There are a few big issues that many job seekers have on their resumes without realizing it. These things will keep you from getting the interview. You need to know what they are and address these issues. Are you making these resume mistakes?
Tired objective statements
You want to stay far, far away from those old, tired objective statements that say things like, “To increase my skills at a growing company.” Instead, remember that this resume should sell you to the company. Attract their attention (and get the interview) with a statement that’s more like, “Retail store manager seeks to use revenue-generating strategies and turnover reduction plans to grow a retail location for XYZ Company.” That tells them what you do and what you can bring to the company.
Paragraphs
If you want the hiring manager (your future boss) to learn the most about you, remove paragraphs and replace them with bullet points. Paragraphs cause people to skim (and miss) information. Draw their eyes and attention with bullet points that highlight what you’ve done.
Jobs held longer than 20 years ago
Even if you’ve worked for more than 20 years, don’t jobs from more than 20 years ago on your resume. Chances are that those jobs aren’t relevant to this one, anyway. And, having jobs on your resume that long ago dates you. Just go back about 15-20 years and call it good.
References
Don’t include the names of your references and don’t add “References Available Upon Request.” That wastes valuable space, and they understand that you’ll provide references if they want them.
Photos
Never include a photo on your resume. U.S. anti-discrimination laws have caused many companies to throw out resumes that include a photo without even considering them for fear of any appearance of bias.
Typos
Some hiring managers will throw out a resume with any typo, even if you’re perfect for the job. Typos and errors give the impression that you don’t pay attention to details, even when it’s very important. Proofread your resume and then have someone else look it over, too.
Accomplishments with No Numbers Describing Them
If you want your resume to generate interviews, quantify your accomplishments. That means, add numbers, dollars, and percentages to your resume. For example, instead of saying, “Managed Research and Development team,” say, “Managed Research and Development team of 6 members for 2 years.” Don’t worry that your numbers don’t seem impressive to you. Just having them on your resume will make a great impression on hiring managers.
If you’d like help in creating a perfect resume that will generate interviews for you, check out our Extreme Resume Makeover Kit.