3 Common Resume Mistakes and How to Correct Them
By Michael
Worthington, ResumeDoctor.com
Often job seekers make huge mistakes in the way they
present their skills and experience. Candidates find themselves waiting for a
call for an interview but never end up getting one. Without ever realizing it,
the resumes most candidates send out are instantly turning their readers off,
losing their chance for the job.
Three very common problem areas that job seekers can easily fix to avoid
turning that reader off are:
1. Dense Paragraphs vs. Bullet Points
A resume is a formal business document, not a "what I did last summer
essay," so avoid first person usage. You have less than 10 seconds to grab
your reader's attention to tell them what you do and what your expertise is.
Your reader is not going to read any long dense paragraphs so make it easy on
him or her. Instead of long dense paragraphs, use easy-to-follow bullet points.
Very Dense Paragraphs and First Person Usage:
At Jefferson Steel Corporation, I managed skilled and unskilled laborers and
supervised 3 shifts daily. I synchronized engineering, machine shop,
fabrication and assembly; I was responsible for improving production efficiency
and quality control. I also scheduled production from raw materials to finished
products. Furthermore, I developed programs to create brand awareness and
oversaw all company-directed promotional activities within the sales/dealer
network.
Easy to follow Bullets with formal Business Communication:
* Managed 60+ skilled and unskilled laborers and supervised three shifts daily
* Responsible for improving production efficiency and quality control which
resulted in a savings of $150K over two years
* Scheduled production from raw materials to finished products
* Developed a program to create brand awareness and oversaw all
company-directed promotional activities within the sales/dealer network, sales
increased by $13M
Notice how much easier the latter section is for the reader to be able to scan
through the resume. No longer will the reader be forced to read an essay about
the job seeker's past experiences. Also, note how the first
person references can be easily dropped and replaced with a "power"
word that will grab the reader quicker. Your resume is not a journal or
a letter to the hiring manager.
2. Too Duty-Oriented vs. Accomplishment-Oriented
Do not give your reader your job description but
rather what you achieved from your duties.
Duty-Oriented
* Monitor inventory levels
* Overseeing the dispensing and control of material
* Responsible for surveying orders
* Managed staff
Accomplishment-Oriented
* Lowered inventory levels by 20%
* Developed a more efficient organization of dispensing and control of
material, lowering labor costs by over $100K per year.
* Surveyed orders and made sure all repairs are done on schedule which resulted
in 98% of repairs completed on schedule
* Managed a warehouse and distribution staff of 20
A laundry list of duties will never tell your reader how well you did your job.
Your duties are what were expected of you when you are hired but never tell
your reader how well YOU actually did your job. Also, be specific in your
performances. Stating specific numbers will help make it clearer to your reader
what you have accomplished as opposed to another candidate with the same
experience.
3. Unclear Education vs. Clear Education
The Education section is another area that is often presented in a very unclear
way, especially with those candidates who have not fully completed a degree.
Unclear Education:
Clear Education:
50 Credits toward BS in Accounting,
Let your reader know exactly how much education you have completed. Do not
leave your reader wondering if you have received a degree, what type of degree
or in what field. Be sure to include the city and state of the institution as
well. You should also include any relevant training you may have had as well.
If any of these problem areas look familiar, it might be a good idea to revise
your resume. Do not leave your readers with confusion, but rather spell it out
for them. The more specific you are, the easier it is for your resume to be
understood, and more importantly, acknowledged.
Contact Mike@ResumeDoctor.com. ResumeDoctor.com provides resume-consulting
services and FREE resume evaluations for job seekers
in all industries. ResumeDoctor.com also offers specialized job market
expertise and content to media and employers.