'Recruiters spend 20 seconds per resume': Interviewer reveals realities of today's job market & shares practical resume tips

What is an ideal, perfect resume, really? You hear various opinions¡ªsome say to prioritise certain elements, others suggest making it longer, while some advocate for a short, to-the-point CV. So, what's the answer? Recently, a recruiter with extensive interview experience shared their tips on the basics of resume writing, making it clear: "There are no perfect resumes." They also highlighted a crucial point: if you aren't getting interview calls, your resume probably isn't to blame.

What makes a CV stand out?

The Redditor shared that interviewers are swamped and rarely have more than 20 seconds to glance at each resume before making a decision. So, how can you make your resume stand out in those crucial seconds?

There are no perfect resumes. Here are some basics.
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Here are the basics of a resume that the recruiter shares:

Keep it short

No points there for guessing, the Redditor shares that keeping it concise is the 'golden rule.' They suggest aiming for one page, or at most two pages, but to avoid shrinking the font to fit everything onto one page.

Simple template

Opt for a clean, straightforward template rather than elaborate designs. "Save your resume as a PDF to avoid formatting issues that can occur with different versions of Word," they write.

Highlight your skills

Skills should be the main focus, listed clearly and prominently. This is the core section of your resume.

Education and career progression

Present your education and career progression clearly, including timelines for each role, job designations, locations, and responsibilities.

Skip project details

Only include project details if your resume is sparse, and even then, list only those relevant to the job you¡¯re applying for.

Summary

"Have a brief summary right at the top. Don't write things like Mission, personal details, hobbies, spot awards etc," they write.

Proofread

Finally, proofread your resume to catch any spelling or grammar mistakes.

Credit: LinkedIn

The Redditor also makes a key point of not blaming your resume if you aren't landing an interview: "If you aren't getting calls, it's unlikely the resume has got anything to do with it, unless it's atrociously bad."

"The market's just not what it was earlier," they note.

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