Is Your Resume Making the Cut?
So you’re applying for ‘that’ role. That one you’ve had your eyes on since forever… That one you’ve got that goood gut feeling about … That one that’s going to be your big break (you can just feel it). But unfortunately, you’re up against a few other heads. In some cases, hundreds of other heads. SEEK is using an algorithm. Agency recruiters are pushing for first-in-best dressed. Linkedin is already giving you a fancy stat of what percentage of top applicants you fall in. The careers@yourdreamrole.com.au inbox is flooding with every other woman and her daughter hunting down that role too. You’re a fish in the plenty-of sea and you’re swimming upstream. Your resume needs to tick the boxes to get to that next stage.
So what is it that talent acquisition are really looking for?
What is it that makes them say yes to one resume and no to another?
Let’s start with a picture. A picture says 855 words.
Above, you’ll find an image of the careers@yourdreamrole.com.au inbox, 24 hours after #yourdreamrole went live on all channels. It’s a lot, isn’t it?
Before you get into the recruiters mind set, take not of these fun-facts I prepared earlier:
They say when meeting someone person to person, you have 8 seconds to make an impression. You don’t have too much longer with your resume. You’re lucky to have more than 2 minutes to make an imprint with that digital submission you’ve just hit send on.
A word document or powerpoint submission ain’t gonna cut it. If you’re not submitting a PDF, you’re already two steps behind.
Those templates word is offering you … they’re really not that great. You’re one of many others who are using it to apply for that same role.
What I’m saying is … we’re moving through lots of resumes at the speed of light. You’ve got to paint that picture fast and in a format that makes you look like a tech pro.
So let’s get to the answers you’re really seeking. There are three things us cheeky talent managers do when reviewing a resume.
IMAGE VIA ACNE
We SKIM
We SCREEN
We seek SHOW-OFFS
Put simply, you can nail all three. Here’s the 411.
SKIM -
I’m sure somewhere out there is a wonderful talent manager who reads every word of every resume they receive and their average productivity is wonderfully ABYSMAL. WE ARE ALL SKIMMING, PEOPLE! Not until the face-to-face interview stage are we diving deep into the linguistic details of you and your wonderful career history. When reviewing bulk resume submissions, we are skimming. Did I hear crickets up the back chirping, ‘what sort of stuff are ya skimming for???’
We are skimming for the highlights. We’re looking at the first key point. We’re looking at the bold font. That means everything you write in your resume should be listed in a hierarchy.
Eg. If you’re applying for a legal role with no work experience but a killer GPA from your Degree, why is that not up top?
Eg. If you’re applying for a retail role, explaining your hospitality responsibilities at that cute little cafe down the road … have you listed cleaning as your first dot pointed responsibility? I hope not.
Every single thing you do on your resume needs to be hierarchical. And concise. Not every single thing you’ve ever done in every role is relevant (I’m sorry - I still think you’re great and special!). If you’re submitting something over 2 pages long, you might not past the skim test.
SCREEN -
Whether the company is using an automated system that searches for key words (and swiftly eliminates your application if it can’t find them) or they are manually screening resumes themselves, you’ve got to use the right language to pass this test. What this means is that you should be using the terms (NOT SENTENCES!) that you’ve directly CRTL+C >> CRTL + V into your resume to show that you understand and represent the dream fit for that dream role. Whether you’re a seasoned pro, transitioning from one industry to another or gunning for your first job fresh-outta-study, you’ve got to talk the talk. If you’re transitioning from Legal to Finance or Hospo to Fitness, even with no tangible work experience in the industry, you need to bring those key words into your resume. If you’re someone who is applying for 50 roles a day and wondering why you’re getting no call backs, perhaps it’s because you’ve got no key words and you’re not making your resume relevant to any particular role.
SHOW-OFF -
Humble Helen, I hear you over there saying you’re uncomfortable gloating and it’s just not your style (I can’t relate). That’s okay, I love that you’re humble, but this is your resume and this is your dream role, big shot! It’s an absolute must - a non-negotiable if you will - that you language your resume to highlight what you have achieved. For example, were you …
… ‘Responsible for driving customer service and ensuring all staff were trained in GORGEOUS COMPANY X standards.’
or did you
… ‘Increase customer compliments by over 15% quarter on quarter through measured one:one training and ongoing service innovations and initiatives in the state.’
See what I did there, Helen?
Remember: Talk like the recruiter is an expert in their field (because they are). Describing your position description is not the same as flaunting that technical skill you’ve worked so hard to acquire. If you aren’t showing-off, you won’t be showing-up (at the interview table, that is).
In conclusion, I hope to have brought you a happy moment of enlightenment, job seekers. I’ve just unlocked the gateway to recruiter mind-set heaven for you and your pal, Resume (I hear she’s about to get a super cute makeover!). Take these tips and do me proud! But before you go, it wouldn’t be a Relier Blog if I didn’t include a little plug, would it? If you don’t know where to start … click that magic little pink button just below. You’re only a tiny scroll away.
With love,
Lauren