7 Ways to Ruin Your Resume ...

By Melanie

7 Ways to Ruin Your Resume ...

It is so important to make your experience and resume stand out from the crowd in order for the employer to hire you. Here are 7 ways to ruin your resume, to show you what not to do.

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7

Forgetting to Send a Cover Letter

Forgetting to Send a Cover Letter Photo Credit: mwashin

A cover letter is extremely important when it comes to applying for a new job. It briefly summarises a lot of what is already in your resume, such as why you are applying for the job and what you think that you could offer.

6

Including a Personal Statement about You and Your Life

Including a Personal Statement about You and Your Life A company does want to know about their employees' personal lives. This is why there is normally a hobbies or interests section at the end. However, they do not want to read a personal statement right at the beginning of your resume that rants on all about you, what you hope to achieve out of life and so on. Yes your goals are important but a potential employer wants you to think about the company and how you would have a positive effect on the company.

5

Not Proofreading Your Resume before Sending It to a Potential Employer

Not Proofreading Your Resume before Sending It to a Potential Employer Photo Credit: woodleywonderworks

The last thing that the potential employer wants to see is that you have not even taken the time to read through your own resume before sending it. This shows laziness to the company and in my opinion they are likely to assume that you do not care that much about whether you get the job.

4

Failing to Explain How Your Previous Employment Skills Will Help

Failing to Explain How Your Previous Employment Skills Will Help Photo Credit: Inside_man

If you do not mention your previous employment skills and how you feel that this will help the business and so on, how do you expect the potential employer to know whether you are suitable for the role? It is very important to make links between all of your employment history because it shows how you have developed over time.

3

Vague Descriptions of What Your Experience or Skills Are

Vague Descriptions of What Your Experience or Skills Are One thing that many employers really dislike is vague descriptions of your past experience or skills. Even though you are trying not to make your resume too long, make sure that what you are saying is clear and concise.

Famous Quotes

Men in general judge more from appearances than from reality. All men have eyes, but few have the gift of penetration.

Niccolò Machiavelli
2

Use the Exact Same Resume for Every Job Application

Use the Exact Same Resume for Every Job Application Photo Credit: CMcerniglia

It is important that when applying for a job you make your resume relate to it; do not send the exact same resume to every single company. In my opinion it is important to take the time to read the job description thoroughly, and then pick out key skills and as long as you posses these skills include them in your resume. Also in your personal statement section make a link to the role that you are applying for.

1

Making It Too Long

Making It Too Long Photo Credit: Kristin

Potential employers do not want to trawl through pages and pages of past experience plus employment; they do not want long sentences. Try to keep your resume to a maximum of three pages. This does not mean miss out vital pieces of information. What it means is to be succinct in what you say, do not be really descriptive but use very precise keywords.

There you have 7 ways to ruin your resume. These tips should help to show you what you should and should not do when you are applying for a job. Do you have any tips on how to make your resume more appealing? Do tell!

Top Photo Credit: mbkepp

Feedback Junction

Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

It's regular practice that a resume hits the wastepaper basket at the first typo.

Wait, so first you tell us that we shouldn't include a personal statement, then in #2 you write "Also in your personal statement section make a link to the role that you are applying for." This needs to be clarified a bit, I think - should we or shouldn't we include a personal statement?

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