Hiring managers study a resume for an average of five to 10 seconds before deciding to toss or keep the candidate.

It’s a short window of opportunity. And according to the Department of Labor, a strong resume can make all the difference.

That’s why the department has named this month ResuMAY and planned resume workshops across the state, including several in Hall County.

“There are a lot of people in the job market today who have not had to prepare a resume for many years because they’ve been employed,” said Sam Hall, director of communications at the Georgia Department of Labor. “But in that time, the way companies conduct job searches has completely changed and the old rules don’t apply anymore.”

At the Hall County Library, where one workshop will be held, there has been an increase in visitors seeking help with resumes, according to adult services coordinator Marion Hunter.

“We have a lot of people who are out of work and they come into the library and need to apply for jobs, needing help with their resumes and just can use any assistance that they can get,” she said.

The library will hold a workshop on May 17 and attendees will then be able to sign up for a one-on-one session with a professional resume writer for the following week. Hunter said the library also has resume templates on its computers for people who are not able to attend the workshop.

“If they have the ability and the skill level to get on a computer and do it themselves then we have that available,” she said. “If they don’t have those skills we have free computer classes that they can take that will prepare them to be able to get on the computer.”

Hall said resume events are some of the most popular the department holds. The local career center on Atlanta Highway will hold a workshop and a critique this month as well as a resume contest.

This month’s resume events will stress proper organization and wording.

 Jan Markcussen, a certified professional resume writer with the Department of Labor, advised using short phrases rather than full sentences highlighting specific skills rather than general and vague ideas.

“For each position for which you’re applying, you want to emphasis the skills relating to that particular position and show how you’re qualified for it,” she said.

Markcussen also recommended having someone proofread the resume after it’s completed.

“We all know what we’re trying to express, but if someone else reads it and doesn’t understand, we need to make adjustments,” she said.

Hunter said the Department of Labor’s efforts should be well-received by the community.

“We see a lot of people out of work right now,” she said. “A lot of people are hurting. And they really need help.”

Regional reporter Crystal Ledford contributed to this report.