In today’s day and age, technology is everywhere – including in the hiring process. As one of Northern California’s top employment firms, Pacific Staffing can tell you that this means an actual human doesn’t even see your resume, many times, until it has passed successfully through a resume screening software program.

These programs can enable employers to quickly screen a large number of resumes, but they can also filter out resumes from highly qualified candidates. So how can you ensure you’re not one of them? Here are some tips to consider:

First, be sure to apply for only the jobs for which you’re qualified. This might sound like a no-brainer; however, many candidates take the “hey, you never know approach” and apply to anything and everything that sounds good, even if they’re not qualified.

So once you’ve determined that you do, in fact, have the right experience and background, help your resume get through the computer screening process by doing the following:

• Including relevant keywords. For example, if the job is for a paralegal, then include keywords and phrases, such as “paralegal,” “legal experience,” and “law firm.” Also be sure to include any relevant keywords that were used in the actual job posting, such as “60 WPM” and “product liability.”
• Keeping it simple. Don’t include any fancy formatting or graphics, or dense paragraphs. Keep your resume clean and concise, while still highlighting important experience and accomplishments.
• Being honest. Some candidates try to scam the system by including keywords on their resume and then changing the font color to white, so you don’t actually see them. But employers are aware of these scams, and if you get caught engaging in one, then your resume will most certainly wind up in the trash.

The tips above will hopefully help you to get your resume past the screening system and into the hands of a human. However, you can actually bypass this entire process if you know someone who can walk your resume into HR and hand it over. In fact, a referral from an existing employee or colleague will carry a lot of weight for a hiring manager…plus you don’t have to worry about your resume winding up in the resume black hole.

Need More Help Finding a Job in Northern California?

Let Pacific Staffing know. As one of Northern California’s top employment firms, we can match you with opportunities that are the right fit for you. Search jobs in Northern California or contact Pacific Staffing today.