1. Overall appearance – Clean layout, matching fonts, matching indentation, and proper use of bullet points. This might sound picky, but I am hiring you to be a professional and this is your first opportunity to show me that you actually have the “attention to detial” that you claim in your “Skills” section.
2. Longevity – I would first scan the dates of the resume. Any gaps in employment? Job hopping (many short lengths of employment)? These are red flags and, if they coincide with other questionable items, could mean your resume doesn’t make it past my “reviewed – not suitable” file.
3. Matching experience – I am looking for a person to perform a specific set of tasks – have you done any of these before? Or do you have comparable experience that could translate into the position I am looking to fill?
4. English 101 – Grammar, spelling, and syntax errors are strictly forbidden. Do you use the oxford comma? If not, start. It’s not a game-ender, but it is a mark against you. I have literally disqualified otherwise good candidates due to poor grammar or spelling errors – use spell check or have a grammar-nazi friend proof your resume, it could be the difference in your employment status. And then go pick up one of these grammar booksso next time you know what an oxford comma is.
5. Contact information – If you have successfully impressed me in the first 4 items then I want to contact you. Leave an email and phone number, please. If you are a serious contender you may get called for an interview ASAP. Also, leaving your phone number shows me you are actually committed because I can get a hold of a real, live, breathing person and not a cold, dead email box to nowhere.