In a digital age where recruiters skim resumes in mere seconds, conveying your unique value quickly is a considerable challenge. As successful legal professionals, you may wonder why the well-established brand names in your work history aren’t enough to have recruiters clamoring to connect with you. The truth lies not in the details of your history, but in the way those details are presented.
Analyzing dozens of resumes weekly, from legal executives to Fortune 25 general counsel and assistant general counsel at private equities and tech startups, similar issues consistently stand out. Resumes often feature dense blocks of text, lack detail to highlight achievements, and contain a surfeit of bullet points that seem to be copied and pasted from job descriptions. There’s also an overall lack of organization that affects readability and comprehension [1].
However, improving a resume isn’t impossible. Here are six practical ways to make your resume more skimmable for recruiters:
- Modern font. Use a clear, modern, sans-serif font like Calibri. Serif fonts like Times New Roman are outdated and considered the “sweatpants” of resume fonts, reducing readability [2].
- Create clear headers and separators. Clear headers for sections such as “Professional Experience” and “Education and Bar Admissions” can help guide the reader’s eyes and make parsing through the resume easier. Avoid fancy graphics or columns, as these create visual confusion [3].
- Consider the theme of your resume. Craft your resume to reflect the position you’re hunting. For instance, if you’re vying for a corporate generalist role, the resume should delve into the areas a General Counsel typically handles. A resume shouldn’t be crammed with keywords alone, it should also demonstrate how you’ve utilized your skills for an impactful difference.
- Professional summary. Utilize this section by highlighting your most relevant experiences. If you’ve served as the general counsel at public companies or have worked at an Am Law 50 firm, mention these facts.
- Give enough detail but don’t overkill. Your resume isn’t your autobiography, it’s a snapshot that gives the recruiter a taste of your career highlights. Make sure to mix quantitative and qualitative achievements while keeping the information concise and relevant.
- White space matters. Ample space between bullets and sections aid readability. Keep margins no smaller than half an inch around and limit bullet points to two or three lines [4].
Always bear in mind that a resume is not a laundry list of every task you’ve accomplished. Instead, it is a concise showcase of your career narrative, providing a sampling of your key accomplishments and highest points. And if you’re still struggling after following these tips, consider reaching out for professional assistance.