Get your resume seen by a hiring manager every time

In the competitive modern job market, submitting a great resume is not just enough. You need to make sure that it gets seen by the right people if you want to go forward in the hiring process. Hiring managers sort through hundreds of resumes for every open position when it comes to mid and large-scale organizations. This means, your resume must stand out from the rest if you want to get noticed.

If you are wondering how to get your resume seen by a hiring manager every time you apply for a job, you are in the right place. In this article, we plan to discuss actionable steps that you can take to ensure that your resume does not land in the NO pile.

Optimize your resume for applicant tracking systems

Large-scale companies use applicant tracking systems to filter through resumes before they even get seen by a hiring manager. If your resume is not formatted to be ATS-friendly, it might never be seen by a human eye. Here's how you can ensure that your resume passes through the ATS unscathed:

• Use relevant keywords from the job description
• Stick to a clean format that the ATS can read
• Avoid graphics, tables, and unusual fonts that will mess with the ATS
• Use standard section headings for your resume elements
• Submit your resume in the right file format specified by the employer

Tailor your resume for each job application

Years ago, it was acceptable for you to send out the same generic resume to all your job applications. However, today, hiring managers expect to see tailored resumes along with job applications. A generic resume won't help you get your resume seen by a hiring manager. Instead, you must aim to tailor it for each job that you apply for. You can start doing this by reading and reviewing the job description carefully. Identify the skills, experiences, and qualifications that the employer expects to see in an ideal candidate. These will often be the keywords that your resume must have if you want to get through the ATS. Then, incorporate each of these keywords into the summary, education, work experience, and skills sections of your resume.

Use a strong keyword-optimized professional summary

If you want to ensure that your resume gets seen by a hiring manager every time, you must write a strong professional summary. This is the first thing that a hiring manager reads on your resume. This is why we always say that the first section of your resume should be a professional summary, not an objective statement. You must make this section count. Start with a powerful opening statement that clearly states your unique value proposition. Use a bunch of industry-specific keywords to ensure that your resume aligns with the job description. We also recommend highlighting two to three major achievements that showcase relevant skills and qualifications. A well-written professional summary will get your resume seen by a hiring manager and encourage them to read further.

Include a skills section that aligns with the job description

One thing that every hiring manager will do when quickly going through your resume is glance at your skills section to determine if you have the qualifications that they are looking for in the right candidate. If you want to get your resume seen by a hiring manager, creating a dedicated skills section is a must. Ensure that your skills section is concise. Use 10 to 15 bullet points to highlight key skills that are relevant to the job. Make sure that the skill section is formatted to be ATS-friendly. We recommend using exact wording from the job description. Also, add a good mix of hard and soft skills. Hiring managers will always look for a balance of technical expertise and interpersonal skills.

Make your resume easy to read

Did you know that most hiring managers typically spend less than 10 seconds scanning a resume? You must impress them within this short time. If you want to compel the hiring manager to read further in your resume, you should improve the readability of the document. Here are a few things that you can do:

• Using bullet points to highlight skills
• Adopting an easy-to-follow resume format
• Using bullet points to bring out your professional accomplishments
• Keeping your resume concise
• Choosing professional fonts that are easier to read at smaller sizes
• Incorporating white space strategically throughout the document

Highlight your career progression

One thing that hiring managers will admire on a resume is growth. Hiring managers love seeing the career growth of the people that they hire. If you have advanced in your career through the years, ensure that your resume reflects that clearly. Adopting the reverse chronological format will help you highlight this easily. Use a clear timeline for your work experience section. This will help you highlight promotions and increased responsibilities over the years. Quantify your contributions. Demonstrating how you have made a difference in each role that you have held in the past will help you get through to a hiring manager. We also recommend highlighting leadership roles in your career history. Even if you did not hold the formal titles, you can still showcase accomplishments where you took initiative.

Make it easier for the hiring manager to find you online

As a rule of thumb, resumes start with a contact information section. Many hiring managers will search for you online before deciding to call you for an interview. Therefore, adding a link to your LinkedIn profile in the contact information section of your resume will improve your chances. If you want to get your resume seen by a hiring manager, optimizing the contact information section of your resume with the right links will help. Here are a few links that you can add to your resume:

• Your LinkedIn profile
• Relevant social media
• Digital portfolio
• Website
• Personal blog

Don't forget to follow up after applying

The job application process does not end with just submitting your resume. You cannot just submit the document and wait for the hiring manager to call you back. Following up after a job application will significantly improve your chances of getting your resume seen. We recommend sending a follow-up e-mail if you haven't heard back after a week. Aim to politely inquire about your application status with this e-mail. You can also engage with the company on LinkedIn. This will help you get on their radar. Always be persistent, but professional when you follow up after job applications. Try to showcase your enthusiasm without overwhelming the hiring manager.

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