There is nothing more unfortunate than crafting what you feel is the perfect resume, only to have it buried under a stack of lesser qualified resumes. The question is, why do many resumes get passed over? Why are there so many qualified job applicants who apply for jobs, and despite an impressive resume, don’t get a call? Or even worse, their resumes don’t even get looked at?
 
The reason is, it is getting harder and harder to stand out among competition with a standard, generic resume. It doesn’t matter if you had an impressive internships, or worked at a Fortune 500 company. If your resume is a generic black and white standard CV, then you can be sure that your resume will remain buried under lesser qualified people.
 
The reason this occurs is because people are figuring out that a resume is more than just facts, figures, details, and timelines. It is also about presentation, and showing off your skills and experience in a meaningful manner. Most recruiters spend less than 30 seconds reading your resume. This Forbes article claims that most resumes are read in less than 10 seconds. One thing is for sure: if your resume doesn’t make a great impression after 10 seconds, it will go to the bottom of an endless pile, and it won’t bode well for your future at said company.
 
Now, you might be wondering something along the lines of “I’m not a graphic designer, and I don’t have the best presentation skills, so how am I supposed to produce a resume?” For starters, you can take a look at resume templates for both inspiration, and making it easier for you to download and then upload your resume figures.
 
Another strategy is to ask friends of yours who recently got hired, and see how their resumes look. They will be more than happy to oblige, if it will help you land your dream job.
 
The key here is to stand out: use loud fonts, bold letters, and colors. Otherwise, most HR departments won’t see and appreciate what your resume truly stands for, and could miss out on a great employee such as yourself!