Thirty seconds. According to a 2012 survey by
CareerBuilder, that’s how long hiring managers spend skimming each resume they
receive. In this economy, with hundreds
of applications for each position, you have to create a resume that is as
flawless as possible—but too many job seekers make crucial errors. Avoiding these 7 common, but avoidable,
mistakes may mean the difference between getting an interview and having your
resume ignored.
Mistake #1: Failing to
Proofread
Spelling and grammatical errors are at the top of
employer pet peeves when it comes to reviewing resumes. In fact, in a recent
survey from Adecco, employers said these types of errors were the number one
reason why resumes were ignored. Here’s
the truth: employers expect resumes to be perfect, so if spelling and grammar
rules are not your strength, find a friend or mentor who will look over your
job application packet. Another pair of
eyes will certainly see things that you will not—and help you get your foot in
the door.
Mistake #2: Formatting a Party
Invitation, Not a Resume
Constructing an easy-to-read resume is an
art. Pay attention to the way you use
white space, or the spaces between sections. Without enough white space, dense
text will overwhelm the reader and make it almost impossible to find the most
important points that highlight your experience and knowledge. The same is true for “stylish” fonts. While fun fonts with flair may be perfect for a poster or brochure, fonts that are
considered professional—Ariel, Times New Roman, or Courier, for example—are the
ones to choose for job application documents.
Mistake #3: Presenting Incorrect or Unprofessional Contact
Information
Few people think about the impact their contact
information has on a potential employer, but there’s a world of difference
between having an email address like “sexybuns54@hotmail.com” and
“jane.doe@gmail.com.” It’s your
responsibility to update your contact information to reflect your job search
goals—and, of course, to make sure it’s accurate. One number typo in your phone number may mean
the difference between an interview and a longer, more stressful job search.
Mistake #4: Not Understanding
Length Requirements
Resumes should not be longer than one page,
perhaps two if you have been in the workforce for many years. Resumes that do
not fit these guidelines call attention to themselves—and not in a good way.
Longer than 1 to 2 pages? Employers may be annoyed and toss your resume aside.
Shorter than a page? You may be saying much more about your lack of experience
than you’d like to be. If you don’t have
job experience, find the skills and educational experience that are
relevant. If you have too much
experience (i.e. years of work experience), include only the most recent
positions or expand upon those jobs that are most like the position for which
you are applying.
Mistake #5: Ignoring the Gaps
In Job History
While it’s natural, especially in this economic
downturn, to have some gaps between assignments, employers will raise a
suspicious eyebrow to resumes that don’t account for them. Either in the resume or in the accompanying
cover letter, explain the reason behind the missing time. It’s better to account for these special
circumstances in a straightforward manner.
Mistake #6: Creating Useless
Information Overload
A resume is only as good as the information on
it, and if you’re providing a lot of information but none that’s useful to an
employer, you’re not likely to make a good impression. When describing your previous jobs, use
active verbs and specify what unique contributions you made. Reiterating a job
description doesn’t really help employers know what makes you unique.
Mistake #7: Sending an “Every
Job” Resume
Your goal is to stand out among hundreds of other
applicants—a generic resume won’t get the job done. Highlighting the skills that make you perfect
for each specific job will help you get noticed, especially if you elaborate
briefly upon the most relevant ones in your cover letter. Also, make sure you provide all of the
information requested in the job posting, so that you don’t seem like you are
simply “shotgunning” your resume to any and all potential employers.
A few extra minutes of detailed editing,
enlisting a friend’s second opinion, or participating in a resume-writing
workshop can make the difference between a resume that gets noticed and one
that continues to be ignored by employers.
Avoid these errors and make your job search a fruitful one.
Sources:
http://www.thebossgroup.com/Should-employers-ignore-common-resume-blunders-
http://www.adeccousa.com/articles/Way-to-Work-Survey.html?id=211&url=/pressroom/pressreleases/pages/forms/allitems.aspx&templateurl=/AboutUs/pressroom/Pages/Press-release.aspx
By Sara Collins
Sara Collins is a writer for NerdWallet, a site
that helps job seekers make smart financial decisions by staying informed about
topics ranging from jumbo mortgage
rates to college tuition planning.
No comments :
Post a Comment