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How To Avoid Resume Mistakes
Whether
you’ve been downsized, are looking for a career
change or are just starting out, your resume speaks
volumes about you. If your resume doesn’t make
it past the first cut, you’re doomed; no matter
how qualified you are. Below are ten common mistakes
to avoid when putting your resume together. Remember,
you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
1.
Multiple pages – You need to be concise. Keep it
to one page and one page only. If you can’t highlight
your talents on one page, you’re giving the message
that you are unorganized and tend to go on and on.
2.
Fancy paper – If your skills don’t speak for
themselves, then your fancy paper isn’t going to
make a bit of difference.
3.
Fancy font – Same as above. Don’t try to set
yourself apart with a different font on your resume.
Set yourself apart by being uniquely qualified.
4.
Irrelevant info – No one really cares that you
were a singing waiter if you’re applying for an
accountant job.
5.
Outdated information – Does it matter than you
had a newspaper route and were on the high school cheerleading
squad 24 years ago? No, not in the least. Leave it off.
6.
Typos and misspellings – You would think this is
an obvious one, but you’d be amazed at the number
of resumes received with big blaring mistakes.
7.
Falsified information –Greatly elaborated credentials
are the same as lies. Do not list diplomas, certifications,
affiliations or awards that you did not earn. Just don’t
do it. It’ll come back to bite you in the butt.
8.
Attachments – At the resume stage do not send any
attachments, whatsoever. If you are granted an interview,
at that time you could bring in whatever it is you’re
so hot to get into the selecting official’s hands.
The person accepting the resumes will likely just throw
it in the round file.
9.
Elaborating too much – Place of employment, job
title and brief, very brief description of job responsibilities
are all you need. Don’t complete a whole paragraph
for each job you’ve held.
10.
No cover letter – Writing a good cover letter is
a bit of an art. However, any cover letter is better
than none. Just keep the same principles in mind with
your letter: Brevity, relevant and free from typos.
If
you can avoid these simple ten resume mistakes, you’re
more than half way there to getting an interview. Once
you have your foot in the door you can really shine
for the boss. If you don’t make it past the first
cut, due to any of the above fatal mistakes, your beautiful
resume will be used to wipe up coffee spills or will
be added to the recycle pile! Don’t let that happen
to you.
1howto.com
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