One of the most frustrating aspects of job searching from a candidate standpoint is sending out resumes and not being invited to many interviews if any at all. One of the most frustrating things from a recruiter’s perspective is going through dozens, if not hundreds of incoming resumes from candidates who are not even close to qualified for the position they’ve applied to. Or, if they are qualified, it’s not being communicated properly on the resume. Here are 6 things you as a job seeker can do right now to improve your chances of getting a call back on your resume.
Job Description
Read the job description and all instructions carefully. Preferably more than once, before you update and send your resume. This will help you pick up on exactly what the employer is looking for, and what the most important skills are. Just as a job seeker you don’t want to receive random job opportunities sent to you by recruiters that clearly don’t align with your skillset; recruiters and hiring managers also can’t help you with a job if your skillset doesn’t align with the skills and experience they need for their open position. Taking a few extra moments to truly understand what the employer is looking for will help you tailor your resume to show off the skills and experience the employer is looking for.
Highlight your relevant skills
Once you’ve identified the most important skills that the employer is looking for, make sure to highlight them on your resume. If you’ve utilized the skill in previous jobs, make sure they are the top bullet points when you describe your job duties and achievements in previous positions, and not buried far down the resume. Make it easy to see on your resume at a first glance. If you can show how your work utilizing the skill helped a previous employer save time and/or money, improve a process, and so on, you’ll want to showcase that as well.
Consolidate similar roles
If you’ve held multiple similar roles, especially if they’re not directly relevant to the position you’re applying to and have been short-term or contract, consolidate them into one item on your resume. For example, if you’ve held 4 different customer service roles between 2018-2020, list one Customer Service job role item on your resume from 2018-2020. Make a bullet point that lists the companies you worked for and details your achievements and job duties below. This will help keep your resume shorter and less cluttered, making the pertinent information easier to find.
Show ability to learn
If you don’t have all of the skills and experience needed, or not at the level of expertise the employer is asking for, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t apply. Highlight the skills you do have, and mention any previous situations where in spite of not having all the necessary skills, you were able to learn the skills needed and perform the job successfully. Employers are not expecting candidates to have every single skill that they’re asking for. Showing that you’re willing and able to learn and perform the job successfully will also go a long way. If you’re currently taking classes or working on a certification, you’ll want to list that as well. Include the skills you’re working on and what your expected date of completion is.
Customize your resume
Your resume should align with what the employer is looking for. A recruiter or hiring manager should be able to easily identify on your resume the skills and experience they are looking for. This means your resume might be slightly different for each job you’re applying for. One employer might be looking for someone with strong SAP skills, while Agile or Supply Chain skills are less important for one role, while a different employer might consider Agile and Supply Chain must have whereas SAP skills are nice to have. You may have solid experience in all areas, but you’ll still want to arrange your resume to highlight the skills differently depending on what’s important to the employer.
Don’t waste valuable time
If after reviewing the skills needed for a job role, if you’re not able to adequately show an employer that you have the skills they’re requiring, save both yourself, and the person who will be reviewing resumes some time, and don’t apply for that particular role.  Instead, focus your valuable job searching time and energy on applying for job roles you do have the right skills for. Spend your time tailoring your resume for those roles to make the person viewing the resume feel that your resume was made directly in response to their job posting, and you’ll increase your chances of getting their attention and receiving a response back.
iMPact Business Group is a staffing agency specializing in Information Technology, Engineering, Finance/Accounting, and Business Administration/Process positions. To connect with one of our professional recruiters, view our job board for all available positions, or submit your resume for consideration here. Click here to learn more about our available work from home opportunities and to submit your resume for consideration.
