Mistake 6- Write about the accomplishments you achieved versus job behavior.
Simply, state the results of your work rather than the work you did. There is a big difference between saying you did sales and stating that you grew a department’s sales 105% in the course of a 3-year period. Qualify your job description and then quantify your achievements.
Mistake 7- Resumes are not confidence boosters and should not be used to help your ego.
What you want is less important than what you can do for a person or company. Some resumes have “Objective Statements” at the top of their resumes. This is a poor use of resume real estate as the reader is typically more interested in what you can do for them than what you are looking to do.
Mistake 8- Many resumes are improperly formatted for the job posting/type.
Pick an appropriate resume format. Pick a resume format the supports your employment/education history. For example, the modified chronological or hybrid-style resume is more appropriate for those who have held positions in diverse industries. Chronological is more appropriate for the majority of people as it instantly supports your work history.
If you chose the modified style open with the same contact information/position statement/support bullets and then highlight the best/most related accomplishments.
Another word about resume format- pick a resume format that mirrors your preferred industry. Creative-types, like designers, may add design elements (pictures & art) to their resume as it is industry appropriate. However, for the majority of people these design elements can cause reading problems so they should be avoided.
Mistake 9- Most resumes are used for too varied of positions.
Create multiple customized resumes. Having one resume for all of your job applications would seemingly make your job search easier, right? Wrong. Create several resumes tailored to the specific industry/job for which you desire employment. You will save time with this approach.
The most important ‘real estate’ of the resume is at the top of the resume. The first quarter of the resume is what most reviewers will read and it is the best place for you to make an impression. Don’t blow it! Here are a few tips for you to consider:
Here are some tips:
· Create multiple resumes specified for various job postings- even if they are in the same industry. Test your resume and the reactions you get after you submit your resume. If you interview for a position, is the interviewer pointing out holes in your resume? Are you not getting to the interview stage? Learn from this.
· Create resumes that highlight specifics aspects of your skills and abilities and use them as appropriate in your job search. If you have a resume that is more tailored for a specific field then use it!
10. Mistake 10- Relying too much on your resume.
Everyone has a resume. EVERYONE. So do things that everyone does not do and you will stand out. For example, get a personalized job seeking website. At www.JobConnectionWebsites.com you can build a personalized professional website for FREE. Use this in tandem with your resume to highlight more aspects of who you are and what you are about so that should someone want to find out more about you prior to an interview, they can do so in the comfort of their own office.
Also, look to get personalized stationery. Use a graphic designer or a graphic designing program to get a defined look that you can use in your thank-you cards (after the interview, be sure to send a thank-you note) and your cover letters (if you need to mail in your application).
To download the entire 10 Biggest Resume Mistakes eBook, visit www.ItsNotYouItsYourResume.com. This eBook includes all 10 Resume Mistakes as well as helpful information about how to handle salary history questions and what to write in a thank-you note. While there, be sure to download your FREE Job Specialization Workbook to ensure that your online job search is as effective and efficient as possible.
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