Lifestyle

5 surprising secrets to scoring a job interview

Want to land your dream job this year? Then you need to have a résumé that kicks ass in today’s world.

“When you send your résumé to a company now, before any human ever reads it, the information gets put through software that ranks your résumé according to specific keywords that you have or haven’t used,” says Dan Goodman, president of the résumé writing service About Jobs.

These applicant tracking systems whittle down hundreds of candidates and only pass along the top 10 to hiring managers, Goodman says.

“Five years ago, about 30 percent of companies were using this kind of software,” says Goodman. “Now, it’s about 90 percent.”

So that means you’re writing your résumé for two different audiences: humans and computers. Luckily, Goodman knows how to please both.

Steal his five tips for creating a winning résumé and securing an interview. Then it’s up to you to knock ‘em dead.

Related: How to Give a Kick-Ass Interview

Start with the right keywords

Every company’s applicant tracking algorithm is unique, but they’re all designed to search for specific keywords, Goodman says. The more times you use these keywords, the more qualified the computer will rate you.

So how do you know which terms are important?

Comb the job description and pull out any buzz words or buzz phrases. These are usually mentioned more than once.

For instance, if you see the word “management” sprinkled throughout the description, make sure you play up your managerial skills in every section of your resume.

And don’t feel like you’re overdoing it. You may be inclined to open up a thesaurus and start subbing in other words in its place—but remember that the computer will weigh variations of “manage” more heavily than other synonyms.

This goes for software requirements, too. If the job demands that you be proficient in PhotoShop, then make sure you mention your competence of the program under every relevant position you’ve held in the past—not just your current one.

This will make your résumé a little denser and less sexy, but it’s mostly for the system—not the human, Goodman says.

Related: 7 Phrases You Always See in Job Postings—and What They REALLY Mean

Address time gaps

Don’t skip over the time you spent in between jobs. “Otherwise, the computer algorithm will see the space and penalize you in the ratings,” Goodman says.

Just as you would list your past jobs in reverse chronological order, include your time gaps:

January-April 2014
Attended to urgent family matters; now fully resolved.

If you switched careers for a bit, put it in the best possible way:

April 2014-February 2015
Seized entrepreneurial opportunities to do X, Y, and Z.

If you gained any relevant skills during this time, like financial monitoring or managerial experience, add them in. But if they aren’t relevant, don’t try to force them, Goodman says.

Make a big promise, and show you can deliver

Once you get past the computer, you have about 6 seconds to catch the hiring manager’s eye, according to a study from the job-search website TheLadders.

Since the first quarter-page of your résumé is prime real estate, use it to make what Goodman calls a “value proposition.” Describe how you can give hiring managers exactly what they want, and provide evidence that you’ve done it before.

Is the company looking for a selling machine with excellent client relationships? Answer their call right off the bat before you dive into specifics:

Over 10 years of driving record number of sales, and maintaining customer loyalty. Consistently top ranked for performance.

In the past, you may have saved this info for your cover letter. But if you want to make the biggest splash and set yourself apart from the other candidates, say it in one or two sentences on your resume, too.

Just make sure you keep the language short, sweet, and easy to read.

Related: The Better Man Project—2,000+ Genius Tips for Advancing Your Career, Supercharging Your Sex Life, and Becoming a Stronger, Happier Guy

Highlight your accomplishments

You’ve announced your value—now you need to back it up. “The first thing an employer is looking for is a proven performer,” says Goodman, who has penned résumés for some of the top C-level executives in the country.

Do more than just give a job description underneath each of your past roles. Make sure to call out your biggest wins, too. Do this in two to four bullet points:

Took sales from $500,000 to $1.5 million in 2 years.
Recipient of 17 awards, including X, Y, and Z.

Be as specific as possible, especially when it comes to using metrics. There’s a big difference between a salesman who hits 100 percent of a quota, and a guy who hits 137 percent, Goodman says.

Let your numbers (or boss) brag for you

Résumés are a lot like filling out performance evaluations, Goodman says. You’re specifying why you’re good at this job and how you achieved goals set by important people.

Tap your last few evaluations for any solid metrics you forgot to include on your résumé—or find a rave review your boss once wrote. Just make sure you only quote someone you would be comfortable with the hiring manager calling.

“On one CFO’s résumé, for example, we included a powerful quote from his CEO saying, ‘Best financial management I’ve had in 30 years’,” Goodman says. That speaks as well as any number.