Ex-Amazon Recruiter Reveals Top Résumé Mistake For Job Hunters

A former recruiter for mega-corporation Amazon shared that providing vague statements is the most prominent mistake job hunters make on their résumés.

Lindsay Mustain called the responses “Miss America”-style answers that can leave employers underwhelmed. In an interview with CNBCMake It, Mustain, who is the CEO of Talent Paradigm, disclosed what she learned employers really want out of prime job candidates. According to the woman who claims she has reviewed “literally a million” résumés, what captures recruiters’ attention is not showcasing “glorified job descriptions.”

A candidate’s choice to highlight their accomplishments and job history superficially can hinder going further in the hiring process, as general statements without substantive details wouldn’t get a second look from recruiters. Mustain argues that while this mistake is common, recruiters lack essential information on what the job seeker has achieved in prior roles, thus making them unable to stand out among hundreds of other candidates.

Including quantitative information is the best course of action, according to Mustain. Landing a job offer is a literal numbers game, and giving employers a quantitive figure helps them measure the work one has done and can potentially do for their company. Mustain claims that the “more metrics and analytics you can add to your résumé, the more impressive.” Listing the numerical value of one’s responsibilities and highlighting one’s accomplishments in the same fashion can get the point across to recruiters faster, leading to a greater chance of scoring an interview.

As the job market continues to cool down, differentiating oneself from other applicants through this method can be a game-changer for success. Recruiters typically take seconds to peruse through applications, and their eyes immediately go toward the figures and metrics candidates can concisely list.

What is Mustain’s best recommendation for standing out during the job search? Being more “results-based” in your résumé to garner the greatest benefit.