Here’s What to Look For When Reading a Resume
After investing in an immigration advertising campaign and posting a series of immigration ads for a position that has been difficult to fill locally, employers can expect the resumes to start rolling in.
When it comes to looking over a resume for an immigration labor advertising campaign, it is important to pay just as much attention to subtle cues as it is to the actual content of the resume. By reading between the lines, recruiters and employers can gain access to hints as to the prospective candidate’s overall habits, personality and work ethic that are not so easily revealed when taking the resume at face value.
Here are eight key things to pay attention to for when skimming a resume:
1. Zoom in on the Skills
One of the best ways to get to the point when deciding if a prospective employee will be a good match for a position advertised through immigration ads is to see if the skills that they bring to the table are well-suited to the job itself. The job titles that the candidate has held in the past are not nearly as important as what they learned from their previous positions as well as the natural talents that they can bring to the table.
It is a good idea for employers to already have a clear idea of the skills that they are looking for before they beginning the resume reading process to streamline the process as much as possible.
2. Look for Solid Facts
When it comes to a resume, hard facts are better than fluff. Some people who are just starting out in their careers might be excused for throwing in a little filler, but if anybody who is able to back up their work with concrete data should definitely be given a second look.
For example, they might state that they received a reward or bonus for their contributions to another company, or that sales increased by 10% in the period that they were at a given job. If they don’t have much experience, maybe they still graduated top of their class or received a degree with distinction. When reading resumes, there is always a little room to go with a gut feeling, but as a general rule, the more hard facts that a candidate is able to use to back up their skill-set and overall work ethic, the better.
3. Factor in Overall Readability
This is especially important when applying to positions that involve writing-oriented tasks as part of the job description, but at the same time, anybody who takes the time and consideration to prepare a resume that is inviting and pleasant to read is highly likely to bring that level of thoughtfulness and diligence into their workplace with them as well, and these are the type of qualities that will come in handy for almost any type of employment situation.
4. It Should Get to the Point
People should be able to write out their previous experience in a way that is concise and easily understandable.
Nobody wants to get bogged down reading a mini-memoir, and anybody who is apt at elaborating the value of their previous work without getting bogged down in technical or industry jargon is likely somebody who really saw a clear purpose to what they were doing and why they were doing it.
5. Watch for Grammar Errors and Spelling Mistakes
These are classic resume red flags and for good reason. Anybody who can’t be bothered to properly proofread their resume, or even have a friend proofread it for them, is likely to be equally careless on the job site.
6. Pay Attention to How Long They Were Previously Employed
When looking at past job experience, it is also important to look for overall trends leaning toward longevity at prior workplaces. If a candidate only stayed at a job for a short amount of time, it is helpful if they provide information as to why they left. For example, maybe they wanted to devote themselves fully to the career that the position is being offered in, and can get a pass.
That said, it is ideal if the prospective employee has an overall record of spending at least two years with most or all of their previous employers since it indicates that they are likely to commit themselves fully to the position being offered. By contrast, a track record of short spurts of employment is usually not a very good sign.
7. Note How Open They Are to Listing References
If the references seem to be chosen somewhat randomly, for example, for a series of older less relevant positions rather than a new position that is closer to the type of job being offered, this may be a sign that they have been fired or laid off in the past.
Another red flag is listing references to be available “upon request”. Generally, somebody who continues to maintain a good relationship with past employers or who left on good terms will not hesitate to provide a name and contact information.
If they are withholding references, or can’t muster up three references despite having maintained more than three previous positions, they more than likely have had to leave previous positions in an unceremonious fashion.
8. The Level of Experience Doesn’t Need to Matter That Much
It almost always makes things a lot easier for anybody if a new hire has previous experience in the type of position they have applied for, the actual level of experience that they have is generally less important providing they are willing to learn. While it would be foolhardy to rule out candidates with a high level of experience, at least without an interview, sometimes people who have been doing something for a long time might also be inclined to get stuck in their ways and be less open to change.
This is why when it comes to looking at how much experience somebody actually has, it doesn’t hurt to take this one with a grain of salt as long as they are open to learning new things and excited to develop themselves in their careers. Keep in mind that experience garnered in other industries might just come in handy as well.
