We’ve all been there… that uncertain moment when you hit submit and your resume is forever lost in cyberspace. Floating somewhere in the abyss of HR, never to be heard from again. Before you gather the town and revolt against all recruiters, listen up. The job market is in a frenzy right now, and recruiters review anywhere from 20-50 resumes a day. It is imperative that you stand out and start selling your product from the get go... YOU!
Visual Appeal
- The biggest factor in whether a resume is read or not is how it looks. If your resume is a mess, that’s a direct reflection on you. Chances are good that it won’t be read if it looks sloppy.
- Take the time to find any grammatical errors and fix them. Spell check is real. It’s 2016, there’s no excuse!
- Make sure that the format is the same for every job, every title, every section of the resume (font, sizing, list levels, etc). This consistency makes it easy on the reader's eyes and allows them to focus on what’s important; the content.
Express Yourself
- You may think that layout template is a blessing, but it just makes you look like everyone else. Your resume should be a reflection of you and your individuality; don’t just follow the crowd.
- Include any awards or highlights from your career… this is your chance to brag!
- Statistics go a long way. If you have the numbers to show how you succeeded in your last position, include them.
Be Transparent
- Leaving out the months of employment will not fool the recruiter! We know you don’t have the months listed because you’re trying to hide the length of tenure. Just be honest, having the dates give you more credibility in the reader's eyes.
- Do NOT lie about your experience or what you did for each company. This will always come back to hurt you later.
Give Details, Not Keywords
Don’t just throw up a list of keywords on your resume, it’s lazy! Instead, include these relevant keywords in your description for each job. This will not only convey the experience, but will show the real world application of the skills.Social Synergy
- Nowadays, LinkedIn is the first stop for many recruiters. It's an integral part of the hiring process. Your profile should read just as your resume does, with the same amount of detail.
- Tweeting a company is another way to get their attention. They will be instantly notified and you will be instantly recognized!
Follow the Process
Having a beautiful resume means nothing if you can’t follow the rules of engagement.If a company has qualifying questions for you to answer when you apply, answer them! Skipping these questions may save you time, but it could also seal your fate. They ask these questions for a reason, and ignoring them leads the recipient to believe you are either too lazy to complete them or can’t pay attention to detail.
Finally, connect with the person you sent your resume to. This sounds like common sense, but one of the biggest job search fails is the lack of follow up. Connect with them, email them, show them you are interested and able to stand out from the crowd!
