Beyond the Resume: A Five-Step Guide

A resume provides a first glance at someone’s experience and qualifications, but in reality, this is only the surface of who someone is. Skimming for proper formatting and grammar and reading through key bullet points, employers may use a resume to assess whether a candidate should be considered as a relevant, qualified fit for the role. Today, we’re going beyond the resume, providing you with a five-step guide when considering a candidate’s entire application and interview responses.

What is their commitment to former employers?

It is essential to ask questions that allow you to really understand the candidate’s career path. Longevity and reliability are important factors in whether or not someone is going to be a good fit. While you can obtain a minimal understanding of this from a resume, the only way to truly understand someone’s experience and commitment is to take the time to discuss these things with them in the interview. Were there other factors involved such as maternity leave, health issues or complications, terminations, or resignations?

How relevant is their experience? 

Titles listed on a resume can be somewhat misleading – depending on the size and age of their previous place of employment. Time should be spent diving into what experiences this candidate gained while working in each of these positions. You should be looking for candidates with relevant experience and relevant levels of experience, not just what the titles are typically associated with.

How well will this person complement your team, rather than fit into it? 

It can be easy to look at a candidate that seems to have similar skills to yourself or your current team and feel strongly toward them due to parallels in qualities. While it’s great to find a candidate that has the qualities you already value, finding someone who compliments your team is going to be more beneficial in the long run than simply finding someone that fits in well.

Does their resume contain any potential red flags? 

There are a few signs that might indicate a mismatch and potential red flag. These include: 

• Unexplained employment gaps: Be sure to ask about long breaks between jobs! There are many reasonable explanations for gaps, but a good applicant will be able to provide those explanations when asked.
• Excessive job hopping: Again, there are many explanations that could be provided for why someone seems to frequently hop from job to job. You’ll want to ask your candidate about this, to gauge whether this person seems to be an uncommitted worker. 
• Typos: There is no reason for a resume filled with typos and careless mistakes. These types of issues can indicate carelessness, which is not a trait that you want in a new employee.

The hiring process can be overwhelming, and Beyond TalentEdge is here to help and ensure that you are building a winning team.