Resumes That Work!
Whether you are in high demand in your field, an average working person or somewhere in between, you need a great resume. In fact, it’s not unusual to have a few different resumes, depending on your circumstances.
Some companies start the hiring process by looking at the resumes manually, but up to 90% of big companies use software for this first step. Maybe some recruiters will take that extra time to try and decipher your resume, but the software will not. It’s too bad, because software sometimes rejects some great candidates and companies lose out big time. Despite the significant flaws in this screening software, businesses continue to use them. They simply do not have the time to personally go through your life’s work!
So, what does this mean for you when you are trying to find a new job?
It means that the burden is on you to make the right impression not only on the robots that initially scan your resume, but also the people that will read it manually or look at it further into the process. Of course, your ultimate goal is to get an interview and show them how you will benefit their company. This will simply not happen if your resume gets kicked out of the system right at the start.
Let’s start with the basics. There are several templates you can use to begin such as indeed or the resume builder on LinkedIn. That’s the easy part. It gives you structure and helps you get organized with your information. But now the tricky part, how to get the right content in there that will get past the applicant tracking software and seen by human eyes. Or…if a human is the first person looking at your resume, how do you get them interested enough to pass your resume up to the next level?
Here are 7 tips to give you better odds of having your resume get on the short list or at least not get rejected at the first step:
- Your resume needs to actually have matching wording from the ad you are applying to. That means more effort on your part since you may need multiple resumes to fit specific ads. When you read the ad, focus on what they actually need and match your highlighted skills to that need.
- Use acronyms AND the spelled-out version of any industry lingo, certifications, professional organizations, etc. That way, no matter what keywords their software uses for industry-specific terms, you should be covered.
- Make sure your relatable skills are noticed. For example, if the job is for a payroll person, don’t bury your payroll and related skills. Make it first and foremost in your experience descriptions. Try to use relevant keywords in multiple places to increase your score with the software or to make sure a human doesn’t miss it.
- Don’t try to be clever. This is where facts matter. Use accurate, relevant content to make sure you are understood but get rid of unnecessary information.
- Pretty resumes with graphics look very cool and might impress a human, but they do not do well in the tracking software. If the robot is confused, it will reject your resume.
- Do your homework by going to the company’s website. This can be helpful for gaining more keyword knowledge. Finding out more about their company culture could also be useful too if you have experience or organizational memberships that may be relevant.
- Update your LinkedIn page. If your resume gets to the human level, it is highly likely that they will check out your LinkedIn page.
It goes without saying that there must not be errors on your resume
They may miss seeing your good points, but they will not miss a typo! There are lots of websites out there with free information and templates to use. Take advantage of these free resources and get your resume seen!
Even with a great resume, background checks are the norm
Using a professional CRA (Consumer Reporting Agency) for your pre-employment or vendor screening services will save you time and money. For a free consultation or more information, contact Genesis Background Screening Services at 866 944-0041 ext 101. Online, you can email or visit www.genesisbackgroundscreening.com. You can sign up to be emailed whenever we post a new blog at https://genesisbackgroundscreening.com/blog/
Genesis Background Screening is not a law firm and provides our blogs for informational purposes only. Blog is not a substitute for experienced legal advice. Research laws or regulations mentioned in our blogs and ask your legal counsel any questions you have to be sure your organization is within the law and compliant with regulations.
Jacqueline McClure
Genesis Background Screening Services
