What do Recruiters Look for First At Your Resume?

Here's the real scoop on what recruiters zero in on first when they glance at your resume.

With decades in the HR trenches, I've seen it all - from candidates obsessing over tiny details like font choices to squeezing everything onto 1-page resumes. But that's not what recruiters pay much attention to, really.

So, what truly grabs their attention?

It's those opening resume lines that nail three critical questions:

1️⃣ Who are you professionally?

2️⃣ What's the unique value you bring?

3️⃣ Why does it matter for this particular role?

And, that's your hook! If it clicks as a fit for the role, they'll keep going. If not, it's onto the next applicant. Too many resumes flop at this stage, not because of a lack of skills, but because the narrative is muddled. They hide gold under bland openers like: "Dynamic team player with excellent leadership abilities." 🥱 That says nothing.

Instead, write something punchy, like:

"Supply Chain Director who optimised logistics for a €20M operation, decreasing delivery times by 25% in Q3."

Now that paints a vivid picture of your results and relevance in seconds. Do you see the difference? Crystal-clear impact, not fancy cliches or fillers.

If you want a resume that communicates your true value to recruiters, contact me, and we can start working today.

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