There’s so much out on the web right now about “ATS-compliant” resumes, and there are plenty of people peddling their resume-writing services for a steep cost.

Let’s set the record straight for a moment.

Resumes aren’t rejected by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). They are rejected by humans who quickly scan your resume to determine whether or not they should go deeper.

As a professional talent recruiter, I review hundreds of resumes in a day. I have a specific role in mind, and I am scanning resumes to find one that catches my eye as a match for the role I am looking to fill.

The average recruiter will spend less than 15 seconds on your resume when they do their first review. Something in your resume needs to catch their eye as they give it that quick scan to entice them to dig deeper.

Does your resume pass the scan test?

If you are actively seeking work, I would encourage you to do this simple self-test on your resume. If you don’t trust yourself to be objective, perhaps have a friend or family member do this for you.

Step 1: Find your perfect next job. For the purpose of this exercise, don’t worry about the location, remote/hybrid, salary, or hiring company. Just locate the JOB that you want next – ideally, in the same industry you are currently in.  Your goal is to find a great job description for the role you’re looking for.

Step 2: Read the job description carefully. Don’t skim – be sure to read every word! You want to fully understand exactly what they’re looking for. This might be the time to break out the highlighters. It’s important to fully understand what the hiring manager is looking to see.

Step 3: Based on everything you just read, take a few minutes and put yourself in the hiring manager’s shoes. What would you be looking to see? What would catch your eye?  Imagine that you have a stack of 100 resumes and you are reviewing each one to try to schedule interviews.

Step 4: Start a timer for 15 seconds and take a look at your resume. In 15 seconds or less, did you find something in your resume that would make that hiring manager pause and want to look deeper?

Step 5: If you can honestly say that in 15 seconds or less, your resume captures the attention for your ideal job – CONGRATS! You will likely land an interview. If your resume does not capture the attention in 15 seconds or less, it’s time to take action.

If you just did this exercise and found that your resume doesn’t pass the scan test, you can check out these great articles to help you get your resume up to speed:

Resume Tips to Boost Your Job Application Responses
The Best Ways to Market Yourself With Your Resume
10 Ways to Improve Your Resume
How to Write a Resume That Stands Out

Regardless of whether or not you think your resume is ready, take a look at our job board. If you see a role that makes sense for you, feel free to send me your resume and the job that interests you. I can’t promise that you’re a fit for the role, but I can promise you that I will give your resume an honest look and if you have the right experience, I can help you fix your resume to present you in the best light possible.

The best part? Goodwin Recruiting never charges a candidate a dime for any services we provide – even if we have to revamp your resume! Reach out anytime I can be of assistance in your job search. I look forward to helping you find your next great opportunity!