Submitting a resume for an open position is exciting, but it’s also a bit daunting. You might not know exactly what recruiters are hoping to see, leaving you wondering whether your application is going to stand out and give you a chance to advance through the hiring process.
Fortunately, what recruiters generally want to find is relatively straightforward. Once you know what they’re after, it’s possible to write your resume in a way that showcases what you have to offer in a way that resonates with them. By doing so, your odds of moving forward through the hiring process increase dramatically. Here’s a look at what recruiters look for in a resume and how to write a resume with recruiters in mind.
What Recruiters Look for in a Resume
When recruiters initially look at a resume, they typically focus on core points that demonstrate whether a candidate has the capabilities required to do the job. In most cases, that begins with a quick review of any hard skills, as that’s foundational information to determine if a job seeker is qualified.
Hard skills can fall into several categories. For example, it could include capabilities that specifically relate to a particular role, as well as the ability to use relevant technologies present in the workplace.
After hard skills, recruiters typically focus on years of experience and education. Experience can be broad, such as the amount of time you’ve worked in your field. However, it can also be focused, such as the specific amount of time you’ve spent using a particular skill or working with a specific technology.
Often, education is examined along with experience for several reasons. First, many roles have minimum education standards, so ensuring you meet the requirement is essential. Second, some employers allow education to substitute for some experience, such as reducing the experience requirements by a year or two if a person has a degree that’s above the minimum one needed.
Beyond education and experience, certifications and licenses are the next points recruiters initially screen for when reviewing resumes. Certifications may elevate a candidate in a variety of industries and careers, while licenses may only apply to specific fields.
After recruiters review those points, resumes that seem like potential matches are separated out. Those applications are then examined further, allowing recruiters to learn more about a candidate’s personality, values, soft skills, and other areas that help determine fit.
How to Write a Resume with Recruiters in Mind
When you’re writing a resume, begin by thoroughly reviewing the job description for the position you want to land. Look specifically for keywords relating to the hard skills, education, certifications, and licenses the recruiter wants to find.
With the hard skills, you want to place these in specific areas. First, add the most critical ones to your skills section, which is usually near the top of your resume. That shows the recruiter immediately that you have the capabilities they’re after. Working a few into your professional summary is also beneficial. Then, pepper your work history with the various skills, including those mentioned in your skills section, to showcase how they helped you achieve specific accomplishments.
For education, certifications, and licenses, having one or multiple sections dedicated to those areas is best. If you only have a couple of entries, you can potentially group them together in a section titled “Education and Certifications” or something similar. Mentioning them in your professional summary is also worthwhile, particularly if the related section would otherwise be near the end of your resume.
With experience, you can mention the total amount of time spent in your field in your professional summary. Otherwise, your work history usually showcases your experience based on the time spent in each role.
By creating a resume using that approach, you can easily touch on the most critical points that recruiters want to see. If you’d like to learn more about effective resume writing or are seeking out new opportunities, The Squires Group wants to hear from you. Contact us today.
