In a competitive job market, a resume is often your only point of contact with an employer. An ineffective resume can eliminate your chances of moving forward in the hiring process, killing your job search instantly. Before you send your applications off to companies, make sure that you are not guilty of these common resume mistakes.
No Information Hierarchy
A common trait of an ineffective resume is a lack of information hierarchy, or a clear organization of sentences, headings and list items. It's common knowledge that resume reviewers don't spend much time on each resume during the early stages of hiring. The truth may be worse than you think; studies have shown that employers spend approximately six seconds looking over each resume. During that time, they are likely to check for the major education, experience and skill requirements for the open position. If your resume is not clearly organized with bold text, indentations, bullet points and section headers, it will be impossible for the reviewer to find the pertinent information. Chances are, your application will be passed over immediately.
To gauge the strength of your resume design, look at it without focusing on individual parts. The most important items should stand out immediately, either because they are bolder, larger or to the far left side of the page. If the text is cluttered, full of paragraphs or lacking in negative space, chances are you have an ineffective resume.
Typos and Bad Grammar
Professionals in all industries must be able to communicate effectively over email, in memos and in other written documents. Two hallmarks of an ineffective resume — not to mention a sloppy one — are typos and bad grammar. When competition is fierce and employers are looking for ways to narrow the candidate pool, even one typo can get your resume tossed onto the "reject" pile. Mistakes on your resume can indicate to the reviewer that you have a poor grasp of spelling and grammar or that you don't care enough about the position to spend time proofreading. Pass your resume to at least two people for editing before you send it off, even if you are an excellent writer. After hours of staring at the same page, it can be difficult to catch errors.
One-Size-Fits-All Content
During a long job search, it can be tempting to send identical resumes off to each company. Just as no two jobs are the same, no two resumes should be the same. HR managers, who often look at hundreds of resumes during each round of hiring, can spot boilerplate text a mile away. If your content sounds like every other applicant's, your ineffective resume will almost certainly get lost in the pile. Each resume you send should be tailored to the position and company. Use the correct industry jargon and adjust your keywords to match the job description. Select the accomplishments you mention based on the company's current needs; if they are looking for a PR manager after a recent public humiliation, you might highlight your experience with crisis management.
By spending time on your resume design and content, you can avoid common resume traps. A few hours of effort is all it takes to transform an ineffective resume into a powerful and persuasive job-seeking tool.
(Photo courtesy of Witthaya Phonsawat at FreeDigitalPhotos.net)
Three Reasons Why Your Resume Gets Lost in the Pile
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SANDRA B. •For 30 yrs. I have been in the field of addiction and mental health. My job required many skills and talents I find it difficult now to switch professions. Addiction and mental health is a very complex job - I truly enjoyed it, today I want something less stressful and also using my bring. Finding a job is like climbing a mountain no matter your age or education. I need all the help I can get. Computers are not the answer for me. I will keep using them.
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Michael O. •
Surely good resume and or cv however much you draft it, apply all the tecs it all boils down to what Andrew's narrative of whom you know. If people can delink from race relations, best brains could be absorbed in the quest for jobs
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Enjoyed all the comments so far. I am a senior trying to get back into the work world I left 8 years ago. I have tons of experience and held DOD and DOE clearances, And worked for Government as a long term contractor. Also managed offices and did other support service work, including selling cars in down times such as the 1980's. Point being, I have tried agencies, and had a few interviews in the past but my experience and knowledge in some subject areas is greater than the type of job the Employer posted or wants to pay.
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Nancy Z. •
I'm an adjunct faculty in psychology at an online university, so that's the kind of jobs I'm applying for online, because adjunct faculty jobs don't pay well, and the student/course load can be extremely variable, so it's always better to have more than one appointment. But I'll say what I said in the comments on the other blog, most of the places I apply to have an online application form that requires you to cut and paste almost all the detail of your resume and/or CV into a form. You upload your well-craft CV/resume later as one of the supplemental docs. And these places use software to do the first sort. If you finished your degree more than five years ago, you're not in the pile that goes to a hiring manager. If your most recent job is not still current and/or is more than a year out, you're not in the pile that goes to a hiring manager. Then HR sees the app and may or may not have software that does a further weed-out. By the time anybody who might actually hire you sees your CV, you have either gone through several automated hoops successfully, or you were long ago pitched into the virtual dust bin. So how does a great CV make up for modern internet-based hiring practices?
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Confidential U. •
The reality is that this is that most jobs are filled through an internet based recruiting system. In the "old" days, you would see an and in the newspaper and a company would likely get 20-25 resumes to choose the best qualified person. Now, with the internet, they are likely to get 100's of resumes to sift through. As a job seeker, your resume absolutely has to be done consistent with current trends, typo free, and easy to read. Why would any potential employer want to interview you when you your resume looks like you haven't updated it in 5 years or if there are typos when they have others that are done well?. Either, can give a bad impression. When you are 1 of 200 seeking the same position, it is not always enough to have qualifications if your resume looks like crap.
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On line? What a joke!!! They should at least give you a chance to meet you and talk to you in person. I can't even get a bite. Not only that, I'm not bilingual. I thought we spoke English in the US!? Why should I have to learn how to speak another language?
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I have sent in my resume in different areas, and call some of the places and I still have not heard from any employer . What happen to give a person a chance to work?
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bessie b. •
Yes. I worked in human resources and many were not considered because of these errors.
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Alicia C. •
I am in the same situation Timothy and Confidential U.. Barbara Oliver, I really understand. I am in that situation. I want and NEED a job. Tossing out online and paper resumes for 4years and getting nowhere but getting interviews and being lied too is stressing me and my marriage. I don't get hired because of the education or the lack of experience. How do I get it if they don't hire me? The "you're not a good fit"is garbage. I fan fit anywhere. That's what the probationary period is for. You can't know from a resume and fifteen minute interview. Most people are highly nervous at those. I am one. They do consider age and sex. If my husband had my resume he'd be hired over me.
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Timothy W. •
I agree on many counts. Here's a new twist: If I put too many of my past contract jobs on the CV, I'm a "hopper". If I eliminate them, I have gaps. Then there's education. I'm weak in that area, but I know scores of applicants, highly educated, unable to land interviews. So where IS the benefit of education (while job seeking)? Are we to revert back to the "pound the pavement" method to meet these people? ARG!!!!
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Confidential U. •
It's "Who you know" and 'Who knows you"
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Makes sense.Working one job 25 yrs,this is all new to me.Had no idea how to start up.
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Pam P. •
I have to agree with you! I've had that happen numerous times too!!
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Terry B. •
I put in an application, (and yes I used a resume,) I was interviewed three times, given the tour, and was told that they would call me in a few days. Yeah right! They haven't called me in a month! This kind of unethical practice should be eliminated! In a way I am kind of relieved. It just proves the people who run the place are a bunch of liars!! As for thinking positive what a joke!!!
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Steve D. •
Well, there are other reasons and I was told this by recruiters and the state employment office... I was working in a field all my career which has gotten very specialized, IT. I sent out several hundred resumes for jobs I felt I could do but not in my field or at my level. I was told by recruiters that hiring managers feel I would leave them if something in my field and closer to my pay grade came along. Telling them I wouldn't do that will never be believed especially when there are so many they can hire as well as younger. Knowing the reasons for not getting interviews does NOT help at all when you haven't been called for an interview in years. I have spoken to may in the same boat and I know I am not alone in this. It really does suck to rely on a very low Social Security. Oh, I quit my last job to move here for my then wife, now ex. Complaining will not help either. I too was told that my resume was very impressive before I adjusted for the given "expert" advice to not include college if the job calls only for high school, along with down grading the job history descriptions. Thanks for the venting post
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After reading the comments below, I at least feel that others are feeling the same way I am...sending out resume after resume and filling out application after application online is about to send me over the edge! There is no personal contact whatsoever, and I don't understand how hiring managers can simply choose an employee based on just their resume. I was told by one hiring manager that he had never come across a resume like mine that was so closely done, as far as form, to his own resume. It got me no where! I have actually asked for personal face to face meetings in my cover letter, will see where it gets me. It's been a trying day and although my heart goes out to all of you looking for work, it at least makes me see that others feelings and thoughts match mine. Best of luck to all of you! Stay positive and good things will happen!
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And being an experienced baby boomer can be an asset; especially if you have stellar credentials and work history. You can bring more skills to the table (life-experiences,etc...). If an employer has it in mind to hire younger persons then they lose your experience.
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What is worse is when you have spent 20 years at a job field that is almost nonexistent today. To start over in a "new" unknown career requires research of prospective employer; a beefed up education; and confidence in yourself. You find a good resume program and adopt the layout and take it from there. What I am finding is that they may like you on paper but if you make mistakes in the interview its no call back.
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Karen M. •
Another factor is the age; experienced baby boomers (such as myself) are turned down because of our age, which is depicted from the DOB on applications.
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EDWIN P. •
Mr Andrew Rees your so correct on that point.
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In the end it really does come down to "WHO YOU KNOW". I have been hired several times to jobs because someone knew me or knew of me and got in touch. (Once through my own wife even and that job lasted 8 years...) A resume really does not tell the hirer if you are really good at what you do or are just lying your ass off.
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Terrie R. •
I am so frustrated with this entire process. I have been trying everything and feel as though I am getting nowhere, over 52 applications sent out. I have education and experience and I can not find a job. I am willing to pay a Headhunter or Recruiter money on top of the fee they earn from the employer. It's not like they will be giving me anything, I have the skills. I get it, who you know, all about who you know. Help! How can I boost this search to at least get an interview; I guess I am lost in the file. Any advice on a great resume writer to critique my resume?
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Daniel J. •
Kimberly...if you are looking for a human resources job then you might want to say that you were cross trained in management. It's just a tool to catch an employer's eye. It will also put emphasis on the fact that you can deal with several tasks at once.
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I get it's about the language you use and how the sentences are structured and the neatness of a resume, but, what is so frustrating is that you can't call anyone to follow up. I thought Human resources is about helping people. Why in this time and age of communication, the people you want to be connected to are not available. It think it is about luck and who you know. I am seeking a human Resource position and trying every avenue I can. I have hope and that keeps me looking.
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Agree with both posts, especially Sunday J. saying that 'getting a job requires a combination of luck and ability as well as being in the right place at the right time,' which equates to luck, I suppose.
Consider contacting the hiring manager directly whenever possible. The people who manage the ATS "black hole" are not trolling through it looking for your resume; they have a keyword search algorithm at work to allegedly do the task for them, which is what makes the system so broken and useless to both hiring managers and candidates. Managers don't like sorting through ATS databases in search of good candidates any more than HR people would, if they did it.
Plenty of prior research into the needs of the company and a wise assumption of why they might need someone like you to fill the position are helpful in creating the letter to the hiring manager, whose name can often be found on LinkedIn or the company website. How many people do this? 10% 20% 50% probably not even close to half, which means you stand out from the crowd if you do it.
Can't hurt - these are trying times and a well-written letter will go far in enhancing a resume.
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