9 Resume Must-Haves in Order to Get an In-Person Interview

Make sure to include these things on your resume if you want to make it to the final round.

Question: What is one thing a resume must have for you to bring someone in for an interview?

Phone Number

"You'd be surprised how many resumes I get (at least one out of five) that do not include a phone number. They force you to email them. I'm the guy who likes to listen and talk to you over the phone for five minutes before having you come into the office for a live interview. Put your phone number on your resume!"


Impressive Accomplishments

"The only time a resume excites me is when it has specific examples of the candidate's accomplishments. Forget the flowery language and the "skills" developed. A resume that demonstrates meaningful success lets you know your candidate cares about how they have made an impact to improve their business. Accountability and a mentality of driving change are critical to success at a startup."


Hobbies and Community Involvement

"Are they giving back to the community and what are they passionate about?  There are a lot of smart people out there, and, assuming they meet the professional requirements, I want to get to know them. It's amazing to listen to someone speak about what they really care about, and often times it's not their job history. Hobbies and community involvement speak volumes about a candidate's character."


Perfect Spelling and Grammar

"For candidates to receive an interview, their resumes must have no spelling or grammar errors. This criteria surprisingly filters out many candidates. Our customers are enterprise businesses who rely on our software every day, so we require precision and accuracy from our teammates."


Consistency

"Bouncing around from job to job is a serious red flag. A strong resume presents a clear and consistent narrative of the applicant's experience. Short spurts at a variety of companies suggest a lack of commitment and may raise doubts about the applicant's potential longevity in our organization."


Core Values

"It's a little unconventional, but if a resume lists a candidate's top core values, it's an instant indicator that they are on the same page when it comes to running a values-based business. It shows an awareness and appreciation for the values that play in all relationships, as well as a desire for their values to align with my business and their potential role at a deeper level."


A Relevant Objective

"An objective is an effective way of learning why candidates submitted their application in the first place and whether the job opportunity aligns with their goals. Generic or ill-suited objectives need not apply. After all, unless candidates see working here as a path to reaching their own goals, I shouldn't expect them to put their best foot forward once it's in the door."


Side Projects

"I'm a big fan of seeing a person's side projects. It's especially relevant for designers, developers and marketing people. It's a great way to see how creative the person is. "


How They Can Benefit My Company

"The resumes that catch my eye are those that talk about how the candidate can benefit my company rather than highlighting their own previous work experience. In my criteria, the more qualified you are, the less of a chance you have of getting hired. We like hiring raw and inexperienced folks that are hungry and will allow us to mold them to our business model."


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9 Resume Must-Haves in Order to Get an In-Person Interview

Make sure to include these things on your resume if you want to make it to the final round.

Question: What is one thing a resume must have for you to bring someone in for an interview?

Phone Number

"You'd be surprised how many resumes I get (at least one out of five) that do not include a phone number. They force you to email them. I'm the guy who likes to listen and talk to you over the phone for five minutes before having you come into the office for a live interview. Put your phone number on your resume!"


Impressive Accomplishments

"The only time a resume excites me is when it has specific examples of the candidate's accomplishments. Forget the flowery language and the "skills" developed. A resume that demonstrates meaningful success lets you know your candidate cares about how they have made an impact to improve their business. Accountability and a mentality of driving change are critical to success at a startup."


Hobbies and Community Involvement

"Are they giving back to the community and what are they passionate about?  There are a lot of smart people out there, and, assuming they meet the professional requirements, I want to get to know them. It's amazing to listen to someone speak about what they really care about, and often times it's not their job history. Hobbies and community involvement speak volumes about a candidate's character."


Perfect Spelling and Grammar

"For candidates to receive an interview, their resumes must have no spelling or grammar errors. This criteria surprisingly filters out many candidates. Our customers are enterprise businesses who rely on our software every day, so we require precision and accuracy from our teammates."


Consistency

"Bouncing around from job to job is a serious red flag. A strong resume presents a clear and consistent narrative of the applicant's experience. Short spurts at a variety of companies suggest a lack of commitment and may raise doubts about the applicant's potential longevity in our organization."


Core Values

"It's a little unconventional, but if a resume lists a candidate's top core values, it's an instant indicator that they are on the same page when it comes to running a values-based business. It shows an awareness and appreciation for the values that play in all relationships, as well as a desire for their values to align with my business and their potential role at a deeper level."


A Relevant Objective

"An objective is an effective way of learning why candidates submitted their application in the first place and whether the job opportunity aligns with their goals. Generic or ill-suited objectives need not apply. After all, unless candidates see working here as a path to reaching their own goals, I shouldn't expect them to put their best foot forward once it's in the door."


Side Projects

"I'm a big fan of seeing a person's side projects. It's especially relevant for designers, developers and marketing people. It's a great way to see how creative the person is. "


How They Can Benefit My Company

"The resumes that catch my eye are those that talk about how the candidate can benefit my company rather than highlighting their own previous work experience. In my criteria, the more qualified you are, the less of a chance you have of getting hired. We like hiring raw and inexperienced folks that are hungry and will allow us to mold them to our business model."


See Also: 5 Signs That Your Business Is Ready for the Big Leagues

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