Tips To Creating a Solid Searchable Resume

TIPS TO CREATING A SOLID SEARCHABLE RESUME
1) USE KEYWORDS: Resumes are skimmed initially by hiring managers and recruiters in 5 -
10 seconds, sometimes faster if they are keyword searching large sites like
CareerBuilder. They are looking for specific information to fill a specific role. Be sure to
include keywords in your resume that will zero in on your desired position. A resume
with the pertinent keywords will ensure your resume gets found and gets a longer look.

2) NOT TOO MUCH INFORMATION: Resumes with too much information or too much
"fanciness" get passed over quicker. The pertinent information is too hard to find. Keep
it simple, straight forward and easy to pinpoint your experience and strengths. Refrain
from fancy fonts, lines, headers and too many additional nonessential things.

3) SIMPLE FORMATTING: When you submit your resume through a website or RTS
(resume tracking system), that fancy formatting is often removed or altered. This
means that your resume doesn't look at all like what you intended. If it doesn’t get
altered on the site you upload to it is likely to get altered when recruiter and hiring
managers upload it to their company’s tracking site like Sales Force. Be sure you are
looking at it from that perspective. The more straightforward you make it initially, the
more intact it will stay as it travels through the screening process. In today’s hiring
landscape it is best to stay streamlined, bullet pointed and easy to follow.

4) AVOID ALL CAPS & CATCHY TITLES: Catchy titles and placing your name in ALL CAPS
were both “best practices” at one point in the hiring game. Today it is best to instead
use the same size (not all caps) font and save your resume with a title that is just your
name or even the year or something similar such as “Christy McDonald Resume” or
“Christy McDonald 2013 Resume”. Eliminate catchy titles when using career websites.
Instead of “dynamic sales professional” opt for something that is concise such as
“Licensed Multi-state Health/Life Agent”. That way you are already ahead of the game
on using keywords and giving hiring managers/recruiters a heads up as to exactly what
type of sales you are in.