When a hiring manager receives your resume, they will likely spend just a few seconds scanning it. This means your resume has to make a positive first impression, fast. With so much to discuss about your background and experience, how can you accomplish this? Here is some insight into what hiring managers want to see on resumes, so you can land in the interview.
Relevant Skills and Experience
One of the first things hiring managers look for is whether your skills and experience jive with the job you’re applying for. It’s why customizing your resume around each position and employer is essential. Make sure you’re highlighting the skills and experiences that are most relevant to the opportunity.
If you’re not sure what to include, look to the job description as a guide to identify keywords and phrases that you should integrate into your resume. This will make your resume more relevant and also optimize it for the Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that many companies use to screen resumes.
A Cleat, Organized Format
A well-organized resume that’s easy to read is more likely to catch the eye of a busy hiring manager. When formatting your resume, use the reverse chronological format, where your most recent job is listed first. However, if you’re switching careers or don’t have much experience, a functional resume that emphasizes skills over job history might be more appropriate.
Whatever format you choose, make sure your resume looks visually clean, with consistent font sizes, bullet points, and spacing. A cluttered or confusing resume will be passed over by hiring managers.
No Big Red Flags
Hiring managers are on the lookout for potential red flags. Common ones include significant employment gaps that are not explained, frequent job changes without clear progression, and errors in spelling or grammar. To avoid these issues, make sure your resume is honest and accurate. If you have some warning signs, like employment gaps, explain why in your cover letter. Also be sure to proofread your resume carefully before submitting it to a hiring manager.
Career Progression
Hiring managers want to see a clear and logical career progression. This demonstrates that you are ambitious, reliable, and have consistently taken on more responsibilities over time. Even if your career path has not been entirely linear, try to frame your experience in a way that shows growth and a direction. Some specifics hiring managers want to see are promotions, increased responsibilities, and achievements in previous roles.
Quantifiable Achievements
It’s not enough to list your job duties in bullet points; hiring managers want to see what you’ve accomplished. Whenever possible, include specific numbers and results to demonstrate the impact you’ve had in previous roles.
For instance, instead of saying you “improved sales,” you might say you “increased sales by 22% over eight months.” This helps hiring managers see the tangible value you can bring to their organization.
Get Help Landing Job Interviews
If you’d like help polishing your resume and landing job interviews, PrideStaff can help. We are an award-winning employment agency, connecting candidates across the Phoenix area with rewarding job opportunities. Search our Phoenix jobs to learn more or get started.
