Highlighting your educational background, past work experiences, major accomplishments and skills and translating that into words on paper can seem overwhelming. Resume writing can be tedious, but if done correctly, it can have an impact on employers. When it comes to resume writing, the most basic advice is to be specific.

Employers look through several resumes from candidates with a variety of backgrounds and work experiences. In listing their work experience, most candidates stick to the vague verb and noun structure (i.e. drafted press releases). While that job responsibility may seem important to the candidate, the employer may not be so interested. That description tells the employer nothing about the job task. Drafting press releases is important, but more important than that is describing them. Add details. Quantify your experiences where possible. Cite numerical figures. How many press releases? What kinds of press releases? For what purpose?

The best way to describe a particular job task is to add as many relevant details as possible. Instead of saying “drafted press releases,” you could say “drafted 50 press releases for the Governor’s office.” This reveals more about your past experiences and makes you seem more credible.

Similarly, tailor your resume for specific jobs and employers. Tweak each resume you submit to the specific job you are seeking or to the specific employer.

Being specific makes a significant difference not only in your resume, but in how you are perceived. The more concrete details you provide, the more credible you appear. Keep in mind that general and vague statements often lead to suspicion.