You’ve decided you want to make a change in your professional life, but as many of us have experienced, finding a new job isn’t easy. You have to set yourself apart from all other candidates and make a favorable impression on the hiring manager. One of the most crucial steps to accomplishing this is having a strong, well-written resume . In most cases, your resume is the first opportunity you have to impress a potential employer.

So, where do you start?

According to a recent blog post by Glassdoor, hiring managers generally don’t spend too much time reviewing resumes, which means it’s even more important to make your resume stand out. In their post titled “4 Things Employers Look For in Resumes,” Glassdoor highlights what employers will notice immediately:

Keywords — Employers will be looking for keywords in your resume that match the specific skills, knowledge and experience required for the position. Make sure you identify what those keywords are and incorporate them into your resume.

Embellished skills — You want to sound impressive on your resume, but always make sure that any traits or experience you describe accurately reflect your abilities as a professional.

Overall career progression — Your resume should tell a story about your professional career; where you’ve been, where you want to be and what you can offer to your potential employer.

Your personal brand/online presence — Your resume can say only so much. Many employers look to your online presence to get a better idea of you as a candidate. Including a link to your personal domain or online portfolio may help you stand out.

Keeping these things in mind is a great first step to getting your resume in tip-top shape. Submitting it to our career coaches for review is your best next step!

Cancer and Careers provides a Resume Review Service to cancer patients and survivors completely free of charge. Simply upload a copy of your resume and you’ll receive personalized feedback from one of our professional career coaches.

You can find additional tips on resume-writing and the entire job-hunting process in the Looking for Work section of our website and in our Job Search Toolkit, which can be ordered in print or downloaded for free by clicking here.

For other inquiries on your job search, check out our Ask a Career Coach board, which gives you access to experts who can address your questions on how to manage work during and after treatment.