by Stathis Bampouklis, Sales & Marketing Intern
25 tips to charm the HR Manager "at first sight "
Do you often wonder why a company doesn't even get you past the interview stage? What happens and your resume doesn't impress? What is it that makes them reject you before they even give you a chance to meet you?
An interviewer will form his/her first impression of you based on your resume. While it is just a “paper”, it is your first weapon to demonstrate your value. That's why it needs special attention to what it will contain and how it will showcase your strengths. Neither exaggeration, dishonesty, nor superficial presentation will achieve the desired result.
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There are thousands of resumes seen by interviewers every day. With bullet points and keywords, an organized and easy-to-read resume catches their attention and eases the process of choosing. Just to let you know, they recognized your lying immediately, and potential gaps in time that indicate missing information about your activity raise questions that are not so favorable.
It is important to pay attention to details and include thoughtful content when creating a resume.
To help you with a dynamic resume, we've listed some tips below:
Personal information It is unnecessary to include your age, gender, photo or address on your resume to avoid discrimination unless specifically requested by the job ad.
Starting dynamically
Start with a short, one-paragraph introduction that will immediately grab the recruiter's attention. Here you should describe your career goals, some of your strengths, skills you have gained through previous experience, and what makes you unique in your field.
Making an excellent first impression
According to studies, every recruiter spends 7-8 seconds on each resume. Therefore, you should include your most compelling attributes in the first part of it.
Tailor each resume to the type of position you are applying for
Tailor your resume to the requirements of the position, stating exactly what qualifications it asks for. In addition, depending on the company's subject, prioritize anything that reveals your development and relationship with it and anything else just presents it briefly.
Keywords depend on the position.
Perhaps this is the most important tip. In many companies, resume screening is done with the support of artificial intelligence systems, which are based on keywords. If your resume contains the appropriate ones based on the profession and job ad, then you definitely have a place in the interview process.
Interests
If your work experience is not strong enough to prove your skills, point out some of your interests that may well achieve this, even if it is in some initial form. Make sure they are realistic because you will definitely be asked about them.
Length
Unless you are a doctor, academic, or manager, make sure it is no longer than 2 pages.
Inaccuracies & Exaggerations
Be honest about what you mention. Be sure that any HR Manager can distinguish a lie from the truth as they have conducted countless interviews.
Simplicity
Avoid heavy-handed expressions and metaphorical verbosity. Express yourself in a simple way that anyone can understand.
Focus on skills & abilities
Mention your strongest soft and hard skills in bullets at a distinct place, so that the recruiter's eye falls directly on them and connects them directly to the job advertisement. So choose to emphasize what the ad mentions if of course you honestly possess these skills.
Documentation
Whatever is presented, you should prove it to establish credibility. Instead of just quoting some adjectives e.g. I am adaptable; I am organizational, document them using an example. You can achieve this through the accomplishments alluded to above.
Organizability
Divide your resume into distinct sections consisting of an understandable title in bold letters. Make your resume have an attractive appearance and a smooth flow and be tidy. In this way, you bring out the first impression as an organizational personality.
Uniformity
Use the same font throughout the text and the same font in the title and headings, as well as the same alignment. Multiple fonts can get tiring and you don't want that!
Personal pronouns
It is advisable to avoid them, especially the first person, such as "I am", "I have created", "I have achieved". Instead, prefer nouns. You don't want to pass the message of a selfish person!
Old details
Your resume must be up to date. Do not present things that happened in the distant past. Analyze the most recent ones and group and shrink the ancient ones.
Achievements
One way to document the skills and abilities mentioned above is through references to achievements and "wins" in a previous position. You don't need to describe all of your duties in detail. Any recruiter reading the position understands what those might be. So focus on something that will pleasantly surprise them, such as the added value you brought to the previous job or something that benefited the team at a difficult time for example or any new skill you developed
Time gaps
If the work experience reflects some time gaps, show what was taking place during that time. Recruiters definitely don't like them because they create a bad image of you. Whereas if you mention, for example, your participation in a 4-month seminar or a business trip, you will demonstrate your passion for development and learning and not some deliberate inactivity.
Some additional tips from our recruiter:
Write the same name on all the files you send
The name should be professional e.g. CV_Antonis_Gianaris
Save them as a pdf or word file with a name that is also professional and keep it as consistent as possible for as many files as you are asked to send.
Your email address should also be in professional format e.g. antonis.gianaris@gmail.com and not paki283itsa@hotmail.com
Answer all HR manager’s questions in the emails
Understand the job description, so that your CV illustrates everything that this asked for and so that a quick match can be made.
Don't ask HR managers to format/translate the files they send you.
Be consistent with deadlines and don't send them at the last minute.
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Workathlon, aiming to facilitate companies in the field of staffing, has built its own form, so that each candidate can fill in all the necessary information that a CV is required to have. As a result, the employers have the opportunity to judge with objective criteria regarding the content of the "paper" and not its appearance! Details can be found by clicking on the link HERE
From all of this, keep the following:
If you want to stand out, keep it succinct, update it often, tailor it to each ad, and make sure it's clear what additional value you're adding to the new job. Don't forget how the resume is a miniature of your personality. So when you're not there to show it off in the best possible way, give it the importance needed to speak for you.
Almost everyone will make a good first impression, but only a few will make a good lasting impression. - Sonya Parker
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