AMA: I was a tech recruiter for 7 years. Here are 11 facts you should know:

1. Each resume only gets about a 12-second look. Make an immediate impact. 2. Regardless of the vacancy, there are no less than 200 applicants per position. Gotta stand out. 3. Recruiters will inject their own biases and make a stronger case for someone they personally identify with. (same school, same previous employer, etc.) 4. In most cases, more than one offer is made for the same position. (and often, the offer will be different) 5. Making them wait for an answer is not a power play. Reply asap. 6. If you use a 3rd party recruiting service, their commission is usually based on the salary they can get you. Trust me, they want you to make as much as possible. Let them negotiate. 7. If you are NOT using a recruiting service, there is no fee attached to hiring you, which can give you a better chance + makes you a less risky hire. 8. The smart play is to do both. Recruiters have the inside track & a relationship with the company. They can open doors you can't. 9. You are interviewing the company as much as they are interviewing you. Do your homework. Have 6-8 questions ready to ask. And don't wait til they ask "Do you have any questions for us?" Make the interview a dialogue and not just a Q&A. 10. Eliminate the Objectives section. No one reads it. Replace it with a work summary. 11. Edit your resume for the job you're applying for. Make it relevant to that opening, and they will notice.