Ranking by Relevance on Your Resume Is a Good Idea

When writing your resume, sometimes it’s the little details that count. For instance, using bullet points instead of paragraphs adds more white space and makes it more readable–something that many hiring managers appreciate. Something else that could seem small is how you rank your qualifications. Believe it or not, listing something not so important first could make or break your chances of being called in for an interview.

List the Most Relevant Information First

It could seem like a very obvious idea to list your qualifications in order of relevance, starting with the most relevant first. Of course it makes sense. But when you’re in the middle of jotting down your major qualifications based on your accomplishments with each employer, it’s possible that you’re just happy to remember everything you need to list and aren’t thinking about placing them in any particular order.

So this is a friendly reminder to think about the order that you’re listing them in. But not just in a way that makes you proud. Instead think about relevance to the position you’re applying for and how the first qualification you list will make the hiring manager instantly feel you’re qualified.

It’s Okay to Choose Relevance over Chronology

In addition to ranking by relevance when it comes to listing qualifications under each position, you could also choose to list your positions in a way that chooses relevance over chronology. For instance, you may be accustomed to listing your jobs in chronological order–the most recent employer first–but there is no rule that says you must list them this way.

So if you have a previous job that speaks to the position then you can list it higher on the list. You could even create a category titled “Relevant Positions” that lists those jobs that matter then have another section for the rest of your work history.

There are a million ways to make your resume work for you. So take time to think about how you want to ensure a hiring manager sees the best in you throughout your resume. If you don’t know how then you could find resume writers online to help you out so that you are sure to submit a quality document for each job position you want.