1. Lack of Strategy
My job involves reviewing a lot of resumes. By far, the most common problem I see is a lack of strategy. A resume is much more than a list of your jobs and job duties. Too many people approach a resume like this:
“First, I’ll choose a nice template. I’ll input my name and contact information, and I’ll write my ‘objective’ so the reader knows what type of job I want. Then, I’ll add my jobs, education, and volunteer work.”
If that’s how you approached the writing of your resume, you probably need to start over. Here is a more effective approach:
a. Identify the type of job you want. List a few potential employers and start thinking about their needs. How can you meet those needs? Why would those companies need an employee like you? Go to http://resumeresultsonline.jobamatic.com/a/jobs/find-jobs and search for your target job titles. Identify the commonalities.
b. Once you know what your target company is looking for, figure out what you want your resume to say. There has to be some overarching “message” that ties together all of your experiences and skills. After someone reads your resume, what are the top 2-3 things you want them to know about you.
c. Only then should you start writing.
2. Typos
I see typos — and even major errors — in resumes written by job seekers at all levels, from students to senior executives. Errors are distracting and can give the reader the wrong impression of you as a candidate. The mistakes I see most often include:
== Spelling errors
== Punctuation mistakes (especially extra commas)
== “lead” versus “led”
== Tense problems
== Switching back and forth between first and third person
Typos and errors detract from your message and create a “sloppy” presentation – NOT the image you want to project during a job search.
Don’t rely on your own proofreading skills. If the services of a professional resume writer are not within your budget, then consider hiring a professional proofreader. I recommend Elance.com.
3. The Wrong Details
This touches on point #1 above: lack of strategy. Without a good strategy in place, you’re likely to provide the reader with the wrong details. While it’s important to list key duties and accomplishments for the last 10-15 years of your professional career, the reader doesn’t need to know about every single task you performed – especially if those tasks are not related to your current goals.
Some tips to keep in mind:
== Omit unimportant tasks, such as “attended team meetings.” Hiring managers will assume that, if a meeting is called, you’ll show up.
== Save something for the interview. You want to tell the reader about your most impressive achievements, and you want to provide some context for those achievements, but don’t give a step-by-step retelling of projects/tasks.
== Keep it relevant. Even if a task was a key component of the job, if it doesn’t support your candidacy for your current career goals, consider omitting it and dedicating more space to relevant information.
Need help with your resume strategy or content? We can help.