Five Resume Tips from a Frustrated Hiring Manager

by  Brenda L. Peterson, The Layoff Lady

Insights From An Unemployed Job Seeker

As someone who has been laid off a lot, I have applied for about three bijillion jobs throughout my career. I've become a resume nerd through this whole ordeal. I’m always learning about the best format, writing a punchy introduction, tailoring my resume to each position, and having the right level of detail on my LinkedIn profile. Which leads me to...

Insights From A Hiring Manager

On the other side, I’ve also been a hiring manager searching for new computer trainers, instructional designers, technical support specialists, and technical writers. 

​As a hiring manager, believe it or not, I very much want you to be the perfect candidate for the position I have open. However, while searching for a new career opportunity is no picnic, being on the other side of hiring is also challenging.

​Unfortunately, many candidates who apply for a job are either not qualified or represent themselves poorly on a resume. Which brings me to my...

Top Five Tips For A Strong Resume

1. Start with a professional summary section.
   When I read resumes, it's helpful to have a professional summary section front and center. Use this to briefly explain who you are professionally and the top skills you bring to this role. This is the part you can tailor for each position (without spending much time rewriting your whole resume).
   
2. Keep it to 1 or 2 pages.  
   I received one resume that was 17 pages long. It was for a qualified candidate with 20+ years of great experience. It also included details all the way back to high school. Prioritization and conciseness are the name of the game. If you cure cancer, put it on page 1 and ditch something else.  Being able to discern what is valuable and relevant is a critical skill. Droning on and including everything ever is not. 
   
3. Don't get fancy.
   Many resume templates are available with graphics, charts, columns, and just all the things. I have seen versions of these resumes that cram in a lot of text and too many details. ​First off, an ATS (Applicant Tracking System) will have a hard time with this format. Secondly, it's just busy and a lot. The way to go is to use the relatively straightforward chronological resume format with lots of white space and a readable-sized font.
   
4. Skip unnecessary details.
   Resume space is at a premium. Make sure to include only details that add value. Leave off a picture of yourself, cutesy graphics, your home address, education-related dates, and "references available upon request." This will help you save space, focus on your recent work experience, and not give people a reason out of the gate to make assumptions about your age.
   
5. Format your resume and cover letter like you know how. 
   Candidates who tout their “attention to detail” and then make several amateur mistakes hurt my soul—as do people looking for a job requiring graphic design skills whose resume is formatted so poorly that I can’t pick out a job titles from company names. Use headings, bold important content (like job titles), and use bulleted points to organize your skills and accomplishments. As an extra added bonus, it will be more skimmable. 
   

A Secret About Hiring Managers

As a job candidate, it may often feel like you are at odds with hiring managers, and the companies trying to fill open positions. Want to know the truth? 

​As a hiring manager, I’m really hoping that you are the right candidate for the opening I have.

I’m trying like crazy to find just the right person who can do what I need done and who will enjoy working at my company. Each time I come across a resume that includes a great list of skills, but who makes one or more of the mistakes listed above, you're making it harder for me to sell your skills to my boss and get you the salary you want.

Learn More

• Resume Summary Statement Examples and Writing Tips 
• Ten Tips To A More Professional LinkedIn Profile
• The Layoff Lady: I Just Got Laid Off--Now What? ​