Get your resume and cover letter out and check it against this list! I've compiled a list of mistakes from feedback on my own resume/cover letter, notes from various professors, and things I saw on the web!
Your resume and cover letter are the first impression. I know for a fact that mine is not strong experience wise so I need to make sure I compensate for that and avoid common mistakes that could land your resume straight to the "Absolutely Not" pile.
1. ME, ME, ME attitude: Avoid focus all about YOU and YOUR needs. The hiring manager isn't sitting around thinking about what they can do for YOU. They need someone to do a job and to add value to their company. You need to make them aware of what YOU can do for THEM. Avoid telling them how much this job would help your career and your skills but rather show them how your skills and career goals could help them to achieve their goals and objectives. Show how you would indeed be helping them out. It makes perfect sense and is completely logical but it seems like it is a big trap for those of us writing resumes. I fell into it until a kind mentor told me the mistake.
2. Spelling/Punctuation Errors: It's kind of like when I'm reading a review from an author about their own book and they have horrible grammar, spelling, and punctuation. I find myself passing on their book if they are writing at a second grade level. It's an eyesore to hiring managers when there are run on sentences, obvious spelling mistakes, and punctuation running amok. I've found when I'm rushing to get a resume out I make dumb little mistakes like missing a word in the middle of a sentence or using "hear" instead of "here" because my brain is faster than my typing. Just slow down and write it. Check it. Get someone else to read it through. Check it again before you send it off.
3. Responsibilities over results: I got this tip somewhere online and I wrote it down but can't remember where it came from! Avoid focusing entirely on your responsibilities from your previous jobs and not taking enough time to focus on the results. Telling your responsibilities is a good thing as it gives the hiring manager an idea of what you did at your previous jobs. However, don't let it overshadow the results & the things you accomplished. This shows how valuable you were to your previous employers. Tell them about how you increased profits in your region or how you won an award or increased your subscription base by %2. This one is hard for me because I don't have alot of accomplishments that can be tracked on my resume. Make sure you keep track of these things whenever you are employed.
4. No objective/summary on your resume: I never thought this was a big deal until I started looking at other resumes from my peers. Having a clear objective or summary can tell the hiring manager what you want to do and are suited for. This clearly requires some tailoring to your resume for each job you are looking for if they are different industries or are in different fields but it will be worth it to make the extra effort. It makes you looked focus even if you really are willing to accept any job.
5. Incorrect contact info: Seems silly and obvious but make sure your email address is current and spelled right. Make sure your current number is on there.
6. Going overboard on the format: Keep it simple and don't be more concerned with how it looks over what it says! Don't use tiny fonts or different colors or a few different fonts. Make it easy on the eyes. Don't include a picture of yourself unless it's for a modeling gig. Clearly there are some jobs in industries looking for some creativity so use your discretion. Make it crisp and concise. Utilize bullets. It needs to be easy to read.
7. Don't get too personal: Do not litter your cover letter with the sob story of your life or revealing too much about your personal life. Make sure any websites or blogs you give them do not have anything inappropriate on them.
8. Forgetting those keywords: All hiring managers are looking for certain key words based on the position and industry. They are easily able to scan your resume for keywords on the computer by using databases that are searchable by key words. Welcome to technology, kiddies. The internet has made it so that the number of resumes being sent for a particular job is astronomical. More resumes means more time to read through them all. Therefore, why not weed out the ones that don't have keywords they are looking for? So, use those keywords. Here is a good article to get you thinking about those keywords.
9. Improper format: Make sure you have it saved in the proper format so that it can be opened. It depends on what they ask for but make sure it can be opened. Recently I forgot to save it to an older version of Word and sent a resume off and it couldn't be opened with my newer version of Word. Luckily, she emailed me back and told me to send it again via email or another format but you won't always be that lucky.
10. LYING: I shouldn't even have to say this but I do. DON'T LIE on your resume or cover letter! Don't exaggerate too much. You will get caught. It might not be right away or even formally but it will end up biting you in the butt at some point. Don't do it. Just don't.
I've heard it said that most employers only look at each resume for about 30 seconds so make those 30 seconds count!
Any other feedback you have gotten about resume mistakes you've made? Did I forget any?
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tips. Show all posts
Monday, February 8
Wednesday, February 3
Interview: Put Your Best Face Forward
In light of some exciting news from your favorite unemployed chick, I have decided to talk about interviews. The exciting news first: I got an interview for tomorrow for an internship! After a long time of not hearing back from anywhere that I sent my resume, (and yes I tried to get in contact with HR but some of these bigger corporations won't let you call in) it is really nice to get an interview! Wish me luck!!
Anyways, here are some helpful tips that I've learned through the years or picked up in my research.
Some things you should be doing before the interview:
1. Researching the company & the position as well as making yourself familiar with the industry if you are not already: Do not go in unprepared. Show that you have taken the time to learn about the company. Know their mission and vision, their target market, newsworthy items, CEO names, etc. See if anybody you know has any contacts with the company or organization.
2. Iron that outfit. Polish those shoes. Be neat and pressed. Have everything picked out beforehand so you aren't rushing around. Make sure you have a notebook & pen ready as well as a briefcase depending on the position. Also, print out a copy of your resume and a list of references just in case. Make sure you are showered and well groomed. Don't just look like you rolled out of bed.
3. Prep with some mock interview questions. You can search the internet for popular interview questions. Be prepared. Get your mind ready! Practice with friend or family member.
4. Prepare some intelligent & relevant questions. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, pick 1 or 2 good ones that haven't been covered. Interviewers like when you ask questions because it shows interest. Avoid being to eager about pay, vacation, benefits, etc. Here are some good questions to get you thinking.
Things to be doing during the interview:
1. Be positive and self assured! Fake it even if you are nervous.
2. Be early! Don't be on time and don't be late! Be early.
3. Be polite to everyone in the office before your interview starts. Smile and make a good impression to all the people you might encounter before you meet with the interviewer. People talk after you leave. Trust me.
4. Have good manners. Sit up straight. Say "Thank You"(especially when you leave) and "Please". Do everything your momma taught you that you found irritating to be corrected on. No gum chewing! Use proper English!
5. Focus on the company and what you can do for them in the position. Yes, they do want to learn about you. However, it needs to be relevant to the position and what you can do for them with your skills, experience, education, etc.
After the Interview:
1. Send a thank you note or email. Again focus on the company and what you learned and not all about you.
2. Follow up. Follow up quickly if you think they are making the decision soon. Feel it out for when you should follow up. Don't call 5x a day to find out.
Anyways, here are some helpful tips that I've learned through the years or picked up in my research.
Some things you should be doing before the interview:
1. Researching the company & the position as well as making yourself familiar with the industry if you are not already: Do not go in unprepared. Show that you have taken the time to learn about the company. Know their mission and vision, their target market, newsworthy items, CEO names, etc. See if anybody you know has any contacts with the company or organization.
2. Iron that outfit. Polish those shoes. Be neat and pressed. Have everything picked out beforehand so you aren't rushing around. Make sure you have a notebook & pen ready as well as a briefcase depending on the position. Also, print out a copy of your resume and a list of references just in case. Make sure you are showered and well groomed. Don't just look like you rolled out of bed.
3. Prep with some mock interview questions. You can search the internet for popular interview questions. Be prepared. Get your mind ready! Practice with friend or family member.
4. Prepare some intelligent & relevant questions. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions, pick 1 or 2 good ones that haven't been covered. Interviewers like when you ask questions because it shows interest. Avoid being to eager about pay, vacation, benefits, etc. Here are some good questions to get you thinking.
Things to be doing during the interview:
1. Be positive and self assured! Fake it even if you are nervous.
2. Be early! Don't be on time and don't be late! Be early.
3. Be polite to everyone in the office before your interview starts. Smile and make a good impression to all the people you might encounter before you meet with the interviewer. People talk after you leave. Trust me.
4. Have good manners. Sit up straight. Say "Thank You"(especially when you leave) and "Please". Do everything your momma taught you that you found irritating to be corrected on. No gum chewing! Use proper English!
5. Focus on the company and what you can do for them in the position. Yes, they do want to learn about you. However, it needs to be relevant to the position and what you can do for them with your skills, experience, education, etc.
After the Interview:
1. Send a thank you note or email. Again focus on the company and what you learned and not all about you.
2. Follow up. Follow up quickly if you think they are making the decision soon. Feel it out for when you should follow up. Don't call 5x a day to find out.
Monday, February 1
Be AGGRESSIVE! B-E AGGRESSIVE! B-E A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E!
I feel like I have to be my own personal cheerleader these days! This unemployment/job searching ordeal is draining.
I've decided that I need to become more aggressive with my job searching tactics. I need to be bold and relentless. I don't mean aggressive as in getting in hiring manager's faces or stalking CEO's of companies. I mean just stepping it up and not being as passive. (Side note: It makes me think of the too light too heavy commercials)
Job seekers could take a lesson from the "not too light, not too heavy" concept.
Anyways, some ways I'm stepping it up in 2010 regarding the job search:
1) Remember that the job search is my job right now. I need to take it that seriously. I am waking up early, eating a good breakfast, and getting ready before I proceed with the job search. Sitting around feeling like a bum in my sweatpants does nothing for the morale. I need to make my desk Job Searching central and be organized!
2) Have a schedule. This one is really important. Unemployed days consist of a lot of free time which generally ends up being wasted on who knows what! Not anymore! I am scheduling my days so to have more structure and making to do lists that will be completed. Structure is pretty important and will help you to approach the job search as a job.
3) Network like crazy! I normally feel silly and/or ashamed at promoting myself and trying to network. Not anymore. It's about who you know and how well you know them. I'm making a master list of contacts and what they do. That sounds really creepy but it's not. I need to know who might be of help to either ask for advice in the field or a possible job lead.
4) Offer my services. I'm actually really skilled at marketing despite what my resume says about me. I've always loved to do it and I've always had good feedback on what I've done. I'm am offering myself up to those who need some marketing/advertising. I'm contacting my church, my stepdad's American Legion, local businesses and organizations, etc. Who wouldn't want a free pair of hands and a brain?
5) Look outside the box for possible job opportunities. Be willing to look for jobs in places other than job boards.
6) Send out 3x the amount of resumes per week than I have been. I'm not just going to be sending them out to just anyone for any job. However, I think in the past I have been so discouraged that I haven't even applied for some jobs.
I've decided that I need to become more aggressive with my job searching tactics. I need to be bold and relentless. I don't mean aggressive as in getting in hiring manager's faces or stalking CEO's of companies. I mean just stepping it up and not being as passive. (Side note: It makes me think of the too light too heavy commercials)
Job seekers could take a lesson from the "not too light, not too heavy" concept.
Anyways, some ways I'm stepping it up in 2010 regarding the job search:
1) Remember that the job search is my job right now. I need to take it that seriously. I am waking up early, eating a good breakfast, and getting ready before I proceed with the job search. Sitting around feeling like a bum in my sweatpants does nothing for the morale. I need to make my desk Job Searching central and be organized!
2) Have a schedule. This one is really important. Unemployed days consist of a lot of free time which generally ends up being wasted on who knows what! Not anymore! I am scheduling my days so to have more structure and making to do lists that will be completed. Structure is pretty important and will help you to approach the job search as a job.
3) Network like crazy! I normally feel silly and/or ashamed at promoting myself and trying to network. Not anymore. It's about who you know and how well you know them. I'm making a master list of contacts and what they do. That sounds really creepy but it's not. I need to know who might be of help to either ask for advice in the field or a possible job lead.
4) Offer my services. I'm actually really skilled at marketing despite what my resume says about me. I've always loved to do it and I've always had good feedback on what I've done. I'm am offering myself up to those who need some marketing/advertising. I'm contacting my church, my stepdad's American Legion, local businesses and organizations, etc. Who wouldn't want a free pair of hands and a brain?
5) Look outside the box for possible job opportunities. Be willing to look for jobs in places other than job boards.
6) Send out 3x the amount of resumes per week than I have been. I'm not just going to be sending them out to just anyone for any job. However, I think in the past I have been so discouraged that I haven't even applied for some jobs.
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