Resumes: Passing the Time Test!

Recently, one of my business associates was interested in hiring a part-time receptionist for a very modest salary, so he placed an ad on Craigslist. Within a few hours, he had already received more than a hundred resumes. In today’s competitive job market, such an overwhelming response to a job posting is typical. As the person who would be reviewing those resumes and selecting candidates to interview, my friend was significantly stressed by the amount of work that lay ahead of him. If he spent only five minutes reviewing each resume, he was looking at a project that would consume at least eight hours of valuable time.

This real-life example definitely sheds a light on one of the challenges that today’s job seekers must overcome. Hiring managers do not have time to spend five minutes reviewing each resume that comes across their desks. In fact, you’re lucky if your resume holds the interest of an HR professional for more than a minute. Knowing this, you must create a resume that will grab the attention of a potential employer in a matter of seconds. Your resume must pique the interest of the employer and offer a compelling reason for the employer to read further and ultimately pick up the phone and schedule an interview.

Do not under estimate the value of visual appeal and readability. Your resume must be easy to read quickly. Be careful as you select the size and style of font to use. Pay attention to the page layout as well. Do not fill your resume with so much text that there isn’t enough white space on the page. Our eyes respond to both positive and negative space, and paying attention to both is important.

Be careful not to bury critical skills and experience. Too often, job seekers attempt to include too much information in their resumes, and as a result key information ends up buried and difficult to find. Your strongest and most marketable skills must appear near the top of the resume. I recommend constructing a professional summary which truly highlights the knowledge, skills, and abilities which set you apart from every other candidate and placing this section at the very top of the resume. Remember, employers are most interested in what you bring to the table and your track record of success.

Finally, test your resume! Hand your resume to a friend and give them the opportunity to review it for 10 to 30 seconds, then take it away or turn it over. Then ask your friend to tell you what he or she remembers. If your friend cannot list three or four critical details, chances are your resume will not make the grade in the hands of an employer.

Your resume is your primary marketing tool in a job market that becomes more and more competitive every day. A good resume will convey a positive, professional image that leaves the employer wanting to know more. A GREAT resume will convey this message in a matter of seconds.