So, you’ve gotten the HR department past your cover letter but how do you keep them from tossing your resume out the window before they finish reading it?

One mistake I see too often is a resume that ranges from 4 to 8 pages (or even more!). Comments about candidate’s resumes being of excessive length are on the rise and I’m being mild when I say “comments”.

Applicants are expected to summarize their career in 3 pages or less. This requires making choices about what stays and what goes, but the Pareto Principle does apply here – 80 percent of what an employer wants to see is going to be covered in 20 percent of the resume. The trick is knowing what the employer wants to see. Increase your visibility by observing the following list.

Professional Summary: This is your 30 second commercial. Use it to spotlight your strengths and years of experience.

Skills Summary: Often, the eyes go here first. Highlight where you excel, but don’t pull everything out of the closet or it’ll be too cluttered. And if you only touched it, it’s not a skill and should be left off the list.

Employment/Experience History: Company, dates of employment, position held, and a few bullet points of what you accomplished. Keep each position to a brief paragraph. Remember, this is just the hors d’oeuvre to whet their appetite. Give them the main course in the interview.

If your career has spanned many years and multiple jobs, keep the detail to the last two or three positions. With anything prior you should list the company, date of employment, position held, and a one line description.

Education/Certifications: If your wall is covered with framed gold seals, list those that apply to the career you’re seeking.

Groups, Affiliations: These demonstrate your involvement in the industry community.

Remember, recruiters and HR managers are scanning through a ton of resumes. In fact, one hiring manager I talked with today just received 1400 resumes for one technical position! So, maximize the chance of your resume getting a close look by focusing your content.