The 5 Things Hiring Managers and Recruiters Look for in a Resume - ZipJob

The 5 Things Hiring Managers and Recruiters Look for in a Resume Spread the loveThere is nothing easy about writing a resume. After all, if resume writing were easy then we’d all have the perfect resumes we need. The fact is that resume-writing is a challenge for even the best writers. Still, there is one thing that you can do to simplify that writing process and enhance your odds of success: know your audience. In other words, think about what hiring managers and recruiters look for in a resume. What do they want to see when they scrutinize that resume you worked so hard to create? We have the answers!What is the Most Important Thing Employers Look for on a Resume?Let’s get this one out of the way right off the bat! When it comes to the most important thing that every employer wants to see on your resume, it’s simple: clarity. You need to be able to sum up your experience and value-added proposition in a short and succinct way.Remember, hiring managers and recruiters often look at dozens of resumes as they go about their business. They rare ly take the time to carefully evaluate a resume unless it can quickly capture their attention.Here is what hiring managers look at first when reviewing your resume:The Top 5 Things Employers Look  at First  on a ResumeNameCurrent Employer/Previous EmployerStart and End Dates for Your Most Recent PositionsEducationAchievements Your Work ExperienceHere is a heat map from a study done by the Ladders on what hiring managers look at when reviewing a resume:As you can see The one on the right was looked at more thoroughly than the one of the left because of its clear and concise format.Our resume writing services can help ensure your resume stands out to a hiring manager. Check out our resume writing services.The only thing you can really control is making sure your achievements stand out and that the information is tailored to the position youre applying for.You also need to highlight your achievements to ensure you stand out from the competition. Quantifiable achievements really captu re the attention of a hiring manager.Here is an example of a responsibility on a resume:“Responsible for seeking out new marketing campaigns to increase revenue.”Let’s see this reworded to sound like an achievement:Increased revenue by 21% by implementing new paid marketing channels including Google Adwords, Adroll and Bing Ads.  See the difference? The second description shows an actual accomplishment with quantifiable achievements. This is much more effective than the first description.You also need to  develop a summary statement that can present your case in a compelling way.We wrote a good post here on how to write a good resume summary.  If that is interesting enough, then the employer will invest the time needed to more carefully analyze the rest of your resume. Fail to capture their attention, however, and you can rest assured that your resume will be cast aside.You also need to ensure your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems which most employers use tod ay.75% of resumes are automatically rejected by ATS which means they never get reviewed by human eyes. We wont get into that here but we wrote a good post here on  testing your resume for an ATS.What Do Employers Look for First on a Resume?Whenever an employer picks up a resume, their eyes and mind are instantly searching for one thing: a reason to continue reading! Some job-seekers try to focus on creative language and clever content to spark interest, but that can be distracting.The average hiring manager or recruiter won’t be swayed by fluff or flourish. Instead, he or she will be looking for potential value for the company. So, if your summary manages to capture their interest, you still need the rest of the resume to convince them that you’re the right candidate for the job.To achieve that objective, you need to craft a narrative that properly explains the value that you can bring to the position. Why? Because it is all about value!Your resume is basically a sales tool that you use to land an interview. It’s the initial introduction that gets your foot in the door so that you close that sale. And make no mistake: job-hunting is a sales process, and your job is to sell yourself to the employer so that he can see how hiring you will benefit his firm.What Do Recruiters Look for in a Resume?Recruiters have specific needs when they’re trying to locate the right candidates for their clients. To satisfy those needs, you need to focus on the one thing they look for more than any other: your roles and  achievements  in previous jobs.When you’re tailoring your resume for a recruiter, you need to make sure that your previous roles, achievements and actual responsibilities are clear. You also need to ensure that the job titles and duties align with the job you’re seeking. Why? Because recruiters aren’t going to spend a lot of time trying to find a creative way to make your resume fit their needs.What Do Hiring Managers Look for in Resumes?Hiring manager s and recruiters have specific things that they want to see in a resume. For hiring managers, however, that list of essential ingredients can be more demanding. To satisfy that hiring manger, your resume should include the following details.Alignment with the Job PostingIf you think that you can just send the same resume to multiple employers, think again. Hiring managers are always looking for candidates whose resume aligns with the job in question. Every good job posting will include details about the skills and experience that the company wants to see.You should tailor your resume to ensure that you are properly highlighting those skills and experiences. That will make it easier for the hiring manager to quickly see that you meet those basic qualifications.Remember, hiring managers and recruiters need to make snap decisions. You can use these details to help them quickly identify you as a viable candidate for the job.Your MotivationsIt is not enough to just show value in your res ume. Hiring managers and recruiters will also want to see that you’re properly motivated.When they read your resume, they should be left with the impression that you’re dedicated to your employer’s success. That means making the resume about something more than your needs.The best way to show this motivation is to highlight your accomplishments and the reasons why you worked to succeed in previous jobs.Quantified ImpactDetails matter when you’re talking about your achievements. Nobody wants to read about how you helped increase your company’s sales unless you can provide specific benefits. So, instead of just noting those increased sales, try using real numbers. Be specific about the results that you achieved. For example:“Successfully created an innovative sales program that increased sales by 32% in the first half of 2015, improved customer acquisition by 12%, and enhanced client retention by 14%.”Those real numbers demonstrate real results that will catch that hirin g manager’s eye!The Right KeywordsFor both hiring managers and recruiters, keywords can be essential for success. Now, employers won’t generally be conscious of those keywords in your resume, but that doesn’t make them any less important.Keywords are vital when dealing with recruiters, since most won’t be able to find you online without them. Their searches of sites like LinkedIn will never lead them to you if you fail to use the right keywords.Hiring managers are a slightly different story, of course. With them, you need keywords just to get your resume to their desks. Without the right keywords, your resume won’t get past the Applicant Tracking Systems, which means human eyes may never get to see it. You can find many of the relevant keywords in that job posting. You should also try to think like the hiring manager, and imagine which keywords you would use if you had to fill that job.Learn What Hiring Managers and Recruiters Want, and Enhance Your Resume!Resumes can be a challenge to create, but there are ways to ease that pressure. When you know what hiring managers and recruiters are looking for in a resume, you can create the tools you need to land those critical interviews. Just focus on these basic elements, and you’ll soon find that your resume is more effective than ever. The 5 Things Hiring Managers and Recruiters Look for in a Resume Spread the loveThere is nothing easy about writing a resume. After all, if resume writing were easy then we’d all have the perfect resumes we need. The fact is that resume-writing is a challenge for even the best writers. Still, there is one thing that you can do to simplify that writing process and enhance your odds of success: know your audience. In other words, think about what hiring managers and recruiters look for in a resume. What do they want to see when they scrutinize that resume you worked so hard to create? We have the answers!What is the Most Important Thing Employers Look for on a Resume?Let’s get this one out of the way right off the bat! When it comes to the most important thing that every employer wants to see on your resume, it’s simple: clarity. You need to be able to sum up your experience and value-added proposition in a short and succinct way.Remember, hiring managers and recruiters often look at dozens of resumes as they go about their business. They rare ly take the time to carefully evaluate a resume unless it can quickly capture their attention.Here is what hiring managers look at first when reviewing your resume:The Top 5 Things Employers Look  at First  on a ResumeNameCurrent Employer/Previous EmployerStart and End Dates for Your Most Recent PositionsEducationAchievements Your Work ExperienceHere is a heat map from a study done by the Ladders on what hiring managers look at when reviewing a resume:As you can see The one on the right was looked at more thoroughly than the one of the left because of its clear and concise format.Our resume writing services can help ensure your resume stands out to a hiring manager. Check out our resume writing services.The only thing you can really control is making sure your achievements stand out and that the information is tailored to the position youre applying for.You also need to highlight your achievements to ensure you stand out from the competition. Quantifiable achievements really captu re the attention of a hiring manager.Here is an example of a responsibility on a resume:“Responsible for seeking out new marketing campaigns to increase revenue.”Let’s see this reworded to sound like an achievement:Increased revenue by 21% by implementing new paid marketing channels including Google Adwords, Adroll and Bing Ads.  See the difference? The second description shows an actual accomplishment with quantifiable achievements. This is much more effective than the first description.You also need to  develop a summary statement that can present your case in a compelling way.We wrote a good post here on how to write a good resume summary.  If that is interesting enough, then the employer will invest the time needed to more carefully analyze the rest of your resume. Fail to capture their attention, however, and you can rest assured that your resume will be cast aside.You also need to ensure your resume is optimized for applicant tracking systems which most employers use tod ay.75% of resumes are automatically rejected by ATS which means they never get reviewed by human eyes. We wont get into that here but we wrote a good post here on  testing your resume for an ATS.What Do Employers Look for First on a Resume?Whenever an employer picks up a resume, their eyes and mind are instantly searching for one thing: a reason to continue reading! Some job-seekers try to focus on creative language and clever content to spark interest, but that can be distracting.The average hiring manager or recruiter won’t be swayed by fluff or flourish. Instead, he or she will be looking for potential value for the company. So, if your summary manages to capture their interest, you still need the rest of the resume to convince them that you’re the right candidate for the job.To achieve that objective, you need to craft a narrative that properly explains the value that you can bring to the position. Why? Because it is all about value!Your resume is basically a sales tool that you use to land an interview. It’s the initial introduction that gets your foot in the door so that you close that sale. And make no mistake: job-hunting is a sales process, and your job is to sell yourself to the employer so that he can see how hiring you will benefit his firm.What Do Recruiters Look for in a Resume?Recruiters have specific needs when they’re trying to locate the right candidates for their clients. To satisfy those needs, you need to focus on the one thing they look for more than any other: your roles and  achievements  in previous jobs.When you’re tailoring your resume for a recruiter, you need to make sure that your previous roles, achievements and actual responsibilities are clear. You also need to ensure that the job titles and duties align with the job you’re seeking. Why? Because recruiters aren’t going to spend a lot of time trying to find a creative way to make your resume fit their needs.What Do Hiring Managers Look for in Resumes?Hiring manager s and recruiters have specific things that they want to see in a resume. For hiring managers, however, that list of essential ingredients can be more demanding. To satisfy that hiring manger, your resume should include the following details.Alignment with the Job PostingIf you think that you can just send the same resume to multiple employers, think again. Hiring managers are always looking for candidates whose resume aligns with the job in question. Every good job posting will include details about the skills and experience that the company wants to see.You should tailor your resume to ensure that you are properly highlighting those skills and experiences. That will make it easier for the hiring manager to quickly see that you meet those basic qualifications.Remember, hiring managers and recruiters need to make snap decisions. You can use these details to help them quickly identify you as a viable candidate for the job.Your MotivationsIt is not enough to just show value in your res ume. Hiring managers and recruiters will also want to see that you’re properly motivated.When they read your resume, they should be left with the impression that you’re dedicated to your employer’s success. That means making the resume about something more than your needs.The best way to show this motivation is to highlight your accomplishments and the reasons why you worked to succeed in previous jobs.Quantified ImpactDetails matter when you’re talking about your achievements. Nobody wants to read about how you helped increase your company’s sales unless you can provide specific benefits. So, instead of just noting those increased sales, try using real numbers. Be specific about the results that you achieved. For example:“Successfully created an innovative sales program that increased sales by 32% in the first half of 2015, improved customer acquisition by 12%, and enhanced client retention by 14%.”Those real numbers demonstrate real results that will catch that hirin g manager’s eye!The Right KeywordsFor both hiring managers and recruiters, keywords can be essential for success. Now, employers won’t generally be conscious of those keywords in your resume, but that doesn’t make them any less important.Keywords are vital when dealing with recruiters, since most won’t be able to find you online without them. Their searches of sites like LinkedIn will never lead them to you if you fail to use the right keywords.Hiring managers are a slightly different story, of course. With them, you need keywords just to get your resume to their desks. Without the right keywords, your resume won’t get past the Applicant Tracking Systems, which means human eyes may never get to see it. You can find many of the relevant keywords in that job posting. You should also try to think like the hiring manager, and imagine which keywords you would use if you had to fill that job.Learn What Hiring Managers and Recruiters Want, and Enhance Your Resume!Resumes can be a challenge to create, but there are ways to ease that pressure. When you know what hiring managers and recruiters are looking for in a resume, you can create the tools you need to land those critical interviews. Just focus on these basic elements, and you’ll soon find that your resume is more effective than ever.