How to Craft the Perfect Resume: Impress in Under 10 Seconds
Recruiters don’t read resumes—they scan them. And you have under 10 seconds to make an impact.
Forget fancy templates and creative headers. What really grabs attention? Clear, results-driven storytelling.
What Recruiters Actually Look For
As a Career Coach and after working as a recruiter for a brief spell and having been around for a while as a hiring manager, I've learned that most candidates focus on the wrong things:
Pretty formatting – Looks nice but doesn’t guarantee a second glance and will often put someone off if they don't like your favourite font and colour.
Overly creative designs – Can be confusing and hard to read and ATS systems (the AI robots) really struggle with columns and boxes.
Buzzword-heavy summaries – These rarely tell a compelling story and make it look like you've used chatGPT and cut and pasted a lifeless job description into your resume - YOU are so much better than that.
Instead, here’s what really makes recruiters stop scrolling:
1. Lead with Measurable Impact
Numbers make your achievements tangible. Whenever possible, quantify your contributions.
2. Focus on Results, Not Just Responsibilities
Recruiters care more about what you achieve than the tasks you perform.
3. Action Words Create Authority
Powerful verbs make your contributions stand out. Avoid passive phrasing.
4. Make Your Resume Easy to Scan
Dense paragraphs are overwhelming. Use bullet points and keep descriptions concise.
5. Provide Context for Your Achievements
Help recruiters understand the scale and impact of your work.
Before: "Managed client accounts."
After: "Managed a portfolio of 25+ high-value clients, increasing retention rates by 30%."
The Strengths-Based Resume Approach
Beyond just listing experience, a strengths-based resume highlights what energizes you. The Strengths Profile assessment is a powerful tool for identifying your unique strengths and how they apply to your career.
How to Build a Strengths-Based Resume
Identify Your Strengths – Use the Strengths Profile assessment to uncover your natural talents and areas where you thrive.
Map Strengths to Job Requirements – Instead of just listing job duties, highlight how your Strengths Profile insights align with what the employer needs.
Reframe Your Work History – Structure your experience around key strengths. For example:
Leadership: "Leveraged strategic thinking to guide a team through a major transition, maintaining productivity and morale."
Problem-Solving: "Applied creative problem-solving to streamline workflows, improving efficiency by 40%."
Show, Don’t Just Tell – Instead of claiming to be “innovative,” mention a time you developed a strengths-based solution that had a measurable impact.
Using a strengths-based resume not only helps you stand out but also ensures you align with roles where you will feel engaged, energized, and fulfilled.
Certainly, HiR can assist in providing a Strengths Assessment, a report, and a debrief, and then support you in reworking your resume and LinkedIn profile. Supercharge you career now.
Seven Additional Tips for a Standout Resume
1. Keep it Sleek and Professional
Your resume should be polished and easy to read. Stick to one font style, use subtle highlights, and avoid unnecessary graphics. Simplicity ensures your skills and experience take centre stage.
2. Skip the Photo
While professional photos can be useful in certain settings, leaving them off your resume helps prevent unconscious bias and keeps the focus on your qualifications.
3. Customize for Every Role
Your resume should be tailored for each job application. Highlight the most relevant skills and experiences, and whenever possible, quantify your achievements to make them more impactful. For example, adding or removing words like 'Senior' can make or break your chances depending on the role you are applying for and deeply influence the person reading your resume.
4. Save References for Later
Only provide references when explicitly requested. Including them upfront can make your resume look cluttered, and hiring managers are more interested in your accomplishments first. Only when you have met the team can you decide who your perfect references will be.
5. Don’t Fear Two Pages
Research suggests that two-page resumes are becoming the standard, especially for those with extensive experience. If you have over 15 years of experience and are applying for senior roles, stretching to three pages can be appropriate.
6. Use Data to Showcase Your Success
Hiring managers love numbers, so include specific metrics to illustrate your achievements. Let the numbers speak for themselves, whether it's increasing revenue, improving efficiency, or leading successful projects.
7. Make It Authentic
Your resume should reflect your unique career journey. Whether it's a concise one-page format or a detailed two-pager, focus on presenting your experience in a way that feels true to you. A clear, well-structured resume increases your chances of catching a recruiter's eye.
The Final Takeaway
Did you know that breaking the one-page resume tradition could boost your chances of landing your dream job? Research suggests employers prefer two-page resumes, allowing candidates to showcase their full potential without constraints. With experts noting that today's professionals have more to offer than ever, embracing a two-page format gives you the space to shine.
If you have 15+ years of experience and are applying for senior roles, you may even let it stretch to three pages. Have someone you trust proofread it and don’t be afraid of white space—it makes reading easier for both humans and applicant tracking systems. But please, no more than three pages, even if you are applying to take over from the CEO.
A great resume isn’t just a summary of your work—it’s a strategic marketing tool designed to get you to the next stage. Make it count!
At the risk of sounding repetitive here are some key "DO NOTs" to keep in mind:
Avoid Including Personal Photos: While a professional appearance is important, incorporating a personal photograph can introduce unconscious bias and distract from your qualifications. Unless explicitly requested, it's best to omit your photo.
Omit Personal Details: Details such as your date of birth, full address, nationality, religion, gender, or sexuality are not pertinent to your professional capabilities and can inadvertently lead to bias. Focus on your skills and experiences relevant to the job.
Exclude Irrelevant Work Experience: Including job experiences that do not relate to the position you're applying for can dilute the impact of your resume. Concentrate on roles that showcase relevant skills and achievements.
Avoid Overly Creative Formatting: While it's important for your resume to stand out, excessive use of colours, fonts, or graphics can make it difficult to read and may not be compatible with Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS). Stick to a clean, professional format.
Do Not Use Unprofessional Email Addresses: Ensure your contact information reflects professionalism. An email address like "partyanimal@example.com" can create an unprofessional impression.
Avoid Negative Language: Refrain from mentioning reasons for leaving previous jobs or negative experiences. Maintain a positive tone, focusing on your accomplishments and what you bring to the prospective role.
Do Not Include Salary Information: Discussing salary expectations or past compensation is premature at the resume stage and can be off-putting to employers.
Avoid Listing Every Job You've Ever Had: Your resume is a marketing document, not an autobiography. Highlight the most relevant positions that demonstrate your suitability for the role.
Do Not Use Clichés or Buzzwords: Phrases like "hard worker" or "team player" are overused and offer little insight into your actual abilities. Instead, provide specific examples that demonstrate these qualities.
Avoid Including References Directly on Your Resume: Unless specifically requested, it's unnecessary to list references. Employers will ask for them at the appropriate stage of the hiring process.
