My Top 5: Resume Tips from an Frustrated Hiring Manager

Insights from an Unemployed Job Seeker

As someone who has been laid off 3 times, I have applied for about 3 bijillion jobs over the course of my career. This has made me a resume nerd. I’m always learning about the best format, writing a punchy introduction, tailoring my resume to each position and having the right level of detail on my LinkedIn profile. Which leads me to...

Insights from a Hiring Manager

On the other side, I’ve also been a manager searching for computer trainers, instructional designers, technical support specialists and more. 

​As a hiring manager, believe it or not, I very much want you to be the perfect candidate for the position I have open. While searching for a new career opportunity is no picnic, being on the other side of hiring is also challenging. Unfortunately, many candidates who apply for a job are either not qualified or represent themselves poorly on a resume. Which brings me to my...

There's actually a job opening! Make the most of it!

Top 5 Tips for a Strong Resume

1. You get 2 pages for your resume. That’s it. 
   I received one resume that was 17 pages long. If you cure cancer, put it on page 1 and ditch something else.  Being able to prioritize and discern what’s important is a critical skill. Droning on is not. 
2. If your resume is 2 pages long, use the whole second page. 
   Resumes that are 1 page and about 2 lines insults my inner copy editor. Either edit and format the heck out of it to make it one page, or find enough to fill a whole second page. 
3. Format your resume and cover letter like you know how. 
   Candidates who tout their “attention to detail” and then make several amateur mistakes hurt my soul—as do people who are looking for a job requiring graphic design skills whose resume is formatted so poorly that I can’t pick out job titles from company names. Formatting doesn't need to be elaborate, just consistent.​
4. Have a LinkedIn profile. 
   ​​First of all, have a LinkedIn profile. I work at a software company—and in the 21st century—so having a LinkedIn profile is a must. Having a LinkedIn profile also helps me to see what colleagues we might have in common so I can find out more about you as a candidate.
5. ​Have a professional looking LinkedIn profile.   
   Having a mostly empty LinkedIn profile may be even worse than having no profile at all. At a bare minimum, have a summary of your skills. Have a photo that is a clear, non-ridiculous picture of just you when you are mostly sober. List your last few job titles, employers and (even better) a sentence on what you did. Include any degrees and certifications you have.

A Secret About Hiring Managers

I love "More stuff that makes me qualified."

As a job candidate, it may often feel like we are at odds with hiring managers, and the companies trying to fill open positions. Want to know the truth? As a hiring manager, I’m really hoping that you are the right candidate for the opening I have.

I’m trying like crazy to find just the right person who can do what I need done and who will enjoy working at my company. Each time I come across a resume that includes a great list of skills, but who makes one or more of the mistakes listed above, you're making it harder for me to sell your skills to my boss and get you the salary you want.

Learn More

• How To Write a Resume Summary Statement
• 10 Tips to a More Professional LinkedIn Profile​