1. Exaggerating Achievements and Fibbing
Stay honest when
you are talking about your work history, skills and achievements.
Amplifying these may come back at you when the recruiter runs a
background check or wants you to do a certain task that you fibbed
about. It takes very little time for the HR professionals to find out
the truth. So stop bragging about things you don’t know or are aren’t
experienced with as this may be the first and the last time you
communicate with this company. Stick to facts that can be validated.
2. Mentioning Non-Contextual Work Experience and Hobbies
Only
highlight work experience that is relevant for the profile in question.
If you are seeking a graphic designing job, do not mention your stint
as a ski instructor from five
years ago. It may convey a message that
you do not hold adequate relevant experience. Stay focused on the
profile you are applying to and site past duties that can prove useful
for the role in hand.
3. Self-Praise Without Quantified Proof
If
your resume’s professional summary starts with “A dedicated
professional…,’ the recruiters will lose interest and you lose
credibility. Applicants must establish objective facts with the presence
of figures, and not just boring clichés. The key is not to say it, but
show it. Quantify professional achievements, for instance if you have
enhanced client retention by 20% over the last one year, say so
explicitly, rather than plainly saying you have excelled as a sales
professional.
4. Over-The-Top Beautification
Your
resume document must be light and quick to open. Use a font style that
is common and do not add heavy images as that can make the file heavy.
Using photographs is irrelevant, unless you are an actor or model. They
also irk the recruiters because they unnecessarily consume extra ink and
take away the focus from your skills. Also, stop designing the CV with
borders otherwise a part of it may get cropped when it is printed. Keep
it simple yet smart.
5. Using Different Job Titles
Make
sure you use job titles that are common and widely-used. These must
also be searchable as applicant tracking systems use them as keywords to
screen several CVs. Complex words and flowery language may cause the
ATS to forego some important information that could have otherwise been
useful for your candidature. Even if your resume is in the hands of a
human recruiter, uncommon words and unique phrases can alienate you and
your application.
6. Generalizing the Content of the CV
As
a job seeker, you cannot afford to have a fixed resume that works for
all employers. Your CV must be customized each time you wish to apply to
a new company. When you find an opening, take some time to carefully
read the job description and then edit and personalize your CV before
sending it out. You must also visit the company website to get a better
idea of their line of businesses and requirements. And double-check the
document so that you don’t mistakenly send the CV for Company A to
Company B. You can name all resume versions differently.
7. Non-Serious Email Address
Always
make sure the email address you use to mail your resume appears
non-casual. It must not have numbers or adjectives, else it may seem
like you lack professionalism. An address like sarah.cook@gmail.com is
way better than coolestengineer@yahoo.com . Whether it is IT or media, a
professional-looking ID can help you score more job interviews. If you
don’t have such an account, make sure you make one before mailing the
resume.
8. Typos and Grammatical Errors
Spelling
mistakes can seem highly unprofessional. So make sure you do not make
any typos or grammatical mistakes as this can hamper your chances of
landing an interview. Also, avoid writing slang or SMS lingo. Shortcuts
like ‘ur’ and ‘b4’ can cause trouble.
Hope the above points can warn you against some major blunders and help improve your resume. Happy job hunting!
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