You never get a second chance to make a first impression. When you apply for
jobs, your resume is that first impression. Be sure you’re putting your best foot
forward with our tips for building a resume recruiters look for.
Easy-to-Read Format
Nothing is worse than jumbled, confusing prose that take longer to read than it
should. Our recruiters say that the #1 thing they look for, past the content, is the
ease of reading a resume. Remember to:
- Use concisely written bullet points
- Utilize basic fonts like Arial, Times New Roman, or Georgia
- Keep it to one page
- Split information into sections with headers
- Keep it simple
Scannability
Recruiters often see tens if not hundreds of applications a day. More often than
not, they will scan resumes to quickly qualify or reject a candidate. Better your
chances of qualifying by:
- Pick out key skills and experience in the job description
- Incorporate these keywords when writing about your experience and past
jobs - Optimize your resume for peak scannability
Past Jobs
Listing past jobs is a way to show recruiters the story of your career. It gives an
insight into how long you typically stay at a job and if past employers trusted you
with periodic increases of responsibilities via consistent promotions. Keep these
things in mind when listing your job history:
- Put your past jobs in chronological order
- Only include relevant experience, but do your best to not leave gaps
- Each job should have more responsibilities than the last
- List 2-3 of your most important accomplishments per job
- Use past tense when describing job responsibilities
- The exception being a current job
Review
Last but definitely not least is reviewing your resume for professionalism.
Recruiters take particular note of this to see if the submitter has double checked
their work and how much pride they take in presenting themself. This usually
indicates how a candidate will approach their work and how they might represent
the company. Confirm that you:
- Use proper grammar
- Have no spelling mistakes (triple check this one!)
- Use professional language
- Do not use slang except for abbreviations
Exporting and Submitting
Don’t make a recruiter’s job harder. There are simple things you can do to make
the attainment of your resume easier for the recruiter.
- Download your resume as a PDF if the application does not specify a
preferred file type - Put your name in the name of the document
- “Last Name, First Name – Resume”
- “Smith, John – Resume”
A well-crafted resume can quickly set you apart from other applicants applying
for the same job. Showcase your professionalism and attention to detail by
following our tips. A good first impression can be invaluable.
