So you finally found your dream job and you’ve submitted your resume; you try to settle down for the long haul of waiting; but it’s becoming increasingly hard. You stay close to the phone and jump every time it rings, hoping it’s the much awaited interview call. There’s a huge question there: How sure are you that the call is coming? Well, your resume may be the all-important factor. You may have already been booted, for all you know. This is the continuation on from an earlier post… THIS ONE

Everyone is familiar with the old adage, “First impression lasts.” (Which could very well be “First impression is the last.”) But worn-out or not, this quote is certainly appropriate for résumés. First impression in this case doesn’t refer to your physical presence; rather, it is how your resume is initially perceived. It can make or break your chances of creating a professional relationship with a potential employer.
So before you get anxious waiting for that call; make sure your resume does not contain any of these flaws, which can boot you out of the race track.

6. Missing qualifications
If you’re applying for a particular job, yet the required work experience is nowhere to be found on your resume, it is destined to end up in the useless items pile. Be sure you include skills and distinct work experience that match the job description posted.

7. Hint of uncertainty
Avoid vague job objective statements. Clearly state the kind of job you want and play on your strengths with a firm display of confidence. Your resume should be designed to subtly “toot your own horn”. After all, you want to get noticed and land an interview, right?

8. Wordy is not always worthy
This is one of those times when less is definitely more. Your purpose is to grab the hiring manager’s attention not to tell stories about your childhood sweetheart, so refrain from using old fashioned, flowery words. Pitch the tone so that it gives the impression of a modern professional who is in touch with up-to-date business lingo and usage. Stick to factual words rather than descriptive adjectives; keep it brief and straightforward.

9. Higgledy-piggledy presentation
Don’t make the hiring manager dizzy. If he is not able to follow your resume and find what he wants, he is just going to give up and put your resume on the no-way pile. Unless specifically required, too much detailed information is redundant. The most interesting part of your resume from the hiring manager’s vantage point is your work experience. Place it at the start; and not your personal or educational background.

10. Unreachable jobseeker
It may sound almost like “no-brainer” but giving inaccurate contact information is a mistake some jobseekers frequently make. If your phone number has changed or your e-mail is not professional-looking, employers won’t make any effort to contact you. Be sure you update your resume accordingly.

While paying adequate attention to the things that your resume must obviously contain, consider giving equal contemplation to the detracting features that may hurt your chances. Level the odds by eliminating them now. And just remember: make it good or get the boot!

Tags: Hiring Managers, Interview, job qualifications, Resume, stand out

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 16th, 2010 at 6:09 pm and is filed under Applying for a Job, Free Advice, Job & Interview Questions, Job Search Tips, Resume, Resume Do's and Don'ts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.