3 Resume Rules & 3 Reasons for Failure

Myth:  The resume gets you a job interview.

Truth:  The resume introduces you to someone you don’t know.

Being unsure about the strength and presentation of your resume is like not feeling good about the clothes you are wearing – that affects self-confidence.

Being completely certain that your resume presents you well is like someone telling you how nice you look – that creates confidence and energy.

You and your resume are judged within seconds of meeting someone. You won’t get job interviews unless you do a good job of dressing up your resume and communicating your achievements on paper.

3 Resume Ground Rules

1. Your resume needs to stand up tall, make eye contact, smile, give a good hand shake, and summarize key things about you because you are not there in-person to do it yourself.

2. We all know the professional etiquette and communication expected when we meet someone in person for the first time. Don’t forget, neglect, or ignore these expectations when dressing up your resume for a first impression with employers?

3. Logically and realistically, you can’t let your guard down in your written communication and ability to express yourself clearly. Employers are watching – they’re “watching” your resume – so make it look good, sound good, engage the reader, and communicate well in an organized way. Otherwise, your phone won’t ring for interviews.

3 Reasons Resumes Fail

How can a resume send a bad first impression? The following are examples of how a poor resume translates and compares to a bad in-person first encounter.

1. A badly formatted resume is like wearing wrinkled clothes on the first date. If it’s not easy on the eyes to read then employers will not read any of it.

2. A resume that doesn’t quickly engage the employer is like not making eye contact with someone. If employers don’t feel a quick connection then they won’t want to talk with you.

3. If your resume doesn’t pull the employer into your career story, it’s like not making a good handshake with someone. Employers want a strong story and they won’t try to figure it out on their own.

The Bottom Line – The Profitability



Everything considered, when you use your resume to introduce yourself to someone you don’t know, make sure it is organized, presents information well, communicates your achievements clearly and concisely, and doesn’t send the wrong perception about you as a professional.



Your resume is a direct reflection on your communication, organization, and presentation skills for someone who does not know you. Would you want to talk with someone that does not look, sound, or act appealing?



Truth: The resume introduces you to someone you don’t know. How it carries and presents your message is what will get you interviews, AND a better starting salary.