When an individual applies for a new job, he hopes to qualify for a face-to-face interview with the potential employer. However, with the competitive nature of the current job market, not every job candidate will have this opportunity. To progress from the initial application to the in-person interview, job candidates must submit a resume that meets all of the requirements of the human resources department’s screening process. Below are some tips candidates can use to create a resume that impresses a potential employer and helps them qualify for the next round of screening.
Creating a Solid Resume

• Avoid fluff. A job candidate’s resume should be concise. Most screeners prefer resumes that are consolidated to one or two pages. For this reason, every word on a resume must have meaning, and candidates should only include information that is relevant to the potential employer.
• Include skills. Some job candidates focus too much on their education. Though this entry is important, employers also want to know about a candidate’s skills and abilities. For many employers, the skills learned during a candidate’s degree program they may have received from an online college like American InterContinental University are more important than the name of the program itself.
• Address the job description. Creating a cookie-cutter resume is not the most effective strategy. Candidates should tailor their resumes to their potential jobs.
• Make it stand out. Many employers and HR directors look through stacks of resumes on a daily basis. A job candidate needs to make sure that his resume stands out from the crowd. Whenever possible, job candidates should draw attention to any past achievements or unique skills that set them apart from the competition.
• Emphasize experiences with technology. Even candidates applying for tech job can be tempted to focus more on their tech-related credentials than their experiences. Because most other candidates will possess comparable credentials, individuals should draw attention to their experiences in their field as well.
• Keep it readable. Nothing kills a resume faster than clutter. Because they read so many resumes, HR directors will often pass right over a resume that is confusing or difficult to read. For this reason, job candidates should keep their resumes as clean and concise as possible.

Preparing for a Competitive Market
Even a resume that follows all of these guidelines will be ineffective if the content included doesn’t impress the reviewer. Employers want to see candidates who have done more than just study the right course material. To become a marketable commodity in the tech industry, candidates need to involve themselves in the field through independent projects and volunteer work before they ever send out the first application. Doing so allows the candidate to develop real-world experience that can help him qualify for an interview.
When multiple candidates apply for the same position, passing through the first round of the application process can be a challenge. By creating a clean, concise resume that stands out from the crowd, candidates can increase their chances of impressing the employer and reaching the next phase of the process.