How To Make Your Resume Stand Out (KARE 11 Interview)

Chris Dardis

May 15, 2017

May 15, 2017 – Chris Dardis, VP of Human Resources Search and Consulting, was interviewed by Kare 11’s Chris Hrapsky, on how to help job seekers make their resume stand out within this competitive market.

In the current job market, it’s important to understand the ways you can help your resume stand out from the rest, as you only have a matter of seconds to make an impression. Chris explains, “On average, recruiters look at a resume for about six seconds before they make a judgement.”

Chris shares how many medium- to large-sized companies implement technology such as applicant tracking systems, to help them sort through candidates. He discusses tips on what you can do to utilize these tools to help your resume get to human eyes.

Below are some key points from Chris to make your resume stand out in the modern job search.

Applicant Tracking Systems

The key, Dardis says, is in the words, literally. “Keywords are more important than ever in 2017, because of applicant tracking systems,” said Dardis. Applicant tracking systems are software applications that scan through resumes to help recruiters match skills and experience with available job positions.

“The ATS will then run a matching algorithm, taking skills within the job description, and seeing how many skills are actually listed in the resume. The system then ranks those 75 to 100 resumes for the recruiter,” said Dardis.

For example, let’s say you are applying for the position of marketing automation professional.

For this job, the ATS will pick up phrases like “e-mail marketing,” “lead nurturing,” “customer acquisition,” and “journey mapping.” Knowing these skills and putting them on the resume—more than once even—will better the odds of getting your resume in the hands of the recruiter.

Clichés

How do you stay away from, and is it necessarily a bad thing to have, clichéd phrases in your resume?

Dardis says phrases like “strong leadership skills” and “great communicator” are less likely to catch an eye than an eye roll.

Instead of telling you’re a leader, show it (which is cliché itself, sorry).

“If you feel like you are a strong leader, the best way to show that through accomplishments would be to list ‘I managed a team of six and allowed three of those six realize promotions under my leadership,’” said Dardis.

Hobbies and Interests

Dardis says hobbies and interests are frequently left off of resumes but shouldn’t be.

“There is value in this. We at Versique believe that 80 percent of getting a job is if you are a culture match and if you build rapport within that interview,” said Dardis.

Listing your hobbies isn’t what’s going to get you the interview, but it may be what gets you the job.

Dardis says, as a recruiter, showing that you can maintain a high GPA in college while having extracurricular activities and a fish tank cleaning business shows that you are a very hard worker.

Also, if you find common interests with the hiring manager, it can lead toward that culture match that Dardis says is so important.

LinkedIn

Dardis says today, LinkedIn is as, if not more important than a candidate’s resume.

“I would say 94 percent of recruiters will vet a candidate within LinkedIn before they reach out to them,” said Dardis.

Here are a few of Dardis’ tips for your professional LinkedIn page:

Mirror your resume with your LinkedIn page. Ensure that it is up to date and matches the same job dates and titles of your hard resume.
Add a professional photo. Profiles with photos get 21 times more views, according to LinkedIn.
List key words and skills to match the job you want (just like resume). The more skills, the better. LinkedIn says users with five or more skills listed get up to 17 times more views.

If you are looking for assistance in finding the right position for you or growing your team with the best talent in the industry, contact Versique Search & Consulting at Info@versique.com or view all of our open positions here.

–> For instant access to Versique’s blogs, great career how-to articles, and industry trends, connect with us on social media @Versique and on LinkedIn!

Sited: Original content source from Kare 11.

Chris Dardis / About Author

Chris Dardis is Chief Experience Officer after 10 years of experience as President of Versique’s Interim Consulting division and more than 20 years of industry experience. Having both corporate leadership and agency recruiting experience, Chris has the unique ability to understand his client’s human capital needs and offer strategic consultative solutions.

Chris has more than 20 years of combined experience within corporate HR leadership positions and the executive search and consulting industry. This experience provides Chris with the unique ability to truly understand his clients’ human capital needs and offer strategic customized solutions. Chris’s HR network in the Twin Cities is second to none and provide value to his candidates and clients.

To find out how Chris can help your business’ Human Resources or Finance & Accounting department achieve greater success, you can contact him by phone or email at the bottom of the page.

Chris’s Approach
Chris’s approach to his customers and business is characterized by a low-pressure, empathetic, and patient demeanor. He takes the time to understand his customers’ needs and concerns, ensuring they feel heard and valued throughout the process. By prioritizing a supportive and understanding environment, Chris builds strong, trust-based relationships that foster long-term loyalty and satisfaction. Whether your organization is looking for additional insight, an outside eye, or someone to enhance processes and boost productivity, Chris has a deep understanding of the role HR and F&A plays in an organization and what it takes for departments to be successful both today and tomorrow.