Ever wonder why you never hear back when
you send your resume for a new job or why you didn't get a response after
sending over your resume and cover letter? There
is a very good chance that something either about your resume or on your resume
was unappealing to the recruiter reading it – you may not even know what it
is.
Here
are a few very common resume mistakes to avoid the next time you send your
resume for a great job.
Typos and Bad
Grammar – having these types of
mistakes on your resume is a sure deal killer – it is viewed as a reflection of
you and your work. You
should always take extra time to ensure that your resume is free
of any typos and grammar mistakes. Remember your resume is a reflection of
you.
Bad Objectives or
Career Summaries – this is usually the
first section a recruiter will read when reviewing your resume. If it is not a good representation of your
skill set and/or your career goals; then in most cases, the recruiter stops
reading and moves on to the next resume.
It is important to have this section of your resume capture the
recruiter’s interest and make them want to read more. This section should be descriptive and begin
to set the stage with who you are and what you are looking for.
Generalizations - one of the worst things you can do in any
professional setting is simply not being specific enough. When asking for your
skill set, recruiters and employers seek people who are able to complete
certain, very particular tasks--not people who list broad generalizations
implying they don't excel at any one thing at all.
Passive Phrases - when noting duties in a previous job or
internship, avoid phrases like responsible for. Instead, opt for
words like handled or organized. Although the change is
small, the voice you have in your resume seems that much more powerful with
minimal effort.
Bad Presentation
and Formatting – your resume should
always be visually pleasing to read. Send
your resume over to a couple others before using it to submit an application.
Make sure that those who receive it aren't overwhelmed by text or distracted by
formatting issues.
Not Selling Your Strengths - many people don't realize that they can use
the duties section of each experience in order to promote
your best skills, qualities and traits, as well as important
accomplishments--such as leadership, teamwork, communication,
etc.--rather than simply listing past responsibilities.
Sending the Same Resume
to Every Job - one version
of your resume is never right for every place you apply. Employers want to see that
you put the extra effort into customizing your resume just for their open
job. More often than you think they take
notice, so be sure to modify your resume for each potential employer and job.
Best of luck in your job search.
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