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Evan Cave
05 November 2025
You've submitted your resume to dozens of positions. You're qualified. You have the experience. But you're not getting callbacks.
The problem might not be your qualifications. It might be how you're presenting them.
Recruiters review hundreds of resumes every week. Within 7-10 seconds of opening your resume, they've already decided whether to keep reading or move on to the next candidate. That's right. Seven seconds to make an impression.
We've identified seven critical elements that capture recruiter attention and position you as a standout candidate.
The single biggest mistake professionals make on resumes is listing responsibilities instead of accomplishments. Recruiters don't just want to know what you were supposed to do. They want to know what you actually achieved.
What recruiters see too often:
"Managed inventory for warehouse operations"
"Responsible for vendor relationships"
What recruiters want to see:
"Reduced inventory carrying costs by 23% ($450K annually) through implementation of ABC analysis and just-in-time ordering"
"Negotiated contracts with 15 vendors, achieving 18% cost savings while improving on-time delivery rates from 87% to 96%"
Notice the pattern? Every accomplishment includes:
Numbers tell the story that words alone cannot. They prove you didn't just show up. You made a difference. When recruiters scan your resume, these quantified achievements immediately signal that you understand what matters: results.
Modern roles across all industries are increasingly technology-driven. Recruiters need to know you can work with the tools and systems their clients use. But there's a right way and a wrong way to list technical skills.
Create a dedicated Technical Skills section tailored to your field:
For supply chain and logistics professionals, this means highlighting systems like:
Warehouse Management Systems (WMS):
Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP):
Transportation Management Systems (TMS):
Supply Chain Planning & Optimization:
Strategic Sourcing & Procurement Platforms:
Other Critical Tools:
Don't just list every system you've ever logged into. Focus on platforms where you have genuine working knowledge. If you implemented a system, led a migration, or trained others, mention that in your work experience section with quantified results.
Recruiters often search resumes by keyword. If your experience includes a critical tool but you don't explicitly mention it, your resume might never surface in their search results.
Recruiting firms use Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan for specific keywords before a human ever sees your resume.
Essential supply chain keywords to include (where relevant):
Planning & Forecasting:
Procurement & Sourcing:
Logistics & Distribution:
Operations & Warehouse:
Process Improvement:
Key Metrics & KPIs:
Match your keywords to the job description, but never lie about experience you don't have. Recruiters will verify your claims during interviews.
Recruiters want to see that you've grown in your career. They're looking for a logical progression that demonstrates increasing responsibility, expertise, and impact.
Structure your experience to show growth:
Instead of listing every minor role change, group related positions that show progression:
Senior Supply Chain Analyst | ABC Manufacturing | 2022-Present Promoted from Supply Chain Analyst (2020-2022)
This format immediately shows upward mobility without cluttering your resume.
What recruiters look for in your work history:
If you've worked for well-known companies in your industry, make sure those names stand out. If you've worked for smaller companies, add context: "Regional 3PL managing $45M in annual freight spend" or "E-commerce company with 20 distribution centers nationwide."
Certifications signal commitment to your profession and validate your expertise. Some certifications carry more weight with recruiters than others depending on your field.
High-value supply chain and logistics certifications:
APICS/ASCM Certifications:
Project Management:
Industry-Specific:
List certifications near the top of your resume, right after your summary or in a dedicated section. Include the year you earned them (or "In Progress" with expected completion date if you're currently pursuing one).
If you're early in your career and lack certifications, consider pursuing credentials relevant to your field. Many recruiters specifically search for these credentials when filling roles.
The professional summary at the top of your resume might be the only section a recruiter reads before deciding whether to continue. Make it count.
"Experienced supply chain professional seeking new opportunities in logistics management. Strong communication skills and team player."
"Supply Chain Manager with 8+ years optimizing end-to-end logistics operations for mid-market manufacturers. Led $12M cost reduction initiative through network optimization and vendor consolidation. Expert in S&OP, demand planning, and lean methodologies. Proven track record implementing WMS and TMS systems that improve efficiency 25%+. Seeking Director-level role in manufacturing or distribution."
What makes this summary work:
Your summary should be 3-4 lines maximum. It’s your value proposition. Answer these questions: What do you do? What industries or specialties? What results have you achieved? What are you looking for next?
Tailor this section for each application. Yes, it takes extra time. But recruiters can immediately tell when you've sent a generic resume versus one crafted for their specific role.
Where you place education on your resume depends on your career stage:
Put education at the top, after your summary. Include relevant coursework, academic projects, internships, and GPA if above 3.5.
Move education below your work experience. Keep it brief — degree, institution, graduation year.
Education goes at the bottom. Your experience speaks louder than where you went to school two decades ago.
What to include:
What to exclude:
Many specialized roles now prefer candidates with relevant degrees. If you have one, make sure it's clearly stated. If you don't, your certifications and experience need to compensate.
Beyond these seven core elements, here are quick wins that help your resume stand out:
Format and Design:
Content Strategy:
What to Leave Out:
Even experienced professionals make these errors that cause recruiters to pass on otherwise qualified candidates:
Recruiters want to see chronological work history. Functional resumes (organized by skills rather than jobs) look like you're hiding something — employment gaps, job hopping, or lack of relevant experience.
"Managed a team of 5 warehouse associates" tells recruiters nothing about your effectiveness as a manager. "Led team of 5 warehouse associates that improved order accuracy from 94% to 99.2% while reducing picking time 18%" tells a compelling story.
At minimum, customize your professional summary and ensure your experience highlights match the job description's key requirements. Recruiters can spot mass-application resumes immediately.
Calling yourself a "results-driven team player with excellent communication skills" means nothing without concrete examples demonstrating these qualities through your achievements.
Many recruiters find candidates on LinkedIn first, then request resumes. If your LinkedIn profile doesn't match your resume or is incomplete, you've created doubt about your credibility.
Your retail job from 15 years ago doesn't belong on your resume if you're now applying for supply chain director positions. Keep content relevant to your current career trajectory.
Understanding the recruiter's process helps you optimize your resume:
ATS Screening (5-10 seconds) Your resume gets parsed by software looking for keywords, required qualifications, and deal-breakers. Resumes that don't match basic criteria never reach human eyes.
Initial Human Scan (7-10 seconds) A recruiter quickly scans for: relevant job titles, recognizable company names, tenure at each role, obvious red flags, and quantified achievements. They're looking for reasons to keep reading or reasons to reject.
Detailed Review (60-90 seconds) For resumes that pass the initial scan, recruiters read more carefully: specific accomplishments, skill alignment, career trajectory, and culture fit indicators.
Client Submission (if you make it this far) Your resume gets formatted and sent to the hiring company with the recruiter's notes on why you're a strong match. This is when having detailed, quantified achievements pays off—it gives the recruiter selling points.
Recruiters spend an average of 7.4 seconds on their initial resume review. Your resume needs to communicate your value in that tiny window.
A: One page for professionals with less than 7 years of experience, two pages for senior professionals with 10+ years. Never exceed two pages. Recruiters reviewing dozens of resumes daily prefer concise, scannable documents.
A: No. Focus on the last 10-15 years and roles relevant to your current career path. Earlier experience can be summarized in one line ("Previous experience includes roles in [industry/function]") or omitted entirely. Recruiters care most about recent, relevant experience.
A: Yes, but demonstrate them through achievements rather than listing them. Instead of writing "strong leadership skills," share "led cross-functional team of 15 through WMS implementation, resulting in 40% efficiency improvement and zero system downtime."
A: Update it quarterly with new achievements, completed projects, and acquired skills. Don't wait until you're job searching—by then you'll have forgotten key accomplishments. Keep a running document of wins throughout the year.
A: Upload it to your LinkedIn profile, apply directly to relevant positions, network within your industry, and reach out to specialized recruiting firms that focus on your sector. Targeted outreach often yields better results than mass applications on job boards.
A: Professional templates from Microsoft Word, Google Docs, or resume builders work well as long as they're clean and ATS-friendly. Avoid overly creative designs with graphics, columns, or unusual formatting that confuse applicant tracking systems.
A: If the job posting requests one, absolutely. Even when optional, a well-crafted cover letter can set you apart. Keep it brief (3-4 paragraphs), specific to the role, and focused on why you're interested and what value you bring.
Think of your resume as a marketing brochure for your professional brand. Every word should reinforce your value proposition. Every bullet point should give recruiters a reason to call you instead of the next candidate.
The seven elements we've covered (quantifiable achievements, technical skills, industry keywords, clear progression, relevant certifications, strong summary, and properly positioned education) form the foundation of a resume that gets results.
Your resume gets you the interview. It doesn't get you the job. Once you land that conversation with a recruiter or hiring manager, your communication skills, cultural fit, and ability to articulate your experience become equally important.
If you're looking for your next career opportunity, connect with recruiters who understand your industry and can match your skills with the right roles. Take these insights, update your resume, and start getting the callbacks you deserve. Even if you’re not actively searching right now because of the slower market, preparing for when it opens back up is critical.
We discuss which tactical roles will be automated and which strategic skills will always need humans in our Procurement Pulse podcast. Subscribe to learn how to position yourself for the next 5 years and stay ahead of industry changes that could reshape your career.
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