What Recruiters Really look for in a resume
We’ve all been there: sending off a resume for a job we’re excited about, only to hear nothing back. It’s discouraging, but it’s not just you. More often than not, it’s less about you and more about timing.
Right now, many organizations are seeing an influx of applications (sometimes over 1,000 per role). That means hiring managers are often zeroing in on candidates who check nearly every “nice-to-have” box in addition to the must-haves. On top of that, priorities shift, searches get paused, or roles get filled internally.
With so many factors outside your control, it helps to focus on what is in your control — like your resume. So, let’s dig into what actually makes a resume stand out to recruiters, especially in the progressive and nonprofit world.
#1 Use their Language
Read the job description carefully and use the same language they do. If they say “campaign strategy,” not “program planning,” mirror that. If you see them use the term “DEIB,” mirror that in notes on your equity work. It’s not about gaming the system. It’s about making sure your experience reads clearly to the people hiring for this specific role.
#2 Tell Your Story
Everyone’s career path has twists and turns — short stints, career pivots, caregiving breaks. You don’t need to hide them. Just make them easy to understand. One line in your resume or a quick sentence in your application responses like, “Took time to focus on family before returning to organizing work,” goes a long way toward keeping the story clear.
#3 Focus on Impact, not just titles
Recruiters don’t just want to know where you worked, we want to know what you did there. Did you lead a voter registration drive that reached 10,000 new voters? Build partnerships with five new community organizations? Write that down. Accomplishments tell us more than job descriptions ever will. Include the numbers whenever possible.
#4 Make it readable
We can’t stress this enough: clean, consistent formatting. The creative design or colors are often less important to recruiters, so I want to focus on practical structure. Make sure you use bullet points, not paragraphs. Keep it to 2 pages. Make sure it’s easy to skim, because often recruiters are moving quickly on the first read. Upload it as a PDF to keep your formatting and spacing as you want it across platforms.
#5 Don’t forget your digital footprint
Add your LinkedIn profile to build credibility and allow recruiters to learn a bit more about you! Make sure it aligns well with your resume and reflects your most recent experience. Add a short headline that sums up your work, i.e. “Campaign Strategist | Grassroots Organizer | Equity-Driven Leader.”
At the end of the day, your resume is about helping us see your story, the impact you’ve made, and the values that guide your work. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity.
And if you don’t hear back? Remember, focus on what you can control: the materials you send in, the folks you’ll network with, and interview prep.
Media Director @ Working America | DC | Starting at $155K
Director of Communications @ Mothers Out Front | Remote | $109K
Chief of Staff @ Sunrise Movement | Remote | $90K-$115K
Field Director @ Sunrise Movement | Remote | $90K-$115K
Digital & Creative Director @ Pramila for Congress | DC or Seattle | $90K-$100K
Global Head of Individual Philanthropy @ International Planned Parenthood Federation | US or UK | $160K-$170K
VP of Finance & Administration @ Community Foundation for MetroWest | Natick, MA | $140K-$150K
Executive Director @ Virginia Conservation Network | Richmond, VA | $115K-$125K
That’s not all! We’re hiring for additional jobs and you can see all of them on the NRG website.
Small Group Coaching: affordable options for support
Getting a career coach is a helpful tool when looking for a job. We know private coaching can be out-of-budget for those on the job hunt, so we offer Small Group Coaching Sessions as an affordable option. We focus our sessions on the questions we get asked the most: How do I make my resume stand out? How do I network effectively?
On January 28, 2026, we’re launching our pilot Launch Your Search Cohorts. These are a new small group coaching series designed for jobseekers who want structure, accountability, and support.
Over four weeks, you’ll join a small group led by NRG’s career coach to work through every stage of the job search: organizing your strategy, refining your materials, building your network, and telling your story with confidence.
→ Great for anyone starting fresh or looking for a reset.
→ Small groups of six peers of fewer.
→ Includes email support between sessions.
→ $600 for the full 4-week cohort.
📢 Follow NRG on LinkedIn to stay up to date on the roles we’re hiring for.
📬 Not a member of the NRG Talent Network yet? Take 3 minutes to fill out a quick form and let us know you're thinking about your next role.
Let’s move,
Naomi
P.S. If you’d like a partner to help you with your job search strategy, sign up right now for 15 minutes with Kristin to learn how NRG’s coaching programs can help you. If you find this newsletter helpful, forward it to your friends and help us build our network! If you received this from a friend, sign up here to receive future “Get Hired'' newsletters.