5 Common Mistakes in Resume Writing

Landing your target job is a challenge nowadays especially if you are incapable of grabbing the attention of recruiters through your resume. Exaggerating your qualifications is unethical and ineffective, so you may do away with this option. To help you overcome this situation, start with a simple step - checking if your resume contains blunders that can break your candidacy.

1. Attaching a photo of yourself.

A photograph in your resume would be helpful if you're after jobs which require the employer to gauge in your appearance. The customer service and hospitality industry are an excellent example of an occupational field which may require a photograph with your CV. However, if the job doesn't call for you to groom yourself every day at work (e.g. flight attendant posts, receptionists), by all means, forego the photo.

2. Too much focus on your previous duties and responsibilities.

A functional resume does not simply enumerate your duties and responsibilities in your previous jobs. Go beyond the boring rundown of your previous job roles and put special attention instead on your achievements. After all, if you put yourself in the position of your prospective employer, would you like to hire candidates who can perform the basic job functions or would you prefer those individuals with an excellent track record of accomplishments? Ask yourself the following when trying to figure out how to magnify your accomplishments:

-- what were the challenges and problems you encountered while on the job? how did you overcome such challenges? was an action plan involved? how did you formulate it?
-- what made you perform better than the others? can you cite specific instances which displayed such superior performance?
-- were there any awards, promotions or recognitions you received during the duration of the post?

3. Using personal pronouns and/or unprofessional email addresses.

Consider your resume as a professional document and as a form of business communication. Avoid using personal pronouns like I, me and my. On the other hand, avoid naughty-sounding or unprofessional email addresses at all costs. To be on the safe side, simply use your full name.

4. Incorporating too much or irrelevant information.

How much is "too much" in drafting resumes? You may not include all of your previous work experience. Tailor-fit your resume by incorporating the roles and accomplishments you had which is only related to the post you're after.

Include only information that is relevant to the job vacancy; don't include your hobbies if they have nothing to do with the target job.

5. Writing very long paragraphs.

Your hiring manager doesn't expect to read a novel out of your resume. Break your long paragraphs to short ones by using bullet points.

Now that you're aware of the common resume-writing blunders, you already have an advantage over other applicants.

For more tips on how to craft a substantial and comprehensive resume, download CareerFact's career e-book. Learn how to incorporate your research information and target company's goals in writing a resume that outshines other candidates.

Read more ...

Most Common CV Mistakes

Writing up your curriculum vitae or CV can be a daunting process for many people. Some may view it as an opportunity to reflect on their professional accomplishments and to analyse the roles held within a company, others may find it tough to pick out their accomplishments and are left pondering what was their actual duties within the company. This task is of course different for everyone, depending on what type of employment you are in or the type of person you are. It would not be very comforting to think that a neurosurgeon would ever have trouble trying to consider their main duties and responsibilities in their day-to-day tasks.

Your CV is a marketing tool devised to sell "you" to your potential employer. It is possibly one of the most important documents you will ever create and it is important that it is impeccable.

I will now take you through some of the most common and obvious CV mistakes that have been noticed by numerous HR managers and employers alike. We have all been at fault I am sure at one stage or another, so whether you are currently drafting up a new CV or you are just curious as to what these mistakes may be, please read on;

Spelling and grammar errors are still extremely common, even with spell check. Get somebody to proof read your CV, as they may just spot something you didn't. 50 per cent of the recruitment consultants surveyed regularly encountered this type of error.
Do not list references directly on your CV. Only submit them to your employer when requested. You do not want a to be faced with the situation where your potential employer rings up your current employer asking for a reference. This advice comes highly recommended trust me.
Incorrect contact informationcan be more common than you think. Make sure your contact number and email address is accurate. Otherwise you may be left wondering why you aren't getting any phone calls.
The design and lay out of your CV is also very important. If your CV simply does not look good, you could be taking yourself out of the possibility before they even read your CV. When sending a CV online, beware of templates on Microsoft word. The format can cause them to become distorted on a different computer. Keep it simple and go for a blank template and build it up from a different template as a guide.
Don't send the same CV to all employers. You should tailor each CV to suit the job application you are applying for. This means that only relevant information is present for the job specification. This will help to link your previous experience to the current job specification you are applying for.

Try and avoid these mistakes and I am sure you will find the job that you have always wanted.

Read more ...

Resume Writing Common Sense Tips

Are you still waiting for employers to call? Have you wondered why your resume isn't generating the response that you would like? Outlined below are a few common reasons why hiring managers may put your resume into the "no" pile.

How long is too long? The HR manager doesn't want your entire work history. In fact, they don't actually care about you. Harsh, I know, but they really just want to know what you can do FOR THEM. They want to know what value you will add to their organization, preferably in one page. Two is okay, but one is better. Keep it concise and hit only the highlights that will draw them in.

Vague words - Exceptional, successful, problem solver... what do these have in common? They don't actually say anything. I want to know exactly what you have accomplished. I don't want to read a description of you, I want to draw my own conclusions from your actions. As a hiring manager, I want to think for myself and not let you do it for me.

Job duties? Who cares! Just like vague words don't get the job done, neither does a laundry list of job duties. It's great that you sold ice to polar bears, but I want to know how much! You need to show why exactly you are the best person for the job, and the best way to do that is to show what a superstar you are by highlighting your accomplishments.

Metrics, metrics, metrics - The name of the game is metrics. Your resume needs numbers. It needs percentages. It need DATA. The best way to show your value is through provable (and hopefully outstanding) performance data. The more data you have, the easier it will be to have amazing content. With amazing content, the phone will start ringing.

Sell yourself - This is your chance to toot your own horn. Use it! This is not the time to be modest or humble. This is the time to feel confident (even if you don't), and to blow all those other candidates out of the water. All of your major accomplishments belong on your resume... you can be your competition is using theirs.

Don't forget that above all, a resume is a marketing document. It is your own personal press release and advertisement rolled into one. Attacking it the way you would a work project may remove some of the stress and de-personalize the process. Good luck and happy writing!

For a free resume evaluation, please visit my web site at http://www.virtuosoresumes.com/

Read more ...

Most Common CV Mistakes

Writing up your curriculum vitae or CV can be a daunting process for many people. Some may view it as an opportunity to reflect on their professional accomplishments and to analyse the roles held within a company, others may find it tough to pick out their accomplishments and are left pondering what was their actual duties within the company. This task is of course different for everyone, depending on what type of employment you are in or the type of person you are. It would not be very comforting to think that a neurosurgeon would ever have trouble trying to consider their main duties and responsibilities in their day-to-day tasks.

Your CV is a marketing tool devised to sell "you" to your potential employer. It is possibly one of the most important documents you will ever create and it is important that it is impeccable.

I will now take you through some of the most common and obvious CV mistakes that have been noticed by numerous HR managers and employers alike. We have all been at fault I am sure at one stage or another, so whether you are currently drafting up a new CV or you are just curious as to what these mistakes may be, please read on;

Spelling and grammar errors are still extremely common, even with spell check. Get somebody to proof read your CV, as they may just spot something you didn't. 50 per cent of the recruitment consultants surveyed regularly encountered this type of error.
Do not list references directly on your CV. Only submit them to your employer when requested. You do not want a to be faced with the situation where your potential employer rings up your current employer asking for a reference. This advice comes highly recommended trust me.
Incorrect contact informationcan be more common than you think. Make sure your contact number and email address is accurate. Otherwise you may be left wondering why you aren't getting any phone calls.
The design and lay out of your CV is also very important. If your CV simply does not look good, you could be taking yourself out of the possibility before they even read your CV. When sending a CV online, beware of templates on Microsoft word. The format can cause them to become distorted on a different computer. Keep it simple and go for a blank template and build it up from a different template as a guide.
Don't send the same CV to all employers. You should tailor each CV to suit the job application you are applying for. This means that only relevant information is present for the job specification. This will help to link your previous experience to the current job specification you are applying for.

Try and avoid these mistakes and I am sure you will find the job that you have always wanted.

Read more ...

Resume Writing Common Sense Tips

Are you still waiting for employers to call? Have you wondered why your resume isn't generating the response that you would like? Outlined below are a few common reasons why hiring managers may put your resume into the "no" pile.

How long is too long? The HR manager doesn't want your entire work history. In fact, they don't actually care about you. Harsh, I know, but they really just want to know what you can do FOR THEM. They want to know what value you will add to their organization, preferably in one page. Two is okay, but one is better. Keep it concise and hit only the highlights that will draw them in.

Vague words - Exceptional, successful, problem solver... what do these have in common? They don't actually say anything. I want to know exactly what you have accomplished. I don't want to read a description of you, I want to draw my own conclusions from your actions. As a hiring manager, I want to think for myself and not let you do it for me.

Job duties? Who cares! Just like vague words don't get the job done, neither does a laundry list of job duties. It's great that you sold ice to polar bears, but I want to know how much! You need to show why exactly you are the best person for the job, and the best way to do that is to show what a superstar you are by highlighting your accomplishments.

Metrics, metrics, metrics - The name of the game is metrics. Your resume needs numbers. It needs percentages. It need DATA. The best way to show your value is through provable (and hopefully outstanding) performance data. The more data you have, the easier it will be to have amazing content. With amazing content, the phone will start ringing.

Sell yourself - This is your chance to toot your own horn. Use it! This is not the time to be modest or humble. This is the time to feel confident (even if you don't), and to blow all those other candidates out of the water. All of your major accomplishments belong on your resume... you can be your competition is using theirs.

Don't forget that above all, a resume is a marketing document. It is your own personal press release and advertisement rolled into one. Attacking it the way you would a work project may remove some of the stress and de-personalize the process. Good luck and happy writing!

For a free resume evaluation, please visit my web site at http://www.virtuosoresumes.com/

Read more ...

Common Resume Points to Fill Out on a Resume Builder

The details on a resume builder can vary but they must be listed carefully. This is so a potential employer can get a better look at an applicant.

First, a resume builder must work with special sections that relate to the experience that a person has. The experience relates to all of the jobs that a person has had in the past. This should include information on the tenure that a person had while in one of these jobs.

A resume builder can also include details on the kinds of tasks that these jobs entailed. These details must be relevant to the job that a person is applying for. A good builder can be adjustable in accordance to what kind of job a resume is for.

Details on the skills that a person has can also be listed in a resume builder. This relates to the kinds of skills that a person might manage in a typical job and how these skills were used in the past on other jobs. This information must be listed to make it easier for a job to work out well.

Education history is another key to list. This history can include details on where a person studied, how long that person studied there for, the degree that a person received and the grades that the person had. Information on specific courses that the applicant took may also be listed. This is provided that these courses relate to the job the person is applying for.

Information on any honors that the applicant got may also be listed. This information can include details on academic honors and any awards that an applicant received while in another job. These details may list information on all sorts of special things that a person got into and should be listed carefully on a resume builder.

A resume builder can also list information on any references that one has. A good builder can include sections devoted to several key factors that work in a resume. These include such things like the name of the reference, the relationship that the reference has to an applicant and the contact information on the reference.

Sometimes a resume builder can allow a user to add personal information on references. This is a completely optional thing to do and may not be included in all individual builders.

These points may be used on a resume builder. These points can make it easy for anyone to list information on what one is doing and should be used carefully.

Derek Gruden has been helping people create resumes online since 2010. He has been also providing resume writing assistant and volunteers at the local food bank.

Read more ...

Common CV Writing Mistakes To Stay Away From

Everyone has to look for a job once in a while. You know the grind, polish up your resume, have a look what's out there, compose resume cover letters, and mail your Curriculum vitae out to all jobs which look possible, wishing you will get an interview. It's so monotonous, with so few replies, that it's hard to stay motivated to carry out a good job on attempting to find a job.

You have to keep in mind that your curriculum vitae is really an ad. The product your resume is advertising is you, or rather the skills you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you interviews, not to land you the job. With that in mind, let's look at a few of the most common mistakes:

• Applying with a one fits all curriculum vitae - Most job seekers write one Curriculum vitae and send it out with every application. Seeing that not every job is the same, the resume should not always be the same. Go ahead and create your generic Curriculum vitae, but do not send it out. You're better off modifying that curriculum vitae to focus on the requirements of the company you are making an application for.

• Making your resume too long - The typical resume seems like the applicant is trying to make an impression on the hiring business with volume. The majority of companies read only the first page of a Curriculum vitae, so if you haven't caught their interest by then, you've lost this game. It is essential that you strike a balance between importance and volume.

• Concentrating on your own objectives - Objective statements which point out your own expectations from the job won't impress anyone. Don't forget, you are promoting yourself. Tell that future employer what benefit there is for him in employing you.

• Concentrating on achievements, with no results - Telling the future employer that you made a change in the company policy result in "so what" reaction. Telling them you saved the business X number of pounds by making that change sparks his or her attention.

• Writing an autobiography style of resume - While this may be the most popular type of resume, it actually doesn't accomplish what you need it to, nor will it reveal to anyone reading through it what they need to know. They do not need your life story; they want to know what you're capable of doing for them. So stay clear of a resume that looks like your life story.

Although this checklist isn't conclusive, I hope you can understand where it is heading. Make a resume which focuses on the benefit in employing you, that's what is going to get you the job interview.

The Writer is a jobs advisor at the internet job sites nineoclock. He specialises in guiding job seekers on various areas of jobs searching especially selecting the right job vacancies in london. Check out his web site for many more good suggestions for job hunting. The website often features a listing of jobs you can find on the internet.

When creating a curriculum vitae for job searching no matter whether on Job search sites or in the standard way, It's necessary to understand that your resume is really an ad. The product your cv is advertising is you, or in fact the services you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you an interview, not to land you the job.

Read more ...

Common CV Writing Mistakes To Stay Away From

Everyone has to look for a job once in a while. You know the grind, polish up your resume, have a look what's out there, compose resume cover letters, and mail your Curriculum vitae out to all jobs which look possible, wishing you will get an interview. It's so monotonous, with so few replies, that it's hard to stay motivated to carry out a good job on attempting to find a job.

You have to keep in mind that your curriculum vitae is really an ad. The product your resume is advertising is you, or rather the skills you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you interviews, not to land you the job. With that in mind, let's look at a few of the most common mistakes:

• Applying with a one fits all curriculum vitae - Most job seekers write one Curriculum vitae and send it out with every application. Seeing that not every job is the same, the resume should not always be the same. Go ahead and create your generic Curriculum vitae, but do not send it out. You're better off modifying that curriculum vitae to focus on the requirements of the company you are making an application for.

• Making your resume too long - The typical resume seems like the applicant is trying to make an impression on the hiring business with volume. The majority of companies read only the first page of a Curriculum vitae, so if you haven't caught their interest by then, you've lost this game. It is essential that you strike a balance between importance and volume.

• Concentrating on your own objectives - Objective statements which point out your own expectations from the job won't impress anyone. Don't forget, you are promoting yourself. Tell that future employer what benefit there is for him in employing you.

• Concentrating on achievements, with no results - Telling the future employer that you made a change in the company policy result in "so what" reaction. Telling them you saved the business X number of pounds by making that change sparks his or her attention.

• Writing an autobiography style of resume - While this may be the most popular type of resume, it actually doesn't accomplish what you need it to, nor will it reveal to anyone reading through it what they need to know. They do not need your life story; they want to know what you're capable of doing for them. So stay clear of a resume that looks like your life story.

Although this checklist isn't conclusive, I hope you can understand where it is heading. Make a resume which focuses on the benefit in employing you, that's what is going to get you the job interview.

The Writer is a jobs advisor at the internet job sites nineoclock. He specialises in guiding job seekers on various areas of jobs searching especially selecting the right job vacancies in london. Check out his web site for many more good suggestions for job hunting. The website often features a listing of jobs you can find on the internet.

When creating a curriculum vitae for job searching no matter whether on Job search sites or in the standard way, It's necessary to understand that your resume is really an ad. The product your cv is advertising is you, or in fact the services you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you an interview, not to land you the job.

Read more ...

Common CV Writing Mistakes To Stay Away From

Everyone has to look for a job once in a while. You know the grind, polish up your resume, have a look what's out there, compose resume cover letters, and mail your Curriculum vitae out to all jobs which look possible, wishing you will get an interview. It's so monotonous, with so few replies, that it's hard to stay motivated to carry out a good job on attempting to find a job.

You have to keep in mind that your curriculum vitae is really an ad. The product your resume is advertising is you, or rather the skills you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you interviews, not to land you the job. With that in mind, let's look at a few of the most common mistakes:

• Applying with a one fits all curriculum vitae - Most job seekers write one Curriculum vitae and send it out with every application. Seeing that not every job is the same, the resume should not always be the same. Go ahead and create your generic Curriculum vitae, but do not send it out. You're better off modifying that curriculum vitae to focus on the requirements of the company you are making an application for.

• Making your resume too long - The typical resume seems like the applicant is trying to make an impression on the hiring business with volume. The majority of companies read only the first page of a Curriculum vitae, so if you haven't caught their interest by then, you've lost this game. It is essential that you strike a balance between importance and volume.

• Concentrating on your own objectives - Objective statements which point out your own expectations from the job won't impress anyone. Don't forget, you are promoting yourself. Tell that future employer what benefit there is for him in employing you.

• Concentrating on achievements, with no results - Telling the future employer that you made a change in the company policy result in "so what" reaction. Telling them you saved the business X number of pounds by making that change sparks his or her attention.

• Writing an autobiography style of resume - While this may be the most popular type of resume, it actually doesn't accomplish what you need it to, nor will it reveal to anyone reading through it what they need to know. They do not need your life story; they want to know what you're capable of doing for them. So stay clear of a resume that looks like your life story.

Although this checklist isn't conclusive, I hope you can understand where it is heading. Make a resume which focuses on the benefit in employing you, that's what is going to get you the job interview.

The Writer is a jobs advisor at the internet job sites nineoclock. He specialises in guiding job seekers on various areas of jobs searching especially selecting the right job vacancies in london. Check out his web site for many more good suggestions for job hunting. The website often features a listing of jobs you can find on the internet.

When creating a curriculum vitae for job searching no matter whether on Job search sites or in the standard way, It's necessary to understand that your resume is really an ad. The product your cv is advertising is you, or in fact the services you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you an interview, not to land you the job.

Read more ...

Common CV Writing Mistakes To Stay Away From

Everyone has to look for a job once in a while. You know the grind, polish up your resume, have a look what's out there, compose resume cover letters, and mail your Curriculum vitae out to all jobs which look possible, wishing you will get an interview. It's so monotonous, with so few replies, that it's hard to stay motivated to carry out a good job on attempting to find a job.

You have to keep in mind that your curriculum vitae is really an ad. The product your resume is advertising is you, or rather the skills you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you interviews, not to land you the job. With that in mind, let's look at a few of the most common mistakes:

• Applying with a one fits all curriculum vitae - Most job seekers write one Curriculum vitae and send it out with every application. Seeing that not every job is the same, the resume should not always be the same. Go ahead and create your generic Curriculum vitae, but do not send it out. You're better off modifying that curriculum vitae to focus on the requirements of the company you are making an application for.

• Making your resume too long - The typical resume seems like the applicant is trying to make an impression on the hiring business with volume. The majority of companies read only the first page of a Curriculum vitae, so if you haven't caught their interest by then, you've lost this game. It is essential that you strike a balance between importance and volume.

• Concentrating on your own objectives - Objective statements which point out your own expectations from the job won't impress anyone. Don't forget, you are promoting yourself. Tell that future employer what benefit there is for him in employing you.

• Concentrating on achievements, with no results - Telling the future employer that you made a change in the company policy result in "so what" reaction. Telling them you saved the business X number of pounds by making that change sparks his or her attention.

• Writing an autobiography style of resume - While this may be the most popular type of resume, it actually doesn't accomplish what you need it to, nor will it reveal to anyone reading through it what they need to know. They do not need your life story; they want to know what you're capable of doing for them. So stay clear of a resume that looks like your life story.

Although this checklist isn't conclusive, I hope you can understand where it is heading. Make a resume which focuses on the benefit in employing you, that's what is going to get you the job interview.

The Writer is a jobs advisor at the internet job sites nineoclock. He specialises in guiding job seekers on various areas of jobs searching especially selecting the right job vacancies in london. Check out his web site for many more good suggestions for job hunting. The website often features a listing of jobs you can find on the internet.

When creating a curriculum vitae for job searching no matter whether on Job search sites or in the standard way, It's necessary to understand that your resume is really an ad. The product your cv is advertising is you, or in fact the services you offer to a company. Its only function is to get you an interview, not to land you the job.

Read more ...

Common Resume Points to Fill Out on a Resume Builder

The details on a resume builder can vary but they must be listed carefully. This is so a potential employer can get a better look at an applicant.

First, a resume builder must work with special sections that relate to the experience that a person has. The experience relates to all of the jobs that a person has had in the past. This should include information on the tenure that a person had while in one of these jobs.

A resume builder can also include details on the kinds of tasks that these jobs entailed. These details must be relevant to the job that a person is applying for. A good builder can be adjustable in accordance to what kind of job a resume is for.

Details on the skills that a person has can also be listed in a resume builder. This relates to the kinds of skills that a person might manage in a typical job and how these skills were used in the past on other jobs. This information must be listed to make it easier for a job to work out well.

Education history is another key to list. This history can include details on where a person studied, how long that person studied there for, the degree that a person received and the grades that the person had. Information on specific courses that the applicant took may also be listed. This is provided that these courses relate to the job the person is applying for.

Information on any honors that the applicant got may also be listed. This information can include details on academic honors and any awards that an applicant received while in another job. These details may list information on all sorts of special things that a person got into and should be listed carefully on a resume builder.

A resume builder can also list information on any references that one has. A good builder can include sections devoted to several key factors that work in a resume. These include such things like the name of the reference, the relationship that the reference has to an applicant and the contact information on the reference.

Sometimes a resume builder can allow a user to add personal information on references. This is a completely optional thing to do and may not be included in all individual builders.

These points may be used on a resume builder. These points can make it easy for anyone to list information on what one is doing and should be used carefully.

Derek Gruden has been helping people create resumes online since 2010. He has been also providing resume writing assistant and volunteers at the local food bank.

Read more ...

Five Common Resume Mistakes to Avoid

Sloppy or Inaccurate Dates. Recruiters have a trained eye when it comes to resumes and they can quickly pick up mistakes that you may not even know you're making! For example, did you know that listing a start and end date for your college education tells a recruiter that you haven't graduated yet? College graduates should only list the year and month that they graduated. For more mature job seekers, leaving the graduation date off altogether is always an option.

In today's social media driven world, employers often verify candidates information against their own social media profiles, so make sure the dates on your resume match your LinkedIn profile, a web resume if you have one, or anywhere else you have your employment history posted.

Like any other information on your resume, the dates should be consistent. Nothing bugs me more than seeing a resume that has dates in all different formats - it just looks sloppy! If you use Jan 2004 in your experience section, repeat that format in your education section and all throughout your resume.

Too Vague. Recruiters can spot or all-over-the-place job seeker from a mile away. If you're not sure what you want to do when you grow up and your resume reflects that, a recruiter is not going to pick up the phone and call you for an interview. Why would a recruiter waste their time interviewing a person for a position that may not be interested? Time is money, and no wants to waste theirs. If you have multiple interests and multiple job targets, you should have multiple job seeking packages. Tweak your resume and cover letter for each target, or work out a deal with your resume writer for multiple packages.

Even job seekers who have a specific target in mind can be guilty of being too vague in their resume. If you know what you want to do, make that clear throughout with a statement of objective and industry-specific skills and keywords. Use concise language to tell employers what you've done and how you added value. Limit your use of fluffy, soft skills language so that the real you can come through!

Too Wordy. Resumes are unique documents. They are meant to present a clear snapshot of your unique skills and experience. Every word should be chosen wisely. Mean what you say and say what you mean! In a resume, it's ok to break grammatical rules for pronouns and articles. This is no place for "I, me, my" and you're actually expected to exclude extraneous words. Save your philosophies and anecdotes for the interview.

Rules for resume lengths have lightened up a bit. Experienced professionals can certainly extend to the second page if necessary, but entry level candidates should limit themselves to one page.

Pictures and Personal Information. Pictures have no place on your resume, unless you are a model and your physical appearance is directly related to your ability to do the job. While you may believe that attending church on Sunday and having three kids makes you more attractive to an employer, personal information doesn't belong on your resume or cover letter. A potential employer likely has a profile already formed of who the ideal candidate for this position is. Having kids and being a devoted family man may or may not be part of that ideal profile. By including personal information, you're just increasing your chances of having a "strike" against you, whether that strike is warranted or not. With resumes, the rule is always Less is More. Stick with the facts, and just the facts.

Spelling, Grammar & Punctuation Mistakes. This should be a no-brainer, but avoiding spelling mistakes goes beyond using your spell checker. I recently saw a resume for an established professional in the hospitality industry who misspelled guests four times in the body of the cover letter. The spell check didn't pick it up because he used the word "quests" instead of "guests". He also indicated that he possesses high attention to detail. For a potential employer, the misspelling of guests speaks volumes! What is says is that you don't really pay attention to the details, even though you said you do. What else might you be misrepresenting?

Another common mistake is extreme capitalization. Use traditional grammar rules for capitalization - consult a style guide if necessary. While you may think capitalization is an effective method for calling attention to certain words or topics, it can actually be very distracting for a reader since it's counter-intuitive to learned rules of our language.

Tenses are a sticking point in resumes as well. As a general rule, use present tense to describe current job responsibilities and past tense for everything else. Whatever you do, like everything else in resume writing...be consistent!

Recruiters review hundreds of resumes each week. Your resume only has about 15 seconds to grab their attention. A professional resume writer can help keep yours on top of the pile and increase your chances for getting an interview. Searching for a job is stressful enough - let me put my skills and experience to work for you so you can focus on the big picture!

Having trouble finding the right words to describe your accomplishments? Wondering what to include or leave out or what information to put first? As a professional resume writer, I keep abreast of all the latest trends in resumes and hiring so you don't have to! Partner with a professional resume writer like myself and leave the guesswork out of it.

For more information about Professional Resume Writing Services, visit http://www.rebeccahenninger.com/.

Read more ...

5 Common Resume Formatting Mistakes - Tips to Create a Clear, Compelling Resume

In today's competitive job market, job seekers are more concerned than ever before that their resumes will be read -- and get the critical call back. Unfortunately, common formatting errors can produce an unprofessional impression, and lead the Hiring Authority to dismiss your resume - before the resume has even been read.

Needless to say, a lot of resumes cross my desk in a week. I'd like to use that experience to point out a few common formatting issues that can make your resume look lower level, and ensure that your resume clearly represents what you've accomplished in your career.

1) Death by Bullets:

This is by far the most common formatting issue that I see.

The tendency to bullet everything is natural. But, remember the line from the great Pixar classic, The Incredibles - "If everyone is special, no one is." If everything on your resume is bulleted, nothing stands out - there's no simple, straightforward visual cue to separate duties and responsibilities from critical accomplishments.

So be sure to make the distinction clear. One simple solution is to use paragraphs for duties and responsibilities - and save the bullets for the core accomplishments.

2) Unwieldy Chunks of Text:

On the other end of the spectrum is the resume that reads like a detailed essays - no bullets, and long, dense, paragraphs that are difficult to navigate.
This is particularly common in resumes for highly-technical and engineering professionals. This resume presents the same challenges as "death by bullets" - the resume can't be easily navigated for critical information.

But, unfortunately, this formatting may look so forbidding that the Hiring Authority will put off reading it until later. Later, in the hiring process, often doesn't happen.

3) Wasting the First Page:

The first page of the resume is the most critical real estate in the document. It is absolutely critical that the first page is well utilized to demonstrate the unique value you provide to a prospective employer.

But, too often, the first page can be wasted with overly long keywords lists, education, and miscellaneous information best left for the end of the document.

Only lead with education if you're a new graduate, or if you're changing careers and recent education is your most critical selling point.

4) Highlighted Accomplishments:

"Cherry picking" accomplishments seems like a great idea - why not give the reader the highlights upfront?

But this approach has serious drawbacks for most careers. There's no context for achievements - cutting costs by 250% is a very different accomplishment in a Fortune 100 organization than in a startup, for example.

In addition, this strategy is primarily used if a job seeker - for whatever reason - has not delivered great achievements in recent positions. Hiring Authorities are, therefore, wary of this format.

5) Unclear Layout:

Finally, there's a broad range of cluttered, busy layouts. There's the view that this "unique" approach to formatting will get the resume the attention it deserves. Unfortunately, there is often the opposite result - by making the Hiring Authority work too hard to find the critical information, your resume may be "put off until later." As we've discussed, later often never happens.

Consider these common issues when you're writing your resume. A clean, clear resume is an excellent first step to presenting your career achievements. I'll discuss resume content and other resume issues in future articles.

My goal is to help technology's "best and brightest" take their careers to the next level.
As a technical resume authority and former recruiter, I am committed to crafting compelling resumes, cover letters, and other career documents that capture your career essentials, seize and hold the hiring authority's attention, and open the door for the 1st interview.
For more information, please contact me at http://www.quantumtechresumes.com/.
Follow me on twitter at https://twitter.com/QuanTechResume.

Read more ...

Five of the Most Common Mistakes People Make in Their CVs

1. NOT TAILORING YOUR CV

The biggest mistake people make is not tailoring their CV to the job they are applying for. Many job seekers develop one version of their CV, which they submit for every position. By sending the same version of your CV for each type of role, you risk falling short of the mark when it comes time for the employer to sift through the pile of CVs on their desk. Only those CVs that directly match the role will be considered and if yours doesn't match, you won't be invited for an interview.

Although your qualifications, skills and experience remain the same, the way in which you present the information for different positions will vary. When applying for a senior role, for example, you'll need to highlight your supervisory and management experience. Applying for a lower level position, however, will require you to tone these down.

2. INCLUDING UNNECESSARY PERSONAL INFORMATION

Including personal information such as marital status, date of birth and religious affiliation is not required in most English-speaking parts of the world. Anti discrimination legislation means employers are not allowed to discriminate on the basis of marital status, age and religion so there is no need to include such information in your CV.

The only exceptions would be in the case of applying for a specialised role such as a pastoral counsellor, for example, where including details of your religious affiliation and training would be beneficial and may even be part of the selection criteria.

3. NOT USING KEYWORDS

The use of keywords in your CV is essential, particularly if you are applying for a role via a recruitment agency or larger company. Many recruitment agencies and large companies use specialised software that can scan CVs looking for keywords that relate to the role they are seeking to fill. If your CV fails to contain the necessary keywords, you won't be considered for the role at all.

Check the job advertisement for the keywords and be sure to include these in your CV. If the job advertisement doesn't contain enough information about the keywords, contact the recruiter and ask them exactly what they're looking for. Keywords should be included throughout your CV including in your CV's job title, objective, skills summary, overview, task descriptions and education/training sections.

4. SPELLING AND GRAMMAR ERRORS

If you are preparing your CV on your own, be sure to use spell check to correct errors and then have it checked by at least two other people. Relying solely upon spell check can be disastrous since many words contained in CVs are not recognised or can be misinterpreted by spell check.

If English is your second language, poor grammar is a particular issue you may need to be aware of. Having a native English speaker check the grammar in your CV is vital. An employer will immediately pick up on your less-than-perfect English-language skills even if your spoken English skills are superior.

5. INCLUDING HOBBIES AND INTERESTS

With the exception of students or teens looking for their first part time job, including a section in your CV about your hobbies and interests is not recommended. Employers don't need to know you enjoy crocheting, archery and travelling in your spare time.

If the position you are applying for calls for someone with knowledge and experience in one of your hobby and interest areas, highlight this in the summary or overview section of your CV rather than under a 'Hobbies and Interests' heading.

For students or teens with limited or no previous work history, it can be useful to include hobbies and interests as these can demonstrate desirable qualities to an employer. Involvement in a sporting team demonstrates team-work skills, an interest in animals can indicate compassion and an interest in cycling can show you are fit and healthy. It is not advisable to include hobbies and interests that could be detrimental such as listing 'going to parties' or 'hanging out with friends' since these add nothing to your application.

There are many resources available online to help guide you through the process of creating a professional resume. If you need help, consult a career counsellor or resume/CV writer. They will be able to develop a professional CV taking into account your qualifications, skills and experience together with the kinds of roles you will be applying for.

Lisa LaRue, MCareerDev, BSocSc (Couns), DipCareerGuid, CDAA is a Career Development Consultant & Work-Life Coach at CareerWorx Careers & Transitions http://www.careerworx.com.au/ and http://www.careerworx.co.uk/

Read more ...

3 Common Mistakes You Must Avoid When Writing A Cover Letter For Employment

When writing a cover letter for employment in a desired organization, it is absolutely critical that your letter is free of the 3 most common mistakes of cover letter writing.

These mistakes will be noticed very quickly by recruiters and hiring managers. Some hiring managers will, in fact, perform a quick scan of your letter to spot if any of these mistakes exist before even proceeding to read the letter in detail.

Listed here are 3 of the most common mistakes that job seekers make when writing a cover letter for employment.

1. Cover letter is not addressed by name to a specific person.

Use of "Dear Sir/Madam" or "To Whom It May Concern" just does not make the cut in an accompanying letter to a resume.

You must take the effort to call the prospective employer and inquire politely with the receptionist or secretary for the name of the hiring manager or HR manager who receives the applications. Be upfront about why you are seeking the names of these individuals. Sometimes they will be understandably cagey about releasing names to outsiders.

If that fails, do some research on the internet for the organization you are seeking employment with. LinkedIn is also a good place to search for names.

2. The letter does not follow standard format.

Cover letters for employment must follow a standard format:

Your Name, Address and Contact Details (telephone and email) on the top right corner of the letter.

Today's date on the left side of the letter, below your personal details.

Contact details of prospective employer one line space below the date. Include name, job title and company address.

Start the letter with "Dear Mr Smith" (remember to use a name, and not Sir / Madam!)

Paragraphing - do not go beyond 4 paragraphs. You must succinctly 'sell yourself' and convince the hiring manager that you are the right person for the job in 3 or 4 paragraphs at most. And remember that anything more than a one-page letter is a NO-NO!

Close with "Yours Sincerely" or "Sincerely". If you are unable to address your prospective employer by name, and are using "Dear Sir/Madam", then close your letter with "Yours Faithfully."

3. Asking for an "interview" in your cover letter

The hiring process is not a one-way street. The use of the term "interview" gives the impression that you are being questioned or interrogated by the employer. This is not the way modern companies hire these days. Employers seek to understand as much as to be understood about company goals and objectives. Do not shy away from asking relevant questions about the position.

In your cover letter for employment, request for "the opportunity to meet and discuss" or "to speak with you in person" rather than asking for an "interview."

And finally, if you would like to view samples of cover letter templates or need help with professional cover letter writing services, visit http://www.coverletterhelp.org/

Read more ...

Resume Writing: Ten Common Mistakes

In no particular order:

1. Lack of clear objective. Failing to convey what you want and how you will achieve it. If you don't know what you want, how will you get it? Employers want to see right away that you know what you want and you have the skills to achieve it. Not having an objective on your resume is equivalent to saying, "I'll take anything."

2. Lack of relevance. Fluffing your resume with irrelevant data just to fill space. Once your objective is clearly stated, everything else on the resume should somehow support that objective, or demonstrate how will you will achieve it.

3. Lack of focus. Be careful not to come across as though you are trying to be all things to all people. Trying to convey too many areas of expertise will only result in failing to convey any. If you truly are a jack of all trades, then you should consider writing several versions of your resume, each targeting a particular craft or profession.

4. Lack of credibility. Information that is not relevant or fails to support the objective.

5. Lack of self-awareness. Listing tasks instead of transferable skills. There is a very definite difference between tasks and skills. Tasks are the things you do at work each day. Skills are the abilities that make you able to perform those tasks.

6. Lack of originality. Using clich?s and formulated text throughout. Use your own words and avoid copying phrasing from job ads or other resumes you've seen.

7. Neglecting to include attributes. Your attributes are the main thing that employers want to know. What are your characteristics, the things that make you, you.

8. Neglecting to include achievements. An achievement is something you conceived, suggested, or executed that had a direct result for the employer.

9. Neglecting to identify transferable skills. Employers want to know what you are capable of doing. So your past job duties are not as relevant as the skills you used to perform them.

10. Trying to force the resume to fit a standard format. Who says it has to be two pages? Who says it has to be chronological? If it fits a common format, that's great, but if it doesn't, there is no reason to force it, especially if that means leaving out relevant information.

Read more ...

Common Resume Mistakes That Must Be Avoided

Having gone through hundreds of resume, I have noticed certain patterns and mistakes that most people make while preparing their resume. In this article, we will discuss some mistakes that we have come across most often. Some of them are as follows:

1. Resume Lacks Resume: Most resumes lack focus which is the major reason behind most resumes being rejected. Given that employers don't spend more than 20 seconds on a resume, it should be strong enough to grab the attention of the employer. One way to do the same is by writing a sharp objective statement. The objective statement can be very simple and straightforward, simply speaking about the position you are applying for. Sections like summary of qualifications, profile etc. can be also be added to sharpen your focus.

2. Resumes are Responsibilities Driven: Generally it has been noticed that job lookers include expressions like "Duties included," "Responsibilities included," or "Responsible for", which are not much appreciated by employers. Resume should primarily focus on accomplishments that you have achieved and that set you apart from other job applications.

3. CV's Fail to Capture Reader's Interest: One rule of CV writing says that items in CV should be listed in a manner that they are able to grasp the reader's attention. Information on the CV should be listed in order of importance. For instance, while listing information about your previous jobs, most important thing is your title/position. So, list in this preferred order: Title/position, name of employer, city/state of employer, dates of employment. Similarly other section like education should be done in a particular order.

4. Important Skills like Computer Skills Listed in the Bottom: While composing the CV's Job-seekers generally end up mentioning important skills like computer skills at the bottom. If these or any other skills are relevant to your field, it is highly recommended that you list them in your Summary or Profile Section.

5. Resume Lacks Presentation: An attractive and well presented resume is must. Make use of bullets and demarcation marks to make your resume a user-friendly, thus increasing your chances of being called for an interview.

6. Resume Lacks Keywords: Job-hunting today revolves around keywords. Employers depend upon keywords technology to find the right job candidates. So, if your resume is lacking keywords chances are that you will not be called for an interview that you may be best suited for.

7. References are Listed Directly on Resume: While preparing their CV's job lookers tend to directly list their references on resume, which is completely not advisable. It is suggested that you list them on a separate sheet and submit them only when specifically requested by an employer.

8. CV Templates Copied Exactly: CV templates are only to give you an idea on how a CV should like. Copying it word to word will go against your good will. Just take an idea and personalize it as per you needs.

Read more ...

Five Common Missteps That Weaken Your Resume

If you looked at hundreds of resumes a day like hiring managers and recruiters sometimes do, they all begin to look alike. With that in mind, how should one avoid presenting a resume that blends in with the competition? Here are some common resume mistakes that cause hiring managers' eyes to glaze over, leaving your resume lost in the sea of competition.

Relying too much on personal branding. Though personal branding is a big buzz phrase these days it is a mistake to think you will get hired if you have a dynamite "brand". Don't spend too much of your time painting a lovely picture of yourself using fancy wording; hiring managers see so many branding statements it is very difficult to create a unique one these days. Instead, show your value by highlighting your accomplishments and experiences.

Using vague, generic language. Does your resume state that you are "task oriented", an "excellent communicator", or a "team player"? So does everyone else's! Not only are they overly general, these are skills that are almost always expected to fill every available job. They are not skills that will make you stand out as unique. Notable skills would be those that are measurable (80 WPM, record sales results, etc.), those that fit the job description perfectly (QuickBooks proficiency, Java expertise, etc.), and those that are just extraordinary (tri-lingual, Six Sigma Black Belt, etc.). Don't be afraid to be specific!

Focusing too much on job responsibilities. Most of the resumes I come across contain at least one of the following phrases: "Assisted with", "Responsible for", "Completed", or "Worked on". Hiring managers expect that you can complete the tasks of the job, and want to know that you have a track record of going above and beyond in your work history. Start by looking at your previous positions and asking yourself how you improved, expanded, or changed those positions while in them. Then, create accomplishment-focused bullets that show you do more than just show up for work.

Giving too much personal information. I have actually seen resumes that included photos, marital status, stated gender, nationality, birthdate, and even family member names. None of these aspects of your life are appropriate for your resume, so remember to keep it professional. Also, pay close attention to the memberships and affiliations you list. Religious and political affiliations may work against you unless they apply directed to the prospective job.

Using overly ornate formatting. Design professionals are essentially the only people who may benefit from a decorative resume. Fancy or cutesy formatting only serves as a distraction from the quality content in your resume. Keep it clean and straightforward with an adequate amount of white space.

Strong resumes are smart, concise, and clearly reflect what you are capable of. Distracting readers by using generic or meaningless wording or designs only serves to hide your fantastic qualifications and makes your resume blend in with the rest. Learn from these common mistakes and your resume will have a better chance of getting noticed!

Cathy Eng is a Certified Advanced Resume Writer and owner of Resume Rocketeer, Inc. She specializes in helping clients leverage their best skills and experiences to create a powerful, effective resume and cover letter. Cathy specializes in a wide variety of fields and experience levels, as well as professionals looking to change career paths and those returning to the workforce after an extended period of time. She is a member of the National Resume Writers Association, Career Directors International, and Professional Association of Resume Writers.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Eng

Read more ...

Common and Very Fixable Resume Errors

By Melanie Szlucha Melanie Szlucha
Level: Platinum

Melanie Szlucha has been a hiring manager for over 15 years and a career coach for over 4. Combining presentation and communication skills with her ...

Sometimes it's kinda neat being me. Every week I get resumes from people around the country, and even around the world. Instead of being the typical hiring manager who quickly scans a resume to look for a candidate I want to interview and toss the rest, I actually get to give people feedback on ways to improve their resume.

It's funny how some bullets you have on your resume make perfect sense to you, but having someone else read it puts a completely different spin on it. One client had this phrase on this resume "Leadership position with a multi-million dollar corporation." There's a few problems with stating this on a resume. First, a hiring manager would clearly see from the company names and titles you've had, to prove that bullet point true, no need to state the obvious. Second, the way this sentence is written implies that the candidate was working in the upper-echelon of the corporate structure. However, this candidate's position was actually at the franchise level. Completely different meaning. Not to diminish the candidate's accomplishments at all, but when you're writing your resume, you need to pay attention to how what you write could be interpreted.

Another very common issue I see on a resume is that people think they need to put an objective on a resume. Let's face it-your objective is to get a job that's better than what you have and earn more money. On a resume this is phrased like "To secure a position where my talents can be utilized to their full potential for the betterment of the company." Get it out of your resume. It's taking up valuable space, and signifies nothing.

Lastly, your resume should show your qualifications, not tell. It should tell the story about your accomplishments, not just your job responsibilities. It should describe the problems you've solved. It should entice a hiring manager to call you because it stands apart from the other dry, duties-oriented resumes they receive. Show that you're a great candidate. When I write a client's resume, I can type any statement I want, but without the proof of past accomplishments, it means nothing. Give them the proof they need to call you.

Melanie Szlucha has been a hiring manager for over 15 years and a career coach for over 4 through her company Red Inc. She writes resumes, coaches clients for job interviews, and works with them to strategize networking opportunities and job search tactics.

She offers a packet of FREE job search articles--worth over $100, through her website: http://www.reallygreatresume.com/.

Following her on Twitter ( http://www.twitter.com/Red_Inc ) gives you one great job search tip per day for FREE!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Szlucha

This article has been viewed 6 time(s).
Article Submitted On: December 22, 2010

Read more ...

Common Mistakes in a Resume

A resume is a short description of your persona and your talents. In actual terms it is just a document but when put across an employer it works as a ladder to success.

When it comes to writing a resume, there should be lot of consideration and seriousness. When written effectively it holds the power to open various doors to rewarding career prospects but one single mistake can take you down the drain. So, it is very important to give utmost care to your resume.

Statistically it is believed that almost 8 out of 10 applicants make mistakes in writing resumes. These mistakes are mostly negligible or of least consideration but if it comes to an employer's notice, your chances of securing a job interview becomes negligible.

There are many resume mistakes that can transform the meaning and significance of your resume. Here are some of the most common resume that you need to avoid:

? Lack of focus is one common mistake that people usually make.
? Many people neglect the importance of numbers, percentage, and ranking.
? Using irrelevant information reduces the resume value.
? Use of meaningless acronyms and pronouns is a waste of time and effort.
? Repeating one specific thing is of no significance.
? Using superlatives is equal to exaggeration.
? Not understanding the expectations of the employer lands you into trouble.
? Ignoring the significance of powerful keywords can make your resume weak.
? Not creating an effective objective can take away your chance of getting a job interview.
? Using high sounding words to show off your excellence in language is not favorable.
? Use of flowery language and designer fonts kills your value showcased in the resume.
? Using passive language and wrong terminology takes the employer away from your resume.
? Information scattered in an unorganized manner. Though very few people make this mistake but the one who does loses his or her credibility irrespective of how experienced or talented the person is.
? Using gimmicks fail to impress any employer.
? Creating false stories to fill the gaps in employment history is often caught by employers.
? Inflating or exaggerating won't be of any help in making your job search more effective and productive.

To know more on specific resume types, check Director Resumes.

Read more ...