As a Corporate Recruiter for years and Talent Development professional, I can say that I've experienced first-hand the frustrations of candidates not getting the results they want in their job search - from the type of role to how long it takes (and everything in between). What I learned is, the frustration stems simply from not knowing how most recruiting processes work. So I've put together a few statistics that I think will get job seekers started on the right foot.

If you're a job seeker, one or more of the following statistics could be the reason you're not receiving the calls you deserve from hiring leaders.

Statistic #1 - Over 50% of candidates are eliminated from the online job search by "applicant tracking systems" (ATS). Hiring leaders / recruiters do not have time to go through hundreds of resumes one-by-one to determine who to call. The days of manual work for hiring talent are over! There is technology (i.e. applicant tracking systems) to do the scanning and filtering for them. That's why it is important to have a resume that passes the ATS.

What is an applicant tracking system?

It is a system that automates candidates through the different stages of the hiring process. It stores applications, resumes, candidate details, interview notes etc. It will kick out resumes that do not have the keywords strategically written throughout, that pertain to the particular requisition (job).

Whether your resume gets to the hands of a recruiter depends greatly on how well your document is ATS optimized.

So if you're applying all over the Internet and not hearing anything back, you may want to get a professional to revamp your resume - after all it is the employer's first impression of you. And first impressions are everything.

Statistic #2 - Over 70% of hiring managers immediately disqualify resumes because of grammatical errors and typos. Recruiters and hiring managers don't spend a lot of time reading your resume (on average, it takes about 7 seconds to scan before determining if they'll call you), but errors seem to catch their attention even faster than that! Trust me, errors in grammar is a sure way to get you kicked from consideration. A few of things you can do:

• Spell-Check. But don't solely rely on this tool. If you mistakenly typed "accessed" but you meant "assessed", Spell-Check won't catch that because both words are spelled correctly.
• Re-read each line several times over 2 days. Step away and come back to it.
• I strongly encourage having a friend read your resume. They can tell you if your document has wonky sentences.

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Statistics #3 - 60% of resumes are ignored because they're not formatted correctly. You'll want a format that is easy to scan, read, and is in a standard/traditional structure. Recruiters and hiring leaders expect to see your dates of employment, for example, in a certain place on your resume. Creative formats (like the one pictured below) force the reader to search for the basic information they need. That's not good. Instead, make it easy for them.

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And even equally as important.. remember those ATSs we discussed earlier? Applicant Tracking Systems scan vertically and work best with a structured resume (For example, Company Name and Position Title on the left and Dates of Employment on the right).

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You may have seen "creative" resumes and thought "man, I want a resume like that"! Don't fall for it!

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While they look really cool, I recommend the colors, images, icons, and designed formats for roles such as Marketing, Web/Graphic Designers, Comedians, Actors, or if you're creating a resume for your dog. (Yes, those exist!). However, keep in mind, candidates with Marketing or Graphic Design roles still must apply to companies the same way as everyone else, so the ATS may or may not pick up the core skills with the creative resume formats. A general rule of thumb is to stick to a standard format.

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So how do I stand out then? ...you ask.

So many ways! One major way: Focus on the outcomes you achieved at each position and list those in a quantifiable way. Numbers, numbers, numbers. For example:

• Reduced overhead costs from XX% to > XX% in Q2 of 2019 with the implementation of X,Y, Z
• Achieved an average customer satisfaction (CSAT) rating of > 98% in 2018 from > 600 calls each month.

Your resume is not a document you should just "wing" or "throw together". It's the company's first impression of you, so it should be organized, neat, and keyword/ATS optimized. Your job directly impacts your way of life! If you're going for higher pay, bigger title, more work/life balance - you must invest in yourself to have a much better chance at receiving an offer.

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I can help. Click to view my resume packages, so you can #arriveandthrive and #beunapologeticallythriving.

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Statistics used in this article are from studies highlighted on careerbuilder.com.