The purpose of screening a resume is to determine if the applicant has the basic knowledge and skills needed to do the job you're trying to fill. You should establish a list of qualifications that a successful candidate must have in order to do the job. Look for these qualifications when reviewing resumes. If the applicant lacks any of the qualifications on your must-have list, you eliminate him or her from further consideration. For example, if you are recruiting a short-order cook, you might want to insist on previous cooking experience, and only candidates who have this experience are invited for an interview. On a practical basis, the more resumes you have for any particular opening, the more stringent you can be in developing a must-have list.