PEX Blog: Standing Out Against Competition: The Importance of a Solid Resume

In today’s job market, employers seeking talent receive a heavy volume of candidates. To stand out among the competition and make it through an employer’s rigorous screening process, it’s up to you to make a strong impression with a suitable resume

The Screening Process

Many employers use an applicant tracking system (ATS) to conduct their initial resume triage. Remember our recruiter, Asha? Let’s assume she starts the process with 400 applicants. Of this number, 80 (20%) will be in the “criteria” ballpark for the position, selected by the ATS. Asha will narrow it down to invite 20 applicants to do a screening (phone or virtual) interview. At least 5 invitations will be ignored, and 2 will probably accept and be a no-show. Leaving roughly 13 candidates from which to select a shortlist of 6-8 who align with the position’s ideal criteria (i.e. skills compensation, experience, workplace values, etc.). Once selected, Asha will recommend them for a meeting with the hiring manager.

Raising Your Chances of Being in Asha’s 20%

**DO NOT VS. DO - CHART **

To stand out, your resume must meet the criteria of the original job posting. If your resume is not well constructed or relevantly aligned to the criteria of the job, you can say goodbye to any chance of forward progress in the hiring process.

Go the extra mile?  Why not – this is your livelihood and competition is tough. Guarantee your best foot is forward with your resume by engaging with a professional career coach to ensure you’re up to industry standard. Whether you need someone to help build your resume or need help tackling broader professional development, engaging with a career coach could be the right move for you. To learn more about how we can help you maximize your potential, contact People Exchange.

In the meantime, leverage our Dos and Don’ts to create an effective professional presence for a better chance of standing out against other applicants and landing that crucial first interview. Check back with our blog in the coming weeks for information on how to ace your screening interview.