According to an eye-tracking study conducted by Ladders, recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds skimming a resume before moving on to the next.

How can your resume hold their attention?

It’s not as difficult as it sounds. Whether you are a software developer, a systems engineer, a data analyst, or another tech professional, use these tips to ride right into your next interview.

Recruiters spent the most time focusing on resumes that contained these elements:

• Clear fonts. Simple, easy-to-read fonts are best.
• Simple layouts. The faster a recruiter can understand who you are and what skills you offer, the better. Stick to a simple layout.
• Bolded job titles with a bulleted list of accomplishments. Include relevant job skills and experience in bullet points, not paragraphs. Recruiters scan for job titles and subheads first. Bold these items and create an easy path down the page.
• No more than two pages. The top length for experienced candidates is two pages. Eye-tracking analysis demonstrates that an engaged recruiter will spend another seven seconds on page two—but only if the first page was compelling.

Resumes that didn’t fare well also had a few things in common:

• Blocks of text. Avoid writing paragraphs of job descriptions that recruiters might instantly file under to do. There is no need to list responsibilities that are commonly assumed to be part of the job, and make sure you stick to your contributions, not the work of your team. Although your team may have done something that looks impressive on your resume, your lack of familiarity with aspects of the project might come out in the interview – or on the job.
• Poor layout with no bolded headers. Draw the recruiter in by creating a clear path to follow on the page.
• Keyword-stuffing. Although it is a good idea to tailor your resume to the position for which you are applying by using keywords included in the job ad, do not use those keywords excessively. Even if your resume is initially scanned by ATS software, it will eventually be read by a human. Humans only appreciate relevant keywords used in context.

Provided that your resume is easy to read, and your bullet-pointed skills and experience list has caught the recruiter’s attention, what else can you do to make your resume stand out?

Demonstrate personality.

In the best-case scenario, a human is reading your resume. Catch their interest by including something that shows who you are as a person. A hobby, fun fact, or charity involvement can make a recruiter want to know more about you.

Show enthusiasm.

Mention current tech side projects (as long as they are updated). Passion is key. The technology world evolves rapidly, and many tech recruiters are looking for team members who love the sector enough to tinker on the side.

In the competitive field of IT, resumes must quickly catch and hold the attention of recruiters. Want to know how yours stacks up? Prosum staffing experts can help!

The post How To Make Your Tech Resume Stand Out appeared first on Prosum.

You aren’t alone. A Microsoft survey of more than 30,000 workers revealed that 41% were considering changing professions this year, and the US Department of Labor reported a record 4 million workers quit their jobs in April.

The COVID-19 pandemic changed the way we work, and many are finding their previous work lives are no longer a comfortable fit. They don’t want to get back to “normal,” if normal means a rigidly structured day, a long commute, and hefty dry-cleaning bills.

However, is quitting your job during what many consider the worst US recession in history a good idea?

Here are a few reasons why you might not want to quit just yet:

1. You don’t have another job lined up. As the saying goes, it’s easier to find another job if you already have one. For one thing, you won’t have to explain an employment gap to a potential employer. It’s also less stressful. Being less anxious will likely make you interview more favorably, and you’ll be able to afford to be more selective if you can take your time accepting an offer.
2. You haven’t saved 3-6 months of living expenses, which is the recommendation for how much to squirrel away if you plan to quit and find a similar job in your industry. Experts recommend socking away enough to cover one year’s expenses if you are switching careers or planning to become self-employed.
3. Health coverage is expensive. COBRA extends your current plan from 18 up to 36 months under certain qualifying events, but you’ll be responsible for the entire premium each month. Before you turn in your notice, find out if you can get health coverage under a spouse’s plan or the nation’s public exchanges.
4. The grass isn’t always greener. While the prospect of a new job can be enticing, we’re living in highly unpredictable times. If your current situation is tolerable, it might be worth waiting to see what happens in the job market post-pandemic.
5. You might be able to negotiate. If you’re a high performer, you might be able to convince your employer to negotiate to retain a great employee. With the right approach, you could gain more flexibility, a pay increase, or more creative benefits. Exploring possibilities within the company can give you time to save money, max out company benefits, and build your 401K before making your exit.

Already have an offer for a new job? Congratulations! Here are some things to consider before saying yes:

Company Stability

These are uncertain times, and no one knows what will happen in the job market. Is your new company stable enough to weather a recession? Be sure to get your start date, benefits, and pay rate in writing.

Personal Resilience

Starting a new job takes a physical and emotional toll and making a big change in the wake of the pandemic can amplify your stress. At the same time, starting over, especially if working remotely, can be lonely and challenging. Before you make the leap, take stock and be realistic about whether you have the resilience to handle it well.

Benefits

If you’re going to make a job change, think about the big picture benefits. Does the new job offer paid time off, company stock, or profit-sharing? Is a flexible schedule or working remotely a possibility? Many are finding their perspective has changed after the pandemic. Instead of their life accommodating their work, they want work to accommodate their life. Sometimes the primary benefit of a job isn’t the salary; it’s everything else that goes with it.

Are you searching for an IT job in the Atlanta or Toronta area? Our specialized IT recruiters can connect you with a wide variety of exciting employers in diverse industries. Send us your resume!

The post 5 Reasons Quitting Might Not Be Your Best Option appeared first on Prosum.