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.

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5 Mistakes to Avoid in a Cover Letter

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Top Five Resume Mistakes To Fix For 2013

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5 Resume Writing Mistakes That Will End Your Job Search

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Avoid The Worst Resume Mistakes

Job hunters are obsessed with their resumes. They often spend hours working on their resume only to become frustrated as they submit dozens of resumes without a single job interview.

Read the Job Description

Read, and then reread the job description. Study it. What are the key words and phrases used to describe the position? What does the employer want? Compare these with your work accomplishments, education and experience. Which of your credentials fit the job description? Which are unrelated?

Shorten Your Resume

Remove experience and qualifications that have nothing to do with the job. Make it easy for employers to find the credentials and talents they need. It is difficult finding the skills the employer needs the most. Use the job description as a guide and list the most valuable skills first.

Cut the Unrelated Job History

If a past job is unrelated then keep that short. Don't go into detail explaining a set of skills that your prospective employer doesn't care about.

Avoid a Cookie Cutter Resume

Show your potential and talents, even if it means that your resume is doesn't fit the restaurant industry resume templates.

There are several ways to do this. Example, typically a Candidate would explain their strong people skills, and 10 years of management experience. Take a short workshop or course on positive people management and list i as part of a career development strategy to strengthen your current skills.

Tell a Great Story

When writing your resume don't write a technical document, write a story. A resume shouldn't be a list of facts and skills relevant to a job. Let your resume tell the employer about those intangibles that can't be listed on a resume. Let your words reveal your behaviors, priorities, and passions. Let them see who you are as a person. Don't be afraid to tell the employer what you learned from your failures, especially if they are relevant to the story behind the job description.

Read your resume out loud. Practice presenting your skills and talents. Learn to articulate and market yourself. The more you practice, the better you'll present yourself in the job interview.

Focus on the Employer

Why is the employer looking for a new manager? What happened that made them word the job description the way they did? What do they need? What do they fear? The potential employer is your audience. If you tell a good story they will want an interview to continue hearing your story.

The job market is full of people with similar skills to yours. No Candidate is unique. It is hard to stand out from a pack when dozens of people graduate from the same business courses each year, and apply for the same jobs. It is difficult to stand out from the crowd when most managers complete the same tasks, and handle the same problems, every day.

Avoiding these common mistakes will help make you a talented professional who can market yourself effectively.

Robert Krzak is author and CEO of http://www.geckohospitality.com/ a respected hotel and restaurant recruitment and recruiting firm. Google G+ geckohospitality@gmail.com

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5 Resume Writing Mistakes That Will End Your Job Search

Never underestimate the power of great résumé writing. It can be the difference between snaring an interview and being left wondering why no one is returning your calls. Admittedly, you could create the greatest résumé ever and it may not work because you might not be what the company is looking for but at least it gives you the best possible shot of getting a job in what is an austere economy. Jobseekers have immense pressure on them as debts pile up and their need becomes ever more desperate. This leads to mistakes which prove costly. Continue reading to discover the 5 résumé mistakes that could kill off your chances of getting that interview.

1 -Obsession With Old Achievements
Employers are only interested with what you have achieved recently. To them, it doesn't matter if you were a managing director 15 years ago, especially if you are only an office boy today. Additionally, focusing on what you did many years ago detracts from what you have done recently. Keep your résumé current if you want to move onto the next stage.

2 - Including References
Admit it; you have placed references right at the end of at least one résumé right? This is a big mistake because employers only check references further down the line. Including them straight away is seen as presumptuous and makes it look as if you have something of an ego. Don't even add 'references available on request' because it isn't necessary. If they want references, they will ask you later on.

3 - Lengthy Work History
You don't really need to include more than three jobs on your résumé depending on the duration of each job. In most cases, there is no need to go back more than about 10 years. Adding anything extra either makes you appear to be too old or else it suggests that you don't stay in one place too long.

4 - No Impression
A common résumé writing mistake is to focus on the duties performed in previous employment. In most cases, this involves mundane details that don't interest the employer. Your goal is to show the hiring company that you left a lasting positive impression at your last job. This means you need to show what you achieved and how it impacted the company. For example, you can state that you helped improve efficiency and increases sales. If you have specific data relating to these achievements, include it. For example, 'Increased company profit by 14% via the implementation of a new sales strategy'.

5 - Lack of Specificity
Apply for any job with a one-size fits all résumé and your application will end up in the bin. Hiring teams see straight through such lazy attempts and will take about five seconds to scan the résumé before dumping it. Read each job application carefully and tailor each résumé to suit the job specifics. Include relevant keywords to ensure it shows up on search engine results in the event that you apply for jobs online.

Overall, there is no excuse to implement these resume writing mistakes because they are easy to avoid and can significantly improve your chances of being called to the second stage. The job hunting market is a dog eat dog world and if you aren't prepared to make an extra effort, you will either remain jobless or in your current vocation with no opportunity to make forward strides in your career.

Jason Kay is a professional resume writer recommends comparing online resume services at http://www.jobgoround.com/services/resume-writer-reviews/.

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Top Five Resume Mistakes To Fix For 2013

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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.

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Resume Writing Mistakes To Especially Avoid

Writing a resume isn't the easiest task to accomplish, but many jobs and most careers require it when applying for a position with their organization. Writing a good resume may take some skill and effort, but it will be worth it in the end since it is a document that vouches for your qualifications and competes against other resumes that have been submitted for the same position. It might be easier than you think to create a resume that will put you over the top, but there are definitely some things you should not do when writing it. Some unusual examples of resume submissions include white text on black paper, a resume on a shoe box, or text on bright colored paper decorated with animals. Truly, a resume reflects your professional strengths and should exhibit this in its presentation. While you might not have to worry about discouraging your job opportunity by turning in a resume written on a shoe box, there are definitely some common resume writing mistakes that you should keep in mind to avoid.

Standing Out in Extremity

Being conventional is the best choice. Hiring managers want to be able to focus on your qualifications and skills, not the creativity demonstrated on your document. Do not use unusual fonts or images on your resume. Avoid colored paper, and stick to white or cream. Higher-quality paper has a light-colored watermark that shows the manufacturer's logo. If using paper with a watermark, print your resume with the watermark on the front-side of the document.

Using Paragraphs and Sentences

While paragraphs and sentences are great for essays and reports, bullet points are best for resumes. Hiring managers most likely have a lot of resumes to review, and may be more interested in being able to read your information at a glance.

Including Dull Job Descriptions

Listing all the responsibilities at your last job is not as important as including your achievements. Achievements are evidence of your abilities, and tell more about what you are capable of accomplishing.

Too Short or Too Long

A good rule of thumb for the length of your resume is to submit the number of pages according to your work experience. If you have 5 years of experience or less, you should have 1 page for your resume. 10 years to 15 years may warrant a 2-page resume; whereas 15 years or more has probably earned 3 pages. You must also take into consideration the type of job experience you have had. A more advanced career is more likely to look well on 2 or 3 pages than a job with less required skills, training, or education. For the most part, if you are unsure, stick with one page to avoid boring the recruiter.

Font Too Small

Trying to get more on a page by shrinking the font is not a good idea. It makes it hard to read and may end up being in the discard pile before your qualifications are ever discovered.

Getting too personal

As much as you enjoy telling people how you like to take relaxing walks on the beach, this information is probably irrelevant to the job you are seeking, and takes up valuable space on your resume.

Misspelled Words and Poor Grammar

Spelling and grammar mistakes can discourage an interview regardless of how qualified you might be for the job. Spell-check your resume and find someone to proof read it before sending it in.

Paying attention to quality and details can help you produce a well-written resume that represents your best skills and abilities. It is worth spending the time to prepare your resume so that you can rise above the rest, and put yourself closer to obtaining the job you desire.

Jason Kay is a professional resume writer. He contributes to career magazines and websites such as the JobGoRound blog.

Read more ...

Resume Writing Mistakes To Especially Avoid

Writing a resume isn't the easiest task to accomplish, but many jobs and most careers require it when applying for a position with their organization. Writing a good resume may take some skill and effort, but it will be worth it in the end since it is a document that vouches for your qualifications and competes against other resumes that have been submitted for the same position. It might be easier than you think to create a resume that will put you over the top, but there are definitely some things you should not do when writing it. Some unusual examples of resume submissions include white text on black paper, a resume on a shoe box, or text on bright colored paper decorated with animals. Truly, a resume reflects your professional strengths and should exhibit this in its presentation. While you might not have to worry about discouraging your job opportunity by turning in a resume written on a shoe box, there are definitely some common resume writing mistakes that you should keep in mind to avoid.

Standing Out in Extremity

Being conventional is the best choice. Hiring managers want to be able to focus on your qualifications and skills, not the creativity demonstrated on your document. Do not use unusual fonts or images on your resume. Avoid colored paper, and stick to white or cream. Higher-quality paper has a light-colored watermark that shows the manufacturer's logo. If using paper with a watermark, print your resume with the watermark on the front-side of the document.

Using Paragraphs and Sentences

While paragraphs and sentences are great for essays and reports, bullet points are best for resumes. Hiring managers most likely have a lot of resumes to review, and may be more interested in being able to read your information at a glance.

Including Dull Job Descriptions

Listing all the responsibilities at your last job is not as important as including your achievements. Achievements are evidence of your abilities, and tell more about what you are capable of accomplishing.

Too Short or Too Long

A good rule of thumb for the length of your resume is to submit the number of pages according to your work experience. If you have 5 years of experience or less, you should have 1 page for your resume. 10 years to 15 years may warrant a 2-page resume; whereas 15 years or more has probably earned 3 pages. You must also take into consideration the type of job experience you have had. A more advanced career is more likely to look well on 2 or 3 pages than a job with less required skills, training, or education. For the most part, if you are unsure, stick with one page to avoid boring the recruiter.

Font Too Small

Trying to get more on a page by shrinking the font is not a good idea. It makes it hard to read and may end up being in the discard pile before your qualifications are ever discovered.

Getting too personal

As much as you enjoy telling people how you like to take relaxing walks on the beach, this information is probably irrelevant to the job you are seeking, and takes up valuable space on your resume.

Misspelled Words and Poor Grammar

Spelling and grammar mistakes can discourage an interview regardless of how qualified you might be for the job. Spell-check your resume and find someone to proof read it before sending it in.

Paying attention to quality and details can help you produce a well-written resume that represents your best skills and abilities. It is worth spending the time to prepare your resume so that you can rise above the rest, and put yourself closer to obtaining the job you desire.

Jason Kay is a professional resume writer. He contributes to career magazines and websites such as the JobGoRound blog.

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 ...

Don't Make These Mistakes on Your Resume and Cover Letter

When you're competing in the job market, you don't necessarily need to be the best qualified - you need to LOOK the best qualified, so you can prove it in the interview. Errors on your resume and cover letter can get you automatically disqualified before HR has even considered your qualifications. (This happened to a friend of mine - she was at the interview when they spotted one spelling error on the resume, and that was the end of the interview).

Here's what you need to know.

1. Have people you trust look over your resume and cover letter for typos, misspellings, and other errors. Don't trust spellcheck or other computer programs to catch everything, because they won't.

2. When capitalizing words, remember, only capitalize proper nouns (Paris, Microsoft, Stratocaster - as opposed to city, software, electric guitar), the beginning of sentences, and titles (but not short prepositions or a/an unless they're the first word.

Examples: A Walk to Remember, A Tale of Two Cities, The Fountainhead, When in Rome, Sleepless in Seattle, Of Mice and Men

3. Make sure your bullet points "agree".

For example

Managed budgets up to $100KSupervised up to 50 staff members

Not

Managed budgets up to $100KSupervision of up to 50 staff members.

Since "managed" is a past-tense verb, all the first words should be past tense verbs. "Supervision" is a noun and therefore doesn't agree. Also note the period at the end of the last bullet. Whether you choose to put periods at the end of your bullet points is up to you, however, pick one and stick to it throughout the resume. Also, bullet points don't have to be complete sentences. And be careful about the number of bullet points. If you only have one or two, just make it a normal, unbulleted sentence. If you have more than five, try combining a couple and take out extra words. Aim for three to five.

3. Use a professional email address - something that reflects your name. Skip the "hotmama69@email.com" or "fantasyfootballstar@email.com". "Jane.Doe@email.com, or jdoe, or jane.doe27 (if there are a lot of Jane Doe type addresses). Use that address for everything job related.

4. Do not include anything on your resume that would indicate something that could be used to illegally discriminate: age (so if you graduated from college in 1969 you might want to leave the date off), race, ethnicity (Member of the Italian American Association), sexual orientation, or disability.

5. Don't put your references on your resume (for their privacy). You don't even need to include the line "References available upon request." It's superfluous - everyone has references and employers are already planning to ask for them once they interview you.

Hi, I'm Maria, The Working Girl. Check out my blog, http://workinggirlworld.wordpress.com/ for up-to-date, valuable information on competing in today's job market, and feel free to leave a comment if there's something you'd like me to write about!

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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 ...

Resume Mistakes - How Many Have You Made?

It has been well established that your resume is the single most important document when applying for positions. This document will initially represent yourself to a potential employer and can impact on your potential for interview and employment. Getting your resume right can make a significant difference in your success in this process.

1. Presentation: A number of common errors are made when presenting your resume to an employer. These generally relate to an overly complicated resume or a resume that lacks any structure at all. The important components to presenting a resume include a clear statement of name, address and contact details, subject headings, bullet points for duties / skills and minimal formatting. As a general rule you will be employed based on the content presented. However if your presentation prevents this content from being easily read or understood this will be a problem.

2. Irrelevant Information: The information you present to an employer must be relevant, clear and concise. An employer is interested in your capability to complete the work required. In general an employer is not interested in what you do in your spare time or your personal interests unless it relates to the position. The duty statements provided as part of your employment history should be short, concise and relevant to the position. Too much detail can add unnecessary length to your resume while oversimplifying descriptions will not provide sufficient information on your experience.

3. Length: The exact length of a resume is often a vigorously discussed and debated topic. Each employer, recruiter or human resource officer will have an individual opinion on how long your resume should be. You need to be satisfied that the information presented to an employer accurately reflects your capabilities, skills and experience. On the majority of occasions a one page resume will not provide sufficient information for the employer to make a decision on your capability. Alternatively providing 10 pages with extensive lists of duties and skills will often result in boredom on the part of an employer. It is important that you find a balance between providing enough information that informs employers yet prevents excessive content.

4. Personal Information: There is some debate on the inclusion of personal information. Individual locations and countries have specific laws and legislation that prevent discrimination based on factors such as age, marital status, gender, disability, culture or other similar attributes. However some schools of thought indicate that indicating your marital status and length of time in a particular community can demonstrate stability. An employer should be focused on your capability to complete a specific task required of the position. Employment under these conditions is called merit-based assessment. On the majority of occasions including personal information of this nature is irrelevant and unnecessary.

The document you present to an employer should be professional, clear, concise and relevant. This information is required to make an assessment of your capability to meet the requirements of this position. Your ability to present this information in a format and manner that is attractive to employers and is easy to understand will increase your capacity for success.

John Matthews from The Writing Wizards has assisted more than 10,000 clients seeking employment for over 10 years. This has been through preparing professional resumes, Government applications and interview coaching across all industries.

Maximise your chances of success and engage a professional. Visit our website and find a full range of services, information, tips and free downloads: The Writing Wizards page http://www.writingwizards.com.au/

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Resume Mistakes - How Many Have You Made?

It has been well established that your resume is the single most important document when applying for positions. This document will initially represent yourself to a potential employer and can impact on your potential for interview and employment. Getting your resume right can make a significant difference in your success in this process.

1. Presentation: A number of common errors are made when presenting your resume to an employer. These generally relate to an overly complicated resume or a resume that lacks any structure at all. The important components to presenting a resume include a clear statement of name, address and contact details, subject headings, bullet points for duties / skills and minimal formatting. As a general rule you will be employed based on the content presented. However if your presentation prevents this content from being easily read or understood this will be a problem.

2. Irrelevant Information: The information you present to an employer must be relevant, clear and concise. An employer is interested in your capability to complete the work required. In general an employer is not interested in what you do in your spare time or your personal interests unless it relates to the position. The duty statements provided as part of your employment history should be short, concise and relevant to the position. Too much detail can add unnecessary length to your resume while oversimplifying descriptions will not provide sufficient information on your experience.

3. Length: The exact length of a resume is often a vigorously discussed and debated topic. Each employer, recruiter or human resource officer will have an individual opinion on how long your resume should be. You need to be satisfied that the information presented to an employer accurately reflects your capabilities, skills and experience. On the majority of occasions a one page resume will not provide sufficient information for the employer to make a decision on your capability. Alternatively providing 10 pages with extensive lists of duties and skills will often result in boredom on the part of an employer. It is important that you find a balance between providing enough information that informs employers yet prevents excessive content.

4. Personal Information: There is some debate on the inclusion of personal information. Individual locations and countries have specific laws and legislation that prevent discrimination based on factors such as age, marital status, gender, disability, culture or other similar attributes. However some schools of thought indicate that indicating your marital status and length of time in a particular community can demonstrate stability. An employer should be focused on your capability to complete a specific task required of the position. Employment under these conditions is called merit-based assessment. On the majority of occasions including personal information of this nature is irrelevant and unnecessary.

The document you present to an employer should be professional, clear, concise and relevant. This information is required to make an assessment of your capability to meet the requirements of this position. Your ability to present this information in a format and manner that is attractive to employers and is easy to understand will increase your capacity for success.

John Matthews from The Writing Wizards has assisted more than 10,000 clients seeking employment for over 10 years. This has been through preparing professional resumes, Government applications and interview coaching across all industries.

Maximise your chances of success and engage a professional. Visit our website and find a full range of services, information, tips and free downloads: The Writing Wizards page http://www.writingwizards.com.au/

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.

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Resume Mistakes - How Many Have You Made?

It has been well established that your resume is the single most important document when applying for positions. This document will initially represent yourself to a potential employer and can impact on your potential for interview and employment. Getting your resume right can make a significant difference in your success in this process.

1. Presentation: A number of common errors are made when presenting your resume to an employer. These generally relate to an overly complicated resume or a resume that lacks any structure at all. The important components to presenting a resume include a clear statement of name, address and contact details, subject headings, bullet points for duties / skills and minimal formatting. As a general rule you will be employed based on the content presented. However if your presentation prevents this content from being easily read or understood this will be a problem.

2. Irrelevant Information: The information you present to an employer must be relevant, clear and concise. An employer is interested in your capability to complete the work required. In general an employer is not interested in what you do in your spare time or your personal interests unless it relates to the position. The duty statements provided as part of your employment history should be short, concise and relevant to the position. Too much detail can add unnecessary length to your resume while oversimplifying descriptions will not provide sufficient information on your experience.

3. Length: The exact length of a resume is often a vigorously discussed and debated topic. Each employer, recruiter or human resource officer will have an individual opinion on how long your resume should be. You need to be satisfied that the information presented to an employer accurately reflects your capabilities, skills and experience. On the majority of occasions a one page resume will not provide sufficient information for the employer to make a decision on your capability. Alternatively providing 10 pages with extensive lists of duties and skills will often result in boredom on the part of an employer. It is important that you find a balance between providing enough information that informs employers yet prevents excessive content.

4. Personal Information: There is some debate on the inclusion of personal information. Individual locations and countries have specific laws and legislation that prevent discrimination based on factors such as age, marital status, gender, disability, culture or other similar attributes. However some schools of thought indicate that indicating your marital status and length of time in a particular community can demonstrate stability. An employer should be focused on your capability to complete a specific task required of the position. Employment under these conditions is called merit-based assessment. On the majority of occasions including personal information of this nature is irrelevant and unnecessary.

The document you present to an employer should be professional, clear, concise and relevant. This information is required to make an assessment of your capability to meet the requirements of this position. Your ability to present this information in a format and manner that is attractive to employers and is easy to understand will increase your capacity for success.

John Matthews from The Writing Wizards has assisted more than 10,000 clients seeking employment for over 10 years. This has been through preparing professional resumes, Government applications and interview coaching across all industries.

Maximise your chances of success and engage a professional. Visit our website and find a full range of services, information, tips and free downloads: The Writing Wizards page http://www.writingwizards.com.au/

Read more ...

Top Five Cover Letter Mistakes

The cover letter is a very important aspect to your resume mainly because it is your first impression that you will make on employers. When they open your materials, you might want to avoid these don'ts but include these helpful do's:

Mistake No. 1: Using 'I' Too Much!

Yes, I understand that you are the one who wants to apply for the job, but you also don't want to come off being self centered. Your letter is not your autobiography and we want to show the employer that you have a strong vocabulary. With that being said, minimize the word 'I' and try to figure out sentences that will promote how you can benefit the company. An individual that wants to come off as an asset for the company rather than seeing as to what is it for them will have a much greater chance of getting that interview.

Mistake No. 2: Being too Vague

Being specific and getting to the point in your cover letter is important. Employers are on a short time schedule and a cover letter that is too vague will get over looked. Instead, reference the specific job title or position that you want in your cover letter. Make sure to support your request for this job position with how your skills with benefit the company's needs.

Mistake No 3: Making it Too Long

Making a cover letter too long is a big mistake since it is the first document that an employer will look at. Once look at your novel of a cover letter and your resume will be overlooked for sure. Short and sweet is the way to go because time is money and employers don't have a lot of time. The letter should have your address, three short paragraphs of information, and then a salutation.

Mistake No 4: A Weak Opening

With ever paper that you write, the opening is the hardest part to write. Mainly this is the case due to it being the lead in to the rest of your letter. Often, this leads to a weak opening with a very short sentence that isn't an attention grabber. Rather think of the entire cover letter as you selling yourself to the employer and the opening is your sales pitch. Now with every sales pitch, you need attention grabbing words such as "top-performer", "excellent", and "ranked #1". These three words are just a few attention grabbing words that employers are looking for. Sell yourself as though your life depending on it and make it look like you are the golden child that the employer can't pass up.

Mistake No 5: Using the Same Cover Letter

Chances are that you will be applying at many different companies for the same job position. With that being said, a common mistake is using the same cover letter over and over again. A non customized letter doesn't show you put a ton of research looking into what the company you want to work for is all about. The lack of effort on your part will show off as a lack of ambition and could be over looked for someone that put the time into finding out what the company's future goals are. Make sure to customize each letter you put together in order to make it look like you really want to be part of their team.

Following these five don'ts of a cover letter will greatly help you in order to make a fantastic first impression that will knock those employer's socks off!

We at EHowToWriteACoverLetter.com Wish you the best of luck!

Tim Plonski -
http://www.ehowtowriteacoverletter.com/

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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 ...