Only 3 Things Impress Recruiters On A Resume

October 31, 2013 by Robin Schlinger  

When people have been searching for a job for a long time, they are willing to try anything to make their resume stand out: red ink, unusual fonts, purple paper, clip art.

Don’t do it.

Recruiters and Human Resources departments are impressed with only three things:

• The right combination of skills, education and achievements
• The ability to relay that information quickly and concisely
• A clean, neat, easy-to-read format

They don’t have time to sort out facts from creativity and computer scanning programs are very likely to miss or mess up vital information if you use unusual colors, artwork, formats or fonts. As one recruiter put it, “If a resume looks like it means business, it is more likely to be taken seriously.”

The best way to capture attention is to make sure your resume is focused and clear, you have included the information that companies are looking for and you have given yourself full credit for your achievements.