How to Scan Resumes to Find the Perfect Employee

Unemployment is rampant. To find qualified employees is a daunting task and can be overwhelming with in sudden influx of resumes and job applications. Reading someone's resume is the best way to get to know their potential as an employee. There are many things to look at to narrow down the stack to a small group to interview.

Neatness and Spelling

Look at the overall appearance of the resume. If it is smudged and wrinkled, this can give you a brief understanding of the person who is applying. Look for neat, well-written resumes that have no glaring typos or spelling errors. If you are looking for someone with a strong background in English, you can eliminate those who have obvious flaws in their resumes.

Check the Educational Section

Some positions will require advanced degrees. If your position does, then you want to review the applications education. Read through it carefully. Some potential applicants will list that they have "Master Degree from The School of Life." While this is obviously not a real advance degree, if the position is flexible enough, you may want to consider reading the resume closer. If the position has to have a degree, you can file this one as not qualified.

Read the Job History

Job histories can tell a lot about a person. Most people will smooth over that they were fired from their last position. One thing you can do to avoid hiring someone with a poor history is to check how long the person worked at each position. If someone stays at a job only a few months or years, you know that the candidate may not be with you long enough to train, much less make an impact for your company. There should not be any major gaps in the job history. If the person did not work for a number of months or years, they should have a notation about what they were doing such as going to school or in the military.

Read the Job History Descriptions and Duties:

While a candidate may have worked many years for a well-known firm, it may have been in the shipping department and you need someone with customer service skills. Match the skills you need with the resumes to shift through a stack of resumes quickly.

Check for Other Factors:

Does the person have military experience? If they do, they will have been trained to get up and get to work on time. Does the resume list skills and hobbies that will benefit the position you are hiring for?

Select Several Resumes for Background Checks and Interviews

Select the top five or ten resumes. Call the references and supervisors. This will allow you to get a general idea of how sound the resume is. Select between three and five candidates to schedule interviews. You may want to have notes on the resumes about any questions specific to that person's resume for the interview.

By eliminating the obvious resumes, you will be left with potential candidates who are well qualified for the position you have open. During your interview, you can get to know the person and see if they match the resume and be the person you are looking to hire.