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Looking into the Top 5 Resume Writing Mistakes
Posted in: Blog by admin1 on July 14, 2011 | No Comments
Employees are expected to produce the best resumes for them to get into job interviews. However, we cannot escape from the reality that there are really some people who tend not to come up with a very good resume because of some mistakes done over and over again. After quite some, experts have come down with the top 5 resume writing mistakes that people often commit.
- There is no focus evident in the resume.
An effective resume is something that clearly states the career objectives of the employee. When writing a resume, it is very important that you provide all the necessary and relevant information needed. Manifesting focus and perseverance in your resume can serve as advantage or edge among all other applicants, thus make one good resume now.
- The person lacks marketing strategies when writing his/her resume.
If you want to get employed easily, consider yourself engaged in the marketing business. You have to sales talk your product inorder to convince your customers to purchase it. In this case, you have to advertise yourself very comprehensively and convincingly in your resume so that the employers will consider your for an interview regarding the job or position you desired.
- There are no accomplishment statements.
Almost all of the resumes do not contain accomplish statements. It should be in the attention of all employees that accomplishment statements give the employers a clearer vision on what and how you plan to contribute in their company. If you want to have an excellent resume and more convincing one, you may consult or hire a resume coach to guide you and transform your typical job description resume papers to highly qualified resume worth reading.
- The resume lacks keywords.
Due to the increasing trend of technology, resumes are now checked by both computer machines and humans. This practice has made the employment process easier since it enables easier tracking down of resumes. Through the computer machines, employers are able to find prospective employers by typing in specific keywords related to the position, skills and work experience that they are looking for in an employee. Resumes that lack keywords have lesser chances of passing the standards of the computer and are more likely overlooked by the employers. Therefore, it is best to saturate your resume with keywords that best describes your abilities and skills.
- The resume follows or observes and incorrect and improper format.
There are basically three ideal formats of a resume. These formats include chronological, functional and hybrid. Chronological resume is best known and easiest to make resume. This has a timeline style and works well if the objective is to revolve around the industry or occupation. The functional resume contains your outstanding skills, accomplishments and recognitions as you start your paper. However, creating a functional resume requires expertise and knowledge to avoid confusion to the readers. Lastly, hybrid resumes are a combination of the best features of all other resumes. This type of resume is dedicated to showcase your skills and accomplishments without having to confuse the hiring team or employers going over your resume. This is by far, the best resume one can ever make but mind you, it is also the most difficult.
It doesn’t matter what type of format you use, just as long you avoid the common mistakes in resume writing and you’re good to go.
Avoid the Top Five Resume Mistakes
Posted in: Blog by admin on January 13, 2011 | No Comments
Over the years as a recruiter and resume coach, I’ve seen the consequences of poorly written resumes. Unfortunately, most people don’t seek professional career help until they experience the frustration of a long and fruitless job search. It’s surprising how many of their problems can be traced to the top five resume mistakes.
#1 No resume focus.
The most effective resumes leave no doubt as to the job seeker’s career objective. A one-size-fits-all resume gives the impression that the job seeker is uncertain of his career goal. An employer once told me that if a candidate is interested in two completely different positions, he must not be very good at either. If you have more than one career objective, you need more than one resume.
#2 Lack of marketing strategy.
Job seekers rarely see their search for what it is-a sales campaign. Think of your resume as marketing material designed to create a powerful first impression and win a multitude of job interviews. A resume coach can help you translate your career history into an effective marketing piece by selling toward the reader’s buying motives: solving problems, saving money, or increasing profits.
#3 No accomplishment statements.
95% of all resumes lack accomplishment statements. These statements allow employers to visualize your contribution to their company. A resume coach can help you move from a job description type resume to a resume with quantifiable statements that motivate employers to call you before their competition does. These statements can dollarize your worth and increase your bargaining power.
#4 Lack of resume keywords.
These days, resumes are screened by both humans and computers. A resume lacking in keywords runs the risk of being read by neither. An average screening of a resume is 15 seconds or less, so more attention is paid to resumes using the same words found in the job description. Candidate-tracking software retrieves resumes by keywords. A keyword-focused resume will put you front and center.
#5 Incorrect resume format.
Basically, there are three resume formats: chronological, functional and hybrid.
Chronological: The chronological is best known and easiest to write, a timeline style resume. This format works well if your objective is to remain in the same industry or occupation.
Functional: The functional resume places transferable skills and accomplishments at the beginning of your resume. However, a poorly crafted functional resume can be confusing, causing the reader to believe the candidate has something to hide.
Hybrid: The hybrid resume combines the best features of other resumes. It showcases skills and accomplishments while maintaining ease of reading. This is the best format for job seekers of all level, but it is also the most difficult to write, requiring thoughtful planning to identify the most critical transferable skills that will attract potential employer attention.
Once your resume is designed to avoid the top five resume mistakes, you will be well on your way to winning interviews and reaching your career objective. How much is you old resume costing you in lost opportunities?