What Matters Most With a Resume? Learn From a 30-Year Recruiting Expert

Shelly Gourlay is known for her 30+ year talent acquisition track record with global brands including Nike and Columbia Sportswear. She currently runs the Sports Product Management Master’s Program at the University of Oregon where she identifies and develops future sports product industry leaders. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Shelly for several years as an instructor for the program.

I asked Shelly, “What matters most with a resume?” Her advice is direct and incredibly helpful. Here’s what she had to say:

“Recruiters are typically the first people who look at your resume within a company. So, the question is, how do you avoid being overlooked?

What matters most is making your resume easy to follow. It must be coherent and tell a clear story so the recruiter can ‘get you.’ Elaborate, graphic formats are a problem if they make it difficult to understand your work experience chronologically. You don’t want the recruiter saying, ‘I don’t get it,’ because if that happens, they’ll move on to the next applicant.

The bottom line is keep it simple: use an easily recognizable format, put your education at the top or at the bottom, and go in reverse chronology with the information you’re sharing.”

I love Shelly’s advice! Check out my book, “Made To Hire: How to Get the Job You Really Want,” for more resume tips and to learn the secrets to getting hired from other legends like Shelly!