12 Ways to Make Sure Your Resume Gets Seen

12 Ways to Make Sure Your Resume Gets Seen 12 Ways to Make Sure Your Resume Gets Seen Moreover, the deck is stacked against your resume. The average company receives 75 resumes for each of its open positions,according to CareerBuilder, and the average recruiterspends no more than six secondslooking at a resume before they decide to pass on it or move forward with the candidate.This is to say bedrngnishing of the dreaded applicant tracking system, which uses its semi-accurate-at-best filter system todisqualify 75 percent of the candidatesforany given position.As a job binnenseeker, then, you have a lot of competition, very little time to make a good impression, and at least one ficklegatekeeper standing in your resumes way.The good news, however, is that all hope is not lost. There are a few things 12, in fact that you can do to boost your resumes chances of being seen by an employer.These tips come from Art Koff, the founder ofRetiredBrains.com.1. Did You List Your Cellphone Numb er for Contact?Recruiters and employers arent going to bother with candidates whom they cannot contact. If your phone number is missing, expect your resume to head straight into the waste basket.Koff suggests a cellphone number in particular because its often easier to reach someone via cellphone than it is to reach them via landline. Dont make an employer work just to track you downAlso, Koff notes that job seekers should make sure there is a professional voicemail message on their cellphones. A jokey answer message could send employers running in the opposite direction.2.Did You Make Sure Your Email Address Is Appropriate for Business?Hokey and fun email addresses can cut you out of the interviewing process, says Koff.Employers wont look kindly on unprofessional email addresses. What does an email address like Partymonster27 say about you as a partie? Nothing very good, thats for sure.3. Are You Using Cliches in Your Job Summaries?MostATSs use keyword systems to filter candidates from the running. If your resume uses generic keywords like results-oriented, self-motivated, or dynamic, theres a good chance that a companys ATS will disqualify you,according to Koff.Better to use specific words from the job description or posting to which you are applying, Koff says.4. Were You Self-Employed? If So, Were You Specific About What You Did?When it comes to self-employment, employers really want to see concrete, detailed descriptions of the projects youve done. Koff suggests going a step further and also including the names of some of your highest-profile clients with their permission, of course.5. How Much Information Did You Include About Jobs You Had Very Early In Your Career?Anything other than the names of companies and the dates you worked there is overkill, says Koff and you may not even need that information at all. Unless a very early job is particularly relevant to the job you are applying for, Koff suggests you keep it simple or cut it altogether.6. Did Y ou Include Your Familiarity With Specialized Equipment?Do you know a lot about certain operating systems, technologies, tools, softwares, etc.? Then be sure to mention that clearly7. Did You Include Any Volunteer Work or Charitable Activities?Employers like to see volunteer work on your resume. As Kara Montermoso of Idealist.orgtells Monster,Volunteer work, whether in addition to a current job or an activity in between jobs, shows an employer that you are willing to try new experiences and are involved in your community, and it generally demonstrates a willingness to take initiative and make things happen.8. Did You List the Specific Core Competencies of Your Job Function and Industry?As mentioned above, ATSs dont like generic keywords. No, these softwares and the employers that use them want to see specific, highly relevant language that directly relates to the job and industry.At the same time, Koff notes, job seekers need to be very careful about how they phrase these core comp etencies.Dont include words like responsible for or duties included, Koff says. Instead, use language like managed or oversaw.Recruiters and hiring managers react better to this terminology.9. Did You Minimize Descriptions of Tasks and Maximize Descriptions of Accomplishments?This is what employers and recruiters are really interested not the daily dutiesof your job, but the overarching and lasting positive impacts you had in your role.10. Did You Quantify Your Accomplishments?Dont just describe your accomplishments in vague terms. Use dollars and percentages to quantify your achievements.Use numbers whenever possible, Koff says. If you can support this information with charts and graphs, do so.11. Did You Create a Text-Only Version of Your Resume?Your resume is going to end up in a lot of weird programs, and fancy formatting will often get destroyed in the process. This can lead to unreadable resumes, which employers wont hesitate to toss. Therefore, Koff suggests that you always k eep a text-only version of your resume on hand.This will preserve the formatting when uploading into a company text box, Koff explains. Word documents dont formatproperly when placed in a text box.12. Did You Include a Cover Letter?Yourtitel letter may never get read, but including one shows an employer that you put time and effort into your application.Plus, in case the cover letterdoesget read, you can use it to your advantage.Your cover letter can serve to better relate your experience to the job to which you are applying, Koff explains.Your resume has to clear a lot of hurdles before it gets read, but if you follow these 12 tips each time you send out a resume, youll give yourself a much better shot at getting seen.Master the art of closing deals and making placements. Take our Recruiter Certification Program today. Were SHRM certified. Learn at your own pace during this 12-week program. Access over 20 courses. Great for those who want to break into recruiting, or recruiters who want to further their career.