In our game (recruitment) people are frequently judged by their job title first and then maybe, if they are lucky, their experience.

In 2012 a study was done in the US by TheLadders.com which showed that recruiters only spend an average of 6.25 seconds looking at a candidate’s résumé before deciding whether he or she is a fit for a role.

The study shows that recruiters spend 80% of that six seconds looking at just six things:

• Name
• Current title / company
• Previous title / company
• Previous position, start and end dates
• Current position, start and end dates
• Education

Apparently most recruiters don’t have time to read between the lines.

So if you are sending your resume out to the market how do you get the attention of the recruiter or the hiring manager if you have an average of 6.25 seconds to grab their attention?

In recruitment we spend a huge amount of time reading resumes, viewing LinkedIn profiles and reading cover letters every single day. At PATH4 Group we pride ourselves on our ability to find the best talent available and apart from speaking with thousands of people every year we utilise the latest in network search, Boolean search and of course referrals, networking and any other means to dig out the right people.

To be noticed quickly you need a hook, something to really grab the attention of the recruiter or hiring manager. Once they see the hook they will be more inclined to read on and hopefully read on in more detail. At PATH4 Group we look for hooks, we are always looking for that point of difference.

With that perfect job at stake, now is not the time to be left out because your profile did not catch the eye of the recruiter or hiring manager.

So have a look at a couple of handy hints for your resume:

• Keep It Short
• Get It Focused On The Role You Are Applying For
• Use Cold Hard Facts
• Get Your Skills At The Top