Post Date:
October 16, 2012
Body:
Long before #hashtags became the way to call attention to Tweets, applicant tracking systems were scouring for keywords in resumes to determine which resumes would go on to the next step and be reviewed from the eyes of a recruiter. However, according to this eWeek article, “Job Hunting in the Early Stages: Why Resume Keywords Matter”, more than 70% of resumes never make it to that next step – a pretty daunting statistic for those job seekers. Our very own CEO, Ted Elliott is quoted in this story, agreeing that “People would be shocked at how many resumes never get looked at.”
For job seekers wanting to be part of the 30% who do make the cut, my advice is to create a resume that caters to the job description. In other words, echo to the skills and keywords being used, but make sure there’s proof behind the pudding.
For recruiters, do you think there’s enough validity leaving this front-line filter to technology? My guess for the majority is yes since there are often only so many jobs to fill and an applicant pipeline that’s about ready to burst at the seams, but I want to hear from you. What is your front-line method for sorting through resumes? Are you using knock-out questions? Or do you prefer the hands-on approach and review every resume that gets submitted?
At Jobscience, we’re all about hiring faster. Not only does this obviously save time and money, but also allows potential candidates to be engaged in a shorter amount of time which means the less time they have to look for another position or be recruited for one. In addition, by using filters in the beginning like knock-out questions, you can spend more quality time on those folks who make the cut right from the get-go. These are only a couple of considerations. We have our own methods for hiring faster, and if you’re interested in learning more give me a shout-out at jenny.casey@jobscience.com.
