If you have been sending out resumes, but the results are less than satisfactory, you might need a brand new resume. Professional writers can transform your old resume into a shiny, new document that attracts the attention of hiring managers. How do they work accomplish this magical feat? Usually, they will omit the following six resume killers.
1. Errors = Trash
If you want your resume to end up in a trash bin, submitting it with careless errors is the best way to ensure that your document ends up in a landfill. We all know that you need to send out an error-free resume, professional writers can ensure that there are no spelling, grammar or syntax errors on your resume. You will need to proof your own contact information, however, as your writer will not know if your phone number or email address are correct.
2. High School-Era Information Is Irrelevant
Unless you are a recent college graduate with no professional work experience, omit information about work experiences and educational experiences that date back to high school. For a recent grad, your management position at the local yogurt shop and your National Honor Society membership can be relevant, but if you’ve been out in the workforce for a couple of years, it’s time to let those glory days pass you by.
3. Cut The Clichés
Your resume shouldn’t be full of platitudes such as “results-oriented,” “hard-working,” “team player” or “self-starter.” Obviously these are good skills to possess, but they don’t really mean anything. It’s better to showcase those skills through the use of clear examples on your resume. Professional writers might showcase your abilities as a self-starter by incorporating that you “developed comprehensive training materials, reduced training times by more than 50%.” This example shows a hiring manager that you can handle a large project and that your projects generate results.
4. Ditch The Objective
Many resumes include an objective, and unless this statement is short and very well written, you don’t really need to include it on a resume. Obviously your main objective is to attain a job in your chosen field, but the fact that you are sending out resumes and actively seeking employment is evidence enough of this objective. However, if you are changing careers or perhaps looking for career advancement in a management position, it might be wise to include an objective. For a lateral move or an entry-level position, it’s not really necessary.
5. Personal Information
While it might be ok to list some of your outside interests and industry-related hobbies, some personal information should not be listed on your resume. Never discuss your parenting status, marital status, sexual orientation or religion on a resume. You also should never include a photo on your resume. Hiring managers aren’t even allowed to ask you most of these items, so it definitely should not show up on your resume. As you get comfortable in your work environment and chat with co-workers, these issues certainly might be revealed, but it’s not meant to be a part of the hiring process.
6. Remove The Lies
One of the worst things you can ever do, in regards to your job search, is to lie on your resume. If you don’t have a college degree, don’t pretend that you do. If you managed 10 employees, don’t state that you managed 50. Don’t pretend to possess skills you don’t have, as this will become very obvious if you begin working at a company but cannot actually do the work.
If you are dealing with issues such as work gaps or firings or perhaps a lack of education, it can be tough to know how to handle this on a resume. Professional writers should be able to create a resume that focuses on the skills and talents you do possess and how those skills make you a great candidate for a job. From there, you just need to practice how you will answer the tough questions about being fired or perhaps a stint in jail or maybe a series of jobs you had in quick succession. Typically, it’s best to focus on the positive aspect of any situation, such as what you learned from any given experience.
In general, when writing your resume, professional writers know which items to include and which items to omit. This can be a great reason to hire a pro to craft your resume, as this ensures that your resume is error-free, dynamic and includes only the most important information. Hiring managers skim each resume they receive very quickly, so you need yours to stand out. The team at Resume Writing Group can transform your tired old resume into a something eye-catching and vibrant.
