How to Read Your Resume Like a Recruiter
You don't have that be a veteran recruiter to know that a sharp resume is one of the most important tools in your job search. What many students and new graduates fail to understand, however, is that the people making the interview and hiring decisions often look for different things than a job seeker might expect.
Having seen more than ten thousand of them myself from the other side of the desk, I can tell you firsthand that there are definitely a few tips and tricks you can use to put your resume at the top of the pile:
Know the basics. It goes without saying that a sloppy resume -- especially one with typos or a really terrible layout -- won't get too much consideration. With the sheer number of resume books and software packages available today, there's no excuse for obvious errors.
Start on the right foot. Lots of people use the objective line of their resume to insert the most bland, generic piece of writing they’ve ever produced. Instead of saying that you want "a fast-paced position that will take advantage of your skills and ambition," why not let the recruiter know something about you? The top of your resume is a great place to mention your love of numbers, your extensive language skills, or any other personal detail that sets you apart from the other candidates.
Hit the high notes. Often, new graduates get so concerned about listing the right qualifications that they miss the forest for the trees. Before you write a single word of your resume, make a list of your five best qualities and qualifications. Then, make sure they show up prominently on your resume. Remember, you'll only get a few seconds to snag a manager's attention -- so use them to make a strong impression.
Be more than just a name and GPA. Every recruiter knows that the best new hires are students who did as well outside the classroom as they did inside. Be sure to list the activities and organizations you are involved in, whether they're professional or not, as well as your role in them. It's not always important that you were the president or treasurer; companies need leaders, but they need team players, too.
Think like a hiring manager. Suppose you're about to make a $250,000 business decision (often the cost of a new employee when salary, benefits, and training are factored in.) Would you rather have the person with the best grades, or the one who’s the right fit for your company? The answer to that question tells you exactly why recruiters place so much emphasis on nonacademic activities and interests. They want someone who can show up and integrate into their team, so make sure your people skills stand on your resume.
Cut and tailor. The perfect resume for one job is the wrong one for another. And yet, lots of new graduates change the objective line on their resume for each open position and leave it at that.
Go a step further and find out whatever you can about the job you'll be applying for, as well as the people involved in making a hiring decision. The better idea you can get of what they're looking for, the more you can tailor your resume to their needs. At the very minimum, you should try to have three or four good versions that you can use and adapt as needed.
Answer the question. Students and graduates have a habit of looking at their resumes with an overly critical eye. "If only I could list the right things," they think to themselves, "then I could get hired."
The fact of the matter is that nothing you can put on your resume can get you hired. All it can do is open the door for an interview. For that reason, it's critical that you answer the one, single, all important question in a recruiter's mind: is this someone I should meet with about this job?
Answer that question, and you'll get a foot in the door. Everything else is secondary, and in fact, lots of issues are best left for the interview. And so, as you edit your resume, think about why you’re a great candidate -- from the company's perspective -- and eliminate anything that doesn't help get you closer to interview.
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Joe Mayne is a veteran recruiter, professional speaker, and author of “Your HIRE Calling: Unconventional Job Search Tactics That Work for College Students in ANY Economy.” Over the past 15 years, he’s interviewed thousands of candidates, examined countless resumes, and helped students from hundreds of campuses around North America find great jobs after graduation. You can see more about him and his work at www.MayneSpeaker.com
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