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Avoiding Costly Mistakes in Resume Writing
Article Submitted by:
Cassandra
October 16, 2008
With the numerous job seekers vying for a single position in the company, effective resume writing skills can spell the difference between a successful and a futile job-hunting endeavor. Unfortunately, more than 90% of applicants do not know how to write a good resume that can stop employers dead on their tracks. No matter how great one's qualifications are, if the job seeker do not how to translate these into an excellent resume, then all the achievements will remain fruitless.
The following are the typical mistakes that job seekers frequently commit:
Mistake # 1: Detailing responsibilities
In resume writing, one of the most dated expressions are the words responsible for. Apparently, a marketing executive is responsible for marketing the company's products and services. These are commonsensical mistakes, which simply takes up precious space without revealing anything outstanding about the applicant.
Solution: Highlight milestones. The best way to grab the attention of HR executives is for the job applicant to underscore his or her achievements while in their previous companies. The use of figures such as dollars and percentages can go a long way in differentiating one applicant from another. For instance, state increased sales by 20% and set new records for generating 10,000 leads in one quarter.
Mistake # 2: Using so-so words
As the ultimate marketing tool, resumes need to be powerful speakers that can pitch the job seekers to the prospective company's management. This means that the there is no room for mediocre resume writing and that the use of so-so words can send the application straight to the dustbin.
Solution: Use action and buzz words. Use words that can empower, the more syllables the better. Put emphasis on actions as this would make the applicant seem like a go-getter. Moreover, if there are jargons that can highlight the job applicant's competence, include them. A case in point, if the job seeker is an accountant state "audited financial statements."Job applicants can also enumerate the software programs that they are proficient in.
Mistake # 3: Ignoring the importance of layout
Most applicants take for granted the importance of layout and simply pepper the resume with run-on sentences, putting as many sentences as they could. By doing so, the resume looks cluttered and unfriendly to the reader's eyes.
Solution: Leave white space. White space is as important in resume writing as the words written on the paper. Leave some spaces in between bulleted paragraphs to allow the eyes to rest. Most HR executives also base their initial assessment on the aesthetics of the paper.
Mistake # 4: Grammatical lapses and typographical errors
Mechanical errors are cardinal sins in resume writing. No company would hire an applicant who could not even write a typographical-free resume. It speaks of the applicant's inattention to detail.
Solution: Have someone else read the resume. By having a friend read it, the job applicant allows a third party to give an opinion on the paper. Friends or relatives can probably spot typographical errors easier as they did not write the resume and can provide a fresh perspective. Moreover, they can also give their input on what to add and what to leave out.
By adopting these solutions, job seeks can vastly improve their resume writing skills and eventually land the job that they want. At the end of the day, it is all about how great they can market themselves.
