So much time is devoted to reviewing your resume when looking for a new job, trying to make sure everything is in just the right spot, agonizing over word choice, picking the perfect font size and doing your best to match your qualifications to the requirements listed in the job posting.
You might be surprised to know that the average hiring manager will decide whether your resume is worth a closer inspection after just six seconds. That’s it!
The real question is, how do you make sure a hiring manager sees your most important information in that very short time period.
Here are a few tips on how to pass the six-second test:
You don’t need a mission statement.
Some resume advice writers want you to think you need a mission statement or career objective at the top of your resume to state your philosophy about work, your reason for wanting a job or some other statement of intent. Skip it! Time is too precious and you can cover that ground in your cover letter.
Keep your contact information.
You want your name, phone number and city and state of residence at the top of your resume. If the position you’re applying for requires you to be onsite every day, the hiring manager will want to make sure you live nearby so that moving is not an obstacle. Be sure to include the URL to your LinkedIn profile in this information too so that they can find additional information if they want (more on that later).
Keep your professional experience short and sweet.
List the name of the company you worked for, your title, the dates you were there and the skills you utilized. There’s no need to get into the weeds on this; keep the most pertinent information — and use numbers as applicable to show how you’ve improved efficiency or otherwise made a real difference and contribution in your previous places of employment.
Include your educational background.
But you don’t need a summary of everything. Where did you go to school, which degree or diploma did you earn, what was your major and did you graduate with distinction? Those are the details an HR representative will be looking for as it speaks to your training and whether you’ve continued your education to pick up new skills and keep yourself current.
Add all extra details on your LinkedIn or other professional networking page.
You want your resume to be the abbreviated version of your book report on your life and professional experience. Be sure to put your LinkedIn or other professional profile website on the top of your resume because you can go into greater detail there, adding information like your professional affiliations, memberships, honors and awards, details about your volunteer activities, alumni groups and anything else that might provide further evidence that you’re the right person for the job.
Writing a resume is very important but there are key details to include; anything more than that is a distraction. Keep it simple and straightforward and increase your odds of getting that interview!
If you’re looking for more tips, or a little help in finding a new position, you don’t have to do it alone! Call Debbie’s Staffing. Our staffing experts can help find a great job that fits your background and interests and we can help put your resume in front of the right people! Contact Debbie’s Staffing today and let’s get to work.
