by Daniele Souza, Executive Legal Recruiter

I have seen many articles on résumés lately, so I thought it might be a great time to write about résumés from a Recruiter’s perspective to help you in your job search.

With more and more people deciding to start a job search, which many have been putting off for a long time, it is even more important to come into the job market with the best résumé possible – You only have one chance at that first impression! I have a few suggestions I find myself giving repeatedly: less can be more when making a first impression, and do not be afraid to have two versions of your résumé.

A résumé should be concise, while always including a summary of past job duties, significant accomplishments, and qualifications on how you can be an asset to a company. The key is it should not just be a summary of what you did; it needs to speak to what you can offer.   Keep in mind, when a Hiring Manager is looking at your résumé they want to see two things – How can you solve their problems, and how can you help their company be successful?

I also believe you need to have two résumés – A short concise version to present when trying to land an interview, and a more comprehensive résumé to bring to the interview (tailored to the specific job is the best!). This is a great way to initiate a deeper discussion of your qualifications, and it can contribute to a more successful meeting.