Resume Review - Beat the Recruiter's 7 Second Clock

 In 2018 an Eye-Tracking Study by Ladders Inc. revealed that recruiters spent an average of only 7.4 seconds on a resume. Here are the top skills needed to write a resume because content counts, NOT the resume template.

Articulate your skills - Writing needs to be to the point and concise while providing the information a recruiter is quickly seeking in your resume.

Review job ads to identify gaps in your skillset - Every employee should look at career job ads! Knowing if your skills are up to date is essential even if you're happy in your position. If you're looking for a position, it's a vital step before starting a resume.   

Personalize your resume - Personalization is essential, depending on your career. For example, creative positions often require portfolios created as websites. The web address information must be on the resume.

Show results, not just skills - Team leaders, project leaders, managers, and other executives need solid results to reinforce their stated skills. Experience recruiters look for budget, sales, and other metric accomplishments within a resume to "prove" experience.   

Skip the fancy design elements - Minimalistic resumes are best. You have 7 seconds. You don't want a recruiter wasting time looking at your resume's design. Pictures of yourself are not recommended unless you're an actor, model, or in the beauty profession, where looks matter.

Demonstrate a steady work history - Hiding gaps in your resume is not advisable. It's better to let prospective employers know what you achieved or did during your employment gap.

Job searches have gotten more competitive and complicated since 2018. The prospective employee must jump two hurdles in their job searches. The first is based on Search Engine Optimization (SEO), needed to have your resume pulled from the database for a recruiter to see. The second step is to present your information to present the 7-second test.  

Would You Consider Cosmetic Surgery for a Job Search?

 

Covid 19 has changed the world of interviewing. According to a Gartner Survey, 86% of all employers in 2020 conducted their initial interviews remotely. For many, this is not an issue. Their appearance is not an issue when doing a digital meeting, but for older workers, ageism has become even more challenging to overcome.  

This brings us to the issue of cosmetic surgery or treatments to "improve" your appearance. The best way to tell if you need help is to have someone record you while doing interview questions. This will show how your face looks when you are doing intense thinking. 

Do you wrinkle your brow? 

Do you squint or close your eye/eyes? 

Does your neck seem too wrinkled as you look into the camera? 

Is your makeup style dated? 

Have you been wearing the same hairstyle for the last 5 years? 

Do you have grey hair?  

Does your hair color seem washed out? 

Consulting a cosmetic professional if you answered yes to any of these questions is something to consider. Some treatments are worth it. For example, if you wrinkle your brow while thinking, a botox treatment will help you stop that habit. Fillers do marvelous things for shallow wrinkles, and a good skincare specialist can have your skin glowing with youth in no time. 

Doing a few tweaks to your looks does not have to be dramatic or expensive but the benefits when participating in a remote interview can make the difference of being successful or passed on. 

Source: 

Gartner Survey 

https://www.gartner.com/en/newsroom/press-releases/2020-04-30-gartner-hr-survey-shows-86--of-organizations-are-cond