How to Write a Resume to Grab Someone's Attention in Seconds

Believe it or not, you don’t need to worry about your resume too much. Everyone telling you to spend an inordinate amount of time writing, rewriting, editing and proofreading a resume is misleading you.

Companies are overwhelmed by a high volume of job applications and resumes. Hiring managers and recruiters are now too busy to carefully and thoroughly read and analyze your resume. This is how to write a resume to grab someone’s attention in seconds.

How recruiters read resumes

The people involved with the hiring process quickly look at your name, current firm, job title and responsibilities. Then, they will take a peek at your experience with the previous firm and move on to your educational background.

Often, the entire resume-review process takes only seconds. It’s like how people often skim headlines instead of reading the news article.

How to write a resume to grab someone’s attention in seconds

Think of the five-second rule: What would the recruiter, human resources professional or hiring manager need to know to look more closely at your resume?

While professional resume writers will come up with all sorts of niceties and cute fonts to put on the resume, the reality is that you must clearly, effectively and concisely show that you have the relevant, required skills and desired experience.

• Match your current job responsibilities to the new, prospective role’s job requirements. Aim for a near-perfect match.
• Use clear, concise bullet points.
• Tailor your professional experience in each resume after researching the company’s current or expected problems.
• Reference your college studies and any advanced degrees, certifications or professional licenses if relevant.
• Leave off any experience if it’s been longer than 10 years to avoid age discrimination.

This article was written by Jack Kelly for Forbes and was lightly edited and published with permission.