Resume Blunders!

Employers and recruiters don’t have time to waste and they have no problem tossing out your resume. More than likely there are hundreds, possibly thousands following yours! The job market is tight and it takes more than a mediocre to open doors. To make it to the second round of reviews, your resume must grab the attention of employers.

Common resume blunders you want to avoid:

* Presenting a resume with no focus
* Coming across as a “jack of all trades” rather than an expert in your field
* Giving more attention to your duties and responsibilities instead of career achievements
* Using the wrong resume format
* Making your resume too long and drawn out
* Squeezing everything into one page because “they” say it shouldn’t be longer
* Including a work phone number as a point of contact

When writing your resume, think of yourself as the product and the employer as the buyer. Before a buyer will consider purchasing a high-end product, the product must gain their interest, establish its quality, and present its value. Once these factors are determined, they’ll move to the next step – buying the product.

Now, let’s put this analogy into perspective. If your resume generates interest and demonstrates your value as a qualified candidate, you’ve effectively sold yourself. The message will get through to the employer that you’re able to meet their needs as a member of their company. Grabbing the employer’s attention and motivating them to contact you for the interview is the objective of your resume. It’s critical that you gain their attention in the first 30 seconds. Yes, the first 30 seconds!

The following resume writing tips will improve the effectiveness of your resume. You’ll soon find that writing a powerful resume isn’t as easy as you think. It takes serious thought and time to make it a powerful self-marketing tool.

1. Have focus – Employers and recruiters are looking for a “fast match.” Many people are competing for the same job, so your resume must be eye-catching! Focused resumes address the needs of the employer, which creates interest and the desire to learn more about you. Research the company and find out what they’re looking for in a qualified candidate and what they’re all about.

2. Don’t appear as a “jack of all trades” – What areas do you consider yourself an expert and can you prove it? Employers are looking for specific skills and abilities to resolve their problems. Stating and supporting your areas of expertise will help deliver the message that you have the knowledge and experience to address their issues. Remember, one can’t be an “expert” in everything, although some people think they are!

3. Include achievements – Career achievements are what sell you in a resume. Achievements demonstrate your abilities in leadership, communication, problem solving, project management, time management, employee relations, and many other areas. Employers appreciate applicants who know what their talents are and what they have to offer their company.

4. Use correct format – The chronological or combination resume format seems to be most popular with employers. The chronological format exhibits your continuous and upward career growth. The combination format offers a brief overview of your market value, followed by your employment history.

5. Don’t be long-winded – Don’t making your resume appear as a "read.” Make it easy for employers to find out what your skills and abilities are by NOT making them dig for details about your qualifications. Your goal at this point is to generate enough interest to motivate them to continue looking through your entire resume.

6. The one-page rule – Who made this rule? If you’re a recent college grad or a young professional seeking an entry-level position, chances are your resume will fit on one page. But, if you’re an experienced professional, manager, or senior-level executive with many years of experience, it’s very unlikely that your resume will fit on one page. If it takes two pages or even three pages, don’t worry! If your resume content is focused, organized, visually appealing, and generates interest, it will motivate employers to take an in-depth look at your resume and page length won’t be an issue.

7. No work numbers – Don’t use your work number as a point of contact. This implies that you have no problem using company time for your personal gain. In other words, the employer may say to himself "Hey, if he has no problem using company time to find another job, who's to say he won't do the same if he worked for us?”

Don’t miss out on great career opportunities just because of your resume!