10 Things I Hate About Resumes
by Stephanie J. Underwood, Senior Vice President, Tyler & Company
- Spelling Errors, typos and poor grammar – Don't rely on spell check alone; have someone proof your resume for typos and grammar once it's finalized.
- Too duty-oriented – This resume reads like a job description. Focus on accomplishments and results, not a list of duties.
- Omission of dates or inaccurate dates – One of the first things we look for is gaps in employment. It doesn't mean you can’t have a gap; but recruiters and hiring managers will need to know about it.
- Incomplete/inaccurate contact information; unprofessional e-mail address – Save the studmuffin@horsefarm.com for your personal email. Always use a professional address for career purposes.
- Poor formatting – If you’ve had several jobs with a single employer, be sure to format this portion of the resume to convey the history. Otherwise, it will appear as if you are a job-hopper.
- Functional rather than chronological presentation – Don't be tempted to develop a functional resume. Employers and search consultants are looking for candidates who have successfully assumed increasing job responsibility. The best way to convey this is to present the information chronologically.
- Too lengthy – Send out a 27-page CV at your own risk. (I won’t read the last 24 pages.) If the job you are applying for is at the executive or administrative/managerial level, you must have a well-prepared, concise resume.
- Use of paragraphs instead of bullet points – Increase your odds of selection by formatting your resume in an attractive, easy-to-read style. Remember, only resumes that get read can lead to a job interview.
- Clear lack of qualifications for the job – Be realistic about your skills and potential. I once received a resume from a high-end wine salesman. He tried to convince me that he had the requisite "customer service" skills I was seeking in a Service Line Administrator role.
- Absence of descriptive information about employer – Don’t assume that anyone reviewing your resume will know anything about your employer. Always include a brief description, such as "Eco Beach Health System, a four-hospital system with 6,500 FTEs and net revenues of $350 million."
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