Top ten cardinal sins of resume writing, Changing Careers, August 2010
Are you a rabid typist? Some common CV mistakes that are guaranteed to ruin your chances of getting that job interview. By Iwona Tokc-Wilde
In the time it takes you to read this article, the average recruiter will have ploughed through 12 resumes and, probably, rejected all but one. With the multitude of resources available to help job seekers write a professional looking CV, it’s surprising how many errors crop up time and time again.
You may get away with including certain irrelevant information such as your date of birth, marital status and interests or hobbies that have nothing to do with the job you’re applying for. Sometimes you may even get away with poor formatting and obscure abbreviations or jargon. However, if you want to increase the chances of your CV making it through the initial selection process, avoid these 10 mistakes, which recruiters say make them want to push the “shred” button more than anything else.
1. Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and typos
Being able to spell and construct grammatically correct sentences is a pre-requisite for all but the most menial of jobs. In fact, you don't gain anything by getting it right, but can ruin everything by getting it wrong.
Don’t stop at using the spell check, either: it won’t detect every mistake. “Ruining” is a word in its own right, but it means something very different from “running”, as in this example: “I was instrumental in ruining entire operation for a giant retail operation.”
2. Too long
Employers simply don't have the time to read resumes that are more than two pages long. Focus on the experience, skills and achievements that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for. Make every word count so don't dwell on the specifics of each but highlight the most relevant points.
3. Unqualified candidate
You may want this job, but have you got the required skills and experience? If the answer is “no”, sending in your CV is a waste of everyone’s time.
Ensure you can align what you have to offer with the job description and highlight the skills they’re looking for, together with a list of your related qualifications, at the top of the document.
4. Irrelevant job experience
Any job experience that is unrelated to the position you're applying for clutters your resume and irritates the recruiters. Did your weekend supermarket job really prepare you to be an HR professional? There are other ways to prove you have inter-personal skills, so only list those that are most relevant.
5. Listing all and sundry jobs
Don’t provide lengthy descriptions of the positions you held more than 10 years ago. Once you've been in employment for a few years, you can exclude those summer jobs you had when at university. Employers only look for relevant and recent work experience that would have prepared you for the current position for which you are applying.
6. Incomplete or misleading information
Don’t include anything that looks incomplete or misleading on your resume. If you mention a relevant degree, don’t forget to list the dates, the subject and the result.
7. Too personal
The prospective employers don’t care about your religious or political beliefs, or whether or not you can ride a bike blind-folded. You need to make the link between what a recruiter needs and what you can bring to the table. Anything personal that is not directly linked to the position takes away from the point of the CV.
8. Negative experiences
Don’t include your reasons for leaving jobs, or why you hated your past employer or colleagues. The latter is a case of unprofessional indiscretion and screams “unemployable” more than anything else.
9. Sarcasm and humour
Don’t put yourself down, or employ irony in your resume writing. Humour is a matter of personal opinion and it never comes across the way you want it to. In business writing, it's simply inappropriate.
10. Inaccurate or missing contact information
You create a CV for one reason and for one reason only: to get that phone call. How can they contact you if your phone number is missing a digit or your email address is incorrect? Ensure that your resume has all your correct contact information, including name, phone number, address and email. Recruiters won’t try to Google you; they'll simply move on to the next promising candidate.
Finally, ensure that your email address is businesslike: surfbird@freeola.com conveys the wrong impression.
Iwona Tokc-Wilde is a freelance journalist and business feature writer with a background in accountancy, people development and career advice.
THE END
In the time it takes you to read this article, the average recruiter will have ploughed through 12 resumes and, probably, rejected all but one. With the multitude of resources available to help job seekers write a professional looking CV, it’s surprising how many errors crop up time and time again.
You may get away with including certain irrelevant information such as your date of birth, marital status and interests or hobbies that have nothing to do with the job you’re applying for. Sometimes you may even get away with poor formatting and obscure abbreviations or jargon. However, if you want to increase the chances of your CV making it through the initial selection process, avoid these 10 mistakes, which recruiters say make them want to push the “shred” button more than anything else.
1. Spelling mistakes, poor grammar and typos
Being able to spell and construct grammatically correct sentences is a pre-requisite for all but the most menial of jobs. In fact, you don't gain anything by getting it right, but can ruin everything by getting it wrong.
Don’t stop at using the spell check, either: it won’t detect every mistake. “Ruining” is a word in its own right, but it means something very different from “running”, as in this example: “I was instrumental in ruining entire operation for a giant retail operation.”
2. Too long
Employers simply don't have the time to read resumes that are more than two pages long. Focus on the experience, skills and achievements that are directly relevant to the job you're applying for. Make every word count so don't dwell on the specifics of each but highlight the most relevant points.
3. Unqualified candidate
You may want this job, but have you got the required skills and experience? If the answer is “no”, sending in your CV is a waste of everyone’s time.
Ensure you can align what you have to offer with the job description and highlight the skills they’re looking for, together with a list of your related qualifications, at the top of the document.
4. Irrelevant job experience
Any job experience that is unrelated to the position you're applying for clutters your resume and irritates the recruiters. Did your weekend supermarket job really prepare you to be an HR professional? There are other ways to prove you have inter-personal skills, so only list those that are most relevant.
5. Listing all and sundry jobs
Don’t provide lengthy descriptions of the positions you held more than 10 years ago. Once you've been in employment for a few years, you can exclude those summer jobs you had when at university. Employers only look for relevant and recent work experience that would have prepared you for the current position for which you are applying.
6. Incomplete or misleading information
Don’t include anything that looks incomplete or misleading on your resume. If you mention a relevant degree, don’t forget to list the dates, the subject and the result.
7. Too personal
The prospective employers don’t care about your religious or political beliefs, or whether or not you can ride a bike blind-folded. You need to make the link between what a recruiter needs and what you can bring to the table. Anything personal that is not directly linked to the position takes away from the point of the CV.
8. Negative experiences
Don’t include your reasons for leaving jobs, or why you hated your past employer or colleagues. The latter is a case of unprofessional indiscretion and screams “unemployable” more than anything else.
9. Sarcasm and humour
Don’t put yourself down, or employ irony in your resume writing. Humour is a matter of personal opinion and it never comes across the way you want it to. In business writing, it's simply inappropriate.
10. Inaccurate or missing contact information
You create a CV for one reason and for one reason only: to get that phone call. How can they contact you if your phone number is missing a digit or your email address is incorrect? Ensure that your resume has all your correct contact information, including name, phone number, address and email. Recruiters won’t try to Google you; they'll simply move on to the next promising candidate.
Finally, ensure that your email address is businesslike: surfbird@freeola.com conveys the wrong impression.
Iwona Tokc-Wilde is a freelance journalist and business feature writer with a background in accountancy, people development and career advice.
THE END
© Iwona Tokc-Wilde