Focus!

Consider the import and content of a resume.  The essence of an applicant’s work history, education, professional training, and other relevant data must be contained within one or two pages.  If this seems a daunting task for the applicant, consider the onus placed upon the hiring manager.  He or she is compelled to sift through a multitude of resumes in order to distill the sea of candidates down to a relatively small pool.  Even with the use of talent acquisition management software, the hiring manager’s task is enormous.

Make that manager’s task easier, and you’ll increase your potential for interviews.

When crafting your resume, be sure to include, early on in the document, a Professional Profile or a Summary of Qualifications.  This section should encapsulate your work history into a few brief but meaty statements.  It should also include strong keywords applicable to the position and the industry in which you are searching.

With such a Profile or Summary, your qualifications appear in a focused manner, front and center on your resume.  The employer does not have to peruse the entire resume to find it, and it informs him quickly of your overall skills and accomplishments.  A well-written Profile/ Summary can mean the difference between an employer’s serious consideration of your talents and his tendency to overlook you for another candidate.