Why recruiters are rejecting your resume (part 1 of a series)

Wondering why recruiters don’t call you back, and how you’re ever going to get hired in this recession?

As it turns out, hiring authorities continually see problems with the resumes that come their way, with what one noted was “more pet peeves on this issue than Elin Woods’ attorney on the new pre-nuptial agreement.”

However, most recruiters are more than happy to share their advice for getting your resume into the “yes” pile, with recommendations for fonts, sentence bullets, length, file formats, and more.

This week, I talked with Raj Khera, CEO of email marketing firm MailerMailer, professional headhunter and Guerrilla Marking for Job Hunters 2.0 co-author David Perry, recruiter Angee Linsey of Linsey Careers Recruitment and Consulting, HR Director Greg Szymanski, recruiter Mitch Beck of Crossroads Consulting, Absolutely Abby careers expert and Lead Staffing Consultant Abby Kohut, and recruiter Mel Adkinson of RF Technologies, Inc. to gain insight on recruiter resume turnoffs—starting with length.

Surprisingly enough, even with all the advice piled on job hunters about keeping a resume to 2 pages, many professionals seem to have missed the memo. Recruiters say that they’re still being barraged with 4- and 5-page novels instead of the concise presentations they need.

Khera, who recruits software engineering, graphic design, marketing, PR, and customer support professionals, notes that receiving an “essay” is the biggest problem. “Don’t tell your life story and take 5 pages to do it. These go directly into the trash.” Perry adds that anything over 3 pages is considered a “resume brick” and a quick turn-off.

Linsey agrees, saying that 4- and 5-page resumes provide “too much information” for the average job hunter, making it hard for recruiters to digest the data. She encourages job hunters to boil down their message to 2 pages, adding that a third-page addendum of publications or technical skills is ideal for job hunters in IT or education.

Recruiter Mitch Beck reinforces the idea that most resumes are too long, saying with 7 to 10 seconds for a quick glance, he may need to move on rather than try to decipher the candidate’s value proposition.

Recruiters are equally vocal about professionals trying to fit too much information into a tight space in an effort to adhere to the (outdated) admonition about single-page resumes.

Adkinson says that using 8-point font to cram all of your data into “just 1 page” isn’t helpful to a recruiter, pointing out 2-page resumes are perfectly acceptable for those with sufficient experience to warrant it. Most hiring authorities, he noted, prefer a clean, readable font of at least 11 points.

It’s important to leave sufficient white space on a resume, according to Kohut—and this often means expanding it to a second page. If your resume is hard to read, she notes, it’s more likely to be passed over by a recruiter who can’t gauge your fitness for their open positions. She publishes resume tips each Tuesday in a series called Rockin' Resumes.

Szymanski, who recruits for the real estate development industry, agrees that readability is the key to being selected for an interview. Job hunters who display the “failure to write succinctly” make it harder for their resume to be easily scanned—or for them to be recommended for the next step in the hiring process.

When it comes to brevity, Beck is emphatic. “Your resume should never be more than 2 pages, even if you’re George Bush,” he says. “Nobody has time to read that much information.”

9 signs that your resume won't make the cut

The truth can sneak up on you quickly--a resume used to just be a single-page rehash of your work life, but now there's a never-ending multitude of resume “sins” that can prevent you from landing interviews.

Assuming that you’re a forward-thinking, energetic professional who can run circles around other candidates (of course, this is true - why else would you be reading this?), you’ll need to regroup.

If you've plunged into deep denial about your resume, take a careful look at these likely scenarios--and the fixes behind them:

1) You’re unsure as to what a resume should look like, but it turns out that Microsoft Word has a great built-in template.

2) You’ve added an objective statement because that’s the way it’s always been done. Besides, how will employers know what you want if you don’t specify it?

3) You’re worried that employers won’t see everything you’ve done and therefore you’ve had to write a lot of pages to explain it all. How else would they see all of your jobs?

4) You’ve crammed your resume into a single page because you’ve always understood this as a requirement. The font can always be adjusted, anyway.

5) You’re having trouble recalling all the revenue numbers, budget figures, and other facts of your career, but you’ve spent a lot of time describing your duties.

6) You’ve added block-paragraph descriptions of each major achievement or job, rather than breaking up your text with well-placed bullets.

7) Your last job isn’t that relevant to your career, so you’ve decided to use a functional resume.

8) You’re proud of your long tenure in the industry and want everyone to know that you have “over 25 years of experience.”

9) You’re unsure of what your actual goal really is, so you’ve added a strong description of each skill to the resume so that employers can see all of your expertise in one shot.

Remember... even if it’s been light years since writing your last resume, you CAN add quick fixes that will help win the interviews you deserve.

Could your executive resume actually be too SHORT?

Most job hunters remember the days of single-page resumes, when hiring professionals warned them that any document daring to breach this "rule" would be quickly eliminated from consideration.

Fast forward to the rapid-fire job market of today, and you'll find that things have changed considerably.

Not only have many executives jumped ship amid volatile corporate changes, but numerous mergers, downsizing efforts, and layoffs have cluttered the employment landscape.

The result? Job hunters have more information than ever before to incorporate into an executive resume.

However, it seems that plenty of executives still sell themselves--and their resumes--short.

Consider the case of Richard* (fictitious name), an executive with a long tenure in the financial services industry.

He wanted to go after sales positions both inside and outside his industry, and possessed a solid history of wealth management experience, sales awards, and business-to-business relationship-building skills.

Yet, for all his experience, Richard was still cramming more than 20 years of sales proficiency and executive history into a single page. His resume didn't even do him the honor of providing metrics on his revenue performance, nor did it spell out how his career progression was tied to his ultimate goal, which was Vice President of Sales.

Naturally, we worked together to extract some impressive numbers (4 years in President's Club, leadership for a 10-person team, multimillion-dollar revenue growth, etc.). In the process, we discovered that his core strength (building strategic alliances) actually accounted for up to a THIRD of his department's revenue, making this skill a central theme.

Incorporating and assembling these facts made it easy for his resume to stretch out and breathe--giving space to shout his value proposition and clearly tell a story of success. In the end, his resume pushed past the single-page mark, making it much easier for the reader to digest.

If this situation sounds familiar, it's time to break out of your comfort zone and advance your resume into the 2-page arena. Keep in mind that a clean, easy-to-read design surrounded by plenty of white space can showcase your achievements, and that employers appreciate being able to quickly scan a resume for relevant information.

Here are 3 tips to jumpstart your resume-building process--and incorporate your strongest points into a powerful document worthy of your stature:

1 - Start by asking colleagues to comment on your value proposition.

You'll find that, as your career has progressed throughout different positions and companies, your brand value has remained intact. Often, you'll see major themes emerge when looking at your work history from an aerial viewpoint.

For example, natural leaders usually find that they are drawn to work environments where the team needs a strong focal point. Problem-solvers inevitably end up at companies where there are operational or process improvement issues to overcome.

Whatever your unique strengths, showcasing them on your resume--even if you typically would wait until the interview to discuss these qualities--allows employers to see how your work will have an impact on their success.

Not sure how to approach colleagues? Consider what alliance partners, vendors, or suppliers have noted about your performance.

Of course, you'll want to ensure that these qualities and capabilities take center stage on your executive resume.

2 - Write dollar-driven specifics that back up your value proposition.

Figures are the best way to demonstrate proof of your capabilities, as they provide eye-catching points that hit home for hiring managers.

Budget amounts, sales revenue, cost savings, productivity gains, and other metrics are all useful information for an executive resume.

What if your previous employer won't allow you to disclose these amounts? Consider using percentages to indicate improvements in revenue, market share, or profits that drive home the same point on your brand.

3 - Add judicious use of white space and text effects.

An understated, yet powerful presentation is a hallmark of the most effective executive resumes.

While many people opt to use a built-in Word template, doing so can reflect poorly on your leadership strengths. Formatting and visual design are key elements of an effective resume, and can require some creative thinking on your part.

Executive resume samples are readily available on the Internet, and while copying text is not recommended, looking closely at different formats will give you an idea of the best presentation for your materials.

For a clear brand message, add white space around the title of your resume, plus the section headings and individual jobs. Be sure to use boldface text to set off areas of particular emphasis.

In summary, you'll find that expanding your executive resume to 2 or even 3 pages can inspire hiring authorities to take a second look.

These steps will help you to easily expand your resume with relevant information--leaving you with a strong brand message in a just-right amount of space.

Stop Saving It All For The Interview!

Recently, I had a delightful conversation with Jennie Dorris of 5280 Magazine in Denver on the subject of (what else?) effective resumes that catch the eye of employers... and it may have been just as eye-opening for me as it was for her.

What I've found among many job hunters is this: their confidence extends mainly to the interview--meaning that they're convinced they can land the job if only their resume will make it past the gatekeeper first.

However, if you REALLY want to land interviews, you'll need to turn this idea upside down! Get that value proposition that you carry about in your head, plus your vision of that perfect interview, down on paper INSTEAD.

Why? Well, for starters, the resume presentation you have in mind (the one that holds back the good stuff) won't sway anyone enough to call you.

While you may have been led to believe that you should save your strengths for the interview, you're actually better off presenting your value proposition as fast as you can so that no one misses it.

I've always told my clients the same thing - what I'm really intent on capturing is that interview story that you're saving up, because it will make or break the reception you gain from your resume.

So, remember to take a step back, analyze what you want the employer to really know about you, and get THAT story on your resume (instead of the dry, responsibility-focused one you have now).

Give employers what they WANT on an executive resume

I've seen it yet again - a functional resume that goes to great lengths to "hide" work chronology and the current job title of the executive using it.

Of course, it's not producing any interviews, and the job hunter is desperately seeking a critique to find out where the resume has gone wrong.

Employers in today's market are savvy, seasoned, and perhaps even a bit weary. They've probably seen it all by now, including executive resumes that don't give up credible, easy-to-find information in a way that makes sense.

So, give them what they crave!

Your resume will make an ethical, professional case for you, but only if you "come clean." By this, I mean showing your full work history with dates and descriptions of what you did.

Now, if you have past (relevant!) experience that qualifies you for a new job, but you don't want the employer to miss it, add a Career Highlights section on the first page that shows this information.

However, don't peel your work chronology off in order to do this! The mistake I see many executives make is that they believe these are opposing pieces of information, instead of resume sections that complement each other.

Work history is of absolute importance to the reader of your resume. The harder you may try to "cover" something, the more an employer will react (in a negative way, that is).

If you can't figure out how to pull relevant information onto the first page of an executive resume, see samples of my work for real-life case studies.

Secrets of an Executive Resume Writer: Where to Put Key Information

Like hiring managers and recruiters, I read plenty of resumes sent to me by job hunters hopeful for a shot at a great new role. And like hiring authorities, I struggle to find the most pertinent information about each candidate as I scan through the documents.

Many professionals still adhere to resume formats that kill their chances of winning an interview, burying their most attractive credentials and making it harder for employers to see salient points.

However, it's not your fault! Setting out to write your own resume is a daunting task that throws even the most skilled writer for a loop.

Marketing managers, HR directors, and even journalists can struggle to write a successful, interview-winning resume, as they often miss key points about their own career histories and are unsure how to quickly make that critical first impression.

What truly masterful executive and professional resume writers know is that the ORDER in which your resume displays your skills can make or break the reception you get.

Here's an example: I recently received a resume from a seasoned operations executive that listed his education first, then his work history. No professional summary, just a quick list of who he'd worked for and a few numbers.

Halfway into reading it, I spotted some organizational projects that he'd led that had trimmed expenses by 30%, allowing the company to open a new facility with no extra staff! Why wasn't THIS information front and center?

In another case, I worked with an executive that had graduated from Notre Dame, plus earned an MBA from a prestigious university.

Even though his recent experience as a CFO was much more prominent than the education, these university names could be a key qualifier that resonated with employers.

Therefore, I brought this information to the forefront by noting it in the executive profile of his new resume--eliminating eyestrain for hiring managers who might be on the lookout for these notable qualifications.

My advice for you? Take a STRATEGIC look at what you offer, noting the top 3-5 qualifications, credentials, and achievements that will make you stand out among others vying for the same job.

Next, redistribute this information on your resume so that it gives an immediate impression of who you are, what you do, and why employers need YOU to solve business problems.

You'll find that, the less your reader needs to hunt for key data, the higher volume of interviews--and successful job offers--will come your way.