7 Ways Employers Use Resumes

When you are about to apply for a job, one of the first tasks you will need to do is to write your resume. That's the document that will tell the employer about your educational and employment history.

In order to get the correct writing style for best results, it's a good idea to first understand just how employers use resumes:

1. Most importantly, they use resumes (and cover letters) to determine who to interview. It takes them less than 30 seconds to scan a properly presented resume for the right words that will tell them that you will be an asset to their organization.
   
2. They look for results-oriented information. This is not a list of your jobs, with corresponding dates. They want to see what you actually achieved in those positions - without the adjectives and 'fluff'. Just the facts.
   
3. The information you put in your cover letter and resume will often form the basis of interview questions. So make sure you have actually done the tasks you have listed and will be prepared to be questioned on the methods involved in accomplishing them.
   
4. Your communication skills will be apparent from these documents as well. If you present your resume in a concise and logical manner, and make it relevant to the advertised position, it will reflect these qualities in you.
   
5. They look for relevance. Do not send a standard resume to every company you apply to. It is important that you take whatever elements are relevant to the job in question and expand on these. Telling a car parts manufacturer about your job as a swim teacher is totally irrelevant, and you will lose the reader immediately.
   
6. A prospective employer wants to know that you have the ability to actually do the job, not just talk about it. Even if this is your first job from college, if you can demonstrate leadership qualities in perhaps a student role, then you have the potential to be a leader in their company. Your information here must be specific and supportable.
   
7. Don't use empty words, ones that are open to interpretation. If you can demonstrate the qualities behind the words - great! Such qualities include:

In order to stand out from the (sometimes hundreds of) other applicants, there are some attention-getting techniques that can be employed. These include eye-catching, yet professional, headlines and the inclusion of keywords that employers often scan for. Don't hesitate to seek the help of a professional should you think your resume is not perfect.