Hiring managers and recruiters are like everyone else. They want to understand what they are reading. Therefore, your resume has two jobs: to present you in the best possible light and to help recruiters and hiring managers appreciate you. To accomplish that:
- Make it easy for the recruiter or hiring manager to find your contact information, the position you are interested in, and your qualifications. It is your responsibility to match your background to their job requirements; it is never their responsibility to hunt through your resume to find out where you would fit in their organization. Make sure your contact information is easy to read; start with a strong statement of your outstanding skills and accomplishments; and honestly match your details to the requirements listed in the job posting or advertisement.
- Help recruiters and hiring managers understand what you do. Avoid jargon and acronyms. Place your skills in context: how did they help productivity, customer relations, communications, team building, idea generation, the bottom line? Placing skills in context also avoids over-simplification (see #3 below): everyone understands what filing is but how did your filing help the people you worked with?
- Be generous when talking about your former company or coworkers. It is fine to say that your actions increased profits for the first time in years or reduced turnover or bridged silos. But do not use your resume or your social media accounts to accuse your company or coworkers of illegal, toxic, or simply extremely irritating behavior. If asked, you are moving on for new opportunities—not because you hated your boss and coworkers.
- Never lie. Lies easy to detect with verification, background, and employment checking programs and services. They are also hard to remember and support during an interview. Discrepancies in dates, false information about degrees and training, inflated or false titles, and nonexistent employers are easy to check out and will ruin any chance of a job offer.
At Robin’s Resumes®, we produce top quality resumes with clear information that distinguishes you from the competition and shows off your strengths, without disparaging anyone or stretching the truth. If you would like help in reaching those goals, contact us today.