to showcase more of your work without taking up space on your actual resumé.

3. Make sure your contact info is professional.

Nobody wants to send an email to sk8rboi2002. Don’t use your college email address either. Just a normal, boring email account with your first and last name will get the job done. And don’t forget to include your phone number (but make sure your voicemail greeting isn’t anything funny or clever).

4. Include relevant social media accounts.

I know I’m talking to adults here, but I just have to say it: Double-check all your social media accounts to make sure they’re recruiter-friendly, especially if you include any of your social media handles on your resumé. But even those should only be on your resumé if they’re relevant to the position you’re applying for. For most jobs, your LinkedIn account is the only one you need to include.

5. Skip the bio.

It used to be trendy to put a paragraph about yourself at the top of your resumé , but let that trend die—especially if you’re also submitting a  cover letter  with your application. You don’t need to put an elevator pitch or your life story under your name at the top of your resumé. Remember, we’re keeping this relevant and to the point!

6. Evaluate whether you need a photo.

When it comes to photos, be strategic about whether or not you put your picture on your resumé. It could make sense to include one if you’re applying for a modeling or acting job, but accounting? Yeah, they probably don’t care what you look like or if your resumé is fun .

And even though recruiters aim to stay as unbiased as possible during the interview process, a less-than-great-quality photo could subconsciously affect their impression of you, even if they don’t mean for it to. So, if you do decide to go with the photo option, make sure it’s not pixelated, blurry or too small to see.

7. Keep the job listing in mind.

Recruiters post job descriptions for a reason—they want to be clear and specific about what qualities and skills they’re looking for. Look for those buzzwords and find ways to work them into your resumé (doing that will help you beat the applicant tracking system ). Be honest about your skill set and don’t get discouraged if you don’t have every skill on the list. It could actually be a good thing to be  slightly  underqualified. You want to be challenged in your new role! And many employers are willing to work with you and train you when you first step into the job—as long as you have a growth mindset.

8. Tweak your resumé for each role.

I know it might sound like a lot of work to tailor your resumé to each job application, but that effort will really pay off. Recruiters will know that you took the time to read all the info and are seriously interested in their company, not just sending a cookie-cutter application to hundreds of different jobs.

9. Tell the truth.

Okay, this one is a no-brainer application and  interview tip  in general, but enough people have lied or “stretched the truth” on their job applications to make it worth mentioning. Don’t say you know someone at the company if you’ve never talked to them before. Don’t say you know how to use Excel and PowerPoint if you really don’t. It’ll just make you look shady when the recruiter asks you for more specifics (or worse, if you  do  get hired, and then they have to show you how to make a spreadsheet).

10. Make it easy to read.

When building your resumé, put yourself in the recruiter’s position. What would you be looking for? You’d probably want something that’s clear and easy on the eyes, right? Here are some things that can help with that:

• Use 10- to 12-point font.
• Use a professional font, like Helvetica, Arial, Calibri, Times New Roman, etc. (no Comic Sans unless you’re going for the community-center-bulletin-board look).
• Keep your headers simple and use concise bullet points below them.
• Don’t use too many variations in font size, color and style (bold, italics or underline).

Sure, there’s room for some creativity, but nothing too crazy—think streamlined and classic. Recruiters will love you for it, because you’ll make their job easier! For extra help with formatting, check out my free Resumé Guide .

11. Use active words.

Recruiters are used to seeing words like managed or led on resumés, and there’s nothing wrong with those words. But what if the language was just a little more engaging? Here are a few active, interesting and not-too-fancy words to use where it makes sense:

• Coordinated

You get the picture. Again, you want to make sure the words you use to describe what you did are truthful, but spend some time with a thesaurus to see if there’s a more descriptive way to say it.

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12. Explain why you’re a good fit.

Remember when we talked about tailoring your resumé to each job you’re applying for? Your resumé should include a few words about  why  you want to work for this company. It’s one thing to know that someone wants to work for you, but if you see that they genuinely care about the company and its mission, wouldn’t you be way more likely to want them on your team? I know I would.

13. Give concrete examples.

When talking about your past experience, it’s a good idea to quantify it by using some kind of number or measure of success. That will give recruiters a clear picture of the kinds of results you deliver! Here are a few examples:

• Increased sales by 200% in one year.
• Structured, wrote and posted four to five articles per week.
• Served 20 to 30 clients per week and generated $10,000 in revenue per month.

Even if your past experience wasn’t in sales or you don’t know how much revenue you brought in, you can find some way to explain the work you did in terms of numbers.

14. Proofread your resumé.

Spelling and grammar are your friends! Even just one case of using the wrong their can sway a recruiter’s opinion, so read over everything more than once. Proofreading is like making sure you don’t have a mustard stain on  your interview outfit  before you walk inside!

Ask a few other people you trust to give you some feedback too—not just on the tiny details, but on the clarity and appearance of your resumé as a whole.

15. Put your education last.

Ken, are you crazy? Education is the first thing you’re supposed to put on your resumé.  Wrong! Always put the most important and relevant information first—and in most cases, that’s who you know at the company and why you want to be there, not your education. Most recruiters don’t care where you went to school, as long as you’re educated in your field.

And don’t forget to include any other training or educational courses that are relevant to the job you want (especially if you don't have lots of work experience )!

16. Don’t be afraid to use a template.

There’s no shame in using a template to help you build your resumé—in fact, it will make your life a whole lot easier. I’ve included six different templates in my Ken Coleman Resumé Templates that will help you get your resumé where it needs to be in no time.

These templates are something my team and I put together to give you more in-depth tips on creating the perfect resumé. You’ll also get instructions for using the templates, plus a list of do’s and don’ts when it comes to applying for jobs. I hope this helps you through the job search process. Happy resumé building!

Ken Coleman Resume Templates

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About the author

Ken Coleman

Ken Coleman is the author of the national bestselling book From Paycheck to Purpose and the #1 national bestseller The Proximity Principle. He hosts The Ken Coleman Show, a caller-driven show that helps listeners find the work they’re wired to do. Ken also co-hosts The Ramsey Show, the second-largest talk radio show in America, and makes regular appearances on Fox News and Fox Business. Through his speaking, broadcasting and syndicated columns, Ken gives people expert advice, providing strategic steps to get clear on their unique purpose and grow professionally. Learn More.

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50+ Resume Building Tips (Tricks and Writing Advice)

Writing a resume that helps you get noticed is very important as you embark on your next search for a dream job. In 2022, your resume needs to be easy to review quickly, concise with the most important highlights related to the job you’re pursuing, keyword-friendly for the AI resume bots that may be reviewing it first, and more.

When deciding to update your resume for a new job search in 2022, don’t feel like you must do a complete overhaul when considering the below-mentioned resume -building tips. In most cases, you’ll edit it to reduce the fluff and highlight the things that matter the most . Your number one goal is to get an interview for the particular job you’re applying for; it’s not telling your life story. Many job seekers believe that every little experience they’ve had or project they’ve completed has to be on their resume , and that’s not the case, as you’ll see below.

We advise you to print out your current resume  and the job posting you’re most interested in and have a red pen available as you walk through these tips and tricks for writing a great resume in 2022.

Best Resume Building Tips

Reduce Your Resume to One Page

Decide whether or not to include your mailing address, utilize a straightforward and easy scan format, maximize the use of format spacing, margins, all-caps, and bolded font for readability, remove the fluff by sifting through dated and unnecessary buzzwords, show off your hard and soft skills, scrub your personal info and social media accounts, do not match your resume to your linkedin profile.

When considering these resume -building tips, the first thing to do is reduce it to one page . A single-page resume is a widely held preference for most recruiters and HR leaders. Back in the day, we used to think of a long resume as proof of professionalism, and that’s no longer true. You can still include all the bright moments of your career and many of the different jobs you progressed through. Just try not to elaborate too much, and remember to be concise. If you’re stretching to get your resume to one page, adjust your font to a minimum of 11 for the body, and a max of 14 font sizes for your name.

Below are quick resume writing tips that you should use to highlight relevant skills, your educational background with academic honors , and your work history to reduce a good resume to one page.

• Only include relevant experiences to the job you are applying to
• Cut repetitive bullets for different jobs
• Leave out “references available upon request,” as employers will ask you when they want them
• Make your name smaller, with max 14 font size
• Get rid of your objective and skills section, especially if it’s taking up significant real estate
• Leave out volunteer work if it takes you to two pages unless it’s very relevant to the job to which you’re applying
• Leave out your high school unless you are in college looking for an internship or summer job
• Put information about each position on one line
• Format relevant leadership experience under work experience
• Adjust your spacing but make sure everything is easy to scan
• Put your contact information (city, professional email address, phone) on one line
• Use a smaller font, minimum 11 font-size though
• Don’t feel pressure to put three bullets but make sure they get your points across
• Use bullet points with relevant information that makes you stand out
• Only mention self-explanatory awards that are relevant
• Leave off irrelevant experience
• Submit it as a PDF unless otherwise specified
• Save your resume as “Your Full Name Resume ” and not something like “First Initial Last Name Resume Update 2022 March – The Newest”

Should you put your full address on your resume? Yes, you should add some form of location identifier , but it doesn’t necessarily need to be your complete address. There are different opinions about adding a street address to your resume . Some people find it necessary to have your prospective employer aware of your exact location, while others disagree. The consensus seems to point towards adding some form of location identifiers, such as adding just your city or state, your metropolitan area, or that you work remotely.

Reasons to put your full address on your resume include some employers expect it. It makes your resume ATS (Applicant Tracking System) friendly, makes the hiring process shorter, matches time zone compatibility for remote positions, and puts you in consideration for other jobs.

The reasons against putting your full address on your resume include personal security issues, the risk of employer location bias, unintentional disqualification if an employer sets up a location boundary, an outdated look, and space used.

Your career timeline isn’t as important as what you learned along the way. When updating your resume , even on an entry-level resume , state the milestones of your professional journey chronologically , and explain how they added to your skillset.

Generally speaking, there are four types of resume formats. Recruiters spend only a few seconds on every resume that lands on their desk. It would help if you crafted yours so that the most vital pieces of information are front and center. The good idea is to choose the proper format for your resume to do this. In some cases, resume templates can help get you started.

• Chronological
• Combination

Browse effective resume formats online for inspiration and choose a clearer  and more concise outline than your outdated resume . The aesthetics should first please you, but it should also be straightforward to read without exuberance. Choose a theme that’ll fit the image of your industry and a potential employer.

Below are a few resume formatting tips that may help you stand out and improve your current version.

• Set half-inch margins on the top and bottom and .7-inch margins on the sides
• Pick an 11 or 12-point resume font and stick to it
• Utilize times new roman font for the cleanest, least dramatic look
• Create a proper resume header format for your contact details with your name in a larger font than your address and phone number
• Divide your resume into distinct sections, for example, contact information, work experience, and education (add skills, awards, and summary if room otherwise remove)
• Use  relevant bullet points with action verbs  to talk about your experience
• Be consistent with your resume formatting and stick to the same date format, for example, 1–2023, or January 2023
• Use single spacing for bullets but add white space as necessary for readability
• Add an extra space before and after each section heading
• Don’t use photos on your resume unless the job description specifically asks for them
• Make sure the company, job title, and dates are in all caps, highlighted, or bolded so they stand out and are easy to scan

An average human nowadays has an attention span of a little less than a Goldfish. The short attention span suggests that a three-page resume would seem overwhelmingly long. A busy employer will quickly move on to a briefer document and may miss out on your excellent qualifications.

Let’s remove the following fluff or dated items from your resume .

• An objective or skills section at the top of your resume
• Weird or potentially polarizing interests
• Third-person voice
• An email address from your current employer or an outdated one from Yahoo or Hotmail
• Unnecessarily big words
• Tiny, unimportant jobs from 20 years ago

As you know, resume space is vital, and utilizing unnecessary words and verbose language can backfire. Here are more terms to never include on a resume .

• Team player
• Hardworking or hard worker
• Microsoft Office
• Reference available upon request
• I, she, he, him, her
• Can’t or won’t
• Unnecessary personal information
• I know HTML, photoshop
• Generalizations
• Accomplished
• Stay-at-home Mom
• Responsible for
• Results-oriented

Another great resume writing tip is to describe your current and previous work to frame your best traits. If you’re an expert in your field, write that before anything else. Leadership, conflict resolution, successful negotiation, and effective communication are among the most needed soft skills in the 2020s. Don’t just say that you have these skills, give examples that shed light on your best traits . If you missed it, check out our post on soft skills employers seek in the residential construction industry. Are you learning a new skill while searching for a new job ? Make sure to add it when building your resume .

Believe it or not, there was a time when marital status and the number of kids you had needed to appear on a resume . Familial status is no longer the case; recruiters generally avoid asking about these details. That said, go light on personal information in this uber-professional document, including non-relevant hobbies, and only present relevant social media handles. Lastly, this is an excellent time to remind you to scrub your social media channels that might have the information you don’t want to share with a potential employer.

• Make your accounts private if necessary
• Hide or delete any inappropriate posts
• Deactivate all old or unused accounts
• Add more appropriate photos
• Add a professional bio to your accounts if necessary
• Edit your handles and URLs
• Post-industry-related news, quotes, or articles

Tailor Your Credentials with Pertinent Keywords, the Job Requirements, and the Industry

Lastly, as you consider these resume writing tips, do your best to tailor your credentials to the job requirements to show you’re a good fit. We recommend updating your resume for each job, if different, and focusing  on keywords and notable topics in your industry .

Like the points above, keywords are words or short phrases related to specific job requirements. They are the skills, abilities, credentials, and qualities a prospective hiring manager might look for in a candidate. When a hiring manager looks through a pile of resumes, they scan each resume to find these keywords. Many companies even use automated applicant tracking systems (ATS), or talent management systems, to screen candidates for job openings. An ATS works by eliminating resumes that are missing specific keywords. If the software or the hiring manager does not detect any of the keywords in your resume or cover letter , your application might get thrown out.

Embedding keywords in your resume or cover letter is a great way to demonstrate, at a glance, that you fit the position’s requirements. That said, it’s essential, when updating your resume , that you have many of the crucial keywords specific to your background and the job you are applying to in your resume . We advise referencing the job description for many of the most relevant keywords.

You do not want to make your resume and LinkedIn profile the same. While your job history, dates, and education should match, LinkedIn should be more informal . Hiring managers will go to your LinkedIn profile to learn more about you, which is generally evident in your writing style. There are significant differences between resumes that get you hired and your LinkedIn profile, and it’s important to distinguish the two.

That said, don’t mistake an informal voice for being unprofessional. There are creative ways to make your LinkedIn profile professional and relaxed. Further, recruiters want to see different information, and it could signal to a recruiter that you’re lazy, not creative, or don’t understand what LinkedIn is used for. Generally, an executive resume should talk about business details, while LinkedIn should be more conversational about how you accomplished certain things.

There’s a fine line between crafting the perfect executive resume and writing a solid LinkedIn profile. Many executives use executive resume services to help distinguish the two.

Additional Resume Writing and Interview Tips for 2022

At Matchbuilt, in addition to helping you build a resume , we pride ourselves on supporting our candidates during the interview process. We’re jam-packed with tips regarding evidence-based recruiting practices, how to answer difficult interview questions such as “Why should we hire you?”, preparing for a Skype or Zoom interview , and tips for your LinkedIn profile —getting ready to resign from your current position? Try to leave without burning bridges .

About Mark Matyanowski

As the founder of MatchBuilt, with over 18 years of recruiting and coaching experience and 8+ years in executive roles at a leading Fortune 100 company, I am deeply committed to guiding professionals in their career paths.

Our team at MatchBuilt offers expert support in enhancing resumes, optimizing LinkedIn profiles, and preparing for interviews. Our blog, drawing on our rich experience and industry insights, is a valuable resource for job seekers.

We take pride in successfully guiding job candidates to top-tier company roles while empowering individuals to achieve their career ambitions, irrespective of their background or educational level.

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12 Questions to Ask When Writing a Resume

• Written by Alan Carniol
• Job Search Advice

To avoid a mediocre product from the get-go, it is important to keep up with current trends. Quality resumes have objective statements that contain information about your accomplishments, rather than a stock list of responsibilities.

Standing out requires highlighting your personal brand, skills, and your accomplishments. Having your resume formatted properly for tracking systemsis also important.

Before writing your resume, try drafting a background document containing a list of information you want to include in your resume. Know how to prioritize and create headings for each topic section such as:

• Professional Experience
• Certifications & Training
• Volunteering
• Community Archives

Each bullet point should highlight what you have accomplished.Consider how you’ll share your experiences regarding your accomplishments during the interview.

When drafting a resume, don’t think about the number of pages initially. Pour out your story and edit afterwards according to relevance to the job description.

After creating a draft, ask yourself these questions in order to have a concrete idea of what to include in your resume:

• How do your current or most recent boss and colleagues perceive you?
• Have you ever done something for your boss or colleagues to make their lives easier?
• How did you find out about this job? What does the company do? Who patronizes its products or services?
• What are your major responsibilities? Upon accomplishing them, what have been the biggest challenges you faced to date? What steps did you have to go through in order to achieve them? How did the results turn out?
• How do your accomplishments in this role rate against others in the industry?
• What are you most proud to have accomplished in this role?
• What did your employer gain upon hiring you?
• Did you set up a process or a model for others to emulate in other locations or companies?
• How have you increased productivity and saved your employer time?
• Have you done something in the past to increase sales or revenue for the employer? How did you do it and what tools and skills did you utilize?
• Have you tried decreasing costs or expenses for your employer? How did you go about it? What tools and skills did you utilize?
• What is your reputation among your vendors, customers and clients? What makes them think you have that kind of image?

After pondering these questions, it is possible that your resume will be several pages long. From this, focus on the main substance and ideas.

Keep in mind that your recruiters are not that concerned about your former job descriptions. Focus more on how you have fulfilled your responsibilities along the way to make you stand out among the competition. Remember the STAR format as you revise:Situation, Task, Action and Results.

Alan Carniol

Alan is the creator of Interview Success Formula, a training program that has helped more than 80,000 job seekers to ace their interviews and land the jobs they deserve. Interviewers love asking curveball questions to weed out job seekers. But the truth is, most of these questions are asking about a few key areas. Learn more about how to outsmart tough interviewers by  watching this video.

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5 Questions That'll Help You Decide What to Keep (and Cut) on Your Resume

For every 10 years you’ve been working, you can add one page to your resume.

That’s according to Google’s head of HR , anyway, who’s reviewed more than 20,000 resumes.

If you’re now staring at your resume, wondering how you’ll ever cut it down to the appropriate length, here are a few crucial questions you can ask yourself to help with the process.

1. Does This Relate to the Job Description?

There’s a really simple way to make sure your resume is tailored to the role you’re applying for. First, print out the job description, along with your resume. Then, highlight everything on your resume that aligns with a skill or requirement in the description.

Everything you just turned yellow? It should stay.

(And if you didn’t highlight at least two-thirds of your resume, that’s a sign it needs to be better customized for the position .)

2. Was This a Big Responsibility Within the Role?

The longer you work, the easier it gets to add important responsibilities to your resume. It’s not that coordinating your manager’s schedule wasn’t important—but it becomes increasingly less so when you start to compare it to your other accomplishments.

Let’s say under your role as “HR Manager” you’ve included:

Planned and produced monthly “Live From HQ” video broadcasted to 5,000 employees

Set up weekly calls and webinars

The first bullet is clearly a big deal, but the second isn’t—and it should be deleted. Basically, if a responsibility isn’t as exciting or impressive as the other bullet points, you can cut it.

3. Do I Show This Elsewhere on My Resume?

Make sure you’re not being redundant. For example: Maybe as a UX designer for Herald & Co. you designed wireframes that incorporated user feedback, project objectives, and business goals.

And then as a UX designer for Bright Nite, you did the exact same thing.

Since you’re trying to maximize your space, you don’t need to include the wireframe aspect of your job under both positions. Instead, put it under the more recent position—since the rule goes that the less time it’s been since you had a job, the more bullets it merits.

You can also include the relevant skill (in this case, “wireframing”) under your qualifications section so you show up in the right searches .

4. Could I Do Something Similar in This Next Role?

Sometimes, your work experience isn’t totally relevant —yet it’s still worth including.

For example, you’re currently in recruiting and trying to transition into sales. In your current job, you consistently hit or exceed your recruiting goals. Not only is that impressive, but it also shows you know how to sell a product (in this case, your company!). There’s no doubt it should be on your resume.

To make the connection really obvious to the hiring manager, include a line in your cover letter that says, “I’d apply the skills I learned in attracting top talent to acquiring valuable clients for your company.”

But the bullet you’ve included about conducting in-depth phone screens with job candidates? Well, since you’re not going to be interviewing candidates as a sales rep, that should probably go.

5. Is This Just Really Freaking Impressive?

There are some achievements, awards, or skills you should keep on your resume simply because they make you look really, really good.

What falls under this category? Well, my fellow Muse writer Lily Herman was named one of Glamour Magazine’s Top 10 College Women. That kind of honor merits the resume real estate.

Alternatively, maybe you speak five languages fluently (emphasis on fluently). Even if you’re applying to a role that only requires English, being multilingual speaks volumes about your drive and intellectual curiosity.

Also in this category: extensive volunteering, speaking experience, times where you saved the company a lot of money, or anything that would make someone go, “Wow!”

Bottom line: If something on your resume doesn’t make you answer yes to one (or more) of these five questions, it can go. In return? You’ll have a resume that’s shorter, more impressive, or both.

Photo of woman on laptop courtesy of Shutterstock .

More From Forbes

Looking beyond the résumé: 20 insightful questions to ask job applicants.

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When hiring for a position, the skills and qualifications listed on a candidate's résumé are important, but they don't tell the whole story. To make a more informed hiring decision and gain a deeper understanding of the candidate, employers must look beyond the credentials and ask insightful questions. The right questions can help assess a candidate's character, work ethic and problem-solving abilities.

Below, 20 Forbes Business Council members share the most insightful questions to ask job applicants and the results that can be expected.

1. What's your why?

I’ve been in executive search for 16 years and the line of questioning all depends on the task at hand. However, if you want to dive into the psyche of a candidate, ask them, "What's your why?" At that moment, you will see the wheels turning as it is an unexpected question and one that is not easily answered. You can learn a lot from someone based on that question. - Joe Carbone , Eastward Partners

2. What social cause or issue is important to you?

As a gifting company steeped in social impact, our employees need to care about doing good. It's a foundational core value that every employee must have. It's clear when a candidate invents a cause on the spot. I don't care what the cause is; I just care that social impact is a value they live every day. - Leeatt Rothschild , Packed with Purpose

Forbes Business Council is the foremost growth and networking organization for business owners and leaders. Do I qualify?

3. Can you describe a time when you faced a setback?

One question that can provide valuable insights into a candidate's work ethic and motivation is asking them about a time when they faced a difficult challenge or setback at work and how they handled it. This reveals the candidate's problem-solving skills, resilience and ability to work under pressure. It also helps to evaluate the candidate's interpersonal and communication skills. - Yasmin Walter , KMD Books

4. What are your non-negotiables?

I like to make the interview about their values to see what they really want to accomplish. I always ask what their personal non-negotiables are for their profession. This will enable me to see what they really find important and if those traits meet the core values of the company. - Ralph DiBugnara , Home Qualified

5. How have you taken a concept and made it concrete?

Regardless of how experienced they are, I always ask people how they've taken a concept and turned it into a concrete result. This helps me understand their thought process, how they work independently and when they seek support. - Nell Callahan , Frontwood Strategies

6. How do you stay updated on trends and developments?

Ask, “"How do you stay up-to-date with industry trends and developments?" This question provides insight into the candidate's passion for the job and their dedication to continuous learning and improvement. - Trey Ferro , Spot Pet Insurance

7. Can you describe a time when you had to overcome a significant challenge?

By asking candidates to describe a time when they had to overcome a significant challenge and how they handled it, I was able to gauge their problem-solving skills, adaptability and resilience. The responses varied; some candidates demonstrated ingenuity and determination, while others showed their ability to collaborate and communicate effectively. It provides insight into their mindset and capabilities when tackling complex situations. - Leigh Burgess , Bold Industries Group, Inc.

8. What is the toughest experience you have faced in life?

We use the interviewing process as a dynamic opportunity to gain deeper knowledge and understanding of a candidate’s motivations. Ask, “What is the toughest experience you have faced in life, and what did you learn from it?” By asking this question, you will be amazed at the wealth of insightful information you get from a candidate. - Francisco Ramirez , The ACE Group (TAG)

9. Why did you quit your last job?

This question catches them by surprise and gives me quick insight into their temperament. For example, one person said, "They didn't like me because I was quiet." That answer led me to believe that perhaps they were sensitive and would not mingle well with co-workers. I was expecting the "I found a better-paying job" answer. This has been highly effective for my interview process. - Tammy Sons , Tn Nursery

10. Can you tell me about a time that you used critical thinking to solve a work problem?

I won’t hire a candidate if they cannot answer this simple question. Those who can answer it have always shown the ability to solve problems in our offices and on our film sets. - 'Smitty' Robert J. Smith , Robert J. Smith Productions

11. What are three things you've failed at?

I always ask future candidates about three things they've failed at. I don't care about failure, but if they smile when they share, then that person could be someone who will try and fail at things, which is invaluable in an organization. Not trying and always playing it safe will suffocate a company. - Joseph Edgar , SnapAds

12. Have you ever worked with a troublesome colleague?

I like to ask whether they have ever been in a situation where they had to work with a troublesome colleague or someone they hated and how did they handle it. These questions will give you deep insights into the professionalism of the candidate and their ability to put aside personal grievances for the company's sake. It's an incredibly crucial trait to have for folks who wish to work in highly dynamic and diverse organizations. - Erik Pham , Health Canal

13. What motivates you?

I ask job candidates what motivates them to gain insight into their values and work ethic. One candidate said they're motivated by creating a positive impact, aligning with our company culture. We hired them and they've been a valuable addition to our team. - Ifiok Nkem , Snapilabs

14. Are there any questions you wish I'd asked that I didn't?

At the end of an interview, I always ask, "Are there any questions you wish I'd asked that I didn't?" It gives the candidate the opportunity to showcase what they've researched about our company, what they want to spotlight about themselves and what matters to them as a human. It can also give you a nice way to end the interview on a positive note. - Julie Williamson , Karrikins Group

15. What's your proudest achievement?

When hiring, don't just skim the résumé. Dig deeper by asking, "What's your proudest achievement?" The answer will reveal more than just skills—it shows passion, creativity and work ethic. The most memorable response I got was "I organized a community fundraiser that raised over $10,000." It demonstrated leadership, dedication and a commitment to making a positive impact. That's what companies need. - Chris Kille , Payment Pilot

16. Why do you want to work here?

The "Tell me about a time" questions are a great way to arrive at rote and practiced responses. Asking, "Why do you want to work here?" lets you gauge how people see themselves impacting your business in meaningful ways. It also helps filter out the people looking for a cash grab and often uncovers the people who have actually performed meaningful research about the company and its role. - Ty Allen , SocialClimb

17. Is that correct?

I ask candidates something that they should know isn’t accurate to see if they’ll politely and professionally disagree with me. It’s essential to have a team that will remedy your erroneous positions to keep your business healthy. I used this approach in a CFO search and, surprisingly, only two out of many candidates corrected me. This showed me that they were both qualified to join our team. - Dr. David Lenihan , Tiber Health

18. What does a successful life look like to you?

By asking this question, it helps me understand a candidate's priorities and what they value. You should take pride in your work but also take pride in how you live your life outside of work. - Natasha Koifman , NKPR

19. Where will we see you at your best?

One question I ask and always find the answer insightful is, "Where will we see you at your best?" It's a question that applicants need to think on their feet to answer, and it gives a peek into what they gravitate toward and the work they find most fulfilling. - Lindy Tentinger , VGM Forbin

20. Would you rather be a tree or a river, and why?

It is imperative that you take quantitative metrics on a résumé into account, but always remember that as a leader, you are hiring a team member, not just an employee. Look at teams within your business as parts of an ever-growing ecosystem that are meant to flourish daily. There is no right or wrong answer to our favorite question that drives thought—"Would you rather be a tree or a river and why?" - Christian Brown , Glewee

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The Best Questions To Ask in a Job Interview

Research the Opportunity

Inquire about the company, clarify details about the job, clarify next steps, frequently asked questions about what to ask in an interview.

Asking questions in an interview gives you key insights and shows your interest in the opportunity. But you may be unsure what questions to ask or in what order.

The following guide can help. Read on for:

• Sources you can use to research the job and generate targeted questions
• Examples of great questions to ask in a job interview
• Tips on deepening your discussion with the hiring manager

Your best interview questions will spring from any research you can do about the job and company beforehand. As time allows, prepare for each interview by closely reviewing these sources:

• The job posting
• The “About” page of the company’s website (as well as any parent company)
• Any other relevant pages on the company’s website. These may include the main “Careers” page, which often has good general information on the advantages of working for the company. Key pages may also include a recent press release about a product launch or the home page for the team or department where you’d work.
• Recent news articles about the company. Search in Google’s “News” tab, where you can specify a current date range by clicking the “Tools” button.
• Business websites and publications like Bloomberg , Barron’s , Yahoo Finance , Financial Times , and the Wall Street Journal . These sites have individual pages and news updates for many midsize and large companies. (For any publications you don’t subscribe to that have paywalls, you may still be able to access full-text articles via your local library.)
• Value Line reports on recent company mergers and developments. Ask your local library if it offers access to this paid resource.
• General information about the company’s industry, sector, or products if you aren’t already familiar with them. When researching topics online, remember Wikipedia pages are unverified information, so you shouldn’t rely on them exclusively. But Wikipedia is often a great portal to official outside links and information.

Note: Also consider reviewing publicly available details about your interviewer, such as their bio on the company’s website or LinkedIn profile.

Reviewing information from the above sources, highlight anything that sparks your curiosity. Jot down a related question to ask during the interview.

For example, say you’re interviewing for an outside sales job. Through your research, you find a press release announcing that the company is working on an innovative new product category. But it’s unclear when the product will be officially launched or available to customers. You could ask:

• I was intrigued to learn your team will be selling the [name] product class soon. Do you know when your company’s version will be hitting the market?

In addition to your research-backed questions, ask about an employer’s overall work culture and goals. This is often a great line of questioning toward the end of the interview. It places the job in context and shows you’re invested in the overall success of an organization. Also, it lets the interviewer give you more of their personal perspective, taking the conversation beyond the scope of detail in the job posting. Consider asking one or more of these questions:

• How would you describe the company’s work culture?
• Why do people enjoy working here? Why do you personally like working here?
• How does the organization define success and evaluate employee performance?
• What is the company’s core mission, and why? Do certain values or principles inform that mission?
• How does the company define or distinguish itself from competitors?
• What is the company’s overall strategy for staff training and professional development?
• How does the organization incorporate ideas and requests from employees at different levels?
• Does the company have a particular method for new product development and project management?
• What is the management team’s leadership approach or philosophy?
• How has the organization evolved during your tenure? What broad changes have you seen?
• Where do you see the company headed in the short and long term? Are there broad changes underway that would affect my position?

If some of these questions seem forward, remember the basic purpose of a job interview: to figure out if you and the hiring company are a good fit. So you’ll need to answer the interviewer’s questions about your background. But it also means the interviewer will need to answer your questions about what it’s like to work there. Only by this two-way understanding can you each make a decision in everyone’s best interest.

Before each interview, jot down any remaining questions you have on the job itself. These will help you fill any information gaps on the job posting, giving you a clear sense of what the role entails. For example:

• What does a typical workday look like for this position? Is there wide variation or a strong sense of routine?
• What is the biggest or most frequent challenge for this position?
• How is success in the position measured? What performance metrics are most closely evaluated by management?
• Does the workflow tend to fluctuate annually or seasonally?
• What is the expected or required ratio of time working at the office versus from home? (Note: When asking this question, emphasize your flexibility for different work schedules.)
• Who does the position report to directly and indirectly? What is the expected level of contact or collaboration?
• Is the role more independent or collaborative? If the latter, which team members or departments would I partner with most?

Always view these questions in light of your research and frame them accordingly. Below are two examples of how you could phrase a question in the context of research you’ve done:

• In looking over your corporate website, I was struck by your expansion to five new markets in the past three years. Is that the biggest change in your time with the company so far?
• I saw on the careers page that your company has a quarterly plan for formal staff training and development. Can you tell me more about how this plan works and how it applies to this department’s schedule?

At the end of your interview, inquire about next steps in the hiring process. Questions in this vein may include:

• What is the timeframe for the next stage of hiring? If I’m selected, would there be another round of interviews?
• Should I plan on hearing from you directly or from someone else once a decision has been made?
• Should I expect to hear by phone or email? (But emphasize you’re flexible in this regard. Confirm the interviewer has your right contact information and knows the best times to reach you.)

What if the interviewer already answered most of my questions? -

Tell them so. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions for them, say something like, “I had some areas I was hoping to clarify, but we’ve covered most of them.” This type of comment is a courteous way to show the interviewer you were listening and the information they shared was helpful.

How can I deepen the interview discussion? -

Any question you ask is a yes/no, who, what, when, where, why, or how. Keep in mind “why” and “how” tend to open and enrich a conversation, while the others usually just provide facts and context.

For example, you could ask the interviewer when and where the company started. But when they answer plainly (“I believe the company was founded in Buffalo in the mid-1970s.”), the conversation may seem at a dead end. A more interesting way to learn from and engage with the interviewer is to ask them how the company has grown or evolved or why it’s been successful in its market.

What questions should I avoid asking? -

Any that are already answered in the job posting. When you ask for information the employer already provided, it tells them you haven’t fully prepared, and your interest in the position may be limited. To avoid this pitfall, closely review the job posting one more time right before each interview.

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Jacob Meade

Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW, ACRW)

Jacob Meade is a resume writer and editor with nearly a decade of experience. His writing method centers on understanding and then expressing each person’s unique work history and strengths toward their career goal. Jacob has enjoyed working with jobseekers of all ages and career levels, finding that a clear and focused resume can help people from any walk of life. He is an Academy Certified Resume Writer (ACRW) with the Resume Writing Academy, and a Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) with the Professional Association of Resume Writers & Career Coaches.

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