Tips for a good resume: 4 aspects recruiters notice

Looking for a job is never easy. Just getting the chance to be in a job interview can be a real challenge. The best way to get an interview with a recruiter is by having a good resume. Recruiters analyze resumes in a very specific way. We focus on details that might seem secondary or unimportant for most candidates.  

If you want a good resume, you need to be aware of the key aspects for recruiters. At T2W we are a recruitment agency with extensive experience in several markets, so we can help you. In this article, we’ll give you the best tips for a good resume. If you focus on these details, you’ll increase your chances to get a job interview. 

How to have a good resume

1. Job changes 

One of the main aspects that will catch the eye of an experienced recruiter is job changes. In general, for a candidate, staying in a job only for a year or less is never a good sign. This speaks about a potential lack of commitment from the applicant. The job of a recruiter is to find people that will stay in the company long term. 

After all, looking for new employees and training them requires time and money. That is investment organizations don’t want to make each month. For that reason, you need to keep in mind that the ideal time a person should stay in a job according to recruiters is about 2 or 3 years. Of course, it doesn’t apply to certain fields where turnover levers are usually very high. 

2. Gaps in the resume 

An initial warning sign for recruiters is the period when applicants stopped working. Not having any kind of job-related activity for a long time speaks about a potential lack of practice and perhaps outdated skills in the field. The extent of the gap is also a factor to consider. In many cases, a gap that is less than 6 months long is acceptable. 

On the other hand, a period of inactivity will be more noticeable for recruiters if it is very recent. Of course, this can be acceptable if candidates stopped working to further their studies. This is something the resume must clarify. Likewise, the pause can be due to the candidates’ attempt to start their own business. If that is the case, it has to be explained in the resume. 

A special case are the candidates who have a gap in the resume for maternity reasons. This is a factor that modern recruiters take into consideration. After all, having candidates that took some time off to raise a child and now wish to continue developing their career is highly valued. The key here is to explain the reason being that gap. 

3. Work experience 

As you know, work experience is important for recruiters. This is not a random factor. Gaining experience is the best way people have to strengthen their knowledge and develop a competent skillset. However, there are different ways to gain experience: paid work or unpaid work. 

Perhaps you are wondering how you can have a good resume with little experience. If work experience is what you lack, there are some ways you can work on it. If you want a good resume, you need to work on your skillset in the real field through internships, assistantships, junior roles, volunteer work and other unpaid work. The objective here is to keep active and show a progression in the job position you have.  

On the other hand, recruiters focus on recent experience. What was the last company you worked for? What position did you have? How long were you there? Which were your main achievements? You need to go into detail about the las company you worked for, as well as the tasks you completed regularly. 

4. Candidate skills 

Another factor that is as important as experience is skills. In your resume, you must specify all your hard skills as well as your soft skills. Also, you must mention your technical skills. More often than not, candidates are proficient in other languages or are able to use software relevant for the position. All that must be specified in the right way. It’s best to list all these skills as clearly and simply as possible. This will help you when dealing with ATS systems in recruitment. 

ATS is software that helps recruiters analyze resumes. A standard ATS can scan resumes searching for keywords related to skills and knowledge relevant for the position. This is why you shouldn’t use complicated phrases and list your skills clearly. This is a key aspect if you want a good resume for ATS. 

Now you know the key aspects recruiters notice while checking a resume. While it’s important optimizing all that document, you need to pay special attention to those details. With a little effort, you’ll find the job you want! 

At Talent2Win, we strive to align your company’s business objectives with the best Talent Acquisition strategies available. If you want to learn more about the services we offer, do not hesitate to contact us.