5 Things You Need to Look for in a Resume

City Personnel

On average, recruiters spend 6 seconds or less reviewing a resume. Within those 6 seconds, they will either decide to read further or move on to another resume. How are they able to make a decision that quickly? The simple answer is, they know what to look for.

Work Experience

The most useful thing to look for in a resume is work experience. The work experience section can be tricky, however, because certain job titles can be too broad for you to know exactly what a candidate does. If you see a job title intrigues you, make sure to read the description.

Outside Industry Experience

Previous experience within your industry is important but not a deal-breaker. Every candidate doesn’t have to come from the same industry as you work in. Sometimes getting an outsider to come into your industry can help bring a new perspective.

Gaps In Employment

If an employee has several months of a gap in employment, there will likely be a reason for that. However, if a resume has several jobs on it and all have several employment gaps, there could be a bigger reason other than coincidence.

Employment Growth

Employees that don’t see any growth within a company can be a red flag, especially if it is an entry-level position. However, it is not always a red flag. Sometimes companies don’t offer promotions for certain positions. However, if a candidate had several entry-level jobs for 3+ years with no growth, there could be a reason behind it.

Employee Skills

A candidate with a job title like “manager” or “specialist” can be a good sign they are a great candidate for your job opening. However, what can be more important than the title they held or the company they worked for is the skills they have. What type of skills does a candidate need to excel at the role you are hiring for? Once you figure that out, make sure the candidate has those skills.

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