Picture yourself behind an HR desk with a database of thousands of resumes. You have two weeks to find, interview, screen, test and hire the perfect candidate to take over for someone who has just put in their notice. So, how do you get noticed? KISS (Keep It Simple Sweetheart!). HR managers and hiring authorities are on the front lines of the hiring process. They sift through hundreds of resumes a week. And the ones that don’t catch their eye are difficult to decipher and poorly organized. Below are some tips on how to KISS your resume and how to make an impact on contact (eye contact that is).

• Identify and focus on your Points of Differentiation: Those of us in the marketing world know all about points of differentiation, they are what makes us different, what make us stand out from the competition. What can you do for your future employer that your competition can not?

• Revel in your accomplishments: People in your industry generally have an idea of what your job title means. That is why titles are so important! So don’t tell me what your job titles says you do (an account manager manages accounts right?) Tell me HOW you do it (with impeccable customer service of course)

• Take it from Sesame Street, the numbers count: Any time you can use numbers to demonstrate you accomplishments, you up the ante. Instead of saying, "I managed a mixed book of commercial accounts", try " I managed a book of $5M in annual premium, with accounts ranging from $25-200K." Numbers are concrete details, something a lot of resumes lack.

• Use the past tense: When you write your resume in past tense, it comes across as though you are naming your accomplishments, rather than listing your responsibilities. It is also just plain proper. Experience is what you have done in the past after all.

• Choose your words wisely: Less is more! Remember our exercise from the beginning? As an HR manager you are reading HUNDREDS of resumes. Tolstoy need not apply. You want to say as much as possible in as few words as you can bear.

• We want your experience, not your life’s story: You don’t need to go all to tell us about your paper route in high school. Employers want to know about your recent (and relevant) experience. As a rule of thumb, your previous 3 positions or a maximum of 10 years experience is all you want to include. A resume more than 2 pages is a waste of paper, and a 1 page resume can be a lean, mean, job seeking machine.

• Always use bullet points: Bullet points break the information down into bite sized pieces. It is easier for the mind and the eye to pick up on key points in this format. (You noticed this didn’t you?)

• Keep formatting consistent throughout: If you make your company name bold and your dates of employment italic on the first position listed, make sure you do that for all of them. Do not list your previous employers address or phone number. This is a thing of the past. Company

Hiring authorities want to know what you can do for them and why you can do it better or differently from the other 49 resumes they are going to skim that day. Your resume is your soapbox, so get up there and brag about everything you bring to the table. Just make sure you do it in 200 words or less.

And… KEEP IT SIMPLE SWEETHEART!