Aspire Recruiter Q&A: What are your favorite things to see on a candidates resume?

In a recent Q&A session, Aspire recruiters were asked:

What are your favorite things to see on a candidates resume?

Our Top Three Answers:

“I like my candidates to list their experience in a chronological format, with most current at the top.  They should have clean, concise bullet points using proper tenses.  Candidates should not write about their experience in a “I did this…I did that” format.  Making a strong statement with solid, to the point information goes much further than long, over descriptive sentences.  *It is very important to keep any and all personal information and photos out of their resume and cover letter.  There will be plenty of time to share these with new friends and co-workers later!”
      Diana Vogrin, Director of Recruiting, Accounting & Finance Division

“I really like to see a well-written professional summary at the top of a resume (and replacing the “Career Objective”).  The professional summary, written in either a narrative or bulleted format, provides the reader with a “snap-shot” of the individual’s career history, as well as his/her strengths and personality characteristics.  Key words relative to the career path and industry should be included in the summary – this will allow the resume to be “picked-up” via an internet search the employer may be conducting.  The educational background and professional certifications can also be summarized in this section.  Employers love this because they avoid having to read the entire resume in order to “qualify” the candidate for the position.”
      Betsy Warner, Director of Recruiting, Healthcare Division
“For an IT resume, it is helpful to have 4 key things in chronological order:
Summary:  A 3-4 sentence snapshot of your experience.
Education:  A chronological list, most recent on top.
Technical:   A bulleted list of all technical skills, programs, systems, etc.
Work Experience: A chronological list, most recent on top, with brief summaries.”
Keep it clean and clutter free.”
      Derek Stewart, Senior Recruiter/Account Manager, IT Division