4 Ways to Give Hiring Managers What They Want in Resumes

4 Ways to Give Hiring Managers What They Want in Resumes One of the biggest mysteries of resume writing is trying to decode the minds of hiring managers.  How in the world can we possibly know what they want when each person is different?  The truth is, each hiring manager may look for something slightly different, but on the whole, they hope to find blanket basics in all resumes.  Take a look at four ways that can help you to get that much closer to giving most hiring mangers what they want in your resume: 1. Provide a Stable Work History Employers want to see consistency in the resumes they review.  Unfortunately, if you have changed jobs a lot, this could mean to an employer that you might jump ship soon after they’ve hired youâ€"which, of course, is something they dont want to see happen.  So if you have gaps in your history but have filled them in as a volunteer or temp, be sure to include it to show some level of consistency in your history. 2. Connect with Company Initiatives Its crucial that your resume exhibits your understanding of the companys needsâ€"as well as an ability to meet those needs.  Look closely at the job postingâ€"and even dig deeper by looking at the companys mission and any recent news in the media to find out what it is lacking and wants from its next employee.  Then list accomplishments and skills that align with those wants. 3. Include Awards and Testimonials Making your resume unique not only helps it stand out from the pack but actually makes the process easier for the hiring manager who is thumbing through what seems to be a mountain of carbon-copy resumes.  So be sure to include awards youve won that could spark the managers interest.  And even include testimonials from people who recommend you for employment.  Listing two or three testimonials right on your resume could entice the manager enough to want to know even more about you via an interview. 4. Make Formatting a Priority Hiring managers already have huge jobs ahead of them when faced with a stack of resumes to look through.  You definitely dont want to make their jobs more difficult by submitting a document thats formatted in such a way that its challenging to scan quickly for vital information.  Be sure to include numerous headings, subheadings, bullet points, and other tools to create white space and make reading simple.  As you can imagine, getting your resume read gets you that much closer to an interview. Hiring managers arent puzzling like Rubiks Cubes, as we might assume.  Theyre human and simply want to effectively complete the task of hiring a qualified candidate to fill a position.  By spending time giving them want they want in a resume, your chances of being hired improve significantly. For additional tips and advice on resumes and cover letters, follow us on Twitter @GreatResume or visit our blog.