9 things recruiters look for in your resume.

Recruiters have the final say in hiring. They go through your resume and if they like what they see, they select you for an interview. If all goes well, you are likely to be hired for the job. The entire process is grueling and taxing. It can take months to get an answer. What each recruiter looks for in a candidate varies from person to person.

Though each recruiter is different there are a few things they look for in a resume that you should have to have in your resume. This can be a particular action, a feature or how you present your resume. Though these are some must-have things in your resume, how you include and present them, depends solely on you. Here are a few things recruiters look for in a resume :

• Continuity

Your resume should have a flow, be it in terms of the work experience you had or, in your educational background. If there is a gap in between, make sure it is something you can explain. This can be for personal and professional reasons. Companies are looking for employees that they can depend on and, any unexplainable gaps in a resume are likely to raise suspicion and are less likely to get hired.

• Customization

It is important you craft your resume according to the job description. Never recycle your resume. You should curate your cover letter accordingly as well. Recruiters love a good cover letter, so make sure you put in the effort to create a personalized cover letter. The cover letter should bring out your personality that the resume might in some way limit due to its condensed format. The skills section should be crafted to what the job demands as well.

• Summary

The summary is perhaps the first thing a recruiter sees in your resume. It should be crisp, to the point and radiate an idea of what the recruiter can expect from the document. You should include what you are working on as your experience and what you are proficient at. You should also include what you are hoping or looking for and how you expect to reach that goal of yours. It should hardly be of four sentences yet should pack a punch.

• Relevant Details

Your resume should include details that cover relevant information and factors that aid the recruiter to reach out to you. This includes your educational background, work history as well as contact details. Make sure you are not extrapolating any ideas or details. Make sure you fact check the details you put in and not make any errors while crafting your resume. Do not include irrelevant information that does not add any value to your profile like adding in too many details about your personal life or skills that do not support the cause.

• Length

Your resume is a condensed document that is utmost two pages long. Recruiters are not looking forward to reading pages of your achievements. They are looking for specific details and features. Your resume should be unique and easy to read. Make sure you state facts in points. Do not include any graphs or tables. Make sure you aesthetically present the information.

• Career Story

You should curate your resume in such a way that you make it your own. Each fact that you put in your resume should be there for a reason and should connect with the next point you are making. You can include a broad heading and then state facts or make sub-points for the fact you stated. Make sure you do not confuse the recruiters by mixing up timelines and facts.

• Grammatically correct

Nothing puts anyone off like a spelling or grammatical mistake. It interrupts the flow and potentially can lead to rejection. You might have a strong profile but, bad grammar and spelling mistakes can out the crumble the entire effort made. Ensure you spell check and fact check your resume multiple times. Ask for a third person’s opinion in such matters to get a broader point of view.

• Achievements Quantified

Statistics and numerical quantify your achievements that make it easier for the reader to understand your success. Be specific with what you put in your resume. If a plan of yours made a difference in the way things function, mention by how much in percentage. If you led a team, state how many were there.

• Authenticity

Your resume, like stated, should scream you. For a fresher, who is applying for their first job, being in the pool of veterans who is vying for the same spot can be intimidating. Chances are, one might feel small and feel the need to extrapolate your achievements. Instead, hold your ground. Bring in your true self with your resume. Add in things that are you.