How to Avoid Your Resume from Falling into the Blackhole

Many lawyers applying to inhouse positions online feel like their resumes are falling into the “black hole.”

So, keep these quick tips in mind. They may increase your chances of your resume being seen:

-1 Most large organizations use what is called as the Application Tracking Systems (ATS) to source resumes? ATS digitizes resumes by key words. So, sprinkle in key words and phrases in your resume that are in the job advertisement. Your resume may be picked as a potential winner for a human being to review later on.

-2 Use bullets and no arrows or fancy highlighting in your resume. Bullets clearly separate new entries better than arrows. Simplicity is best.  ATS likes robot friendly resumes.

-3 Apply to positions that match your skills, since many people have spot-on resumes. The exception to that rule is that if you know someone who can introduce you to the hiring organization and can speak highly of you. Adam Grant, in his book Think Again, says hiring organizations are not always 100% clear on the perfect hire. If you could get an interview and impress them, then maybe there will be something about you that is more important to them than they had originally thought.

Stay tuned for more tips.

Published by Sheryl Odentz on LinkedIn on April 1, 2021. Sheryl Odentz is the founder of Progress in Work LLC, an award-winning career management firm that provides lawyers and other professionals within the legal industry the following services: business development training/coaching, executive/leadership coaching and outplacement/career transition counseling. For more information, contact Sheryl at 212-532-6670 or sodentz@progressinwork.com.