Have you ever wanted to hire someone from the first glance at his or her resume? Sometimes a well-crafted resume is a huge relief during a drawn-out hiring process. But how do you know if a person will hold up to the promise of a good resume? Here’s 3 questions to consider: 

 1. How do they describe previous jobs?

Perhaps the area where you can get the most insight into a candidate is in how they describe his or her previous jobs. A resume isn’t complete without listing the most important responsibilities at previous position (and if this is missing it should be a red flag!). More specifically, descriptions of previous jobs should prove that a candidate made a significant contribution to the company and performed skills relevant to an apartment job.

2. How has their career progressed?

A resume may be perfectly formatted and include a long list of skills. However, if a candidate has not shown progress in their career – movement up the career ladder – you may need to reconsider. A pattern of stagnant professional growth in the past could (and likely would) continue if you hire this candidate.

For example, if a candidate has spent many years in leasing, ask why they never moved up to a management position. On the other hand, if only high-level positions appear on a resume, be curious about how they got there. Applicants may have valid reasons for a lack of natural progression, but if they haven’t shown career growth, it’s worth asking why.

 3. How is their resume formatted?

The typical resume follows a template that lists education first, or if not, the candidate’s most recent job. Some applicants also include an Objective or Career Summary section at the top. There are many ways to write a resume, but applicants with unclear, distracting, or completely unconventional formats should be examined more closely.

Standard resume formatting works well for a reason—employers know what to expect and where to find key information. Dates of employment, job titles, and the city (Houston, Austin, etc.) or address should be clear at first glance. An unorganized resume may show how an applicant approaches their work.

Good-looking resumes can be persuasive, but if you read between the lines, you may find that a candidate who looks perfect at first glance isn’t right for the job. Consider these three questions before hiring, and ask about the resume’s details during the interview process.