What is the number one thing that hiring managers look for on a resume?

Skills.

Most hiring managers say that skills are the first things they look for when they are deciding whether or not to interview a candidate.

But, how do you know which skills hiring managers want?

And how do you put these skills on your resume so that a recruiter can find them in less than six seconds?

Because six seconds is the average amount of time a recruiter is going to spend scanning your resume.

You have to show them right away that you have the skills they want and that you are the right person for the job. I will share with you 6 useful tips. They were originally published in our article: "What Skills to Put on a Resume"

1. Make Your Skills Relevant to the Job Offer

The first thing recruiters will look for are the skills they listed in the job description.

Start by tailoring your resume so that both your skills and experience sections list skills from the job description.

2. Research People Who Already Have the Job You Want

Next, go to LinkedIn and check the profiles of people who already have the job you want.

You will be able to see what skills are valued in that profession in general. If you have matching skills you can add them to your resume.

3. Add Extra Skills for Extra Value

Transferable skills are skills that could translate to any job, such as speaking Spanish or knowing how to use Microsoft Excel. You can always add these even if they aren't listed in the job description.

4. Add the Universal Skills that All Employers Want

There are some skills that are desired by almost all employers. These are universal skills. Check out our list of universal skills and add them as well.

5. Numbers Will Make You Stand Out From the Crowd

Adding facts and figures, especially numbers, is an easy way to draw the eye of the recruiter to one of your skills, making it easier for them to find.

For example, instead of writing "Management Skills," write "Capable of managing teams of up to 20 people," or "Management of Large (20+) Teams."

6. Beat the Bots By Adding Keyword Skills

In a lot of cases, your resume will be sent through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS). That means R2D2 is going to scan your resume before a human recruiter will.

The system checks to see how well your resume matches the job description.

Adding keywords (skills) from the job description will get your resume through ATS and into the hands of real, live human recruiter.

Key Takeaway

If you follow these six tips, your skills will be easy to find on your resume and will attract the interest of the recruiter.

Adding skills to your resume is the easiest and most direct way to show a hiring manager that you are the right person for the job. So, what are you waiting for?