Most recruiters spend only 6 seconds looking at a résumé before they decide if it’s worth talking to the candidate or not. And in order to impress, you need to understand what they are looking for.

To make it even easier on you, we have created an optimized résumé template for you to edit and add your own information! Download it here!

To save it in your Google Drive, go to File > Make a Copy.

Obviously, some companies may be more liberal than others when it comes to the condition of the résumés they consider, especially if we’re dealing with different areas. These tips are focused on a more formal approach, but nonetheless, they are essential to having a decent résumé with which you can proudly apply to your dream job.

1. Delete Filler and Cliché Words

3 Steps To Write a Perfect Resumé For Today's Market
Source: Independent

You may be tempted to put in some extra keywords here and there to make the final resume seem more robust, but don’t kid yourself - they’re filler, and interviewers can spot them a mile away.

  • Be direct - recruiters probably deal with hundreds of résumés, so they appreciate when you spare them of unnecessary paddling.
  • Avoid clichés - describing yourself as “eager to learn,” “team worker,” or “people person” are things that cannot really be proved and recruiters tend to completely ignore them. Let your work speak for itself.
  • Objective - don’t write your “objective” anywhere. It doesn’t tell the employer anything useful and it’s too vague to be taken into consideration.
  • Hobbies - again, this doesn’t tell the employer anything they need to know. Skip it all together.
  • Work experience - unless it’s related to the job you’re trying to get, take it out.
  • Absolutely no grammar or spelling mistakes - this seems obvious, but it’s a real killer - and it happens more often than you can imagine. Double check everything, and double check after that.

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2. The Right Format

Pick the right format for your resumé
Source: LinkedIn

Once you get the information right, it’s time to think about the right format. There are some basic guidelines we should respect.

  • Basic is better - you don’t have to settle for Arial or Times New Roman, but don’t go too far. And if you want to use a different color, stick to dark colors. Changing colors is a cheap way to get attention and doesn’t help any recruiter see why they should hire you, so if you really want to, use only one different color, and make sure it’s readable.
  • If you have experience, show it first - assuming you left college for a while and have some work experience to show for, put that first, and leave your degree on the bottom. Recruiters care a lot more about the work you’ve done than about your degree.
  • No headshot (unless it’s required) - most companies don’t care for headshots at all, unless you’re applying for a TV or modeling role.
  • Only one column - remember recruiters need all the information they want as fast as possible, so adding columns or dividing sections too much will make it harder for them to find what they want, and therefore, will discourage them to keep looking.
  • Only one page - your resume should only be one page long. While two pages may be okay if you have a lot of related experience, keep it as short as possible.

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3. Start Strong

Always start strong with your resumé
Source: Business Daily

One thing recruiters really like is having the first upper third of your résumé be a short version of the entire thing - you should include the most basic information here and show right away why they should hire you. This should make them want to read the rest.

  • Your name and contact information - at the very top have your full name as a header, followed by one phone number and one email.

Tip: You don’t need to write “Phone:” before your phone number. It’s obvious and including it creates visual clutter.

  • A short description of your experiences and education - take a few lines to describe yourself (professionally) and talk about your work experience, followed by your areas of expertise. This brief little opening to your résumé should make recruiters more interested in reading the rest - but even if they don’t, they still got all the information they needed.

Did you download the template yet? We have created an optimized résumé template for you to edit and add your own information! Download it here!

To save it in your Google Drive, go to File > Make a Copy.