Bad Resume Habit 1: Your resume concentrates on tasks rather than achievements.
The companies where you are applying have a good idea of what tasks go into your job—they are advertising for someone who can handle those tasks. What they do not know, and what you must tell them, is why you are better at those tasks than hundreds of other candidates. You do this by describing your achievements.
For example, as a Director of Human Resources, you are expected to hire, train, and fire individuals. Did you also start a training program that reduced turnover by 3%? Did you create a new arbitration process that settled labor grievances faster and at lower cost? Those are unique achievements that make you stand out.
Bad Resume Habit 2: Your resume spends too much time on the distant past.
Your career may stretch back 25 or more years, but your resume does not need to do the same. You can handle your earliest career under a single headline, such as “Previous Experience,” where you only list each job title and company name, with as little explanation as possible. You long ago outgrew those earlier positions, and detailing them takes away valuable space from your most recent achievements.
Bad Resume Habit 3: Your resume is suitable for every company everywhere.
You need to target your resume. Begin by gathering advertisements and postings that describe jobs that align with your skills, interests, past experience, and future hopes. Read them carefully to find out what employers are looking for in that field, industry, and geographic location. Research companies on the internet to find out about company culture and expectations.
Make sure your resume accurately shows how your experience, achievements, and skills will meet and exceed each company’s specific expectations. From the job title at the start, through the profile, and including each job description, your resume should focus on honestly giving employers what they are looking for, including the keywords, skills, and experience they detail in their announcements.
Bad Resume Habit 4: Too many people are reviewing your resume.
If you ask 10 people to evaluate your resume, you will receive 100 different answers. You should have an outside reviewer for your resume (preferably, not a relative but someone more objective). However, one or two reviewers are enough.
Even better, you should work with a professional resume writer who has experience, knowledge of current recruiter expectations, formatting skills to make the resume pass Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) systems as well as human hiring managers, and sharp writing skills.
Let Robin’s Resumes® lead you away from bad resume habits and toward a great resume. Contact us today.