What Employers Look For In A Resume

Look For Target Keywords

If youre still not sure if any of these skills are right for your situation, one quick way to check which skills the employer is seeking is to check the job description.

Read through it a few times and youll likely spot three or four key skills mentioned several times throughout the document. If thats the case, you should do your best to focus on those skills in your resume, too.

Your Resume Needs To Have The Nuts And Bolts Covered Before You Can Expect A Call For An Interview

A great resume needs these 10 things.

What do employers look for in a resume? Good question. Recruiters spend about six seconds checking out your resume, so that little piece of paper needs to stop them in their tracks. We asked career experts what they consider the absolute must-haves for entry-level resumesand what your resume is likely lacking if you’re still not getting a callback.

You wouldn’t show up to a job interview half-dressed or with a beach backdrop on Zoomwe hope not at least!so why send out a resume that’s missing the fundamentals? Before you hit “send” on your next batch of job applications, make sure you’ve got these resume essentials nailed down.

What To Put On A Resume To Impress Your Employers In 2022

Youâve completed your resume and you’re ready to press send.

But even after writing everything down, it still feels like you might be missing something important.

Youâre not sure what it is, or how to confirm it.

While there are specific information employers will expect in your job application, the essential things youâll need to include are:

• Contact details
• Skills
• ATS keywords

It doesnât stop there â thereâs more to it if you want to impress employers.

Thatâs why in this guide, we cover everything about what to put on a resume, what not to put, and the other factors to consider.

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What Do Employers Look For In A Rsum

Essentially, employers look for what you can do for them. Thats what they want to know. Your résumé should to be reader friendly easy for the reader to find the names of companies, titles held, and dates employed. If the reader has to spend time hunting for this information, he or she will pass over the résumé. You cannot expect the employer to do ANY work it all has to be accessible and right there.

On average, the employer will only spend 15-20 seconds reviewing the document. This will not sound flattering to the job seeker, but candidly, you are a product that youre selling and marketing to the reader. Just like in any other sales situation, you sell the sizzle, not the steak. Obviously, you will need the details to substantiate the claim, so have all the factual information available. What will create the sense of urgency is if you can demonstrate that YOU are the better product. This is especially important in soft markets.

What To Look For In A Resume When Screening Candidates

Ji-A Min / Nov 16, 2018

When a job posting for a high-volume role receives more than 250 applicants, its essential to know what to look for in a resume to find qualified candidates.

LinkedIns data tells us 69% of talent acquisition leaders report their hiring volume has increased, but only 26% say the size of their recruiting teams increased.

Having an organized system for resume screening will save you time and make your life a lot easier. Here are 4 things to look for in a resume to find qualified candidates.

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Do Include Social Links

Since the birth of LinkedIn, people have been debating whether or not we should include it and other social media profiles on our resumes. The debate is pretty much over at this point: Like it or not, social media is now part of the hiring process. Recruiters and hiring managers will Google you anyway. Make their lives easier by including the URLs of relevant social media profiles on your resume next to your contact information.

A caveat, of course: Only include URLs for profiles and websites that paint you in a positive, professional light. You can probably leave your Facebook and personal blog off your resume, but LinkedIn, Quora, your online portfolio all good assets to include.

Readability And Neat Layout

The way your resume looks creates an initial impression about you. And this impression can be irresistibly good if you submit a well-designed resume that uses an easy-to-read font and a skimmable format. On the contrary, you can discourage the recruiter from reading your application if the document is visually busy, cluttered, poorly structured or the font is too small. Poorly formatted resume make a subtle impression that you dont value recruiters time or didnt bother, both of which wont work in your favor. So, take enough time to polish the document visually.

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How To Match Your Resume Skills To The Job Description

Many companies use an applicant tracking system , which acts as an electronic filter, to collect, scan, sort and rank resumes to narrow applicant pools to the most qualified candidates. Thats why you need to customize your resume and cover letter using keywords and phrases that match the job listing .

If an employer is looking for a graphic designer with mastery in Adobe Creative Suite, for example, you wouldnt just claim experience with software for creative professionals. List the software by name, give your expertise level, and if you have it highlight your Adobe Certified Expert certification. Likewise, if an employer is searching for an accountant with experience processing daily invoices and credit, then use similar language in your resume. Simply listing gathering receipts as a duty wont likely score well with an ATS.

Repeat common words and phrases from other postings of the same role, too. But remember, every job description is different. Tailor the keywords and skills on your resume and in your cover letter for each position.

Soft Skills Employers Are Looking For In 2021

Don’t forget about these soft skills in 2021.

You’re in the middle of your job search, and you feel confident that you’re the candidate for the job. Why? That’s easy you have all the skills the job requires, from the training to the industry knowledge and technical skills.

News flash so does your competition.

The playing field has changed now, too, thanks to 2020. It was a challenging year that forced companies to do things differently, and consequently, it changed what recruiters really care about.

Undeniably, COVID-19 has thrown a wrench into the hiring process for both job seekers and recruiters alike, which our data confirms by uncovering what’s newly important in one’s candidacy, said Amanda Augustine, TopResume’s career expert, certified professional career coach , and certified professional resume writer .

Our findings reveal that job seekers may be taking themselves out of the running even before or right after the virtual interview because they’re ignoring the key factors to which recruiters are suddenly paying attention.

It’s not as mysterious as you might think. What helps candidates stand out from the rest are known as soft skills. The new normal includes a lot more remote work, and that means that soft skills are more important than ever, with some rising to the top of recruiters’ wish lists in 2021.

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Top 24 Skills To Put On Your Resume

When it comes to hard skills, the original job posting serves as the best reference for what the employer needs.

We said that before, but its worth repeating it once again: mine that job description for keywords! Yes, just take and re-incorporate some of the most prominent ones into your resume. In most cases, all those desired skills and qualifications will be listed in the Candidate Requirements section.

Heres an example:

Ok, but you are probably looking for some shortcut method, eh?

Yes, customizing your resume per each job posting can be time-consuming. Plus, you also need to optimize your LinkedIn profile with relevant keywords. .

So here are some universally good skills to put on a resume, as per Udemys latest report on workplace learning trends:

OK, so that was a bit of an intro. Now lets further drill into some more specific groups of soft and hard skills for your resume!

No matter what business sector you choose to work in, all recruiters will appreciate your companys awareness. This basically means doing some homework about the company history, their major milestones, and any industry awards won or innovative steps taken in their field.

It can also help to have an understanding of the companys direct competition in their marketplace, and a bit of background knowledge about the products and services on offer. Demonstrating commercial awareness will impress the recruiting officer, too.

How To Use These Skills On Your Resume

We have a separate guide devoted to the Best Skills to Put on Your Resume , but here are the highlights:

• List your hard skills in a technical skills section or a core competencies section

• Include your soft skills along with their results throughout your work experience section

The most important thing to remember is that employers are looking for skills that are relevant to the position you’re targeting. Check the job description to see what skills are needed for the job. Then make sure they’re included on your resume.

Adding a skills or core competencies section is the easiest way to include and tailor skills to each job application.

Here is an example :

Also, remember that most companies today use an ATS to automatically screen your resume. These systems automatically screen your resume to see if you’re a good match for the position. An average of 75% of candidates are rejected by ATS and many times, the candidate is

Join more than 1 million people who have already received our complimentary resume review.

In 48 hours, you will know how your resume compares. Weâll show you whatâs working–and what you should fix.

Make sure that you use a standard resume format so that the ATS could easily read the resume. You should also include keywords that are relevant to the position.

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Top 15 Skills Employers Are Hiring For In 2022

ZipJob Team

9 min read

Display the skills employers are looking for this year on your resume and in your interviews to increase your chances of landing a new job.

The employment market is an ever-evolving environment, and itâs important to keep pace with new trends and employer needs. After all, innovation occurs at breakneck speed. As companies race to keep pace with those changes, their employee needs evolve over time. As a result, your resume needs to reflect those changing needs.

To remain competitive, you need to understand what qualities and resume skills employers are looking for. To help you in that effort, weâve compiled the top 15 qualities and skills companies are already looking to hire for in 2022.

Bonus: We’ll also show you a resume hack to land 200% more interviews!

About 250 resumes are sent in for a single opening. See how we use technology and professional writers to get your resume noticed: How It Works.

How To Write A Resume Employers Will Notice

How can you make your resume stand out to potential employers? There are a few guidelines to follow that can help your resume shine. Better still, a winning resume may encourage employers to contact you about job opportunities. In fact, 1.7 million employers use the Indeed Resume database to search for qualified candidates.

If you’re interested in professional and personalized resume feedback, learn more about Indeed’s free and paid resume review options at

In this article, well share what employers look for in a resume, how to describe your work experience and proofreading tips to make your resume shine.

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When Resume Mistakes Become Deal

For those who need further convincing to read on, in a 2018 survey conducted by hiring site TopResume, 70% of employers said that personal deal-breakers of theirs like missing contact information or an unprofessional email address were enough to reject a candidate before they even finished reading the resume.

“It’s all subject to the type and level of position you’re pursuing and the individual recruiter’s personal preferences,” said Amanda Augustine, career expert at Talent Inc., parent company of TopResume. “If you’re new to the workforce, it’s more acceptable to include a list of hobbies on your resume because, frankly, you have less material to work with and may need the information to fill an entire page for your resume.”

Another exception to hobbies is if they’re relevant to the work you’re pursuing, Augustine said.

On the other hand, there are some résumé mistakes to be avoided no matter the industry. Such mistakes alone may not be deal-breakers, but they still leave a bad taste in the employer’s mouth. Augustine broke it down:

We asked recruiters and hiring professionals for the most common resume mistakes they’re confronted with.

Selecting A Tiny Font

“For most fonts, size 10 is the absolute smallest, and even then, it might be too small, depending on the font you are using. If your reader needs to take out his/her reading glasses to read your resume, you have already aggravated them, and your resume is heading for the trash can.” Michelle Riklan, founder and managing director at Riklan Resources

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Copying And Pasting Job Descriptions

“Do not copy and paste the job description that you were hired under into your resume. Recruiters do not want to read what they already wrote. They want to read how you accomplished those tasks and responsibilities in your current and past jobs. Recruiters are looking for skill sets, experience related to those skills in achieving a goal for current/past employers, what you personally did to help those goals get reached, if you managed or supervised others who performed your career-related tasks , if you trained anyone in your job , if you brought in revenue or reduced overhead costs, and if you handled or managed a budget .” Dawn D. Boyer, CEO of D. Boyer Consulting

Giving Vague Employment Dates

“When headhunters or gatekeepers see dates on your resume that don’t include months, they automatically assume something’s wrong. If they suspect you’re hiding a gap in employment, they’ll assume the worst, and they’ll view you as dishonest for attempting to deceive them. If they’re busy, they’ll trash the resume instead of wondering what the gaps are about.” Giacomo Giammatteo, owner and author at Inferno Publishing Company

“Use a chronological format with an emphasis on results over the past three to seven years. Many candidates, especially those with lots of experience, are being encouraged to keep their resume at a page or less. The fact is, we need context, so if a resume , that is OK. Having said that, most of the details need to be in the recent timeframe so that your audience gets clarity on your context, responsibilities and accomplishments.” John Light, partner at Evolving Talent Group

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What Employers Look For In A Resume

You can easily spend hoursor really, days or weekslaboring over your resume. But will all that hard work result in a resume that matches what employers are looking for? A successful resume doesn’t just showcase your work it matches recruiters’ and hiring managers’ expectations, clearly conveys that you’re a good fit for the role, and above all, is easy to read and understand.

How Many Jobs Should Be On A Resume

How Many Jobs Should You List on a Resume? You should list as many jobs on your resume as you can assuming they are all relevant and youre not going beyond the 10-15 year limit. The number of jobs typically varies between 7 and 3. As long as each job or position is relevant, you shouldnt worry about the exact number.

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What Recruiters Do Want To See On Your Rsum

• Polished professionalismYour résumé format should be organized for quick scanning. List your current or most recent job first. Recruiters and employers dont necessarily care about every job youve ever had, so stick with whats recent and relevant. Ask someone to put your résumé through the 6-second test and tell you what stands out in that short time.
• Effective job titlesWhen a job title is more descriptive, it will capture a weary recruiters eye. When you compare accounting with manager of accounts receivable flow, the latter stands out more.
• Accomplishments, not just tasksYou should only have a sentence or two describing each position, followed by a bulleted list of your strongest accomplishments. Employers look for problem solvers and those who go above and beyond.

The Importance Of Teamwork & Collaboration In The Workplace

While college group projects at times might feel burdensome, these team assignments will prepare you for your future workplace environment. Teamwork is necessary for jobs all across the spectrum. From construction work to marketing, nursing to acting, teamwork and collaboration is a vital part to keeping the organization or company running smoothly.

By interacting and collaborating with your colleagues, the organization or company will have growth and success. Everyone has a different skill set they bring to the table. By interacting with your co-workers, you may reach a better conclusion or idea than you would have on your own. When arriving at your new career with quality teamwork skills already in your pocket, you can be a step ahead of the competition. Although critical thinking skills were something many employers thought graduates could improve on, teamwork and collaboration were skills most employers were highly impressed with. 97.5% of employers think teamwork and collaboration are important in the workplace while 77% believe that graduates are demonstrating these skills proficiently.

A few other reasons employers strive for graduates with teamwork skills is that those skills can promote unity in the workplace, teamwork can provide improved productivity, it promotes work synergy, and can provide new learning opportunities.

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