Resume

Your resume is one of your most powerful tools in the job or internship search and is often the first thing employers request.  So, let's talk about the Purpose of a Resume and how resumes get initially scanned and reviewed to determine an interview request. 

The Purpose of a Resume...

...for a professional job seeker, is to effectively showcase your value to the employer's needs to obtain an interview request. You will need to further validate your value through the interview process - meaning your resume can get you an interview but not a job offer.

...for the employer is to assess qualifications, experience, and fit for an open position. Your resume carries the most weight in the initial review phase. It will remain a reference point as you progress in the interview and selection process, but at these stages the hiring team has their own notes to reference as well.

Initial "Scan" and "Review"

There is typically an initial 1st scan of ~10 seconds to determine if someone is qualified at a high level. Basically removing candidates from the applicant pool who are not qualified in a quick visual scan. Those that make it through that screen are then reviewed more thoroughly (~30-90 seconds) to ultimately decide to advance, hold, or decline an application. This first scan is sometimes assisted by AI in an Applicant Tracking System, but even if it is accompanied by AI, the circumstance still warrants 2 human scans/reviews to determine if selected for further screening. 

With the Purpose of a Resume and the Initial Scan and Review in mind, use the resources below to help you craft a strong, effective resume. 

MAKE A DRAFT RESUME 

As you begin, focus on telling your story, and general formatting rules, less on rules such as the 1-page theory. You will iterate from your base resume for a multitude of scenarios. Tactful formatting can help you provide a visual hierarchy to your reader, making it easier for them to extract core qualifications under the "scan" or "review". Sharp formatting also gives a first impression of professionalism and attention to detail. Formatting errors can cause a visual distraction to the recruiter, taking away from your consideration which is already measured in seconds. While boring and plan to the human eye is good for ATS, you can still be creative in your formatting. Use the Resume Self-Review to draft your base resume or if you'd like a starting point template, download this Resume Template.

• Some headings/sections are required such as contact information, education, and experience-while others are optional. You must evaluate your background to determine the most appropriate order for sections in your resume. The most important/relevant sections should be listed first, and content within each section listed in reverse chronological order. 

optional headings?

TAILOR YOUR RESUME

Craft your resume towards the skills, tools, and responsibilities the employer is looking for. Your resume content, structure, and language should all reinforce your value proposition you are trying to articulate. 

• Utilize the formula of ACTION + CONTEXT + RESULT to showcase high impact experience. This formula communicates the value you created, not just what you did. 

ACTION - What you did

CONTEXT - How you did it, unique to you 

RESULT - Why it mattered

• Ensure experience and qualifications are accurately represented. If something is on your resume, be prepared to speak to it. Reference and continue to conduct Job Description Audit.

SCAN YOUR RESUME WITH A.I.

You may find it helpful to utilize our online resume review platform, Jobscan. The goal is to have a resume scanned against your desired jobs with a score at or above 60. Review the feedback provided to further enhance your resume. Important note: 75-80 is the sweet spot, where 60 is your baseline, and 100 is basically not desired as it is often flagged for "over-engineering resume" for being suspiciously perfect.