Prepare Resume on your Own with a simple procedure

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Killer Resume Mistakes You Must Avoid

Resume Mistake # 1

Failure to state your objective clearly and succinctly(to the point).

All too often resumes are submitted in many cases without the use of an objective and a clear statement of the role for which the candidate is applying. And on the occasions that objectives are used they can be nonspecific or worse, too wordy while failing to clearly state the candidates desired role.

Take for example a large organization, which may be recruiting for up to, and including 30 positions at a time. A recruiter will not sift through hundreds of resumes and spend valuable time attempting to discern which role a candidate is applying for when they have failed to state it clearly at the outset of their resume.

An example of an effective objective statement is as follows:

* A highly experienced sales and marketing professional with comprehensive skills in strategic planning and implementation seeking a position as a Sales Manager where these skills will add value.

A statement such as this gives a brief overview of the candidates experience and immediately generates interest on behalf of the recruiter/employer.

Failure to create a strong but concise objective will ensure that your application is relegated to the bottom of the pile.

Resume Mistake # 2

Focusing on duties and responsibilities rather than achievements and successes

Let’s face it employers want to see what you can do for them quickly and effectively. They hate hiring and they like it to be as quick and painless as possible. No Manger/Recruiter wants to sit down and read a resume that is simply a comprehensive listing of every work task a candidate has performed throughout their career.

Imagine reading a resume that contains the following:

• Completed filing and archiving.
• Performed word processing duties.
• Answered the telephone to clients.
• Completed the accounts payable transactions.
• Managed the invoicing system.
• Looked after the office equipment.

This is a complete and frankly uninteresting way to detail daily responsibilities. An effective resume should focus on successes and achievements. An employer/recruiter will assume that an Administrative Assistant can type, use Word, archive etc. in the same way as they will expect that a Sales Manager can manage employees, prepare forecasts, market products etc.

Resume Mistake # 3

Resume length and use of big words!

Even now candidates fail to understand that a three and four page resume holds no attraction for a recruiter/hiring manager. With the volume of applications received for each job advertisement it is little wonder that mangers become frustrated by the length of resumes and the abundance of large words used within the resume itself.

Resumes should ideally be a one to two page document depending entirely on each candidates level of experience, expertise and their profession.

A professional resume should be long on facts but short on words!

Resume Mistake # 4

Poor Resume formatting and visual layout

The two most widely used resume formats are:

• The Chronological Resume
• The Functional Resume

Visual Impact

Poor layout will have a detrimental effect on the success of your resume. All too often candidates create resumes that are a mishmash of fonts, bullet points, underlines and italics.

A resume should be where possible uniform with bullet points used to highlight specific accomplishments or achievements and not every sentence or they lose their effectiveness. Think of your resume as packaging for you as the candidate of choice. Create a professional resume by choosing the format that suits you, keeping the layout clear and easy to read and using white space effectively.

Resume Mistake # 5

Spelling and Punctuation

It really goes without saying that this is the faux pas of all faux pas! It will not matter that you have created the perfect layout, written the most effective text and the used the format that suits your career perfectly if you submit a resume that contains poor punctuation or spelling mistakes.

The first thing an employer/recruiter will think when they see a spelling mistake included in a resume is that you are careless and lack attention to detail, neither of which are attributes that will endear you as a candidate.

Spell-checking your resume simply won’t do. Computers are not infallible. Get your resume proofread by several people both friends and colleagues who are familiar with the terminology used within the resume.

Make sure that sentences are written in the correct context. Ensure that punctuation is accurate and that all spelling is correct. Sentence structure should be easy to read and professional in manner.

Don’t create an otherwise well-written resume only to have it discarded because you failed to cross your T’s and not your I’ s!

Resume Formats and the precautions to take while preparing them

BASIC RESUME FORMATS

There are three basic types of resumes:

• Chronological
• Functional
• "combined"
  

CHRONOLOGICAL

The chronological resume is the more traditional structure for a resume. The Experience section is the focus of the resume; each job (or the last several jobs) is described in some detail, and there is no major section of skills or accomplishments at the beginning of the resume. This structure is primarily used when you are staying in the same profession, in the same type of work, particularly in very conservative fields. It is also used in certain fields such as law and academia. It is recommended that the chronological resume always have an "Objective" or "Summary," to focus the reader.

The advantages: May appeal to older, more traditional readers and be best in very conservative fields. Makes it easier to understand what you did in what job. May help the name of the employer stand out more, if this is impressive. The disadvantage is that it is much more difficult to highlight what you do best. This format is rarely appropriate for someone making a career change.

FUNCTIONAL

The functional resume highlights your major skills and accomplishments from the very beginning. It helps the reader see clearly what you can do for them, rather than having to read through the job descriptions to find out. It helps target the resume into a new direction or field, by lifting up from all past jobs the key skills and qualifications to help prove you will be successful in this new direction or field. Actual company names and positions are in a subordinate position, with no description under each. There are many different types of formats for functional resumes. The functional resume is a must for career changers, but is very appropriate for generalists, for those with spotty or divergent careers, for those with a wide range of skills in their given profession, for students, for military officers, for homemakers returning to the job market, and for those who want to make slight shifts in their career direction.

Advantages: It will help you most in reaching for a new goal or direction. It is a very effective type of resume, and is highly recommended. The disadvantage is that it is hard for the employer to know exactly what you did in which job, which may be a problem for some conservative interviewers.

COMBINED

A combined resume includes elements of both the chronological and functional formats. It may be a shorter chronology of job descriptions preceded by a short "Skills and Accomplishments" section (or with a longer Summary including a skills list or a list of "qualifications"); or, it may be a standard functional resume with the accomplishments under headings of different jobs held.

There are obvious advantages to this combined approach: It maximizes the advantages of both kinds of resumes, avoiding potential negative effects of either type. One disadvantage is that it tends to be a longer resume. Another is that it can be repetitious: Accomplishments and skills may have to be repeated in both the "functional" section and the "chronological" job descriptions.

Whenever you send a CV to a potential employer you should always include a Covering Letter. There are no strict set rules of what to include, however there is a general formula, which you should always follow.

Few Precautions

Avoid "writing" a cover letter

A cover letter has to be word-processed and not hand written. Make sure that it is printed on the same stationery as your resume. This reflects professionalism. Ensure that you include a header on your stationery with your name and address, preferably centered at the top of the page. You can also send a handwritten covering letter only if the company asks for it. Ensure that the handwriting is clear and legible.

Address it to the right addressee!

When drafting the cover letter, it should begin with the name of the recipient, title/designation, name and address. If you are unsure about the person's name or designation then it would be advisable to address the letter to the "Human Resources Department" or the department equivalent to it. If you are aware of the name of the person, then ensure that you have spelt the name right. If necessary, you may contact the organization to establish their credentials. This is particularly important for speculative inquires when the job hasn't been advertised and you are not sure who is in charge of recruitment.

Mention clearly the position you are applying for

The opening paragraph of the covering letter should clearly state what position you are applying for. It should reflect your interest and keenness in working with the organization you have applied to. If you have applied with reference to an advertisement in a publication then make a mention of it. If you are using the reference of a particular person then mention the name of the person who referred you. State a line or two as to why you are interested in working with the organization.

Highlight relevant skills

The second paragraph should include your skill sets and work experience in brief. Highlight skills that are relevant to the post you are applying for. However, avoid duplicating your resume. You can make a mention of any additional experiences and responsibilities pertinent to the job.

End on a positive note

End the cover letter on a positive note. Mention that you look forward to hearing from them and sign off on a formal note. Use words like "Sincerely, faithfully," etc. to sign off. Type your name below the subscription, but leave enough space between the two to accommodate your signature.

Most resumes are not much more than a collection of "evidence," various facts about your past. By evidence, we mean all the mandatory information you must include on your resume: work history with descriptions, dates, education, affiliations, list of software mastered, etc. If you put this toward the top of your resume, anyone reading it will feel like they are reading an income tax form. Let's face it, this stuff is boring no matter how extraordinary you are. All this evidence is best placed in the second half of the resume. Put the hot stuff in the beginning, and all this less exciting information afterward.

Precautions to be taken giving emphasis on headings

A great resume is all one big assertions section. In other words, every single word, even the basic facts about your history, are crafted to have the desired effect, to get them to pick up the phone and call you. The decisions you make on what information to emphasize and what to de-emphasize should be based on considering every word of your resume to be an important part of the assertions section. The evidence includes some or all of the following:

EXPERIENCE

• List jobs in reverse chronological order. Don't go into detail on the jobs early in your career; focus on the most recent and/or relevant jobs. (Summarize a number of the earliest jobs in one line or very short paragraph, or list only the bare facts with no position description.) Decide which is, overall, more impressive - your job titles or the names of the firms you worked for - then consistently begin with the more impressive of the two, perhaps using boldface type.
• You may want to describe the firm in a phrase in parentheses if this will impress the reader. Put dates in italics at the end of the job, to de-emphasize them; don't include months, unless the job was held less than a year. Include military service, internships, and major volunteer roles if desired; because the section is labeled "Experience." It does not mean that you were paid.
• Other headings: "Professional History," "Professional Experience"--not "Employment" or "Work History," both of which sound more lower-level.

EDUCATION

• List education in reverse chronological order, degrees or licenses first, followed by certificates and advanced training. Set degrees apart so they are easily seen. Put in boldface whatever will be most impressive. Don't include any details about college except your major and distinctions or awards you have won, unless you are still in college or just recently graduated. Include grade-point average only if over 3.4. List selected course work if this will help convince the reader of your qualifications for the targeted job.
• Do include advanced training, but be selective with the information, summarizing the information and including only what will be impressive for the reader.
• No degree received yet? If you are working on an uncompleted degree, include the degree and afterwards, in parentheses, the expected date of completion: B.S. (expected 200_).
• If you didn't finish college, start with a phrase describing the field studied, then the school, then the dates (the fact that there was no degree may be missed).
• Other headings might be "Education and Training," "Education and Licenses," "Legal Education / Undergraduate Education" (for attorneys).
  

AWARDS

If the only awards received were in school, put these under the Education section. Mention what the award was for if you can (or just "for outstanding accomplishment" or "outstanding performance"). This section is almost a must, if you have received awards. If you have received commendations or praise from some very senior source, you could call this section, "Awards and Commendations." In that case, go ahead and quote the source.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Include only those that are current, relevant and impressive. Include leadership roles if appropriate. This is a good section for communicating your status as a member of a minority targeted for special consideration by employers, or for showing your membership in an association that would enhance your appeal as a prospective employee.
This section can be combined with "Civic / Community Leadership" as "Professional and Community Memberships."

CIVIC / COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

This is good to include if the leadership roles or accomplishments are related to the job target and can show skills acquired, for example, a loan officer hoping to become a financial investment counselor who was Financial Manager of a community organization charged with investing its funds. Any Board of Directors membership or "chairmanship" would be good to include. Be careful with political affiliations, as they could be a plus or minus with an employer or company.

PUBLICATIONS

Include only if published. Summarize if there are many.

COMMENTS FROM SUPERVISORS

Include only if very exceptional. Heavily edit for key phrases.

PERSONAL INTERESTS

Advantages:

Personal interests can indicate a skill or area or knowledge that is related to the goal, such as photography for someone in public relations, or carpentry and woodworking for someone in construction management. This section can show well-roundedness, good physical health, or knowledge of a subject related to the goal. It can also create common ground or spark conversation in an interview.

Disadvantages:

Personal interests are usually irrelevant to the job goal and purpose of the resume, and they may be meaningless or an interview turn-off ("TV and Reading," "Fund raising for the Hell's Angels").

You probably should not include a personal interests section. Your reason for including it is most likely that you want to tell them about you. But, as you know, this is an ad. If this section would powerfully move the employer to understand why you would be the best candidate, include it; otherwise, forget about it.

May also be called "Interests and Hobbies," or just "Interests."

REFERENCES

You may put "References available upon request" at the end of your resume, if you wish. This is a standard close (centered at bottom in italics), but is not necessary: It is usually assumed. Do not include actual names of references. You can bring a separate sheet of references to the interview, to be given to the employer upon request. The resume is visually enticing, a work of art. Simple clean structure. Very easy to read. Symmetrical. Balanced. Uncrowded. As much white space between sections of writing as possible; sections of writing that are no longer than six lines, and shorter if possible.

WHAT NOT TO PUT ON A RESUME

• The word "Resume" at the top of the resume
• Fluffy rambling "objective" statements
• Salary information
• Full addresses of former employers
• Reasons for leaving jobs
• A "Personal" section, or personal statistics (except in special cases)
• Names of supervisors
• References