If you’ve worked with a recruiter before, you know that having everything organized and ready to send at the right time is of the utmost importance. However, when a recruiter is sourcing dozens of candidates for the same job, there are a few things you can do to catch their attention.

Formatting is Everything

When it comes to first impressions on your resume, formatting is the most important – in fact, you can often deter them as fast as you attract them. How easy is your resume on the recruiter’s eyes? Does it read well? Or is it chaotic with little structure and no flow to the information on it? Here are a few tips and tricks to help you navigate formatting your resume: 

  • Be precise with the information you include on your resume. You don’t need all five internships listed with extensive details on each! You can just have an internship section and list the companies you interned with and the dates you interned for. 
  • Double-check that everything is in the same font. There can be different font weights, colors, and sizes for emphasis and highlighting, but you don’t want the disorganization that comes with mix-matched fonts and visual chaos! 
  • Make sure you have great grammar. This can be just as telling as using slang and abbreviations! Use Grammarly if you must, but always make sure to put your best foot forward grammatically. 
  • Be organized. How you organize the information on your resume can be a huge attraction as well. If you are looking for a managerial level job or higher, the recruiter is going to want to see if you can manage and report on information efficiently.  

The Devil’s in the Details

One thing you will want to be sure to do is to be specific about what you have accomplished. The best way to do this is usually through pulling your numbers. What were your goals and did you meet them? If you surpassed your goals, by what percentage did you do that? If you’re in marketing or sales, having your numbers at hand to emphasize your impact can be non-negotiable! 

Now, let’s talk about dates. Why do you have the specific dates of each job on your resume? If it’s only because that’s what every resume template you’ve seen has had, then maybe it’s time to reevaluate. As long as you have the important dates, like when you attended college, and maybe when you started each major job, the rest can be left up to the recruiter to ask. Not having dates can be distinctive to the recruiter! 

Another important thing to remember is that time gaps happen, and that it’s not as taboo anymore, and not something you should be ashamed of. Not having specific dates for every little thing that you have done in your career gives you more grace when it comes to portraying your experience over the amount of time you have had a job. However, if you don’t include dates, make sure you establish a clear timeline of your career with formatting and information organization. 

Other Resume Things

If you work in an industry that requires an updated portfolio, there are a few creative ways that you can incorporate it into your resume. One of the most effective ways to do this is by creating a QR code that the recruiter can scan right off of your resume. You can have the QR code go right to your website or pull up your portfolio exclusively (via Behance). Other ways you can attach your portfolio is by listing your social media handles, website URL, and any other online resources in the contact section of your resume. 

Since your resume is more about how you present the information about yourself and your career, the Catch Crew advises against including a headshot on your resume. There are plenty of other chances for you to portray your personality on your social media or website. Social media can be an extension of your resume at times since it can show recruiters how you carry yourself, present your work, and treat your community.
In the end, getting your resume noticed by a recruiter comes down to four major parts: formatting, grammar, showing your impact, and personal touches. Once you get these pillars down, the rest is easygoing.

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