With 13+ years of recruiting experience, Jordan Smith is a seasoned recruiter at IT Avalon. He shared his insights and top tips for effective resume crafting. Whether you’re a seasoned professional or just starting your career, these expert recommendations are bound to make your resume stand out in a competitive job market.
- Keep it simple & concise – use a simple font and a classic template.
- Don’t use picture boxes.
- Use keywords frequently so it is easier to find your resume, but do not lie about your experience.
- Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for.
- Proofread for spelling & grammar errors.
- Don’t just say what you did. Add numbers that quantify metrics, accomplishments, and material impact on your business.
Smith mentions that the first thing he looks for in a resume is keyword hits. How many times, and where are those words highlighted in your resume? Having keywords hit in your summary and technical skills, tells him you’ve studied that tool enough to talk the basics, but not go in-depth with him on his technical screenings. He wants to see those keywords in your responsibilities where you can show exactly what you did, not just summarize it. He stated, “9/10 I’m skipping over resumes that are 9 pages long and keywords are only hitting in summaries/tech skills.”
Another big factor he explained is a very simple one: spelling & grammar mistakes. He explained, “Please use the spellcheck button. It’s your friend and goes a long way believe it or not. If I must spend a ton of time fixing your resume, I’m just going to move on or shoot it back to you and have you fix them (depending on how niche the skillset is).”
Hoping these tips and tricks help, you’ve got this!
