Get your Resume out of the Trash

Did you know that it takes just about 6 seconds for you to make an impression on a recruiter through your resume/CV?

Yes, it does.

According to eye-tracking research, recruiters spend between six to eight seconds reviewing an individual resume during the initial screening process. Close your eyes and take two deep breaths. Yes, that’s how long it takes to make a decision to either toss your CV  into the trash or move you to the next round of the application process.

What then can you do to ensure you move to the next step?

It’s easy to come up with the answer, you need to stand out. Not just stand out, you need to stand out FAST. You need to bear in mind that you only have 6 seconds to provide the recruiter with the right information in time.

Your resume has to be organized and on point in a way that provides the recruiter with the information (s)he is looking for. 

1. Your resume must have to have a strongly organized layout. Arrange the information on it by importance. 
2. Keep it short and simple, straight to the point information. 
3. Read more about specific details hiring managers need from your CV.

80% of the time is spent on viewing these contents on your Resume

• Name of Candidate
• Candidates experience/track record
• Current position/ company
• Current position start and end dates
• Achievements/results at current or past positions.
• Previous position/ company
• Previous position start and end dates
• Education or any pointers showing knowledge depth for the role.

The remaining time was used to search for specific skills or keywords, such as ‘SQL’ or ‘PHP’ for programmers.

As a programmer or a designer in the tech world, you should understand that in recent times, AI tools are being used to match the language in your resume to the language in the job posting. In other words, Robots. 

Robots help with sorting and picking the most relevant candidates based on the job posting criteria.

Therefore, when you apply for a job, pay attention to the job description, the language/words they use, and the experience they seek. Incorporate that into your CV or resume. Show off your creative side by creating an online portfolio and including the link.

Two key things you must never compromise on – the summary and the relevant experience.

The Summary

Beneath your name and title are “The Summary or Introduction” of who you are professionally, what you have to offer, key skills, the highlights of your strengths relevant to the job, and why you’re the best fit for the role and company. It is the forward-learning section that shares what you have to offer compared to the rest of your resume which is backward-learning, that shows what you have accomplished.

Relevant Experience

This is a little bit different from the general experience/skills section of your resume. For example, communication, writing skills, time management, etc. 

If you have extra skills that are relevant to the job description, you can create a separate listing under the “Relevant Experience” section. You can include; research partner, program manager, etc in this section. 

Note: Only include experiences and skills that are relevant to the potential role. 

ProTip:

The single most important action you can take is making personal connections. Find out who the hiring manager is, reach out on LinkedIn to get an insight about the company and what they are looking for.

Go get that job!

Sources: 

The Ladders – Eye Tracking-Study C2.

HBR, Job Search