With the recent study that shows that hiring personnel spend an average of just six seconds on each resume, are you sure your resume is optimized to keep their attention? Because the truth is, if your resume doesn’t make a good first impression, your resume will quickly find a place in the garbage.

But don’t fret! When crafting your resume it’s important to understand what employers will be looking for. First and foremost, make sure you include updated contact information on your resume. If you do get the job, don’t make it difficult for employers to contact you.

Use the knowledge outlined below to ensure your resume stays at the top of the pile.

Organization and Consistency

First and foremost, make sure your resume has strong organization. Some corporations utilize an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) that will scan your resume. This scan will determine whether or not your resume gets passed on into the hands of a hiring manager. Make sure your resume is organized so that the ATS can easily read it, and that a hiring manager can easily find the information he/she is looking for.

Consistency is also important. Make sure you’re conveying the same message throughout your entire resume. By doing so, your consistency will tell the employers that you are fully confident in your ability to get the job done. It will also tell employers that you’ve put effort into creating your resume.

Experience

Every employer wants to see what you’ve done in the past. Employers expect you to solve issues that are holding their company back from reaching its full potential. As you research the job you’re applying for, identify industry problems. Then, use your experience as proof that you will be influential in solving those problems. Your experience section needs to show the employer that not only can you do the job, but you can excel at it.

Relevance

With including your experience, only include the past work that is relevant to the position you are applying for. Your resume will lose consistency quite fast if your past experiences are all over the place. If you must include past work that is on the border of relevance, make sure you list job duties that can be related to the position you’re applying for. It’s perfectly fine (and encouraged) to have tailored resumes for each position you apply for, so fine tune for optimal consistency with each application you submit.

Remember: Employers already know what they’re looking for. Don’t give them any reason to think your resume is a waste of time.

Follow these tips and make a lasting impression with hiring personnel. Still unsure about your resume? Consider having an expert look at it for a free resume review.