Your resume is the building block of your job search. It’s your way of showing off your past experiences, your education, and your skill set. Unfortunately, too many people don’t understand exactly to make a resume work for them and, as a result, their resumes can actually prevent them from being hired. It’s not enough to just throw some information together.
The following are actual examples of things Human Resources professionals have seen, or not seen, on resumes that prevented the candidate from being hired.
Not Including a Name or Contact Information
This actually happens more often than you think, especially with online applications. Some people assume that because they’re filling out an online application, that their attached resume doesn’t need to include this information. Here’s the thing. It does. It doesn’t matter if you mail, email, or fax your resume. Your name and contact information must be included. You could have an impressive background, but if no one can reach you, they can’t hire you.
Not Including Working Contact Information
Also important is to be sure any e-mail addresses or phone numbers listed are working. Too often. HR professionals go to call a candidate only to find the phone number doesn’t work or it’s for the wrong person. This also includes not having a proper voicemail set up so the company can leave a message. If there’s a high stack of resumes for a single position, you can bet the employer will pass you over and move to the next one.
Leaving Out Job Descriptions
It’s not enough to just list where you worked and your job titles. Employers are more interested in what you did rather than what job title you had. A list of where you worked isn’t a resume. Leaving out the years you worked also hurts your chances as employers don’t know if you held the position for a day or for 10 years. Include details.
Not Focusing On Your Specific Achievements
One way resumes tend to blend into each other is by reiterating their job descriptions. Employers can pick up the basics of what your past jobs entailed. What they want to know is what you specifically did to contribute to your companies’ growth. Did you help increase revenue? Improve on customer service? Did you serve as a coach or leader? What were the results? These are things that help make your resume stand out. Share what you’ve done, not just what the job was.
Bad Grammar and Misspelled Words
Basic proofreading and spell check should always be used on resume before it gets sent out. Many employers will toss aside resumes with mistakes, as this shows a lack of attention to detail. Your resume is usually your first impression to a company. If you don’t care about how you present yourself, why should someone hire you? It also helps to have someone else read it to pick up on words that may be spelled correctly, but improperly used.
Dating Yourself
This can be difficult to avoid as most companies want to see what year candidates received their degrees and certifications, but if you can avoid it, try not to indicate how old you are on your resume. Candidates who appear too young or too old may get put on the back burner while other resumes are being considered. Try making your resume as neutral as possible when it comes to showing your age.
Overall Lack of Information
For those right out of school, you may not have much job experience to share, and that’s okay. Instead of leaving a half-blank page, take this time to share your other achievements. Did you play sports? If so, were you a captain? This shows leadership skills. Did you volunteer? What were the results of your efforts? This shows good community involvement and interaction with others.
What really hurts resumes is when nothing listed applies to the job at hand. It’s not enough to make one resume for all jobs. You may need to customize your resume for each job opportunity. Review the job description and try to include as many requirements as you can to show you are qualified. Be sure everything you want to share is included, is correct, and is a true reflection of your abilities.
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