How to Conquer the 6 Second Resume Screen

CEO / Career Coach Kate O. discusses tips from her time as a resume reviewer that can drastically affect your resume’s chances at being completely reviewed.

Introduction: Did you know that most hiring managers only spend 6 seconds reviewing a resume before they decide whether to keep reading or toss it into the reject pile? That might sound harsh, but as someone who used to review up to 100 resumes a day, I can tell you that it’s a matter of necessity. So, if you’re applying for a job and you know you’re qualified, your challenge is: how do you get past the 6-second screen and get to the interview stage? Here are my top tips for how to make your resume stand out:

1) Before you start writing your resume or hit send on an application, make sure that you’re sending the version of your resume that best positions you for the role you’re applying to. This concept of positioning is crucial. The idea is to think of yourself as a product and the hiring manager as your target audience, then follow the basic rules of advertising. What does my target market care about the most? How can I make it very clear to them that I provide exactly that value? This might require taking off some experience and expanding on others or rebranding your key skills to match what’s in the job description. A little bit of effort towards positioning yourself correctly can make all the difference.

2) Include an Executive Summary section at the top and avoid the Objective section at all costs. An executive summary is key – it may be where your reader spends all or most of the 6 seconds. You can use the summary to include key pieces of information like your top skills, years of experience, and an overview of your career trajectory. I don’t recommend an objective because if you’ve submitted your resume, your objective is already clear: you want to get a job. You don’t want to use limited space to say something that your interviewer already knows. You DO want to use your space to summarize your experience and present a clear personal brand.

3) Vary your format but be sure to keep it focused on Accomplishments vs. Tasks. The biggest mistake I see people making on resumes is they want to convey everything they did and were responsible for on their resume, and the result is that it ends up reading like a long list of tasks. This doesn’t do anything to set you apart from other applicants who have held the same role. In other words, it doesn’t give a clear sense of the unique value you will add to a company. Instead, consider using multiple formats or frameworks, and always be sure to quantify the scope and impact of your work whenever possible.

A Search Consultant’s Thoughts on How to Approach a Job Search Right Now

Search Consultant | Pandemic | Job Search | P.S. Your Career

P.S. Your Career had the opportunity to speak to Chris Corwin, a healthcare executive search consultant, organizational strategist, and executive coach – to get her insights into career changes amid the pandemic. Specifically, we wanted to hear her thoughts on how someone should approach looking for a job, any lasting changes she predicts to the way we work, and what you should do if you find yourself with extra free time.

Is it the right time to be looking for a job? Is it worth following up with the firm you were engaged with before the pandemic took hold?

Corwin urged readers, “Continue the job search and continue being as ‘top of mind’ as possible. Companies (especially those in tech and others with alternative work environments) are still hiring and moving on, whether it is faster or a little slower than before.” Though the rules and the speed at which we may have been used to engaging with companies is changing, it doesn’t mean it is a time to be complacent about how you present yourself to them. Corwin adds, “Don’t be overly prescriptive…listen to what people are saying they need. Talk to people first, then send your resume so that it is more tailored to what they are looking for.” If you aren’t hearing back from a potential employer, it might be a good idea to ask when you should follow up again so that you can balance staying top of mind for them and respecting that they may have paused hiring for the time being.

What are the effects of the pandemic in the near term and long term?

While many people are suddenly out of work as a result of the pandemic, other industries are actually busier than ever. Corwin says, “It is not all being frozen. People are needed!” She noted that many companies deemed necessary are ramping up hiring amid the pandemic. In the short term, that likely means thinking about new roles and industries that you may not have considered before.

For lasting effects, most experts agree that the business world will not return to the pre-pandemic ways of working. The biggest change is likely to be a move towards more remote work. Chris believes the pandemic really will force many businesses to consider the necessity of the brick and mortar offices. She says, “While an unfortunate forcing function, the pandemic is, at minimum, challenging the assumption that an office is necessary for workers to remain productive.” This means that if you haven’t already gotten some good practices in place for working productively from home, it might be worth it to invest in these as we can reasonably expect that some businesses will keep people remote even when offices are allowed to open again.

How could someone in-between jobs or suddenly finding themselves with extra free time, spend it productively?

“There are tons of training courses out there. Read books, take self-assessment leadership/strengths tests.” She reiterated the importance of growth during these times, “Take advantage of the time off to reflect internally on what it is you want to do as you approach the market…update your resume and continue to network! Check-in with people…now is the time to be empathetic and sympathetic. Bring out the compassion right now.” Doing so will reinforce the connections within your network, even if it is unable to provide tangible outcomes at this time. While we’d surely prefer to be meeting up with people for an in-person coffee, we can still create connections while social distancing. Use this time to set up some informational interviews via video chat or catch up with old coworkers you’ve lost touch with. If you have extra free time, they may as well, and connecting during a difficult time is a great way to deepen a relationship.

We know these are stressful times, and especially so if you are dealing with job loss or were in the middle of a job search when the Coronavirus started to dominate our lives. We hope these tips are helpful and can prepare you to move forward with your goals.