According to Indeed.com, recruiters spend an average of just six to seven seconds scanning a resume. What they read in the top third to half of the page determines if they’re going to continue reading your resume or move on to the next person – no pressure, right? So, how can you grab recruiters’ attention and convince them to keep reading? Let’s explore some ideas to make your resume stand out from the crowd.  

Prepare with the job description 

Job descriptions can be long and full of details. Break down the job details by creating a skills match table: identify the key qualifications and skills required in the job description, then match your skills and qualifications to those requirements. Highlight key qualifications in the top half of your resume to quickly show recruiters how you are a strong fit, and be sure to use the same keywords in your resume that are in the job description.  

Pro tip: Use the AI features inside the SkillsFirst career management system to identify keywords in the job description. Learn how to maximize the use of SkillsFirst’s AI tools by reading this blog post.  

Keep in mind that the first person reviewing your resume may not be an expert in your field. They will likely be looking for keywords and direct matches to the job description, so make sure your skills and experience are clearly presented. To test this, ask a friend or family member unfamiliar with your industry to review your resume and see if it makes sense to them.  

Consider the format  

First impressions matter! Recruiters review dozens if not hundreds of resumes, so grab their attention by making yours easy to read and visually appealing. Choose a simple, clean, well-organized format that won’t overwhelm the reviewer. Their focus should be on the content of your resume, not on any fancy designs or creative headers. Keep your contact information brief and make it easy for the recruiter to know how to contact you.  
 
Pro tip: Check out the Custom Samples on the Resumes and More tab of the Career Planning and Development website. All samples are available as templates within SkillsFirst; follow these step-by-step instructions for how to find a template and edit it.  

Develop a summary section

The summary section of your resume is your chance to quickly show how your experience meets the job requirements. Since most jobs won’t be exact matches to your previous work experience, you will likely need to feature skills and qualifications from different areas of your career and life. Use this section to tie everything together – but keep it brief! Refer back to the key points from the job description and condense your summary into four to six sentences or bullet points.  

What should come next?  

Now that your summary statement highlights you as the ideal candidate for the job, what should come next on your resume? The next section should support what you’ve already outlined. If your education is most relevant to the job, lead with that; if your professional experience is a stronger match, feature that first. Use your critical thinking skills to decide what will best showcase your qualifications and keep the reviewer interested. Just remember to use language that aligns with the job description and clearly demonstrates that you meet the requirements. 

Finish strong  

Your summary section and education or experience sections of your resume should be more than enough to fill the first half of your page. By this point, the reviewer will hopefully want to keep reading to the end of your resume, so make sure the rest of your document is clear, well-structured, and continues to highlight you as a strong candidate.  

Condensing your skills, accomplishments, and professional experience to make a six second impact is a big challenge. Learn more about resume writing by watching the Write a Winning Resume webinar, and if you find yourself second guessing what to include in your resume and what to leave out, reach out for help. Schedule an appointment with one of Walden’s career advisors for personalized resume feedback. 

Additional Resources: 

• Read the blog article: Five Easy Steps to Tailor Your Resume or CV 
• Watch the webinar: Write a Winning Resume 
• Read the article: How Long Do Hiring Managers Look at a Resume?  
• Visit the Resumes & More tab on the Career Planning and Development website  
• Explore resume samples: Custom Samples  
• Create an account in SkillsFirst 
• Schedule an Appointment with one of Walden’s career advisors 

Written by Alison Fahy, Specialist, Department of Career Planning and Development