How to Increase Resume Response Rates

I've reviewed 2,000+ resumes this year. Avoid these mistakes that 90% make. 1. Generic Summaries ❌ "Motivated professional seeking opportunities to leverage my skills..." ✅ "Marketing Director who increased e-commerce revenue 47% through data-driven campaigns and strategic partnerships." 2. Missing Numbers ❌ "Led large team and improved sales." ✅ "Led 15-person sales team to deliver $3.2M in new business, exceeding targets by 28%." 3. Cluttered Formatting ❌ Tiny margins, dense paragraphs, and multiple fonts. ✅ Clean headers, consistent bullet points, and enough white space for easy scanning. 4. Outdated Information ❌ Listing your high school achievements and every job since college. ✅ Your most relevant accomplishments from the past 10-15 years that showcase your career progression. 5. RESPONSIBILITY LISTS ❌ "Responsible for managing client relationships and handling complaints." ✅ "Retained 98% of key accounts and turned 3 dissatisfied clients into top referral sources." 6. ATS-UNFRIENDLY DESIGN ❌ Creative formats with graphics, text boxes, and unique fonts. ✅ Clean, standard formatting with relevant keywords that match the job description. Your resume has 7 seconds to make an impression.  Use these tips to make them count. Share this to help others level up their resume! 📈 And follow me for more advice like this.

🎯 Applying for a role in games? I have received hundreds of inquiries over the past several weeks and months asking how to get your resume noticed. I cannot respond to every inquiry as much as I try, so I wanted to make sure I am setting you up for success. Here are a few resume tips that can help your application stand out — and actually get seen: First: We don’t use AI parsers or keyword-scanning tools to filter resumes — every resume is reviewed by hand. So it is important to keep it simple, clear, and accessible. ✅ Put your best stuff first Lead with your most relevant work experience or education (whichever is stronger) — don’t make the reviewer dig for it. There is a growing trend of listing oldest experience first, but unless there’s a strategic reason for it, keep your most recent work at the top. ❌ Skip the photos & QR codes Photos are more suited for CVs — and unless you’re applying for a modeling or acting role, they’re just not needed. If you must include one, make it a professional headshot (not a selfie from your last con — as cool as those are). And QR codes? These are often used with in lieu of a URL or Portfolio link. with rising identity theft risks, many people will not scan them. 🎨 Creative role? Include a working portfolio Applying for a creative position? A portfolio is a must. Double-check that your hyperlinks work and passwords (if needed) are included. Broken links = missed opportunity. 📝 Cover letters or summaries =🥇 Especially if you're changing industries, applying for something niche, or your background isn’t a perfect match. It’s your chance to showcase transferable skills, industry knowledge, or simply share your why. Pro tip: I read them all. 📄 Word vs. PDF? Go PDF. Word docs are fine, but in 2025, saving your resume as a PDF (File > Save As > PDF) protects your formatting and info. I won’t hold it against you either way — but some recruiters and hiring leaders will. 📁 Name your file like a pro Avoid submitting files titled just resume.docx. Use your name — it’s a small thing that makes a big difference when sharing with teams: Example: JoshuaForrest_Resume_2025.pdf The job hunt isn’t always easy — but small details can make a big impact. You've got this! 🎮 #ResumeTips #GamingJobs #CreativeCareers #GameIndustry #JobSearch #CareerAdvice #RecruiterTips

Ever wonder what gets a candidate noticed in a (virtual) pile of over 500 applications? Right now, I’m actively hiring across multiple marketing and social media roles. And let me tell you—the volume of applications is intense! But there are a few standout moves that separate the “maybe” pile from the “we should talk to them ASAP” pile. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at what actually helps candidates get noticed and move forward from a recruiter mindset: ✅ 1. Apply early. Any way you can stay on top of a Company's career page - do it. Set alerts on LinkedIn or the Career Site to be first of the bunch. ✅ 2. Don't just stand in line. Submit your application? Great, but FOLLOW UP! Reach out to the recruiter, HR or hiring manager to give them a heads up that you are interested and add in a personal touch about your value. (Tip: If you have LinkedIn Premium you will be shared the hiring team details so might be worth the upgrade). ✅ 3. Show your work. For roles especially in marketing, creative or social media, a resume alone is not always going to stand out. A hiring team wants to see more of your capabilities. -- The applicants that add a portfolio, brief deck of their work, or a Notion (a quick website can help you display your impact and achievements) have a better chance of moving ahead. ✅ 4. Referrals matter. You don't need to know everyone. But knowing someone, who might know someone - that is the power in connection. I've received numerous emails from employees, distant connections, or past coworkers, because they saw I was hiring and wanted to pass along a connection. ✅ 5. Highlight impact > experience Resumes are changing. I am seeing more storytelling, more achievements, and moments that matter vs. only focusing on keywords and job responsibilities. There's a different. What gets you noticed isn't just what you did, but focusing on what you are capable of through transferable experience is a game-changer. ✅6. Personalize your resume. Applicants who create one standard resume and send it to hundreds of jobs, then wonder why they haven't heard back - you're missing the mark. This is because you have an "open to anything" approach. To get hired, you need to niche down and personalize your approach. ✅7. Don't hold back. Follow up, again. Do not overthink this step. It is simple, if you really want a job, follow up as a reminder of your interest. You have nothing to lose. Sometimes the hiring team just needs a nudge and reminder that you are interested. 🎥  8. BONUS Tip: This is rare, but catches my attention every single time. Make a quick Loom video. If you don't know Loom - get to know it. This video application allows you to create quick videos and send it via email or message. In 30 seconds you can easily stand out - showcasing your communication, knowledge, energy and interest. ✅ Need more job search tips? Keep following my content for more ways to stand out in this job market!

Struggling to hear back from recruiters? Boost your chances with these 10 game-changing tweaks! What if I told you that the challenge lies in the one thing that connects you to recruiters? Your RESUME! Having conducted numerous resume review mentorship sessions, I've spotted common pitfalls. Here are my top 10 suggestions to overcome them: 📜 Trim the Fat: Keep your resume concise and skimmable. Recruiters dedicate an average of 6 seconds to skimming it. Your aim must be to captivate them with a single glance. 📜 Power of Bullet Points: Swap paragraphs for clear, concise, and impactful single-line bullet points. If they become lengthy, consider splitting them into two. 📜 Show your Impact: Utilize the 'STAR Method' to quantify your impact. Space on your resume is limited, so use it judiciously. Employ tangible, quantifiable metrics to showcase your actual impact rather than just listing responsibilities. 📜 Keywords are the Key: Incorporate role-specific skills and keywords aligned with the job. The more your keywords match, the higher your chances of getting noticed. 📜 Tailor your Resume for Every Role: Align your skills and experiences with the job description and requirements. Employ Word Cloud apps to extract essential keywords from the job description and integrate them authentically into your resume. 📜 Transferable Skills Matter: Highlight your versatile skills and unique experiences, even if they don't precisely match the job requirements. These highlights make you stand out. 📜 Simplicity Speaks: Forego fancy formats and fonts. Opt for a clean, standard .doc format. Pro Tip: LaTeX templates work wonders for maintaining a consistent, clean format. 📜 Structure Matters: Place your best projects at the top and other achievements in reverse chronological order. Recent graduates should prioritize their education and showcase their GPA. Ensure you provide clear start and end dates, organization names, and locations for each experience, whether personal projects, education, professional experience, or volunteer work. 📜 Master the One-Pager: Aim for a one-page resume if you possess less than a decade of professional experience. 📜 Narrow your Field to Improve your Chances: Craft a laser-focused approach that stands out in a competitive job market. Remember, your resume is a highlight reel, not your life story or a thesis! Keep details minimal and impact maximal! Pro tip: Optimize your LinkedIn profile and include as many details as you'd like. (Stay tuned for my LinkedIn Optimization guide!) ⭐ Bonus tip: Get a referral! That's the best way to get noticed and hear back from recruiters. What other resume tips do you swear by? #ResumeTips #CareerAdvice #JobSearch #ResumeWriting #GetHired #AmazonJobs #AWS #CareerSuccess #LinkedInOptimization #JobMarket #ProTips #hiring #recruiters #opentowork #mentorship #beavailable

I cracked jobs at Amazon, Microsoft, and TikTok, using this roadmap. Now it's your turn to use it. Every week, I speak to job seekers who say things like: “I’ve applied to 200+ jobs but barely got a response.” And I get it. Mass applying feels productive, but it usually leads to mass rejection When I was job hunting, I knew I had to play the game differently. Here’s what actually helped me land offers from top companies: 1. Find the right role I didn’t waste time scrolling endlessly on job boards. Instead, I went straight to the official careers pages. For Meta: metacareers dot com I set job alerts and searched for specific roles like: Software Engineer - Machine Learning - New York Not just “Software Engineer.” Bonus tip: I kept an eye on hiring managers’ posts — they often hint at open roles before they’re listed. 2. Apply the right way I applied within 24–48 hours of a role going live. Early birds really do have an edge. I tailored my resume to include the right keywords from the job description (ATS optimization is non-negotiable). And I didn’t hit “Apply” unless I was also working on finding a referral. 3. Make recruiters notice me Before I reached out, I fixed my LinkedIn: ✅ Clear headline ✅ Strong featured section ✅ Keywords that matched my target roles I turned on “Open to Work” (visible only to recruiters) And started engaging with recruiters’ posts before sending a DM. 4. Network like a PRO I searched for people who had recently joined these companies. Commented on their posts. Then sent personalized DMs like: “Hey [Name], I came across your work at Meta — really insightful! I’m exploring roles in [XYZ] and would love to learn more about your experience. Open to a quick chat?” No cold asks, but real conversations. 5. Prepare like I already have an interview I tracked questions in Notion. Did mock interviews on Interviewing(dot)io and Pramp. And I worked with a coach to tighten up my stories and delivery. Within a few days of following this strategy, I landed multiple interviews with the top companies. Save this post if you’re job hunting right now. P.S. Follow me if you are an Indian job seeker in the U.S. I talk about job search, interview prep, and more.

In your head the voice says, ‘what is wrong with me? Why is this so ridiculously hard?' It's Wednesday, still nothing in your in box. You've sent out hundreds of applications, spent hours tweaking your resume, and followed all the "expert" advice—yet the silence is deafening. No callbacks. No interviews. No signs of progress. You have been at this for months. It feels like you’re shouting into the void, and it’s exhausting. Here’s the hard truth: If your job search isn’t working, sending out even more applications won’t fix it. So what will? That’s where most job seekers get stuck. They think they’re doing everything right—but they’re missing key strategies that could change everything. Here’s What You Need to Do Differently: 1. Apply to fewer jobs—but the right ones. If you’re applying to hundreds of jobs with no response, chances are you’re applying to roles where you don’t meet the core qualifications. Instead, focus on jobs where you’re at least 80% qualified. Quality applications beat mass applying every time. 2. Apply early—timing matters. Recruiters get flooded with applications. If you wait too long, the hiring team may already be deep into interviews before your resume is even seen. Apply within the first 24-48 hours of a posting for the best shot. You can see < than 10 applicants in LinkedIn under filters. 3. Your resume is working against you if it’s too generic. If your resume is just a list of responsibilities, you’re blending in—not standing out. Employers want impact, not just duties. Quantify your achievements. Show results. Tell your own ROI story. And most importantly, tailor your resume for every role. 4. Networking is no longer optional. You can’t just apply and hope. The most successful job seekers are strategically networking—connecting with hiring managers, engaging on LinkedIn, and securing referrals. Most jobs are filled before they’re even posted. If you’re not networking, you’re missing opportunities. 5. You’re doing this alone—and that’s the problem. The job search is isolating. It’s easy to spiral into frustration and self-doubt when you’re navigating it alone. But the most effective job seekers? They lean into a community of like-minded professionals, learning, sharing insights, and keeping each other accountable. Join our Tuesday late afternoon Community: https://lnkd.in/gAAkPxEc If what you’ve been doing isn’t working, it’s time to change your approach. Mass applying won’t get you there. A strategic, focused, and connected job search will. Let's get clarity. I want to help. Find time here: https://lnkd.in/gsgKk8vc 

Have you been applying for jobs lately? This post is for you. Yesterday, I attended a resume prep session organized by the AWS Skills Center in Arlington, VA. I gained some valuable insights that I believe can help anyone looking to enhance their resume and stand out in the job market. ----- Here are some key takeaways ----- 1️⃣ Tailor your resume to each job Carefully read the job description and align your skills and experiences to the requirements. Use keywords from the posting to get past applicant tracking systems (ATS). -> Whatever you put on your resume, be ready to discuss it. 2️⃣ Quantify your achievements Include strong metrics that will show the amount of impact, the number of people, etc. For example, Instead of saying "Improved customer satisfaction," say "Increased customer satisfaction scores by 20% through process improvements." -> Numbers speak louder than words. 3️⃣ Keep it concise and relevant Recruiters typically spend just a few seconds scanning your resume. So, ensure your most relevant experiences and achievements are easy to find. A well-structured one-page resume (or two for more experience) is ideal. -> Everything you put in your resume should be relevant to the job you are applying for. 4️⃣ Highlight transferable skills Even if you’re transitioning into a new role or industry, focus on the skills that apply across domains such as communication, leadership, problem-solving, and adaptability. -> You can include an experience that is not directly related to the role you are applying only if it demonstrates leadership skills. 5️⃣ Professional formatting matters A clean, professional layout with consistent fonts, spacing, and bullet points makes your resume easier to read and leaves a good impression. -> Using fancy fonts will distract recruiters from important information on your resume. 6️⃣ You need more than one resume Keep a primary CV that includes everything you have ever done (DO NOT SHARE THIS WITH ANYONE). Then, create multiple resumes from it when applying.  -> This will save you a lot of time. 7️⃣ Hyperlink wherever possible If you have a chance to hyperlink something on your resume, do it. It will be helpful to the recruiter. -> Keep it simple and avoid long links. For example, for your LinkedIn profile, write it like “in/your_name” and hyperlink it. 8️⃣ Proofread your resume Get someone to proofread your resume. A second eye to your document will always spot something you missed. Besides, anything you see as negligible, could be a big deal to the recruiter. I would like to thank the AWS Skills Center for hosting us. A big shout to the organizers of that resume prep session for their dedicated time and input. It was an invaluable moment for me and I am sure for everyone present. Have you recently updated your resume? What are some tips you would like to add to this list? Let’s discuss this in the comments section. Found this helpful? Please like ❤️, comment 💬, or repost ♻️ to help others.

If I could improve just two things on most resumes, it’d be these: 💼 Give me context. Right next to (or just under) the company name, give me details like: Industry (software, healthcare, retail) Business model (B2B, B2C, marketplace, PLG, sales-led, etc.) Funding model (bootstrapped, VC-backed, PE-backed, public) Size (revenue, headcount, business unit, customer count) This helps recruiters immediately assess how relevant your experience is. A few examples from my own resume: • Column, Series A public information software for media companies, law firms, and businesses • Quorum, bootstrapped B2B SaaS for public affairs teams at corporations, nonprofits, and associations • Axon Enterprise, Post-IPO market leader in B2G public safety technology (TASERs, body cameras, digital evidence management) The company context should share what was true as of the time you worked at the company, not where they’re at today! It shouldn't disclose any proprietary or confidential information that would get you in trouble with the CIAA you very likely signed. 💥 Make every bullet an accomplishment — not a task. Here’s the formula, courtesy of Yale’s Office of Career Strategy: Action verb + project + result = accomplishment Example: "Moved 90% of employees into pay bands using a compensation philosophy, leveling framework, and market data — boosting satisfaction with pay transparency from 13% to 78%." Talent folks — what’s your biggest resume pet peeve or favorite tip? Drop it below. Let’s level up some resumes together. 👇

I used to run 4 in-person job search workshops every month. Here are the 3 takeaways people always cited as the biggest breakthroughs: ❎ (1) THE BEST CANDIDATE DOESN'T WIN This is perhaps the hardest concept to grasp, but the most important. The best candidate doesn't get hired, the most liked candidate does. What that means: 💡Focus less on your qualifications and more on your soft skills. During interviews, talk about: ↳ how you collaborate ↳ how you help people ↳ how you solve problems ❎ (2) FORGET PAGE COUNT, LOOK AT WORD COUNT 1-page resume? 2-page resume? It really doesn't matter. The resumes that land the most interviews are the ones that convey the most value in the FEWEST words. 💡Your resume should be 350-550 words. Any more and your best achievements are likely getting buried. ❎ (3) TELL ONE STORY, EVEN IF YOU HAVE MORE Many of the most talented professionals have a non-linear work history. There's nothing wrong with that. BUT, for the purposes of getting hired you want to tell just one story. 💡Don't be afraid to cut, modify, or massage your experience to match the job at hand. If they want a Project Manager, tell them how you're a great Project Manager. Don't focus on how you used to work in brand marketing, CPG, video, etc (even if you did). ☝ If you make even just these 3 changes, you'll see your interview rates double if not triple. So remember: be the most liked candidate, keep things concise, tell one story. 👉 P.S. If you'd like to learn more techniques like this, follow my profile, I'll be sharing another 3 takeaways next week 😉

It took me 7 months post graduation to land a full-time role at Red Hat! Here are 5 things that helped me tackle the current job market and could help you too- 🦋 Tailor your resume- Instead of using the same resume for multiple job applications, tailor it to match the specific job description. Adding keywords from the job description into your resume gives you more chances of getting your resume selected. Focus on applying for 10-15 jobs with a referral and a tailored resume instead of a hundred cold applications. 🦋 Ask for referrals- Reach out to people in the company you are interested in with a friendly message including a small introduction, what you are looking for, your resume and the job link you want to apply for. Be extremely humble with your words since this person is doing you a favor if they decide to refer you. 🦋 Connect with people currently working in the similar role- Once you start getting interviews, reach out to people who already work in similar roles at the company. Ask about their experience working at the company and what was the interview process like for them. This will help you prepare better for your interviews. 🦋 Build a portfolio website- Even if you're not looking specifically for Software Developer roles, building a portfolio website where you can showcase your projects and the work you've done is a great way to stand out. It makes it easier for interviewers to see what you can do. 🦋 Showcase enthusiasm about the role- Interviewers love to see that you're genuinely excited about the opportunity. Speak about how you envision yourself making a meaningful impact. Share specific examples of projects or initiatives that showcase your eagerness to contribute. These simple steps made a big difference for me, and I hope they help you too! Your dream job might be closer than you think! 🚀 #JobSearchTips #CareerAdvice #RedHat #SoftwareEngineer #NewGrad 🎉