Major job boards like CareerBuilder and Monster are one of the most popular ways for companies to develop a candidate pool when looking to fill an open position. CareerBuilder alone boasts 2 million unique users per month according to a report by Cnet News last year.
With unemployment at its highest since 1982 and candidate competition increasing, how does a candidate stand out from the virtual pack when posting a resume on a major job board?
1. Your Resume Title
First impressions are important and the title of your resume will determine whether your resume gets a first look. Include action words in the title that best describe your experience and are different from the norm. An example would be “Certified AMX Audio Visual Professional.”
2. Include an Objective in Your Online Profile
An objective describes what career opportunity as well as industry you are interested in learning more about. Recruiters spend roughly 10 seconds or less per resume. Keep your objective simple, direct and to the point. For example, “Seasoned and Certified Human Resource Director interested in opportunity within the non-profit industry.” Limit your objective to 1-2 sentences.
3. Resume Format
Include bullets, open space, dates, and quantitative numbers on your resume. Avoid spelling errors, unprofessional e-mail addresses, and a format that is not easily skimmed and no more than 2 pages.
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4. Update Your Profile Weekly
Job boards list resumes by most recently updated and allow recruiters to use search by resumes updated daily, weekly, and monthly. Keep your resume at the top of the pack by updating it weekly. You can also take advantage of CareerBuilder’s advantage option which automatically provides you this service but at a fee.
5. Use Searchable Buzzwords & Keyword Terms
Recruiters resume mine for qualified candidates also by keyword search. Include terms relevant to the industry or job you are interested in. Include any specialized certifications and their abbreviations as well as other specific qualifications to increase your exposure.
6. Include Your Contact Information
Recruiters do not have the time or patience to contact a candidate that uses an anonymous resume on a job board. Increase your exposure odds by including your contact information, including e-mail and phone numbers. Monster has a feature, called Privacy Plus, that allows users to block up to 20 companies from viewing your resume.
[This article was originally posted on an earlier date]
Photo credit: Shutterstock
About Jessica Miller-Merrell
Jessica, these are great tips. There are so many opportunities available online for job seekers, but it’s up to us to use them correctly! AM, I believe it is no more than 2 pages. Many employers prefer the one page resume, but some are becoming more lenient.
I love # 3, but all of them are so important and I use these strategies with every young person with whom I come into contact.
I love # 3, but all of them are so important and I use these strategies with every young person with whom I come into contact.
I love # 3, but all of them are so important and I use these strategies with every young person with whom I come into contact.
Please clarify the statement “Avoid spelling errors, unprofessional e-mail addresses, and a format that is not easily skimmed and no more than 2 pages.”
The resume should or should not be more than 2 pages?
I want to highlight number 6 Include Your Contact Information. You would think this would be obvious but you would be surprised how many job applicants do not include any contact information.
It's a little hard to get a job if the recruiter has no way to contact you.