Great Resumes Fast » Best Resume Writer » Optimizing Your Resume for the 10-Second Initial Review

Powerful word for winning a resumeStudies show that hiring managers spend an average of ten seconds looking at a resume before deciding whether to keep going or move on to the next candidate. That’s right, only ten seconds! That says a lot about the job market today and the number of applicants for great positions, but it also says a lot about how you should write your resume. You’ve got ten seconds to land yourself a second glance; what do you do?

Be Concise

One thing you certainly want to avoid is a resume that is overly wordy or that puts the most relevant information at the end. You want the qualities that the hiring manager is looking for to be in the very beginning of your resume so that they are noticed and seen. Long gone are the days where relevant information could be buried on the third page and still get read. You have to be concise and to the point, and you have got to make sure that your resume starts selling you to the hiring manager from the very first word.

Tailor Your Resume

This is perhaps the most important step you can take. If you are applying for multiple positions, there is nothing wrong with having multiple resumes floating around. In fact, it is recommended. You want your resume to be tailored not only to the job you are applying for, but to the company you are applying with. Match your tone to the tone of their website and other media. If they are innovative, outside-the-box thinkers, then that is the approach you should take. Align your brand with theirs while remaining true to who you are.

Use Keywords

With hiring software becoming more and more commonplace, you might have to make it through a computer before you even get a chance at your ten seconds. Be sure to pepper your cover letter and resume with relevant keywords to make sure any software they use sees you as a good fit and lands you the chance to have your resume reviewed.

Ten seconds isn’t a long time to sell yourself. Make sure you are doing all you can to help the process along! Want more advice for writing your resume? Check out this article on whether you should include soft skills on your resume.

When You Need Interviews Now

We employ the above tips and many more interview-winning resume writing strategies through our professional resume writing service. The resumes we create have delivered an exceptional 99.6% interview-winning success rate for our clients and shortened job searches from 6-9 months to 60 days or less. Our professional resume writing service is collaborative, one-on-one and completely customized to you and your job search goals. YES! I’m ready to shorten my job search and start interviewing.

About Great Resumes Fast Product Templates MRP-3882

About the author

Jessica Hernandez, President, CEO & Founder of Great Resumes Fast

Hi, I’m Jessica. I started this company back in 2008 after more than a decade directing hiring practices at Fortune 500 companies.

What started as a side hustle (before that was even a word!) helping friends of friends with their resumes has now grown into a company that serves hundreds of happy clients a year. But the personal touch? I’ve kept that.

You might have seen me featured as a resume expert in publications like Forbes, Fast Company, and Fortune. And in 2020, I was honored to be named as a LinkedIn Top Voice of the year!

I’m so glad you’re here, and I can’t wait to help you find your next perfect-fit position!

Leave a Comment





Improve Your Resume: Download Your Free Executive Resume Template Today

Are you struggling to create an executive resume that will impress employers? Download this free executive resume template and receive a series of 10 emails with expert guidance on how to write resume content that resonates with employers so you get more interviews.

It's everything you need to stand out, make an impression, and accelerate your job search.