More HR Managers Are “Reading Between the Lines” of Resumes

 

 

by Alex A. Kecskes

 

You’ve checked your resume for typos and grammatical errors and you’re convinced it’s perfect for the job. So you send it out to dozens of engineering firms and wait for the phone to ring. But no luck. So what’s wrong? Your resume may be selling you short. The reason: more HR managers are reading resumes between the lines and the opinions they form may not be favorable.

 

The cold, hard fact is that an employer or HR manager will likely form a favorable impression of you within 20 to 30 seconds of reading your resume. That power to persuade rests on a few simple rules of resume presentation.

 

For example, an HR manager can tell in just a few seconds if you are detailed or disorganized, concise or wordy, neat or sloppy. But there are other “reading between the lines” factors that can also be a turn off.

 

Does your resume invite readership? Remember, HR managers wade through dozens of resumes a day. If yours is too compressed with detail, improperly spaced and without bullets or easy-to-absorb paragraphs, you’re hurting your chances.

 

It also doesn’t hurt to “dial down” long lists of membership organizations, irrelevant personal data, and long-winded objectives. HR managers will conclude that you’re simply “loading up” your resume with details of secondary importance.

 

Finally, you may be selling yourself short if you use the wrong format for your experience and skill set. If you have a proven track record in a certain field, a chronological resume that lists your most recent work experience first and goes back five to 10 years may be ideal to put your best foot forward. If you’ve been out of work here and there, a functionally formatted resume that highlights your skills and abilities would better serve your career goals.

 

For an added perspective, check out this video:

 

Got any resume tips you want to share? Include them in the comments section below.

 

Alex A. Kecskes has written hundreds of published articles on health/fitness, "green" issues, TV/film entertainment, restaurant reviews and many other topics. As a former Andy/Belding/One Show ad agency copywriter, he also writes web content, ads, brochures, sales letters, mailers and scripts for national B2B and B2C clients. Please see more of his blogs and view additional job postings on Nexxt.