When your resume lands in the hands of a recruiter or HR professional it is likely to be one of hundreds of resumes. The time it would take to read every single resume is just not feasible. The perusal of your resume will last approximately 20 to 30 seconds, unless you are able to entice the reader to read more. In an effort to narrow down the search, their goal is to catch a mistake, which will eliminate the need to read on and your resume can then be cast aside. Spelling mistakes, grammatical errors, formatting issues, incorrect reference names, too many pages, too much white space, uneven borders, a variety of font sizes, missing dates, non-specific information; anything about your resume that does not create a positive and professional impression will eliminate you from the competition.
In 20 to 30 seconds the reader will have an opportunity to:
- View the overall appearance and length of your resume
- Notice significant keywords
- Be impressed with noteworthy accomplishments
Do not include your personal interests, a generic profile or responsibilities. You have 20 to 30 seconds to catch the eye of the reader with a neat, clean, accomplishment based, keyword savvy resume!
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