8 Tips to Pass the 6-Second Recruiter Resume Screen

Did you know some recruiters only look at your resume for 6 seconds before they decide if they will read further….or stick your resume in the “rejected” pile!

How confident are you that your resume will make it past the 6-second recruiter screen?

This article will teach you tips I use to write a killer resume for clients to make them STAND OUT. These are tips that get results, get you the interview and get you the job offer.

These are also things I look for when I review a candidate resume. At my best guesstimate, I have reviewed over 10,000 resumes in my 17 plus years as a formal recruiter. I hope that makes me some kind of expert - or at least a specialist.

A good resume needs to be:

• A career story about your top skills and accomplishments that will bring company results when they hire you

• An exciting 2-page maximum document that has a modern look and feel

• A highlight of your experience that is tailored to the company and job description each time you apply

I heard someone describe a resume as a movie trailer where you just give the company an exciting overview of you. They will be so intrigued by this movie trailer (your resume) that they can’t wait to learn more…by inviting you in for an interview!

So, what can you do to write an awesome resume or update your current one that may not be getting you results?

#1: Use a modern format that stands out right away

When you open a document on your computer, you will most likely only see about 2/3 of the page. This is all a recruiter sees when they open up your resume, so, the very best content has to be in that top 2/3 of the page. One way to achieve this is to use a modern template that you shows your professional profile, education, top skills and related position (s) on the top of the first page.

A big, insider tip is to make sure you don’t waste time creating your own resume template. There are so many great word documents that can be purchased for a reasonable price at sites like Etsy and Creative Market. I have commercial licenses for some pretty great templates that get my clients results (Contact me to inquire further and to book your resume review).

#2: Include a bold name header that includes any education or certifications that apply

You want to include a header that stands out and describes who you are professionally, at a quick glance. If you have a certificate, diploma, degree or certification that will apply to the position, include it after your name. This shows the recruiter that you are formally educated for the position.

The title below your name is reserved for your area of expertise. If I was applying for a recruiter position, I would call myself a “Talent Acquisition Specialist” or something very closely related to the position title you are applying to. If you were applying to a communications position that focused on digital social media, your title may be “Digital Communications Specialist”. Don’t be shy to confidently state your area of expertise so it stands out to recruiters in that 6-second glance. See the example below.

#3: Don’t submit your resume without including your LinkedIn address

LinkedIn is a must to have when applying for positions in today’s competitive job market. This is like a professional Facebook account that employers will be looking at to see your experience, and how you market yourself, before they decide if they are going to shortlist your application and call you for an interview. Include this in your contact information and make sure your LinkedIn address is a good one.

When you sign up for LinkedIn, you may be assigned an address that looks like this : linkedin.com/in/michelle-f-brooks-b4d42368x/. I hope you agree that does not look great and it will be hard to fit in a contact section.

You can edit your URL address so it looks more professional. I have even seen some people even include their area of expertise in their URL. Simply go to your profile, search to the top right and edit your address in the section called: Edit public profile & URL

#4: Write an exciting professional profile that describes you in 5 sentences or less

Including an “Objective” or a “Career Objective” is old school. The objective is always to get the job, so modernize this section by calling it a professional profile. This is the section that creatively describes your top skills and areas of expertise. If a recruiter only reads this section, they will be excited to keep reading to learn more about you. Compare this section to a novel a recruiter can’t put down!

#5: Include your education on the first page

I regularly use templates that include columns on the left-hand side. You either love or hate these formats but they get my clients results. This section will include your completed education, in order from the highest degree to the shortest education you have completed. There are techniques I use if you have a lot of education to list or if you have education in progress that would be beneficial to mention (Example- you are enrolled in a Master’s Leadership program).

Writing resumes is an art and many people do not enjoy writing them. Make sure you consider working with me to create your powerful and eye-catching updated resume if you want to see results!

#6: Don’t even think of submitting the exact same resume for every position

You can have a few different resumes ready to submit if you have more than one areas of expertise. That way, you only need to make a few modifications each time you submit an application. I call this the “sprinkle” technique. I will preach until I am blue in the face that you must tailor your resume to the company, and the job description, each time in order to stand out.

Imagine reading a resume from candidate one that uses generic terms…sounds a bit boring. Now imagine reading a resume where the candidate describes themselves in a way that matches your company mission and values and has experience that seems like a perfect fit for the position. Which one will stand out? There is an art to using the “sprinkle” method that I can teach you through a short resume review session which you can book here.

Book a 30-minute resume review session.

#7: Focus on your accomplishments

There is a big difference between a resume that just reads like a job description and one that confidently highlights your largest, most related accomplishments. Include as many numbers as you can - percentage of sales you increased, number of successful projects you managed, time and money saved as a result of your efforts. These accomplishments stand out and you can see examples of this technique on my Instagram page.

#8: Always include leadership and volunteer skills

Companies want to hire people who show initiative, leadership , business sense, and an attitude to go above and beyond. Remember that you can gain leadership skills from many different areas. Did you train new staff? Volunteer for school sports? Take on extra projects at work? Fundraise for a certain cause? The list can be extensive and you can achieve leadership skills even when you don’t have a formal leadership title.

Brooks Interview Coaching is all about helping other job seekers learn techniques to stand out. What tips do you have to help resumes stand out?

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