10 seconds is all you get.

Your resume will cause a potential employer to decide, in a matter of seconds, whether they will be calling you for an interview, or filing you away forever.

Anyone who has scanned, reviewed, and discarded tens of thousands of resumes knows that most resumes have serious defects; in fact many resumes have flaws that guarantee failure.  Intelligent, highly qualified candidates often write subpar resumes because they are unaware of the cold realities of resume writing; realities that can prevent even the most qualified candidate from getting hired.

Here are a few things we believe you should consider before you submit another resume:

• A rapid-scan resume format is essential because recruiters rarely read resumes; they scan them in 10-15 seconds. Recruiters and HR managers often receive hundreds of resumes for each open position; they are often overworked and cannot spend more than a few seconds scanning each resume. They often screen 100 - 200 resumes a day, based on vague, changing, and sometimes contradictory criteria. If you do not format your resume to sell you quickly and effectively, you will not get interviews.



• Your resume must sell to two audiences. You must write and format your resume to appeal to two audiences: resume screeners and hiring managers. These audiences often have different agendas. Corporate recruiters may be in no hurry to fill all open positions because open positions mean job security. Gatekeepers guard their turf jealously, so you can be certain that the hiring manager will not see any resume that has not been blessed by the gatekeeping crew. You must present a resume that can satisfy gatekeepers as well as seasoned hiring managers. If your resume makes it clear that you meet all job requirements, the gatekeeper will be compelled to forward it to the hiring manager.



• Doubt means you're out. Most employers receive resumes from people who are obviously qualified; they do not have time to contact people who may be qualified. Most gatekeepers have been burned by candidates who look good on paper but fall short in interviews. They know that they will be blamed for any poor hiring decision, so they tend eliminate resumes for the slightest infraction or omission. If your resume raises questions, recruiters rarely call to get answers. They simply move on to the next resume.



• Job requirements are fluid. Often, hiring authorities realize what they are looking for in a candidate only after they see it. Job postings are not updated to reflect new requirements because many HR departments are understaffed. In order to write an effective resume, the resume writer must anticipate resume screening criteria.



• Strong Candidate + Weak Resume = No Interview. Even if you are a strong candidate, your skills and experience cannot overcome a weak resume. Recruiters and hiring managers decide who to call for an interview after they have reviewed a number of resumes. Solid qualifications and good references make no difference if the resume is deficient. If your resume does not sell, you will not be considered for most desirable and lucrative jobs in your field.



• Management experience is not a substitute. Years of hiring experience, as a manager or executive, do not provide adequate preparation for writing a resume. One cannot fully understand the screening process unless one has screened hundreds of resumes, week after week, for several years. Many hiring managers and HR generalists will tell you that your resume should be one or two pages long. Not true. Seasoned recruiters who have screened tens of thousands of resumes know that a resume should be as long as it takes to get the point across.



• Even superstars need a coach. Many qualified candidates gain an edge by hiring professional resume writers. Go a step further by hiring a professional with strong writing skills and relevant professional experience. Lawyers seek legal advice and dentists see dentists because objectivity, neutral perspective, and professional detachment are priceless. If you go it alone you will be at a disadvantage.