In today’s competitive job market, you only have about 6 seconds to make an impression with your resume before a hiring manager moves on to the next applicant. With stacks of resumes to get through, recruiters and hiring managers need more time to read each one thoroughly. You likely will only get an interview if your resume immediately grabs their attention.
Follow these tips to create a resume that passes the 6-second test:
Optimize for Skimmability
Structure your resume so the vital information can be easily skimmed:
– Use ample white space and avoid dense blocks of text
– Use clear, legible fonts like Arial or Calibri, size 10-12 points
– Include distinct sections with clear headers like “Work Experience.”
– Place your most relevant experience and skills near the top third of the page
– Use bullet points instead of lengthy paragraphs
A hiring manager can quickly see your background and qualifications with an organized, skimmable layout.
Highlight Relevant Keywords
Tailor your resume to each job by including keywords throughout the job description. This helps your resume get past automated applicant tracking systems and ensures you match what the hiring manager is looking for.
Some ways to incorporate keywords:
– Include keywords in your profile/summary section
– Use keywords when describing your work experience and skills
– Incorporate industry jargon and acronyms
But avoid overusing keywords or awkwardly forcing them in. They should flow naturally in your resume.
Lead With a Strong Profile/Summary Section
Your profile or summary section is prime real estate – use it wisely. In just a few concise sentences, convey your value proposition as a candidate. Include keywords, highlight must-have skills, and explain the problems you can solve for the employer. This section should be like an “elevator pitch” for your candidacy.
Some effective openings include:
– Seasoned accountant with ten years of experience streamlining financial operations and optimizing profit margins.
– Project manager and strategic planner adept at leading cross-functional teams to deliver projects on time and under budget.
– Customer-focused sales professional with 7+ years of quota-busting sales results. Passionate about understanding client needs and connecting them to solutions.
Keep It Concise
Be concise and precise, and avoid fluff. Stick to accomplishments, measurable results, skills, and certifications that matter for the job. Extraneous details will dilute your relevant qualifications.
Follow these concision tips:
– Restrict your resume to 1-2 pages max
– Use succinct phrasing and tight sentences without extraneous words
– Only include relevant work experience from the past 10-15 years
– Exclude outdated skills or obsolete technologies
– Avoid complete sentences and instead use bullet points
– Don’t list basic computer skills like using Microsoft Office
A practical, concise resume allows the most important details to shine.
Optimize for Applicant Tracking Systems
Large companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to automatically scan and filter resumes before human eyes ever see them. Optimize your resume to get past the ATS screening:
– Use standard headings like “Work Experience,” not “Employment History.”
– Avoid tables, text boxes, headers/footers, columns
– Use a simple, clean layout without complex formatting
– Save your resume as a .doc or .pdf, not an image file
– Include keywords from the job description
– Use standard fonts and avoid underlining or italics
– Don’t condense your resume to fit on one page
By formatting your resume for human readers and ATS software, you’ll avoid getting erroneously screened.
Proofread Extensively
Typos or grammatical errors can immediately disqualify you. Thoroughly proofread your resume and have a friend review it, too. Double-check:
– Your contact information
– Company names and job titles
– Dates of employment
– Spelling of keywords and skills
– Bullets and formatting
– Quantitative information like sales volumes
Don’t let small mistakes sabotage your resume.
Showcase Achievements, Not Just Duties
Anybody can list out the duties and responsibilities of a previous job. To stand out, emphasize your concrete achievements, quantified results, and unique accomplishments.
For example:
Instead of:
Responsible for leading weekly team meetings.
Try:
Led weekly team meetings to improve collaboration and productivity, reducing project completion time by 25%.
The “achievement resume” grabs attention by spotlighting your value add.
Customize for Each Job
One generic resume blasted out to every job opening is much less effective than customizing your resume for each specific role.
Look at the job description and the company’s website to identify their needs, challenges, and priorities. Then, tailor your resume to showcase how your background meshes with those priorities. You might tweak the profile section, highlight achievements or skills, or use different keywords.
Don’t just rely on an ATS to determine if you are a match. Make sure your resume emphasizes how you can impact the business.
Showcase the Right Personality
While keywords and achievements are critical, pay attention to the value of showcasing soft skills and personality traits through your resume. For example, for a customer-facing role, you may want to convey that you’re a “people person” by highlighting how you built relationships and provided excellent service.
Some resume tips to convey personality:
– Choose active, enthusiastic verbs like spearheaded, collaborated, and energized.
– Share hobbies and interests to give a snapshot of your personality.
– Feature volunteer work or community leadership roles.
– Use testimonials from previous managers.
An engaging, personable resume helps you make a connection as an individual, not just a candidate on paper.
Your resume has just 6 seconds to make an impact before the hiring manager moves on. Follow these tips to grab their attention, highlight the right skills and achievements, and convey why you’re a strong match for the role. With a compelling, concise, and carefully crafted resume, you’ll pass the 6-second test and get the interview. Standing out from the stack starts with an exceptional resume.
