Even the most qualified candidates with the strongest qualifications sometimes get bypassed by recruiters when they are looking to fill an open position. Why is this? Don’t recruiters want to interview and hire and the best of the best?

The answer to this question is, of course, yes! Recruiters are reviewing the resumes of submitted candidates to determine which individuals appear, on paper, to be a potential match for the position. But considering that a recruiter may get dozens, if not hundreds, of resumes for a single job opening, there is little time to carefully dig through each individual resume to see if a candidate has the “special something” the employer is seeking.

As disappointing as this fact is for many job seekers, most recruiters will decide the fate of your resume in less than 15 seconds. If a recruiter cannot match your qualifications to that of the open position in that time frame, your resume is headed to the “File for Future Reference” stack, otherwise known as the Black Hole of Resumes. This means that you need to sell yourself very quickly and capture the recruiter’s attention from the start.

So what do you need to do to stand out in the crowd? First off, your resume needs to be results-oriented and concise, and quickly summarize your qualifications for the target position. Grab the reader's attention with strong selling points at the very top of your resume on why your accomplishments, skills, and experience match the position you are seeking. Doing research on the company at which you are applying and the specific open position will provide you with the information you need to ensure you are focusing in on the right skill areas.

The next step is to demonstrate the value you will contribute to the company. Recruiters are going to be looking for ways in which you will you be an asset to the company. An easy way to ensure that your resume gets a more through review is to specifically address this topic in a summary of qualifications at the top of your resume. Don’t leave it up recruiter to deduce how (and if) you will be an asset – tell them directly!

Finally, with so many incoming resumes for a single position, recruiters are eager to reject and screen out individuals down to a more manageable level. Any little mistake or error of judgment may be enough to disqualify you before your qualification summary is even reviewed.

To ensure that your resume is even more than just a cursory glance, avoid the following top recruiter pet peeves:

Spelling errors and typos

Poor grammar / Failure to use proper English

Missing or inaccurate contact information

Missing or inaccurate dates of employment

Poor or distracting resume formatting

Use of unusual resume paper such as bright colors or patterned paper. Scented paper is also a no-no.

Position accomplishments read more like a company-developed formal job description than an outline of your skills, key outcomes, and results. Recruiters don’t want to know what your employer says someone in your position should be doing – they want to know what you actually do!

Long, tedious resumes – more than 1 page for new graduates or inexperienced professional, more than 2-3 pages for experienced professionals

Grossly unqualified candidates

And last, but not least:

Inclusion of personal information that is unrelated to the job. Recruiters don’t want to know about your family life, your religion, your extracurricular activities, your weight and height, or anything else that does not directly qualify you for the position. Never attach your picture to your resume!

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