My top resume tips

When an organization places a job advertisement online, they can receive between 200 to 400 resumes. So, how do you stand out from the crowd of applicants? I will provide you with my top resume tips. Things you can do to your resume to help you get noticed by a potential employer.

Provide metrics and analytics on your resume

Employers absolutely love seeing numbers and metrics on a resume. It really helps you stand out and sets you apart from the sea of applicants. Shocking, most applicants do not do this.

What have you done or implemented that made a financial impact on the business?
Metrics and analytics really help an applicant stand out and help tell your story

Example:

Improved employee morale by 50%
Reduced employee turnover by 30%
Saved the company $50,000.00 by conducting a payroll audit

Keep your resume short and simple

Unless you are at an executive level, resumes are only meant to be 2 pages. Hiring managers get frustrated when they receive 3 to 5 page resumes. Potential employers are only interested in your past 3 to 4 roles. There is no benefit to letting an employer know you were a CSR while you were in school.

Less is sometimes more
Get right to the point on your resume
1-page resumes can be effective

Avoid spelling and grammatical errors on your resume

I was working with a client, assisting them with a senior HRPR role. The VP of HR was interested in meeting with a candidate for the final time. She cancelled the final interview with the candidate after she noticed a minor spelling error on her resume. Harsh? Maybe, however she reserved the right to hire applicants that paid attention to detail.

Always proof ready your resume before submitting it
Even if you have the right skills and experience, most employers will automatically discount your resume if they find a spelling or grammatical error your resume

Make it easy for an employer or recruiter to connect with you

I cannot tell you how many resumes I have seen over the years, where I was unable to find a candidate contact details. Surprisingly many job seekers fail to leave it off of their resume. Put your phone number and email address on the TOP of your resume. Make it bold and make it clear. It should not be hidden at the bottom or on the side of your resume.

Your name, email address should be on the first page of your resume
It should be bold and clear and your contact details should be updated
Your home address is not required, however it can be useful

Chronological order

Employers are interested in your past 3 to 4 roles. They want to see where you are currently working right now and so on.

A resume should always be in chronological order
From most recent work experience to past work experience

Fonts and Images

I often see resumes with crazy fonts, clip art images and the applicant’s photo on the resume. None of that is needed. When it comes to resume writing, keep your resume clean and simple and easy to read. Creative fonts are not needed whatsoever and images do not increase your odds of getting hired.

Applicant photos are not required on a resume
Photos on resumes are common in Europe
Use fonts like Arial or Times New Roman. 10 to 12 points

Applicant tracking systems and key words

What is an applicant tracking system? Essentially, an ATS is a software that scans, searches and looks for key words and phrases on a resume to determine if an applicant closely meets the job requirements. Organizations get flooded with countless resumes, but an ATS is designed to quickly pick out the best and most qualified applicants that match the job requirements.