Putting together a resume is a daunting task for any job seeker. Did you know most resumes are only reviewed for 6-8 seconds? And even still, it’s becoming more and more common for companies to filter through resumes using AI and other resume-parsing tools. With hiring managers spending less and less time looking over a candidate’s qualifications, along with the increasing number of resumes received per job, it’s important to learn how to make yours stand out.
Over the years, our recruiters have learned what hiring managers look for in a resume and have since crafted the perfect recipe for any claims professional on the job hunt. We’re revealing their 4 go-to strategies for resume writing.
The shorter, the better.
When it comes to an effective resume, it’s important to keep things concise. Readers often lose interest quickly, and hiring managers and recruiters are no exception. Using short, compact sentences and phrases with the most impactful words possible will increase the likelihood of your resume being thoroughly read through.
Saturate the top one-third of your resume with keywords.
As we said earlier, hiring managers are spending less and less time looking at resumes, and it’s even more likely that a computer will be reading it before any human does. This is why the top third section of your resume should be where all your most relevant experience lives. Research the role and cross-reference skills that carry through your past jobs and the ones you are applying to. Scan the job posting along with other similar job postings for keywords the hiring team may be looking for in their candidates.
But be careful not to go overboard and to remain honest. You want your resume to reflect the position you’re applying for, but it shouldn’t have anything you aren’t capable of providing proof of.
Proofread. And then proofread again.
Reviewing your own work is tedious, there’s no doubt about that. But what’s even more painful is having your future employer read that you have 3 years of “claims adding experience” instead of “claims adjusting experience”. Ouch.
Read through your resume at least twice to check for spelling errors and any inconsistencies. Pro tip: have a friend or family member also look it over for anything you may have missed.
Don’t be shy, let them know your accomplishments.
This is the one time no one will judge you for bragging about all the things you’ve done. What’s even better is that the hiring managers and the recruiters who are reading your resume will likely understand how cool it is that you have a New York adjuster’s license much more than your Great Aunt Betty. It’s okay to shine a light on your successes, because how else will they learn how amazing you are?
