What Resume Format Will Wow a Recruiter?

There are hundreds, if not thousands of ways to format a resume, and recruiters have seen nearly every type of resume possible, from video resumes to illustrated resumes to the standard chronological resume. So what type of format will actually get you noticed and will truly “wow” a recruiter?

Stick to Your ABC’s: Always Be Concise

You have limited real estate on a resume, and recruiters don’t have the time to sit down and read a novel. You don’t want to write 30 words when five will suffice. Keep your points short and sweet, and avoid flowery language and vague adjectives that add nothing of value. Recruiters aren’t impressed by buzzwords, they want to see substance.

Don’t Bury the Lede

Remember, you’ve got limited time and space to make your case. Traditional, chronological resumes can actually do more harm than good. If recruiters have to read every word of your resume to determine whether or not you have the skills and experience they are looking for, you’ll end up and the bottom of the pile. Instead, try a skills-based, functional resume that elevates your most relevant qualities to the top of the document. This way, it only takes the recruiter a few minutes to determine your qualifications.

Using a functional resume also ensures you are tailoring your resume to your desired position. This is critical in a job search, but few candidates take the time to personalize their resume in this way. Recruiters can instantly tell if you took the time to focus your resume to your goal, or if you just send out the same old, generic document every time. This one strategy can get you noticed every time.

Focus on Your Contributions, Not Your Task List

When describing your previous experience, most job seekers list their responsibilities for each position they’ve held. Recruiters can form a good idea of what you did based on your job title. They are looking to discover the value you bring to the table. Instead of saying that you, “Oversaw final stages of product development,” try, “drafted the final design of two new LED lighting projects that netted $1.2M in revenue in the product’s first year on the market.”  Clearly, the second version illustrates quite clearly you make valuable contributions to your employer and will make a stronger impression on a recruiter.

Don’t Be Afraid of Personality

Your resume is essentially a list of facts about you as a professional, but it doesn’t have to be completely dry and boring. Let your own voice and personality show through without straying from the facts. Don’t be afraid to include things like volunteer work and passion projects to give the recruiter a peek into who you are as a person.

If you are an engineer or technical professional in the Southeast region seeking new opportunities, contact the recruiting experts at Selectek today. We can match you with an opportunity that will help you take the next step in your career, and we can help you format your resume to make a great impression, every time.