[Jobs] Common resum blunders from Monster.Com

[Noel Nightingale]

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Common Resume Blunders
by
Kim Isaacs
Monster Resume Expert

Make sure your resume is in top-notch shape by avoiding the top 10
resume blunders:

1. Too Focused on Job Duties

Your resume should not be a boring list of job duties and
responsibilities. Go beyond showing what was required and demonstrate
how you made a difference
at each company, providing specific examples. When developing your
achievements,
ask yourself:
List of 3 items
• How did you perform the job better than others?

• What were the
problems or challenges
faced? How did you overcome them? What were the results? How did the
company benefit from your performance?

• Did you receive any awards, special recognition or promotions as a
result?

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2. Flowery or General Objective Statement

Many candidates lose their readers in the beginning. Statements such as
"A challenging position enabling me to contribute to organizational
goals while
offering an opportunity for growth and advancement" are overused, too
general and waste valuable space. If you're on a career track, replace
the objective
with a tagline stating what you do or your expertise.

3. Too Short or Too Long

Many people try to squeeze their experiences onto one page, because
they've heard resumes shouldn't be longer. By doing this, job seekers
may delete impressive
achievements. Other candidates ramble on about irrelevant or redundant
experiences. There is no rule about
appropriate resume length.
When writing your resume, ask yourself, "Will this statement help me
land an interview?" Every word should sell you, so include only the
information that
elicits a "yes."

4. Using Personal Pronouns and Articles

A resume is a form of business communication, so it should be concise
and written in a telegraphic style. There should be no mentions of "I"
or "me," and
only minimal use of articles. For example:

I developed a new product that added $2 million in sales and increased
the market segment's gross margin by 12 percent.

Should be changed to:

Developed new product that added $2 million in sales and increased
market segment's gross margin by 12 percent.

5. Listing Irrelevant Information

Many people include their interests, but they should include only those
relating to the job. For example, if a candidate is applying for a
position as a
ski instructor, he should list cross-country skiing as a hobby.

Personal information, such as date of birth, marital status, height and
weight, normally should not be on the resume unless you're an
entertainment professional
or job seeker outside the US.

6. Using a Functional Resume When You Have a Good Career History

It irks hiring managers not to see the career progression and the impact
you made at each position. Unless you have an emergency situation, such
as virtually
no work history
or excessive
job-hopping,
avoid the
functional
format.

The
modified chronological format
is often the most effective. Here's the basic layout:
List of 4 items
• Header (name, address, email address, phone number).

• Lead with a strong
profile section
detailing the scope of your experience and areas of proficiency.

• Reverse chronological
employment history
emphasizing achievements over the past 10 to 15 years.

• Education (new grads may put this at the top).

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7. Not Including a Summary Section That Makes an Initial Hard Sell

This is one of the job seeker's greatest tools. Candidates who have done
their homework will know the skills and competencies important to the
position.
The summary should demonstrate the skill level and experiences directly
related to the position being sought.

To create a high-impact summary statement, peruse job openings to
determine what's important to employers. Next, write a list of your
matching skills, experience
and education. Incorporate these points into your summary.

8. Not Including Keywords

With so many companies using technology to store resumes, the only hope
a job seeker has of being found is to sprinkle relevant
keywords
throughout the resume. Determine keywords by reading job descriptions
that interest you, and include the words you see repeatedly in your
resume.

9. Referring to Your References

Employers know you have professional references. Use this statement only
to signal the end of a long resume or to round out the design.

10. Typos

One typo can land your resume in the garbage. Proofread and show your
resume to several friends to have them proofread it as well. This
document is a reflection
of you and should be perfect.