If you’re old enough to remember the Mary Tyler Moore Show – the one where Murray Slaughter wrote the news and Ted Baxter read it on the air – then you might remember that Mary Richards was known for throwing lousy parties. No matter how hard she tried, or whom she invited, the celebration always went horribly (and comically) wrong.

Are you Mary Richards when it comes to hiring? Try as you might, do you always pick the flop? At this point your lousy track record may be the topic of good-natured workplace ribbing, or it may be a serious business problem. Either way, you could use a new approach.

Start with a more thorough review of resumes. When you’re faced with a stack of print-outs, it’s easy to get confused. At the top of the pile you may be looking for sales experience. By the time you reach the bottom, tired and confused and not sure which applicant is which anymore, you might find yourself looking more closely at project management.

Decide up front what matters. Make a list and keep looking at it. It’s important to apply uniform criteria to all applicants. You can even create a rating system for each quality that you’re looking for.

Of course, the most efficient way to review resumes and share impressions is with The Resumator. Otherwise you’re comparing apples to oranges—and if you don’t watch out, you’ll hire another lemon.