I recently came across this article on Yahoo.com describing the many reason why your resume gets tossed from the "might use" to the "never use" pile. There are some good tips in this article that touch on the following:
- If accomplishments can be quantified, do it -- but use discretion
- If you send a cover letter by email that starts with 'Hi,' it and your resume will probably end up in the trash.
- It's true that recruiters sometimes use scanners to sort through resumes looking for certain keywords.
- If you mention your age, we have to trash your resume.
- When recruiters see a resume that's designed differently, they think the person's trying to hide something.
The best advice I read was the following:
"It's true that recruiters sometimes use scanners to sort through resumes looking for certain keywords. But resumes appear contrived when candidates consciously try to include them. Describing a business-development position using such terms as "needs assessment" and "contract analysis" in order to squeeze in more keywords is a misguided strategy. Assume that a human being -- not a computer -- will be reading the resume"
What do you think? Is there any strategies that have helped your resume make it to the top of a pile? If so share them with us....
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Grace says: (3:28PM on Oct 6th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
I've found that staffing agencies like the really "pretty" resumes and most employers like them cut and dried...streamlined, if you will. But to be so simplistic makes you leave out a lot of information.
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Stephen Lytle says: (9:23AM on Oct 7th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Grace,
On the contrary, staffing agencies want your resume to be as plain as possible with as much detail as possible in your experience. As a recruiter i can speak to this first hand for the following reasons...
1) Recruiters need your resume to have as much info as possible because we need to know what you have and have not actually done. If you are technical we need to know all the technical details. If not, we need to know the depth of your responsbilities and your accomplishments.
2) We don't want them to be fancy or in any pretty format because typically our clients are looking for info in your resume and not something that is asthetically pleasing. They expect us to provide the "meat and potatoes" of what you have done rather than making it look nice. The resume recruiters send out should be information heavy.
3) Another reason it doesn't need to be pretty is because recruiters typically have a specific format they need to send resumes in, whether dictated by their coporate or the client themself.
We have posted many blogs on resume advice and tips, You can see them all by searching resume in the blog section.
Thanks for the feedback though Grace!
Mabob says: (8:11PM on Oct 6th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
screw resumes. Everything's a weed-out. You can't even type 'resume' without the lame accent. Who knows how type that stupid accent. Who?
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Hiram Quinones says: (9:10AM on Oct 8th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
Macob
I am sorry that you feel the way you do about the accent. To spell resume you do not need the accent mark. Accent marks are only used in certain languages like French and Spanish for example. A resume in English just does not need the accent mark.
But your question is a good one, there are several ways to add the "stressed letter" with the accent mark. If you are using word, you click on Insert>Symbol and then from the drop down select Text you should be able to find the e with the accent - there you go!
To type an accented e in Windows do this ALT+0233 on a Macintosh OPTION + e followed by e ---> é (I use a Mac.)
Hopefully these tips will help out.
I also Googled "how to type an accented e" and found the same tips.
Mabob says: (5:47PM on Oct 24th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
swéét!
Eric Wentworth says: (4:54PM on Oct 11th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
At the Career Reboot Camp more than 30 career experts will help job-seekers with valuable information about resumes, interviewing, working with recruiters and a wide range of other career management topics.
While resumes need to be scannable by computer with relevant keywords and also must focus on recent achievements, we believe it's a mistake to think that the design or attractiveness of a resume doesn't matter. Like a messy car or home says something about a person, the way a resume looks and is organized says something about a job candidate.
There's no reason why a resume can't be attractive and also present information in an intelligent, concise, meaningful way.
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Cori says: (11:30AM on Oct 29th 2009) Vote Up Vote DownReport2/5
I am an HR manager and see resumes all day everyday. The biggest turn off is being too wordy. Keep it simple. Also, remember what you put in your resume, if it's a lie, keep it straight. I find many times the application, resume, and interview all give different dates and duties performed and reasons for leaving. needless to say you won't get the job.
Also, in a cover letter do not try to be witty and add little quaotations that you made up as if to inspire someone.
The best policy is to be yourself, be honest, and Please USE SPELL CHECK!
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