In a world where fast-food restaurants are never fast enough and the competition for greater speed in technology is never-ending, we demand the easiest, quickest process in all we do and recruiters/hiring managers are no exception to this rule.
We recently accepted resumes for a direct hire position with a longstanding company that offered great pay and benefits. As you can imagine in today’s job market, our recruiters were overwhelmed with applicants. I truly wish those applying could have seen the process because it would have been a valuable learning experience for any job seeker.
There were, of course, those who simply did not have the qualifications. They were the first to be eliminated and set aside. Next to go were those who did not follow the instructions when submitting their information. This is a sign to recruiters that they may fail in the same way once on the job. True or not, this is a process of elimination and that’s part of the game.
This left the recruiters with those who held the minimum education and on-the-job experience qualifications and the stack was still quite high. So, now what? Did you choose a fancy font that forces the recruiter to squint in an attempt to read your information? Or perhaps the format is so confusing that the recruiter gives up and tosses you aside. Either way, the pile will be shortened and a select few will remain.
While none of this may seem fair, it is the way of the hiring world. There is no magic bullet in landing a position, but there are some simple mistakes that will take you out of the running before the race even begins.
1. Use a basic font and format. Simple and easy-to-read is the name of the game here. The only possible exception to this rule would be if you are applying for a creative position and, even then, try to remain within limits.
2. Use keywords when describing your former positions. A resume is not the place to ramble, but rather to catch the attention of the recruiter.
3. Make certain your contact details are accurate. Often times, the recruiter will try your number once. If there is no answer and no way to leave a message, your resume goes directly to the dreaded elimination pile. Again, this is about speed and ease. There are few exceptions.
4. When possible, keep the resume to one page. If your experience requires more space, don’t shortchange yourself. Use the second page, but fill the majority of it. A two-page resume with only one line on the second page gives a bad impression. So, fill it or skip it.
5. Do not list references on your resume. This is not the place for that information. A simple line reading “References available upon request” is fine. A hiring manager will assume this to be the case.
6. Use the cover letter to sell yourself. Tell them why your past experience makes you the perfect candidate for their position and what you can do for their company. Again, do not ramble, but rather be concise and to the point.
7. A common rule of thumb is to have no fewer than four people review both your resume and cover letter prior to its submission. More eyes generally result in fewer grammatical and spelling errors that will get you tossed in the first round.
Still not totally convinced of the importance of this single document? Consider these quotations taken from actual resumes across the county provided by Rinkworks:
“"I am very detail-oreinted."
"Special skills: I've got a Ph.D. in human feelings."
"Objectives: 10-year goal: Total obliteration of sales and federal income taxes and tax laws."
"Thank you for your consideration. Hope to hear from you shorty!"
"Although I am seeking an accounting job, the fact that I have no actual experience in accounting may seem discouraging. However..."
A full list can be found here for your reading entertainment.
Being passed over for a job due to lack of experience or education is disappointing but acceptable. Losing an opportunity because of a bad choice on a resume is gut wrenching. Slow down, review the suggestions above, and make a stellar impression that will keep you in the pile until the end.
Above all else, it’s important to keep improving and growing even when you’re unemployed. We’ll talk more about that next time and how you can make the gaps in your employment history less damaging to your future opportunities.
Talk soon,
Kristie
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