How Hiring Managers View Your Resume: What to Include

Recruiters and hiring managers spend approximately six seconds glancing at a resume before deciding if they want to review it further or toss it aside. Recently, experts have used science and technology to better understand what a reader is really looking at when they view a resume for the first time. Studies using heat maps to see where a reviewer looks on a computer screen have shown that they first glance at your name, your current company and job title, the dates of employment, and your education. This shows that you need to spend most of your time on these areas of your resume to encourage them to want to know more. Here are a few things for you to include when drafting your resume.

  • Easy to read formatting.
    Too much text in long paragraphs is difficult to skim. Make the reviewer’s job easier by formatting your resume with short, bold statements using bullet points. Never use fancy fonts or colors other than black print on a white background. Keep things simple and as easy to read as possible.
  • Bullet points of your job experience.
    When you are creating your job history, be sure to point out the details of your experience by using examples, data, and numbers. The more details you can provide in these short, informational blurbs the more likely a reviewer’s eyes will focus on these sections.
  • Never leave off dates of employment.
    Many job seekers are concerned about including dates of employment, especially if they’ve been on the job market for quite some time. However, recruiters and hiring managers are looking for this information. Include at least the month and year for each job and if you have a significant gap, think of creative ways to fill it. For instance, if you’ve volunteered in your community you can include that in your list of jobs.
  • How to share education.
    Education can be trickier because in many ways it can date you and allow recruiters to make unintended assumptions about your background. You do not need to include dates for your education. You only need to provide basic details of your most advanced degree. Leave off your high school education. If you are a recent college graduate you may want to include some highlights from your university experience.

Do you want to know more ways to create a killer resume for your job search? Contact CornerStone Staffing, offering jobs in Arlington TX and the entire DFW area to learn more!

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