Interview Chatter

Top 5 Reasons Your Resume Ended Up In The Trash

by Gina on July 3rd, 2008

The resume is basically your first conversation with a potential employer.  So, when you send it, just imagine that you are sitting at the interview table with the hiring manager who says ”tell me about yourself.”  And remember that other candidates get to answer this question, too, so you need to set yourself apart, even in your resume. 

Here are my top 5 reasons a resume gets passed over.

1. The formatting is bad.  This gives the hiring manager the impression that you don’t pay attention to detail. If you are not a good resume writer, try using Resume Wizard on Microsoft Word.
2. The resume reads more like a grocery list than a resume.  Be sure to add relevant content to each of your previous jobs.  Most everybody has an employment history.  So, it’s important to highlight how your previous jobs helped you prepare for the job you are applying for.
3. The resume isn’t relevant for the job you are applying for.  Be sure to tweak your resume for the particular job you are applying for.  Maintaining different versions of a resume can be frustrating, but not tailoring a resume to a specific job listing could cause it to be overlooked unnecessarily.
4. It’s too long.  It really is true that it’s best to try to keep your resume on one page.  Sometimes that’s not possible and hiring managers realize that.  But, always make sure that every single word on your resume is essential.  Start by writing everything down, then cut, cut, cut.
5. The cover letter is all wrong.  Be sure to check for errors.  If you don’t have a friend who can proof read it for you then read the letter out-loud to yourself.  This is a great way to make sure what you’ve written makes sense.   Also, it is imperative that you make sure the cover letter is for the specific job.  Be careful about using templates where you plug in the job you are applying for then say the same ole thing you said to the last potential employer.  You want the hiring manager to get the idea that you want this job, not just any job.

Share This

Related Stories

• Do You Want to Hit The Bullseye?
• And the Survey Said…
• The Importance Of Keeping Track Of Your Accomplishments
• Have You Ever Been Fired?
• How Important is Your 3 Months Experience?

POSTED IN: Coach's Cornor, Preparation & Planning