How to win a job in 6 seconds

Job-searching is hard work, often disheartening and full of paperwork.

To add to that, an employer will take an average six seconds to make up their mind about your resume, Indeed research has found.

It means jobseekers need to put their best foot forward when it comes to their resume, Indeed’s head of career insights Jay Munro said.

“The importance of resume writing has become more competitive than ever for job hunters, so it’s crucial possible candidates are reading job descriptions closely, identifying skills and experience in order to meet the employers requirements,” Munro explained.

“If you cannot meet the requirements, it may be best to refine your job search to find the best match.”

Here are five tips to build the best resume

1. How long should a resume be?

“For most resumes, it’s best to keep it to two pages maximum,” Munro said.

2. What should I include?

“Job hunters should carefully consider that everything included is necessary. This includes using a simple format and a summary with skills, experience and education. A complicated resume could be confusing to pick up for an applicant tracking system.”

3. How should I structure it?

He said job hunters should try to keep their resume simple with a strong headline which sums up their best achievements in one line.

“This should then be followed by a gripping summary that reveals a possible candidates best professional accomplishments.”

4. How long should I wait until following up?

Munro said his personal suggestion is for jobseekers to wait a week or two before following up on an application.

“By doing so, it shows a level of persistence and determination which is sure to be memorable to an organisation. This is also a great opportunity to receive feedback and information on how to improve a resume.”

5. What mistakes should I look out for?

Common mistakes include typos and spelling errors, so proofreading is critical.

“After spending an hour or two creating a stand out resume, it would be a disappointment to have missed something that could’ve been easily corrected,” Munro said.

‘’Read your resume from bottom to top and then top to bottom, correcting mistakes as you find them. It may also be handy to get a fresh set of eyes by someone trustworthy nearby to look over your resume.”

But what should it look like?

Indeed provided five resume templates, also available on indeed.com.

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