Making Your Resume Readable and Scannable

Creating a resume is one of the most important steps in applying for a job. As a job candidate, you need to ensure this piece of paper displays your skills and helps you to get into a job interview. It is no easy task today. For many positions, there are dozens if not hundreds of people applying with just one or a few slots to fill. Even as the economy improves, employers still want the best of the best from any job candidate they bring in. To get into that job interview, polish your resume to make it easy to read.

Know How It Will Be Used

Step one is to ensure your resume has the built-in features it needs to get attention by the right people. Before it can get into the hands of a hiring manager, though, it needs to make it through the automated process. For this to happen, it is a good idea to use keywords. Keywords are specific words that employers are using to narrow down the field. Attributes the job candidate has, such as "motivated" or "experienced" are some of these. On the other hand, it may include specific words as they relate to the field or job positions a person has.

Make It Scannable

Once the resume makes it through the automated process, the next step is to get the hiring manager to pick up the phone to schedule an interview with you. One way to encourage this is to ensure your resume is scannable. It needs to be easy to read and easy to see the fine details of without requiring a lot of time. Here are some tips:

• Keep each item to one or two lines only.
• Use bullet points for keywords that relate to your job skills.
• Be brief and avoid paragraphs.
• Get rid of the "objective" portion of the traditional resume. Instead, use a "summary" section instead.
• Avoid the fluff. Only include details that can help convince the reader you are the ideal job applicant for the position.

A job interview can be a tough process. Yet, getting into a job interview is even harder. Be sure your resume has all of the features, including keywords and an easy-to-read style to encourage the job interviewer to pick up the phone and call you. If you do not do this, the outcome may be something you don't want - not hearing back. Invest a bit of time in cleaning up your resume for better results.

Todd Bavol is the President and CEO of Integrity Staffing Solutions. Integrity Staffing Solutions is a national staffing firm assisting individuals and corporations in making the right employment fit. To view job openings in Warehouse, Professional and Administrative positions, visit the Integrity Staffing Solutions web site at http://www.integritystaffing.com/.

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