For A Successful Job Search, Avoid These Common Resume Mistakes

Writing a great resume takes time and effort. For your job search to be successful, you need to write more than a career obituary “this is where I worked, this is what I’ve done” type of resume. A document that is solely focused on job duties and responsibilities will not open doors of opportunity.

Tip #1: Be bold and go beyond simply showing titles, dates, and job duties: Demonstrate your value by framing how you made a difference – what challenges did you face? What action did you take? What were the results?  A CAR format looks like this –

C: Challenged to align benefit offerings with workforce needs.

A: Surveyed employees, assessed needs, and introduced lower cost insurance plans.

R: Delivered 20% YOY cost savings in employee benefits.

Tip #2: Define your unique brand: Grab the reader’s attention from the beginning by highlighting how you are different from other candidates. Avoid using generic objectives and overused phrases. A brand statement looks like this –

Executive Resume Writer & Career Storyteller known for helping career-minded professionals gain clarity, confidence, and control of their job search by breathing life into their career communications documents and positioning them for more opportunities and better offers.

Tip #3: Content drives length, don’t let length dictate content: Don’t fall for the one-page myth and try to condense your experience onto a single page. Of course, you should weigh every word and phrase for importance and cut older, irrelevant, or redundant experiences. Use information from the job you are targeting as your guide. Write tight, lean, and clean.

Your resume should convey 3 things –perception (how you want to be perceived); alignment (who you are and where you are going); and a summary (the argument for your worthiness to be hired for the position).

Tip #4: Choose the right structure: Choose the right format to enhance your skills, knowledge, and experience. Functional? Chronological? Hybrid?

Hiring managers want to see the value you offer and the impact you made at each position. The functional format emphasizes skills, qualifications, and competencies while downplaying work experience. The chronological format lists your work history, with the most recent position listed first and going back in time. The preferred format is the hybrid which integrates the best aspects of the chronological and functional formats. The hybrid focuses on your value and starts with a summary section and showcases your most notable skills, competencies, and qualifications to prove your worth.

Tip #5: Typing errors: It happens to the best of us –a key sticks and a letter is missing or we misspell a word. One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Carefully proofread and watch for words that spellcheck won’t catch –Manger for Manager, personal for personnel, principal for principle or vice versa.

Your resume should connect with your audience and build the hiring authority’s confidence in you by proving your value.

To create a great resume, you need a strategy before you start writing. Who is your target audience? What value do you offer (skills and competencies for the industry targeted)? A clear direction will help shorten your job search.

I welcome the opportunity to connect with you and would enjoy getting to know you. So, reach out!

Tammy Shoup, Helping You Beat Your Competition | Positioning VPs and Managers for Jobs They Love!Shorten Your Job Search Time | Get Better Job Offers | Experienced. Trusted. 3x Certified |Expert Resume Writer