20 straight forward improvements for your resume
Mark Daniel
Not a "Guru" or "Thought Leader" (ugh). Just a real person giving real career advice. Proud to have supported careers across 63 countries. Also, co-owner of Manchester United (minority shareholder, but it sounds better).
You need to put yourself in the recruiters shoes whether they are internal or external.
I was speaking to a recruiter last year at a leading contractor that had 256 applicants for one position how is yours going to stand out particularly when they only take 30 seconds to make their initial judgement on a résumé. If your résumé is screened by a computer first, it may not even get that far.
So, it’s obvious really, when creating a killer résumé, you need to make it very easy for the recruiter to spot the most important skills and experiences that you offer the employer.
Simply, you do the work so they don’t have to
1 Make sure your résumé is edited and aimed at the job you are applying for
A Generic résumé may be quick to submit, but definitely less effective. You need to do one excellent application rather than three poor ones.
2 Only apply if you meet the job criteria
Don’t waste your time or the recruiter’s time submitting applications for jobs that you don’t meet their criteria. If you definitely want that job, go and get the skills and experience before trying again in future.
3 Don’t lie
Even if you get through the first screening, lying about or exaggerating your experience and achievements is likely to come back to bite you. I say this time and time again
4 Add keywords
After writing the résumé, check it for keywords from the job description.
Keywords are gifts to you from the employer. Add them into the existing text so they flow naturally. This will help your résumé get past ATS software, and recruiters are often just looking for those keywords. If keywords duplicate through your resume that’s OK
5 Structure your résumé carefully – include a profile
It is easy for the recruiter if your key skills and background are summarised at the top. Incorporate them into a Profile. In essence a micro resume in paragraph form introducing the recruiter to an easy read snapshot of yourself. Then straight into your jobs.
Your education and qualifications are generally less important than your professional experience, so put these later. There are exceptions to that which I often tell people about in my free appraisals.
6 Demonstrate how your most recent two jobs are relevant to your application
Recruiters will spend between 70-80% of their time on your name, the company, job title, start and end dates of your current and previous employment, and finally your education.
Think about it. If you are changing direction in your career, you will need to work smarter to draw out the skills, experience and understanding you are bringing from these last two jobs.
7 Keep the résumé to a sensible length
Remember the recruiter will scan your résumé in seconds. Including your KFC or Maccas experience is not relevant however, keeping it interesting and the recruiter engaged is important. Focus on the 5 – 10 years then create a simpler way of including your previous experience that doesn’t take up too much space
8 Show progress
Show the recruiter that your career has got a natural pattern..
9 Context, Action & Results
Use this as a checklist. Keep the context short (that’s your duties) but long enough that the recruiter understands your role. Spend longest time on your achievements and the results of the actions that you took.
10 Provide proof include the numbers
Quantify and Qualify your results. Increasing your targets, raising finance, cutting costs, reducing time taken, making great sales all provide convincing and easily digested where possible include, %, $ hrs, Numbers.
11 Explain gaps in your employment history
Leaving a gap on your résumé leaves the recruiter wondering. Simple give them the answer, travel, parenting, visiting relatives etc. A lot of online systems require the gaps to be answered so be prepared..
12 Exclude irrelevant information
Don’t reveal your age, race, gender, marital status, or whether you have kids. Research shows that even the most self-aware recruiters have unconscious biases. I was spent some time with a leading company in Australia and know that there is bias unconscious or conscious
13 Show your eligibility to work
Make it easy for a recruiter to be confident that you are eligible to work without having to apply for work permits including this in your profile. An Australian Citizen, An Australian resident etc.
14 Make it easy for the recruiter to contact you
Include contact details with your email and one phone number (don’t make the recruiter have to guess which number to use).
15 Simple, Clear format
Make sure your formatting matches with the résumé structure and is consistent so recruiters can find the key information easily.
Create clear sections with easy-to-read, consistent headlines. Use an attractive font, which is also easy to read. Don’t use Word templates. If your PC skills are truly that bade get someone else to do it for you.
16 Stick to a familiar format
Boring is good. Unless of course you are applying for a creative role, avoid weird scripty fonts. Remember, the recruiter is just looking for those keywords, duties and achievements. Get rid of anything else
17 Submit your résumé in word format
If it is an ATS online application submit in a word format. If you are emailing direct to an individual use a PDF version
18 Spell-check and grammar-check
Obvious, but often spelling and grammar mistakes are what leads to a résumé being put the shredder or deleted. Use the past tense and third person, not first person and ensure constancy through the resume. Don’t rely on your computer’s spelling and grammar checkers. Edit it yourself and then get another person to read your résumé with fresh eyes.
19 Check before you include a cover letter
Most cover letters are a waste of time. Either don’t bother, or, if the recruiter specifically requests one, make sure it says something meaningful.
Best to read my post on cover letters
20 Don’t write to the MD, CEO or Chairman
Unless of course you are applying to a small company, or you know them personally, it is not them who will be doing the initial screening. Don’t waste their time.
So if you’re looking at your resume and would like another opinion then I am here to help.
I am happy to help with a free appraisal of your resume
Just email your current resume/cover letter to
I will then do an assessment that is emailed to you as a voicefile with helpful tips on how to improve your resume and get that position you have been trying for.
Orange Collar is a Mining, Civils, Energy and Resources Hub covering the whole of Australia. Our team of specialised professionals offer no-nonsense recruitment, professionally written resumes, unique DIY Resume packages and results focused HR Consultancy. Register at www.orangecollar.com.au
Chief of Sales, Director of Sales, Chief Revenue Officer - 20+ years in Sales & Business Leadership - Sales Innovator | Revenue Driver | Business Optimiser
9 年Good content. Thanks!