In the age of resume software sorting candidates on the basis of keywords and relevancy, many companies still employ human sorters to go through the heaps and stacks of resumes.
So how does the process work? As the video elaborates, the decade-old 6-second rule still works! HR personnel spends ONLY 6 seconds skimming through a resume before it is either retained for detailed reading or made fodder for the shredder.
These valuable 6 seconds are spent on viewing your name, address, and contact information before moving on to professional experience and the dates of your latest jobs. Lastly, most of the recruiters skim over your education, and this is enough to analyze whether you are eligible for the job listing or not. The second page of your resume will probably not even be glanced at!
Latest HR trends also show that if the resume manages to pass the 6-second rule, the most important section lies in the visual center of your resume (the top one-third of the first page). So the best way to make a good first impression is to load the visual center of your resume with the value that you offer to potential employees.
To pass this rigorous test, you must write this section as if you are trying to establish a mutually beneficial partnership and you must not come off as an employee desperate for work. If this section is stimulating enough, you have hit the jackpot as the recruiters will read the rest of your resume and possibly call you up for the interview.
Consider including the following in the visual center of your resume:
- Your biggest industry-specific accomplishments.
- Your most valuable and relevant industry-specific skills. (Read the job listing carefully to get a feel for what the company is looking for.)
- A summary of a highly successful project you led (if you are going to be conducting similar projects for your potential employers)
- An impressive education (for recent graduates)
- A clipping from a recommendation letter or news article about your work (only if these clippings contain information relevant to your target position. For example, using this recommendation to showcase a recent graduate’s skills for a nursing position: “Agatha did an excellent job at prioritizing her time. She manages to chart efficiently and is very good at multi-tasking in a safe manner. She knows when to step in and intervene….”
Here is another useful video
Do you have any other tips on resume writing?
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