Recruiter’s Advice on Writing a Resume

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Crafting the perfect resume can seem challenging, even though there’s plenty of help online and even programs where you can cut and paste pre-written descriptions and bullet points. But you don’t have to plug and play with flashy resume templates to land an interview.

Here are some simple best resume practices that you can implement to feel confident submitting them with job applications.

4 insights on how to write a resume

What hiring managers are looking for and avoiding in resumes:

Achievements & Certifications

Certifications and extra-curricular career highlights set your resume apart. More than where you’ve been and the responsibilities you’ve had, your accomplishments and direct positive impacts on company costs and professional development give you a competitive edge. 

It may seem obvious that relevant material should be front and center, but the same goes for skills (whether upskilled or reskilled), certifications and current or completed internships, courses, and degrees.“Selling yourself” in a one to two-page resume is a lot easier when you have not only the experience but also the self-determination to succeed.

gpac’s recruiters in the Legal Industry work with companies hiring across the US and Canada. And, according to their experience, what legal hiring managers are looking for is: legal externships and internships.

Longevity

Work experience is critical, but job seekers with a long work history of short-term employment can look unstable and be considered a risk to hire. It’s great to have had different jobs where you’ve received valuable training and hands-on experience. Still, it will be hard to use that to your advantage if hiring managers think you’re a job-hopper constantly chasing higher pay.

You may not get a chance to explain yourself if your resume is all employers see before moving on to new candidates. So it’s best to have an easy-to-follow timeline of experience with brief explanations where necessary to explain gaps between employment or reasoning for short stints and contract work.

Recruiters from gpac’s vast Construction Industry team share this resume “must-have” from the experience they have had with hiring managers in their industry: a stable background.

Growth

What really stands out on a resume is how much you’ve grown from previous positions to where you are now and the job titles you’re expecting to achieve. Even being with a company for an extended period of time won’t mean as much if there wasn’t any progression in positions and responsibilities.

Seeing a steady incline of growth and progression on your resume shows hiring managers that you’re a high performer that doesn’t settle for complacency. Of course, employers are looking for people who can get the job done, but they’ll feel better about moving on to the interview process with someone who has the capacity to grow with their company.

Another team of gpac recruiters with a laser focus on the Banking Industry, find that most of their client hiring managers seek: positions and experience growth.

Also, don’t forget about preparing yourself and your resume for the digital transformation many companies are also bringing to their recruitment process.

Appeal to the automation

Scanning programs and algorithms read paper, not people. So you may want to make adjustments to make your resume work for you when it comes to applicant tracking systems (ATS).

Sorting through fun templates and designs or creative formatting could be holding back valuable information from a program’s resume scan. With most ATSs scanning from left to right, columns, pictures, and even colors could cause some confusion in readability. Stick to a simple style that provides a clean read.

Tailoring your resume to the particular position and company you’re applying to will help you prepare better for whatever ATS system employers may be using. Having specific skills, experience, and certifications where they can be easily scanned by programs (and eyes) will also save time catching and filtering through keywords hiring managers are looking for.

Painting a bigger picture

A resume can only share so much, and in this sense, there are benefits from working with a recruiter. Here are just a few reasons why:

• As a professional, a resume pales in comparison to an actual conversation. For instance, gpac recruiters never let resumes speak for themselves. Knowing what both you and hiring managers are looking for, recruiters can vouch for you or tell you when you’re wasting your time on a job application.
• gpac recruiters have built relationships and networked with employers in your industry, giving you the competitive edge over others applying for the same or similar positions. Take advantage of the connections that already align with your career goals.
• A job hunt doesn’t end with a well-written resume and a successfully submitted job application. gpac recruiters can help prepare you for interviews and even walk you and hiring managers through the offer stage. 

A good recruiter is an ally in the workforce job seekers won’t want to pass on. Not only because they can provide help and tips on how to write a resume, but because they’re there with you every step of the way from the initial search to weeks after you’ve started at your new position. 

You don’t have to make a career change on your own, gpac recruiters are ready to assist you in your job search today!