What Recruiters See On Your Resume The Good, the Bad, and the Unexpected

What Recruiters See On Your Resume The Good, the Bad, and the UnexpectedAccording to Ambra Benjamin, an engineering recruiter answering questions over at Quora.com, every recruiter reviews applications differently. However, it may help you polish up the latest version of your resume to know the highlights at least one executive-level recruiter looks for googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) Dauntingly, all of these categories are mentally checked off by recruiters in about 30 secondsthey dont have time to decode your intricately worded prose.Dont Mess These UpMost Recent RoleRecruiters look at your current status to figure out why you might be looking for a new job. Were you fired from the last one? Laid off? Are you jumping ship after only a few months? Is this fruchtwein recent location relevant to the one youre applying for?Company RecognitionIts great to work for a company that garners immediate recognitiona recruiter will have an immediat e frame of reference, and if they have a positive association with your company, youll have a leg up. Keep that in mind while applying and touting your accomplishments. Working for a company thats elend well-known just means youll want to be more explicit about who they are and what they do, as well as your own role.Overall ExperienceDoes one position lead logically to another? Is there a sense of progress? Do the job titles make sense? Is your responsibility increasing from one gig to the next? If a recruiter wouldnt automatically understand how youve made your way from one job to another, thats something to explain in your cover letter.Keyword SearchYes, recruiters use Command+F to find words relevant to particular skills, programs, and experiencedo your research (and read the job posting very closely) so you know what your industry is looking for and can make sure thats represented on your resume.GapsIt is okay to have a gapfamilies happen, illnesses happen, grad school happens. Just make sure its explained somehow, in your cover letter or as the reason you left the job before taking time away.Personal Web PresenceIf you list personal blogs, Twitter accounts, or any other social media sites, rest assured a recruiter will likely click through and see not only what youre posting, but who you follow and who follows you.General LogisticsWhere do you live and where are you eligible to work? Make it clear on your resumeand if you know youre a geographical long shot, figure out how to indicate your willingness to relocate.Overall OrganizationThe no-brainer basics grammar, spelling, clarity, readability.What DoesntReally MatterEducationOuch, cry all of us with any kind of student loan debt. Benjamin is mostly referring to mid-level or senior hires. By that time, she prioritizes experience over education, with a few exceptions for MBAs or particularly prestigious institutions.Fancy FormattingRemember that even companies with online submission forms convert your resu me to plain text for quick and easy reading. Consider submitting a plain text version along with the PDF if its an optiona recruiter will know theres probably an aesthetically pleasing version waiting for them if they call you in to meet with a hiring manager.Uncomfortably Personal DetailsNo photos, no references to anything that a recruiter legally cant ask about (spouse, kids, disability, health issues, etc). If they want to google you, they will.Cover LettersWell this is heartbreakingI work so hard on my cover letters I use them to explain my job-hopping early 20s So, I wouldnt take this for granted at most entry level positions make sure your letter is immaculate if its requested, and dont send one if they dont ask.What Not To DoUse Word templates Yuck. They are boring and basic and you can do betterWrite in the first person Its implied that everything on your resume has to do with you. Responsibilities included coordinating office networking events works just fine without My in front of it.Include a ridiculous number of pages Curate your experience to apply only to the job youre applying for, and get it down to two pages max.Mix up POV and tense zupflmmel one and stick to itInclude resume objectivesMail or hand deliver paper copiesSend resumes straight to the CEOExaggerateBut Feel Free to Do TheseAnd just to make it that much harder to figure out the right thing to do, herere some features Benjamin wishes she could see more ofInsert personalityHave one Dont let your resume sound like it was generated by an SEO robotfeel free to include a (tasteful, thoughtful, relevant) joke, a personal preference, or an engaging detail. Make it worth your recruiters while to close-read your workInclude URLs for other presencesYour mileage may vary. If you tend to showcase interesting industry-related articles and news items publicly, maybe share your facebook inc or tumblr. If you use the internet to blow off steam, maybe lock your profiles down during the job search.Sha re personal projectsWhat else are you working on? In your free time, what do you do or make or go out of your way to see? Even if you decide not to include this on your resume, have an anecdote or two ready for an interviewUse different colors and typography Be deliberate and thoughtful about your choices, and keep it tasteful. Remember recruiters are seeing dozens of thesebe appealing without being appalling.