career-advice

3 Recruiter-Approved Resume Optimization Strategies

Matt Glodz
3 Recruiter-Approved Resume Optimization Strategies

Impress Recruiters with a Targeted, Evidence-Based Resume

You know that having a well-written, accomplishment-driven resume is critical in a competitive recruiting environment. 

Executive resume writers employ specific strategies to give their clients an edge and help them land interviews.

By applying these three proven strategies to your resume, you'll also gain a competitive advantage:

1) Tailor Your Resume to Your Target Role

Never assume that a hiring manager will read your resume in detail. 

You need to make it immediately clear that you tick all the boxes they're looking for.

You will increase the odds that your resume will be read in its entirety by naturally incorporating language from the job description into a Key Expertise or Career Highlights section at the top of your resume.

This approach will also help it pass initial scans by applicant tracking systems.

Don't leave it to a recruiter to infer that your skills are transferable to the role you applied for - especially if you don't have prior industry experience!

2) Incorporate Metrics & KPIs to Build Your Credibility

Recruiters want to see that you can drive results and make a measurable impact on an organization.

Leverage specific metrics to quantify how much you were able to increase revenue, how many deals you closed, or how much you reduced operating expenses to immediately increase your credibility.

As they say, past performance is a predictor of future success.

By providing concrete evidence of your accomplishments, you'll show a company exactly why it needs you in its organization and how you will add value.

3) Use a Classic Resume Template

Executive recruiters aren't impressed by flashy, two-column resumes with bold colors and graphics (such a design can even work against you). 

Most applicants can't go wrong with a classic, tastefully-designed resume template, which is perceived as far more professional.

If you are trying to stand out, rest assured that quality content will always trump any formatting gimmicks applicants attempt to use.

Recruiters want to quickly understand your fit for the job – they aren’t focused on assessing your graphic design skills (unless that's the field you're trying to break into, of course).

About Resume Pilots

Resume Pilots is an award-winning resume writing and career coaching firm whose clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world’s leading companies.

For more career-related tips, visit Resume Pilots at www.resumepilots.com or its London-based sister company CV Pilots at www.cvpilots.co.uk.


About Resume Pilots

Resume Pilots is an award-winning executive resume writing firm and a proud member of the Professional Association of Resume Writers and Career Coaches. Our previous clients include CEOs and senior executives at the world's leading companies.

As a professional services firm, we take your reputation seriously. We are committed to delivering writing excellence and superior service while operating with integrity and discretion. Recruitment firms we partner with also trust us to consistently deliver quality documents for their clients.

Our writers have studied in the Ivy League and other top-tier universities and have strong writing backgrounds coupled with industry experience.

Here's how we can help you:

Resume, Cover Letter, and LinkedIn Writing Services: If you are looking for end-to-end support, hire one of our professional resume writers to rewrite your documents from the ground up.

Executive Resume Template Downloads: If you plan to prepare your own resume, consider using one of our classic, ATS-friendly resume templates for Microsoft Word.

To learn more about our services, book an introductory call with our founder here or email team@resumepilots.com.


About the AuthorMatt Glodz


Matt Glodz is the Founder and Managing Partner of Resume Pilots and a Certified Professional Resume Writer.

After studying business communication at Cornell University, Matt worked within Fortune 500 companies, where he noted that qualified candidates were frequently denied interview opportunities due to poorly written documents.

At Resume Pilots, Matt combines his business and writing background - which includes prior work for a Chicago Tribune publication - to craft resumes that give his clients the best chance of landing interviews. He works with clients ranging from CEOs to recent graduates and has been writing resumes for over 10 years.

He has been quoted on numerous business and career-related topics in outlets including Business Insider, CNBC, Fortune, Glassdoor, The Ladders, and Thrive Global.


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