What Do Recruiters Look For In A Resume?

When you’re in the market for a job, it’s easy to get caught up in the strategy of finding a new opportunity. You might spend hours a day on job boards, or you might network your way through your industry, hoping to find someone who knows someone who can help. But if you want to get the most out of your job search, then you have to think about what happens before you even get a chance to talk to a recruiter.

Your resume is your best chance to make a great first impression on a recruiter. It’s your only opportunity to let the recruiter know you’re interested in the job and to show them that you have the skills and experience they’re looking for. If a recruiter doesn’t have time to review your resume in detail, they’ll make their decision about whether or not to call you based on their first impression of your resume.

Have you ever wondered what a recruiter looks for when they first glance at a resume? It’s not as simple as reading the document and immediately identifying the best candidates for the job. There are certain things that recruiters look for right away, and the better you understand them, the better your resume will be at grabbing their attention.

When you think of what it takes to land a job, you probably think about what you’re going to say in the interview, or how you’re going to market yourself to the company. But the first thing a company will notice about you is your resume or the way you represent yourself on a professional online profile such as LinkedIn. And the first thing they’ll do is to look for certain things that indicate that you’re a good fit for the job.

When it comes to getting a job, your resume is one of the most important documents you can have. It’s your first opportunity to make a good first impression on a potential employer, and it needs to convey all the relevant information about your background and experience in a way that’s clear and easy to read. Your resume can make the difference between getting called for an interview or being passed over, so you must get it right. While a great resume will help you get noticed, a well-written resume can help you secure an interview.

It’s your opportunity to showcase your qualifications and persuade the employer that you’re the right person for the job. In some cases, a single resume can be the difference between getting the job and not. That’s why it’s important to get your resume right.

When a recruiter receives a resume for a job opening, the first thing they do is take a glance at it to get a sense of whether or not it’s worth reading in more detail. At that glance, the recruiter is looking for certain things that indicate the resume is worth reading in more detail, and those things are called “seekers”. And then they notice the candidate’s name. From there, their eyes are drawn to the job title and the company, which confirms that the resume is a good match for the job they’re trying to fill.

Your most recent role

The interviewer wants to figure out if you are still interested in the job you were doing or want to switch roles and try something different. They will wonder about you leaving that job and whether you were fired so do not lie and tell honestly the reason for you leaving that role. When you’re an entry-level candidate, you can highlight your training, degrees, internships, and other experiences that demonstrate your ability to benefit the business if recruited in your resume.

Company recognition

The fact that which company you have been working for till now plays a vital role as it is a factor of “credibility”. Employers working at big organizations and firms are given priority.

Experience

The recruiters look for your overall performance in your resume and if you have been improving or not throughout the years. And the fact that your experience should match the criteria required by the employer for the job. But if you’re a newbie with no experience or internships, don’t worry. 

Just list any personal projects where you took on a position and handled responsibilities, such as helping to plan a function for your society. The period of employment is required to be mentioned.

Preparation of the resume

The overall grammar used in the resume is also considered by the recruiters including your ability to sell your ideas. Ensure that there are no errors in your resume by reviewing it several times and having it checked by friends and relatives. As much as feasible, use bullet points to describe your prior experience, etc. Change them from general to specific. Example: You increased sales by 20%, led a team of more than 50 people, and published more than 50 essays for said company.

Skills and Interests

Recruiters spend a lot of time reviewing resumes. They’re looking for specific skills and experiences that can help them find the best candidate for the job.

For example, a recruiter might be interested in knowing about a candidate’s experience with a specific software package or system, or the number of hours a candidate spent on the phone. They’re also looking for indicators that can help them determine if a candidate is a good fit for the position. 

The three divisions are talents, languages, and interests. No personal skills, rather professional expertise, should be mentioned. Give an example of any software, along with Microsoft Office. Additional classifications for languages include native, fluent, proficient, etc. Include some positive things like reading books, traveling, and sports in your interests list for a better response.

Format

As the interviewer intends to focus on the content of the resume, keep the design simple unless you’re applying for the design field. Otherwise, the design will draw attention away from the content. Keep the most recent roles at the top and follow the chronological order. If you have no or little experience, state your education first, followed by your experience. If not, start by mentioning your experience. Summary, experience, education, accomplishments/leadership, skills, and interests are in the correct sequence. Don’t include a summary if you are a fresher, since your resume is already a summary.

Education

Specify your organization, university, qualifications, and specialties, along with the grades you received for each. The finest resume highlights the connections between your educational background and the position you are applying for or your existing employment. Don’t mention any irrelevant courses or short-term courses from platforms like Udemy, or Coursera unless you are looking for a job based on them.

Keywords

Though laborious and time-consuming, creating a resume is worthwhile. People frequently overlook the importance of keywords, which recruiters use to locate the finest candidates. You can find many such phrases or words online by pasting job descriptions into websites. You then need to incorporate them in your resume. They are composed of action verbs like “researched,” “planned,” and “led,” as well as job-related keywords.

Achievements/ Leadership

Choose the option that is best for you based on your circumstances.

Since nearly each employer checks for any of these from a candidate, the majority of candidates miss out by failing to offer any specific achievements or statistics. You can add awards you’ve won, accomplishments like increasing a company’s sales, issues you’ve resolved for business, projects you’ve worked on, or any initiatives.

Career Gaps

You must provide a good enough explanation for the career gap. Examples include quitting your job because of pressure from families or a situation that has now been resolved, taking a break to develop and learn more, launching a new business, etc. Just label that portion of your life truthfully and innovatively, acknowledging that it might cause some people to look up at you.

Individual Online Trial

These are hyperlinks to your profiles on various services, such as LinkedIn, GitHub, Twitter, and your websites, which you may have included in your resume. Seeing the corporate accounts is among an HR manager’s favorite aspects of recruiting.

Also Read – ” How to Create a Standout LinkedIn Profile “

Avoid Personal Information

But no information about your family situation, weight, height, or nationality on your resume. To prohibit potential discriminatory practices, many businesses might even refuse to accept a picture. Even if you are eager to include an image in your resume, it needs to convey professionalism. Although you can specify your preferred location, employers need to know this to choose the right candidate.

Recruiters look for a variety of things when reviewing a resume. The most important thing to remember when preparing your resume is that recruiters are primarily interested in your skills and experience, not the company you worked for. A recruiter will quickly lose interest in your background if they don’t see evidence of your abilities. Keep your resume to 1 or 2 pages and focus on your skills and accomplishments, not the company you worked for.

Hiring managers search for personal details inside a cover letter, such as your motivations, interests, or the reason you applied for the position, that they can’t find on a resume. They are curious to know why you are the most qualified applicant. Don’t rehash your resume’s content. Briefly describe your education and previous jobs. Make sure to do your homework and include everything unique you can do for the position, such as a special ability or a deep passion for the field.

Also Read – ” 6 Benefits of Writing a Cover Letter “

The interview process is not a test, and an interview is not a job for a single moment. It is a process that should be thoughtfully planned, and it can be valuable to have a set of prepared questions to ask, but an interview is not a competition, so be sure to keep in mind that you are there to build a relationship with the person who is interviewing you. Be sure to show that you are a thoughtful person by asking questions and listening carefully. 

Even though you may feel nervous or anxious at times, you need to demonstrate a sense of confidence and be sure to find the right balance between being open and honest, and being a little nervous. Recruiters spend 8- 10 seconds reading a resume. It’s their job to find the right candidate for the right job, so they’re looking for specific qualities and experiences in the information that candidates provide. Whether you’re applying for a job or internship, your resume is the primary tool you have to get the recruiter’s attention. It’s your chance to sell yourself in the best possible way.

We, at Human Resource India, provide professional resume writing services. Our team comprises professional resume writers with deep knowledge in this area. They will make sure that their resume writing expertise will help you create the best resume that will help you in landing your dream job.