A colleague had an opening to fill and received 20 resumes from human resources. He asked me to take a look and help him select five qualified candidates.
The resumes surprised me. They were so poorly prepared I found it difficult to select any applicants that had the desired qualifications. What was wrong? There is an old saying that "actions speak louder than words." Here is a list of real-life resume errors and what they tell a prospective employer:
1. Resumes typed on an electric typewriter. This resume sends a red flag that the applicant does not know how to use a computer.
2. Resumes that use different fonts for several jobs. Details are important and this resume appears as if the applicant updated only part of the resume. It demonstrates a lack of professionalism in how the applicant will approach their responsibilities.
3. Redundant use of words. Indicates limited vocabulary and a lack of imagination.
4. Resumes produced with just one font. Suggests the applicant is unsure which qualifications are important and of interest to the employer.
5. Crowded documents that are impossible to read. Signals the applicant does not have familiarity in word processing and document production.
6. Credentials that have no relevance to the potential position. Indicates the applicant either has no understanding of the position they are seeking or is sending resumes to open positions, regardless of the requirements.
7. Inclusion of activities and experiences that clearly indicate the applicant's religion, origin, or ethnicity. Gives an employer personal information they can not legally query and allows them to discriminate against the applicant.
It is imperative that job seekers use resumes to market their qualifications to prospective employers. Produce a good one and you will be head and shoulders ahead of the pack.
Good luck!
Send questions or comments to: rkaplan@job-resources.com
Copyright © Robbie Miller Kaplan. All rights reserved.
Revised: January 15, 2004
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