Your resume is likely going to be your first impression when you are looking for a job. Job seekers spend hours searching for opportunities and crafting approaches to win a foot in the door of prospective employers. Too many deliver CVs that miss the mark and throw away chances to capture the attention of company recruiters. Employment website Seek surveyed 4,800 people involved in the hiring process and found five mistakes that can earn your resume a toss in the trash. Don’t let these mistakes wreck your resume. Understanding what turns employers off can increase your chances of landing your next job.
You write way too much.
Most employers prefer resumes limited to one or two pages in length, but many job seekers try to cram in too much information. Aim for enough content so an employer can make a decision but focus that content on achievements instead of listing every responsibility you’ve ever held and every task you’ve ever completed. Highlight your skills with bullet points and targeted information. Create a table that gives a snapshot of your experience. Add details for two or three of your most relevant positions.
Your resume is a mess.
Employers are turned off by resumes that are sloppy, poorly designed and filled with misspellings. A whopping 85 percent said good presentation does matter. Those involved in recruiting reveal they are more likely to pick up a well-presented resume that’s easy to read with plenty of white space and consistent in font. Employment history should be easy to follow and key skills easy to find. Proofread your resume before you hit the send button.
You tailor every resume to suit a particular job.
Half of employers will still consider a resume even if it isn’t targeted exactly to their job opening. Only 30 percent would skip a resume that doesn’t come with a cover letter. That research indicates a resume targeted to a role instead of the particular job you found on Indeed or Linked In stands a good chance of getting scrutiny. That 50-50 chance can make a job search much easier when you are trying to send out a lot of resumes quickly. And while research indicates that employers have grown accustomed to resumes landing on their desks without cover letters, you can still stand out in the recruitment process by writing one.
You stick to a traditional format.
Don’t be scared to try creativity with your resume. Research shows almost half of employers are open to seeing fresh approaches such as a video resume. Knowing something about the company or industry you’re approaching can help guide your decision on just how much creativity to use. Are you looking for work with a creative advertising agency or applying to a bank? Don’t forget to follow up your application with a phone call.
You obsess over cleaning up social media.
Only 60 percent of employers actually look at your social media profiles. How much effort do you need to put into auditing them? Look at your profiles through the eyes of specific industries that you’re targeting for potential employment. If you are going after a sales job, does your online presence show professional connections and an outgoing personality?