Three Ways Your Resume Probably Isn't Working

Almost every professional has a resume on file to send out at a moment's notice. Unfortunately, many of these same professionals wait months before updating this important document. If you have not received much interest from employers, it may be time to review that old resume to find out why it is not working for you.

Avoid Resume Padding

Your resume will not work for you or attract attention if it is too long. Human resources managers are busy people and do not have time to search through a resume to locate skills that are relevant to the available position. Make sure your resume is to the point and resist the temptation to fill it with fluff. Sending out a resume that seems bare can be a scary proposition, and it is only natural to try to impress a potential employer. However, an experienced HR manager notices unnecessary filler and could penalize you for wasting his time.

Stay Focused

A lack of focus is another common reason your resume may not work for you. If a potential employer has to struggle to understand how your current or past experiences make you an appropriate candidate for the position, he will likely move on to the next applicant. Do not detail positions that are unrelated to the open position or include phrases that have no meaning besides offering tired clichés. Use the job description as a guide to focus your resume on the key elements of the position. Include skills specific to the available position to show the reader you deserve a shot at joining the company.

Keep It Simple

A poorly designed resume is a skipped-over resume. Many young professionals may go out of their way to separate themselves from other candidates by using unusual fonts, colored paper stock and exotic designs. These gimmick resumes may work on occasion, but serious candidates apply with serious resumes. Make sure your design does not take away from your hard-earned experience. Use a clean look to present yourself as a candidate who deserves to be taken seriously. Also, make sure your resume is free of any grammatical errors, alignment flaws and spelling errors. Experienced HR managers read hundreds of resumes; a flaw you may not notice certainly stands out to these people who are looking for a well-presented individual. Get a friend or colleague to look over your resume to offer a fresh perspective on its design and grammar.

Your resume is important because it serves as your official introduction to a potential employer. Getting it to work for you does not require a secret formula. If it is concise, focused and well-designed, a resume usually garners the type of attention you are seeking.

Courtesy of woodleywonderworks at Flickr.com