Before you start a job search, understand that your resume will NEVER get you the job. The only thing your resume can do is get you an interview. Once you get to the job interview, you must act as though your resume does not exist.
What can prevent your resume from getting you the job interview?
The only time your resume will be read word for word is when it is parsed into the Applicant Tracking System (ATS). This happens when you respond to a posting. The ATS is programmed to alert the resume reviewer for certain “hits.” Once alerted, a resume reviewer will use their human eyes to view your resume. It is true that the average resume reviewer will look at a resume for 6.25 seconds before taking 1 of 5 actions. That does not seem like a lot of time, but given that the human brain has 30 thoughts per second, a lot can happen. There are probably about 25 reasons that come to mind right away, but the following five things can actually prevent you from getting the job interview.
Here are the top 5 resume fails
Someone Convinced You to Use a Functional Resume
A “functional” resume starts with a big summary of skills and accomplishments and then just lists the jobs with no content. It’s common for an executive to have had experience several years back that he/she wishes could take the main stage, but using a functional resume to do this has come to mean that the candidate has no recent relevant skills and is trying to use a summary tactic as a trick. Tricks work once or twice then they become red flags.
Puffery
In Real Estate, this word is quite common. It refers to listing a property with too many descriptive phrases and adjectives vs. just stating the facts. Why even say “cozy?” We know it means not enough room to turn around. Puffery in a resume will send the message that you have nothing substantial to offer.
Your Most Recent Job Looks Tossed In
This is one of the most common errors made by six-figure professionals. If your most recent job is not the star of the show, it will send a message that either you were too ambivalent to put any investment or effort into your most recent resume update, or you just hung out and got a pay check. Neither of which will get you the job interview.
Your Most Recent Job is Not Relevant to the Opportunity
If your most recent role is just a job you took to pay the bills and is not relevant to your intended career track, you may have to face the fact that your resume may not be the best tool you have to get your next job. Worry not. Inbound marketing and networking will be your best tools in this case. As an executive, positioning yourself as a thought leader is more accessible than ever on LinkedIn. Be very thorough about your LinkedIn profile optimization and brand messaging. Do not leave this to chance.
Errors
Whether it’s “typos,” “first person” wording, or formatting errors, these types of mishaps can give the impression that you have no attention to detail or you really don’t care. It is nearly impossible to proof your own work as our eyes have a tendency to see what they think we wrote, so if you are in a timing pinch and cannot get and an executive resume done, at the vary east, ask someone with a good eye to proof your resume.
Do not let your resume hurt your chances of getting what could be the ideal job!
