Get Hired Faster: The Ultimate Guide to Quickly Optimizing your Resume, According to Indeed

Throughout my career I have had the privilege of reviewing thousands of resumes every year. I've seen all types of resumes, from the extremely well-crafted to the completely ridiculous, and I know what works and what doesn't when it comes to creating a resume that will get noticed by recruiters and hiring managers.

If you're looking for a new job or a career change, it's important to make sure your resume is up-to-date and effectively showcases your skills and experience. In this blog post, I'll share some of the top things that recruiters like myself look for in a resume.

 

Relevant Work Experience:

The most important part of your resume is your work experience. Recruiters want to see how you've applied your skills and knowledge in real-world situations. Make sure to include your current and past job titles, companies you've worked for, dates of employment, and a detailed description of your responsibilities and achievements in each role. Highlight the skills and accomplishments that are most relevant to the job you're applying for.

 

Quantifiable Results:

When possible, use numbers to demonstrate the impact of your work. For example, instead of simply saying that you "managed a team," you could say that you "managed a team of 10 people and increased productivity by 30%." Quantifiable results help recruiters understand the scope of your work and the impact you've had on your previous employers.

Keywords:

Many companies use applicant tracking systems (ATS) to screen resumes, so it's important to include relevant keywords that match the requirements of the job you're applying for. Look at the job description and make sure to include keywords that are relevant to your skills and experience.

These are also reviewed by employers. When they see similar wording throughout your resume as the job description, it showcases that you have similar experience that they're looking for.

A Clear and Concise Format:

Your resume should be easy to read and navigate. Use clear, concise language and bullet points to make your experience and accomplishments easy to understand. Keep your resume to one or two pages and make sure to use a font that is easy to read.

Tailor Your Resume for the job you want:

It's important to customize your resume for job you're interested in. This means not only using the right keywords, but also highlighting the experience and accomplishments that are most relevant to the job. Take the time to read the job description carefully and tailor your resume to match the requirements of the positions. If you're interested in more than one job type, you may want several versions of your resume.

A Professional Summary:

A professional summary is a brief statement at the top of your resume that provides an overview of your skills and experience. It should be no more than three to five sentences long and should highlight the key skills and accomplishments that make you a strong candidate for the job.

Relevant Education and Training:

Include your education history, including the name of the educational institution, degree, field of study, and dates of attendance. If you have any relevant certifications or courses, you can also include these in your education section.

Relevant Extra-Curricular Activities:

Including relevant extra-curricular activities can demonstrate your passions and interests outside of work and help you stand out from other candidates. For example, if you're applying for a job in the tech industry, including information about coding projects or hackathons you've participated in can be very valuable.

No Typos or Grammatical Errors:

It's important to proofread your resume thoroughly and make sure it's free of typos and grammatical errors. Recruiters will quickly dismiss a resume that is filled with errors, so make sure to take the time to carefully review your resume before you submit it.

 

Ask for Feedback:

Finally, consider asking someone you trust to review your resume and provide feedback. This can be a friend, family member, or even a professional resume writer or career coach. They may catch something that you missed and provide valuable insights on how to improve your resume.

In conclusion, as a resume reviewer and writer, I see many resumes every day, and I know what it takes to create a resume that will stand out from the crowd. By including relevant work experience, quantifiable results, keywords, a clear and concise format, and a professional summary, you'll be well on your way to creating a resume that will catch the attention of recruiters and hiring managers. Additionally, tailoring your resume for each job, including relevant education and training, extra-curricular activities, and proofreading your resume, will help you make a great first impression. Remember, your resume is your first opportunity to make a great impression, so make sure to invest the time and effort to make it the best it can be.