Posted by
dankeller on Apr 25, 2010 in
Resume |
4 comments We all know that a resume has one main purpose – To get you an interview and then to ultimately help you land the job
What some job candidates do not know is that there are 4 major stakeholders that will view your resume during the application/interview process. Each stakeholder is looking for something different from your resume and this makes it very difficult for the average person to write their resume because they are not aware that different stakeholders want to see different things.
Here is the typical journey that your resume takes.
You upload your resume and apply to a posting on the career section of an employers’ website. Your resumes’ journey is under way.
- Your resume enter an applicant tracking system and is many times screened in or out based on preselected keywords. At this stage it is essential that your resume contains the proper keywords for the position you are applying for. Hint : Take a look at the job description and match your resume as close to the description as possible.
- If your resume is screened in, then a corporate recruiter or HR person will take a look at your background. The recruiter at this stage is doing a brief scan of your resume. As a corporate recruiter, I can tell you that an initial visual screen of a resume takes about 30-45 seconds. The recruiter is looking at where you work currently, how long you have been there, your current title, your career progression, educational background, and any achievements. In short the recruiter is looking to see if you have the experience and education that is required for the position. At this stage the recruiter is also looking for “red flags” like job hopping. If there is a match and you look like you have demonstrated success in previous related positions, you will likely move on in the process.
- If you pass this stage, your resume is submitted to the hiring manager. The hiring manager is also looking to verify that your background is a match but the hiring manager is more interested not in what you have done, but how well you have done it. Awards, accomplishments, promotions, increase in responsibilities are looked at closely. The hiring manager wants to make sure they are hiring a stud, not a dud.
- If the hiring manager likes what they see, an interview will be scheduled, if the interview goes well, your resume along with commentary from the hiring manager travel to the inbox of your managers’ manager. The next level manager is also looking for a track record of success. Many times, this level of manager will be looking for skills and traits that extend beyond the current job, assessing, potential for upward mobility and strategic fit.
This may be a simplistic view, but I think it captures the essence of the typical process. The point of this post is highlight the importance of writing your resume to appeal to all 4 components of the process. Because of the different audiences that are viewing your resume and the subtle differences that it takes to appeal to each one, I strongly recommend that you consult with a pro resume writer to help write your resume. At the very least, obtain a free resume evaluation before you start sending off your resume.
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“As a corporate recruiter, I can tell you that an initial visual screen of a resume takes about 30-45 seconds.”
Exactly why a one page, clean looking resume is a good idea. Even if their is only one person looking at your resume, chances are they will quick scan the large pile in front of them.
great point, sometimes, we get impatient when a waiting for response.
Your post is very insightful. Knowing the path a resume travels helps you to tailor a resume for each job, which is one of the most important aspects to creating the perfect resume. I recently published a post on my blog (http://ksumagit.blogspot.com/) regarding several common resume errors. If anyone is interested, check it out!