Having an effective résumé is essential in order to give a great first impression to a potential employer. 

According to US News, a résumé is reviewed for only 20 seconds on average. A job seeker’s goal should be to have a résumé that grabs the reader’s attention quickly. 

Here are suggestions on how to create a top-notch résumé.

1. Make sure to use the right keywords. Most companies upload résumés into an applicant tracking system to easily organize candidates. If HR managers are looking to hire a Java software developer, they will run searches based on keywords that relate to the requirements. Review several job descriptions on the Web you feel you would be qualified for, and put those keywords in your résumé. Having common buzzwords in your résumé will increase the likelihood of your résumé populating during a search.

2. Bullet points are essential. Long, drawn-out biographies within a résumé often get ignored. Hiring managers are looking for concise bullet points that get straight to the point.

3. Tailor your résumé to each employer. This sounds time consuming, but in the end, it will pay off. A major mistake job seekers make is sending out one résumé to all audiences. In order to get to the top of the stack, a résumé should cater to each inpidual employer. Read the job description, and pay attention to the company’s unique needs. From there, model your résumé to best reflect how your own unique skill set will benefit the employer.

4. There is no need to list ALL your jobs. A résumé’s purpose is to display the skills relevant to the job in mind. If you waited tables 20 years ago, there is no need to share that with a potential employer. Hiring managers are looking for relevant skills, and when there is unnecessary content, it will quickly bore the reader. It is illegal to age discriminate, but some employers stray away from résumés that go back decades. Only list relevant jobs from the last 15 years or so.

5. Keep it honest. Many interviewees struggle in interviews because they have oversold themselves on their résumé. Only highlight skills you truly possess. Nothing is more awkward in an interview than getting caught for lying on your résumé. Most HR departments complete employment background checks. It is best to be honest with job titles, dates of employments and duties.

6. Stick to two pages maximum. This has been in debate as long as résumés have been around. Rule of thumb: the shorter, the better. Since the average review time of a résumé is 20 seconds or less, it is wise to quickly and concisely get to the point. Résumés that read like short stories waste the time of busy hiring managers. Doing everyone a favor and keeping your résumé to two pages or less will increase your chances of having a good review. 

7. Utilize your white space. Jam-packed résumés are hard to read. It is essential to create a résumé that is easy on the eyes. Think of the HR manager who reviews 200 résumés a day. If your résumé is edge-to-edge wording, it makes it more challenging for the reader to pe in. White space between lines and paragraphs can improve the enjoyment factor of your résumé. 

8. Include accurate contact information. Your name should stand out at the top of your résumé in larger text than the body and in bold. Your contact information should be clearly listed below. It is hard to schedule an interview if the manager does not have the contact information. A phone number, an email address and the city in which you are looking to find a job should be listed. Also, this information should be on every page of your résumé in the header or footer.

We all know the feeling of sending off our résumé, then waiting and wondering where it will stick to the wall. Practicing a few of these suggestions will greatly assist in getting your résumé to the top of the stack.

For more information on résumé writing and job industry inquires, contact Christina Long, marketing manager of Luna Data Solutions. Luna Data Solutions is one of the top-ranked recruiting firms in Austin. Call 512-828-7906, ext. 201, or send an email to christina@lunadatasolutions.com.