These days, employers are inundated with resumes (think 200+ resumes PER position!). Usually employers give resumes a 6-15 second glance to see if a candidate is even worth a second look. Career Igniter came up with 5 things to consider when you’re hoping to make it past the skim read.

Make it easy for the online reader. Have you ever been to a website that looks perfect on your computer but when you look at it on a mobile device, it’s almost unusable? Don’t let your resume’s online layout format you out of the job. Your resume should be legible whether the employer wants to print it out or using an online reader.

Add a short branding paragraph at the top. Having a career title or branding paragraph at the top of your resume can serve like a headline on a newspaper. If the reader sees nothing but your branding paragraph (who you really are [in relation to the position]), it should make them want to continue reading.

Tell how you made a difference. Employers aren’t reading resumes to see what you DID in your last job, they want to know what made you GREAT at your job. Your highest achievement at each job should be highlighted early in the description of each previous position.

KEYWORDS. Skim readers (and the software programs they use!) looks for keywords and key phrases. Looking at the job posting, it should be fairly evident what the employer is looking for – THESE are your keywords!

Keep it timeless. Ensure the reader has no idea what your age is. Don’t include dates of any roles more than 15 years ago. Also, unless you are currently pursuing or have recently finished your degree, there is no reason to give a graduation year.

For more information on creating a resume that can make it past the skim read, check out Career Ignite’s article here.