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.  

A Government Internship Program with the U.S. State Department

Internship programs are an excellent way to acquire work experience with resume flagship organizations and companies. The U.S. Department of State2013 Fall Student Internship Program is an unpaid opportunity for college students to participate in a 10-week program. It may be an unpaid internship but it provides an intensive educational and professional experience within the environment of America’s principle foreign affairs agency. That is a plus for anyone's resume.

These unpaid internships are available at many over 265 U.S. embassies, consulates and missions to international organizations around the world, as well as at the Department of State in Washington, D.C. The U.S. intern participants will gain first-hand, hands-on experience, and learn the realities of working in and with foreign and civil service professionals.  

As an unpaid intern, you may have the opportunity to participate in meetings with senior level U.S. government or foreign government officials; draft, edit, or contribute to cables, reports, communications, talking points used by policy makers. In addition to helping organize and support events, including international, multilateral and conferences meetings on critical global issues.  

The internship is for the Fall 2013 with the U.S. Department of State and you may even earn educational credit depending upon your college.  

To find out about this intern position and other government jobs, visit USAJobs. You will need to complete the application gateway and please note that the deadline to submit completed intern applications is March 1, 2013.