Over and over, you have heard the same advice about writing your resume. But the reasoning behind that advice might not be as clear.
For example, you are told to proofread your resume carefully to catch mistakes. Yes, hiring managers want recruits who understand English grammar and spelling but the main reason for proofreading is to show that you are attentive to detail. You do not let mistakes creep in.
You are told to describe results in your resume, not just a list of skills. While impressive results are helpful, what hiring managers are looking for is confirmation that you will use your skills to benefit the company. Having skills is valuable; knowing how and when to apply those skills is priceless.
You are told that a resume is not your life story, but should focus on the skills, experience, accomplishments and education most important to the job you want. This focus ensures that hiring managers will consider you for the right jobs. But it also shows hiring managers that you know enough about the company and the position to write a resume targeted to both.
Finally, you are told that your resume should look professional; in fact, looking professional is more important than looking creative. Practical considerations for a professional resume include the use of Applicant Tracking Systems by many companies to weed out resumes. Those systems cannot handle creative resumes. However, the most important factor is that hiring managers have limited time to choose between resumes. They want to find the facts fast and not search for them in a maze of sidebars, colored charts, boxed quotes, etc. They want to know that you value their time and understand the company’s priorities.
Is your resume sending out the wrong messages? Contact Robin’s Resumes® and we will set it right.