"Surprise them by including a poster, a song you’ve written, a video, or something else made specifically for that company."

Re: corporatespeak, it's always a good idea to speak the language of your audience. Don't just pack the resume with buzzwords, though—say something meaningful about the results you've obtained. The bottom line speaks louder than jargon.

Keywords are important, but it's better to integrate them into the resume in a natural way than stuff them into one section. Even stronger: use metrics to benchmark the results you've delivered and the value you offer your next employer. Keywords + provable, valuable results = connecting the dots for the employer.

Content should drive the format. As a general rule, no more than 2 pages. Make sure your strongest qualifications appear on page 1, preferably in the top half, so they'll be read and understood in the opening seconds. This is why you use a brief introductory section up front; the rest of the resume provides supporting…

One idea: consider listing relevant course titles associated with these degree programs. This will help someone unfamiliar with an MRE, for instance, understand why it matters. Were there elements of the MRE program focused on educational administration, nonprofit organizations, etc.?

"Doing nothing wrong" isn't the same as "getting it right." No obvious mistakes is nice, but it sounds like what's missing is giving the employer a reason to call you—that's crucial.

Begin with the end in mind. How about working backward from what the employer needs? Connect the dots for the reader, providing examples of your performance which address their explicit requirements. Don't make them guess. Don't make them interpret or read between the lines. The clearer and more obvious you make the…

Ask someone what they do well, and they can't talk. Ask what they wish they did better, what their shortcomings are, and they'll talk for hours while bouncing on Oprah's couch. We're all more aware of our flaws than our greatness.

As a resume writer, thanks for mentioning my profession.

In addition to what sarahday said:

I think that's fine; I've done the same for many clients in many fields without any problem. Eventually the trick changes to keeping the "dreaded old age issue" away. I reason that graduation dates in the 80s or earlier don't add value to the resume, might raise age discrimination issues, and if an employer *really*…

You're right, quantitative information is simpler to present. But as you're finding, not everything lends itself to quantification. Qualitative information can count, too. A few ideas:

Yes, I tend to think of QR codes as solutions in search of a problem. Brilliant for tagging shipping containers, sure—but seeing them on billboards and moving vehicles probably signals shiny object thinking over good sense.

Is there an advantage to using a QR code instead of a simple URL to one's personal website/landing page? QR codes aren't human-readable (maybe it's like those '90s Magic Eye things?)—they're the ultimate in "mystery meat" navigation. What problem do they actually solve? A few keystrokes on one's smartphone?

How about describing the field you'd like an internship or position in; degree program, any relevant specialization, and key courses; and leadership positions in student organizations or your college's chapter of professional associations? You can't go wrong providing meaningful information for contacts and…