Every hiring
decision maker has their own resume preferences so while there is no “perfect”
resume style, there certainly are cardinal mistakes to avoid. Over the years, I
have given THOUSANDS of free resume critiques and continually see the following
basic errors.
Typos,
grammar and spelling mistakes
Your resume is the
first point-of-contact you have with a potential employer. Do you really want
to make a bad impression by failing to proofread and correct such avoidable
errors? (Tip: When applying for a job in Canada, ensure your word processing
software language is Canadian English and not US.)
Using
a downloadable template
Yes the free resume
templates look nice and certainly make it easy to create a basic resume but now
you have created a resume that has the same “look and feel” of other job search
candidates. The point of a resume is to stand out from your competition by
creating a document that is unique to you, not a replica of someone else’s
creation.
Inappropriate
email address
Avoid using a
Hotmail address in a resume as it is often considered too personal for career
management purposes. Create a Gmail account or one from your ISP provider and
keep the email address simple, encompassing just your first and last name. Do
not use a shared email address (such as BarbieandKen@myisp.com)
or a personalized email address (such as myworkrocks@myisp.com).
Too
long, too short, wrong format
The content of a
resume should fill each page and never exceed 3 pages, with 2 pages being the
standard document length. Do not send a resume that is 1 ¼ pages, 2.5 pages, or
5 pages). Also avoid using the “functional” style of resume as it is the least
preferred format read (and tossed) by HR influencers.
Lacks
direction
Clearly identify at
the top of the resume what role or type of role you are seeking (examples:
Project Manager or Project Management Expert). A Hiring Manager is NOT going to
take the time to guess what position you are seeking, they are simply going to
move onto the next applicant.
Including
an “Objective” statement
In my professional
resume writing business, I have not used an Objective statement in over 10
years! An Objective statement immediately dates the resume. Today’s enticing
resumes begin with a compelling personal brand statement, describing what is
unique about you to the potential employer.
Not
computer scannable
Increasingly,
companies employing greater than 150 employees are now using computer
technology to pre-qualify applicants. Called Applicant Tracking Software, the
application scans each resume in search of keywords selected by the employer to
be pertinent to the job. Your resume is heading to the online recycle bin if it
does not include the right keywords aligned to the job function and employer.
Additionally,
formatting techniques can negatively impact the scanning process. Features such
as graphics, shading and underlines (not borders) or putting contact information
in headers and footers, can be overlooked by certain scanning applications.
Boring
read filled with job duties
A future employer
wants to know about what you personally accomplished in each role, not a list
of the job duties. Capture the reader’s attention by sharing stories of
achievements with quantifiable metrics. Here’s an example: Consistently exceeded sales quota by >40% year-over-year, adding new
clients in new sectors to the account base, boosting the company’s brand
position in the GTA from #3 to #2 in 1 year.”
Leaving
a career gap
A resume is about
making an open and honest first impression. Only displaying certain jobs on a
resume leaves the reader wondering why you intentionally omitted certain time
periods in your document. I advise all my clients to tell the complete story,
even if it means you took time off to raise a family or care for an elderly
parent.
Includes
unnecessary information
In North America,
do not share age, sex, marital status, politics, and religion in a resume and
save the head-shot picture for your LinkedIn profile. Unless there is a direct
correlation between the target job and your personal interests or hobbies,
leave this information off a resume as it is irrelevant. Also exclude the
phrase “References available upon request” and exclude a list of references in
the body of the resume. Create a separate reference page and share the document
when asked by the future employer and not before.
Writing a key-word
rich, scannable and achievement-based resume is one of the many specialties
offered by career management professional, Martin Buckland of Elite Resumes.
Tap his knowledge by submitting your resume for a free, no obligation phone
critique. Just follow the link on this website to start the process and be sure
to include a current phone number with your request or in your resume.
Martin Buckland,
President of Elite Resumes, is a leading resume writer, career coach and job
search strategist with a global clientele. Martin utilizes his 17 years of
expertise to work interactively with senior level clients and those who aspire
to be business leaders to initiate and develop career marketing strategies
during their career transitions. Martin currently holds the following
certifications: Master Resume Writer,
Certified Professional Branding Strategist, Certified Professional Resume
Writer, Certified Employment Interview Professional, Job and Career Transition
Coach, Certified Job Search Trainer and Co-Pilot Executive Coach. www.aneliteresume.com, email: martin@aneliteresume.com ,
call 905-825-0490 or toll free 866-773-7863
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