Did you know? Recruiters on average spend only 6 seconds* reviewing an individual resume! It’s true.  And a majority of those seconds are spent on the following data points: Name, Current title/company, Previous position start and end dates, Current position start and end dates, Previous title/company, and Education.

Here’s how you can help yourself stand out in that 6 second window.

1.  Use a clear and concise format.

Use a professional and readable font.  Times New Roman can be viewed as stale.  Georgia, Arial, or Helvetica are great alternatives.

2.  Make it easy for the recruiters to find the information they are looking for.

Review that list above.  Are those things quickly identifiable and prominent?  Are headings bolded or in a larger font? Help your reader recruiter quickly navigate the document.

3. Stick to the point.  

Too much detail can be irrelevant and should be reserved for the interview.   Remember…

Six seconds. 

*Eye Tracking Online Metacognition: Cognitive Complexity and Recruiter Decision Making. Will Evans, Head of User Experience Design,TheLadders. 2012.