Why Page 2 Will Fail You
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Why Page 2 Will Fail You
Don't hide your best work
If you are seeing this, I am confident you use Google at least once every now to conduct random searches online.
Google is a popular search engine used by millions of people every day. Like me, I am sure you similarly use Google for research.
Whenever I search for anything on Google, I look at the top results. I stick to page 1 for a while and ensure it contains what I am looking for.
Thankfully, most times, it does.
Google’s algorithm is so powerful that it ranks the most relevant information first, and I get the information I link by clicking on one of the links, and I move on.
You might wonder what Google search, page numbers and search results have to do with us today.
I will explain how this relates to your resume and job search.
I was recently reviewing an application for a job seeker. It was a multi-page resume. I noticed the first page was particularly dry and did not contain useful information. Honestly, as a hiring manager, I wouldn’t stress further. I’d probably not shortlist this candidate. I will drop the resume and move on to the next one immediately.
Before I dropped the resume, something within me told me to look at the next page. I did and then realised the best information was actually on page 2.
Aha! I see.
“She kept the best information on page 2”.
Sure, you might argue that the hiring manager should find it and shortlist the candidate for an interview. I will tell you why she’s most likely not going to make the interview list, not to mention landing the job.
Page 2 Is Hidden
Excellence is starting well
As I stated earlier with Google, hardly anyone looks at page 2 of the research results. This is like your resume as well.
Imagine an employer receiving tens or hundreds of applications for one job ad. You probably won’t expect them to read through each line in every application they receive, would you?
It’s a lot of work, as you can imagine.
It’s unlikely to happen.
This is why you need to:
Put Your Best First
You are giving yourself a good chance of getting shortlisted by ensuring you capture your best information on the top of the first page.
Why?
Employers are more likely to see this information and decide to shortlist you for the interview. Remember, most hiring managers spend less than 10 seconds looking at your resume. Their attention span is very short, so you have to make it easy for them.
Closing thoughts
If your resume has multiple pages, you must ensure you put the best information on the first page.
Like Google search results, most hiring managers may not visit page 2. And unfortunately, if this is where you have saved the best, it might work against you.
Don’t save the best for the last.
Start with the best.
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Banji Alo
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