How to get to the top of the resume pile

We all have a resume…we think they’re great and exemplify who we are and what we bring to the table…but in reality probably 80% of our resumes will never get looked at for more than 30 seconds if they are not attractive to the reader or incorporate the right “key words.”

One of the questions we constantly get from our candidates when they work independently is “I don’t understand, I’ve applied to a job that I’m qualified for, but why haven’t I heard back from the company?” Well the truth of the matter is because their resume was never seen by the hiring manager. Most companies have one of two ways to weed out resumes. One way is via a computer program that looks for key word matches. If those words are in there, the resume gets passed along…if not, it’s trashed. The second way is having a Human Resource representative initially screen the resume personally…but again they are looking for key words. 9 times out of 10 the hiring manager will not see your resume until HR puts the stamp of approval on it. So they are reading your resume to find key words. They are not reading it for the depth of your technical capabilities that the hiring manager would. So if it never gets to the hiring manager’s desk, who thoroughly understands the detail of your skill set, how can you get chosen? Well, unless you make some changes to your resume, you won’t.

Companies receive resumes from various different job boards, networking sites and referrals. Imagine the number of resumes that get piled up. You might be the perfect candidate, but you’re sitting in a pile of paper that includes other qualified candidates and a slew of unqualified ones too. So, how do you get to the top of that pile? There are a few simple changes that you can make to your resume that will help this.

When writing a resume it is important to consider a few things; format, flow (readability) and “key words.”

As recruiters, we read resumes daily for a living. I can tell you, if I open your resume and it is 10 pages long, in paragraph format or you use “I” chances are, I’m not going to look much further. Now understand that we are niche recruiters focusing on the Risk Management industry, so we have the time to spend…imagine a HR Rep, who is not only handling Risk Management job openings but also, Finance, Operations, Marketing, etc. Do you think they’re going to give your resume the time of day?? Think again.

A simple starting point you want to focus on is the format and flow. Break your resume down into sections: Profile, Experience/Accomplishments, Education/Certifications and Additional Skills.

Most people begin their resume with an Objective. The standard opening…”I am looking for an opportunity…” Really? You’re looking for an opportunity? Thanks for the info, because the fact that I’m holding your resume in my hand, pretty much already clarified that for me. Don’t waste space! The opening of your resume will make or break your chances. This space should be used to grab your reader’s attention so that they are enticed to read on. Focus on about 4 sentences that will highlight key skill sets, personality and work ethic. Don’t give me the usual fluff, really dig deep and tell me who you are. Highlight some of your accomplishments and this will exemplify your ability to do some of the specifics of the job.

Now that you have the reader’s attention, you continue on to write me a lovely story in paragraph format about your responsibilities for each job you had. I’m sleeping by the second sentence of your first job. In today’s world, people don’t have time to leisurely read along. Give me bullet points so that I can easily see the breakdown of your skills, rather than fish them out. We’ve all done plenty of reading comprehension during our college days…let’s keep that out of our resumes.

The Experience section is where you want to be certain that your resume has those “key words” that the employer or computer system will pick up on. Review the job description and truly understand what they are looking for. Be certain that your resume reflects the skills that are listed. Don’t copy the job description into your resume and call it a day. That might get you to step two, but once the hiring manager sees that, on to the trash you go. Make your resume your own by listing the important “key words” that correlate to the job you are applying for in your own words. If you don’t have a certain skill, don’t lie! Again you might make it to that next round, but will be highly embarrassed when you are sitting in your interview and you get exposed.

If you are having trouble compiling your thoughts, you can always hire a professional resume writing service. Tight on cash? Sit down with a peer in your industry or recruiter that can spend some time with you. Another view point and opinion will help focus on the important points that should be noted in your resume, and weed out the fillers.

These are a few steps that will help get you to the top of the resume pile. Remember your resume is the first impression that you are giving a potential employer, and first impressions are always lasting. The purpose of writing a resume that encompasses those “key words” flows nicely and is formatted properly will help you get to the top of the pile, and even closer to getting that interview…or perhaps, being hired.