FOUR Ways Your Resume KILLED Future JOB Offers

Résumés may seem like a mere piece of paper to you, but when done right they can go a long way in improving job prospects. If done wrong, however – let’s just say when they told you they’d call you back…they didn’t really mean it.

They told you to do X when submitting your resume, and you did Y instead.
Taking the time to carefully read a hiring company’s application requirements – and making sure you do what they ask – shows keen attention to detail on your part, which is something employers generally appreciate.

On the other hand, not being able to follow the most basic of instructions is a red flag for most hiring managers. If they’re already having trouble dealing with you as an applicant, they’ll likely wonder how “worse” you can get if you start working for them.

You didn’t bother proofreading your resume.
Making sure your resume is free from any spelling, punctuation, and grammatical errors is part and parcel of showing professional courtesy to the company you wish to work for. Moreover, submitting a concisely written, error-free resume is one way of displaying your proficiency in the written arts in a modest, subtle, and entirely functional manner. That’s something you’ll find especially handy if you happen to be applying for online teaching, writing, and call center jobs.

You failed to highlight what’s necessary.
When writing your resume, never forget that the objective here is to sell yourself. So please don’t feel shy about placing emphasis on your strengths (and glossing over your not-so-good points).

It’s why fresh graduates typically start off their resumes with a list of their academic accomplishments; since they don’t have any significant work experience, what else are they to write about? Conversely, people who haven’t managed to finish college or acquire essential certification tend to spend more time highlighting their KSAs (knowledge, skills, and abilities) in their resumes. You may not have an MBA or a PhD like the others, but relevant work history can still show why you’re the best candidate for the job.   

Remember: we all have our good points. It’s just a matter of making sure the people you want to work know this, too – and guess what? That’s what resumes are for.

You lied in your resume.
This is the biggest no-no of all. Granted, not all hiring managers will go to the trouble of verifying each and every line in your CV, but if they do then you won’t just lose out on one job offer for misstating or including an outright lie in your resume. It’s more than possible you’ll get blacklisted in your industry, and once that happens it will be an immense challenge to earn back people’s trust.

At the end of the day, resumes are largely responsible for people’s first impression of you as a professional. Take the time to perfect yours, and increase your chances of getting hired.