How Can You Gain Traction With Your Resume?

Recruiters look at your resume with the sole purpose of seeing if it will fill their client’s needs. To do this, they must sift through hundreds of resumes to find their top candidates. So how do recruiters evaluate resumes, and how can you make sure yours gets greater consideration? Here are the top 2 things our recruiters say can push your resume to the top:

1. Keywords. Since recruiters are looking to fill a position, they are looking for a resume that is as close to the job description as possible. They skim the resume to locate keywords that match the most important tasks of the position. To make your resume catch their eye from the start make sure you include the best keywords for your position in both your experience and skills sections. The best place to start is by reading the job description for the position for which you are applying. You can add the keywords associated with the description in your areas of experience, and it will help you avoid oversights of any relevant components. Our recruiters encourage candidates to include that you have knowledge or an understanding of the qualifications and preferred skills. This means that you do not necessarily need to have hands-on experience, but you must be able to explain the platform.
2. Organization. Next, make sure your resume has an organizational structure. Whether your resume is creative or standardized, a recruiter must be able to find all of the necessary information they are looking for. The best way to make your resume readable to the recruiter is to break your resume into sections such as Education, Experience, and Skills/Awards. This will help recruiters know exactly where to look for their information. Within each section keep your writing clear and concise as recruiters do not have an abundance of time to look through your resume, so make sure they are able to find the main information quickly and easily. Lastly, when organizing your resume, make sure the formatting is clear and clean. The best ways to accomplish this is through using defined margins, consistent font, and clear headings.

Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all approach when it comes to resumes, so make sure that they are always up to date for the job you are applying for. Let us know if these tips were helpful to you, and include any tips you may have for designing a dazzling resume!