In a business environment that seems to emphasize academic qualifications, it is easy for job seekers to forget just how important non-technical skills are. And yet, top executives and hirers across all business sectors agree that soft skills are as important, if not more important than technical skills.

Interviews are won or lost in the first 5 minutes. Experienced interviewers can tell in your initial interactions with them if there’s potential here, or if you’re just not going to fit in. I recently conducted 1-on-1 mock interviews with over 75 undergraduates, and after just the first few questions, I immediately knew who the handful that stood out from the crowd were.

What are HR professionals really looking for in resumes?

Top 5 Dos & Don’ts

Having screened hundreds of resumes, let me start by telling you that an amazing resume literally leaps off the page. Just like when you meet someone for the first time, and you get that spark, that connection, which tells you that this person is someone you want to keep in touch with, as a resume reviewer, when you see a great one, you just know. The good news, not too many resumes really meet this bar, so the opportunity to improve is there.