Why aren't you called in for an interview?
Avoid common mistakes made in a resume
Have you found yourself sending your résumé over and over again without getting an interview?
You possess the experience, skills, and willingness, but the calls just aren't coming in.
Wondering why?
Perhaps it's time to review your résumé. The structure, writing, and quality of the information you include play a significant role in its visibility.
Remember this: résumé selection has evolved thanks to technological advances and globalization. This evolution allows candidates to apply for positions anywhere in the world, even outside their city, country, or continent. This situation has turned the job market into a highly competitive field, where hundreds of qualified candidates apply for the same position, creating a bottleneck in the selection process.
Given the large number of résumés they receive, companies have adopted intelligent systems like the ATS, (applicant tracking system) to filter only candidates who meet a high percentage of the required qualifications and experience. As a result, many résumés are never seen by human eyes. But that's not all.
Once the ATS makes the initial selection, recruiters still have to read many résumés for the same position and other positions as well. That's why recruiters perform an organized and quick scan, dedicating an average of only six seconds to detecting the information they want to find in a résumé.
Six seconds! That's the time you have to make a great impression. Use it wisely by presenting a professional résumé with relevant information, polished writing, the right structure, and tailoring it to the position being offered.
The reason you're not getting calls may be due to a series of factors, but avoid having it be due to errors in your résumé.
Here are the most common mistakes that you should avoid when crafting your résumé:
Inappropriate Structure for Your Experience: Use a traditional résumé structure (such as chronological, reverse chronological, or combination) so recruiters can quickly find the information they're looking for.
Including Personal Interests: Limit your résumé to relevant professional information and don't include hobbies and other personal interests that aren't relevant to the job.
Too Much Information: Avoid listing every job you've had or providing too many details for each position. Limit the information to relevant roles and competencies for the position you're applying for. Keep your résumé’s length to one or two pages.
Not Highlighting Achievements: We want to see your accomplishments. Highlight your achievements with numbers and percentages instead of just listing responsibilities. Communicate your value by stating what you achieved, how quickly, and how you measured that success.
Outdated Information: If you're a candidate with a long history and experience, include only the most current information from the last 10 years that's relevant to the position you're applying for.
Not Including Relevant Education or Certifications: Mention your higher education degree and relevant professional certifications that add value to the position you're applying for. Don't include studies before this, such as high school, and certainly not primary school.
Incorrect or Missing Contact Information: Ensure that your phone number and email address are included and written correctly so they can reach you. Avoid giving your full home address, this is an outdated practice that is unnecessary, especially if you're applying for a remote position, and could influence the recruiter’s decision to contact you. Include your city, state, zip code, and country, if applicable.
Unprofessional Email: Your email address is also your professional image. Use an email address that represents you appropriately, preferably one that only contains your name and last name. Avoid funny or irrelevant names for your professional field, like "partygirl" or "fantasticguy," which might be suitable for an event planning company but not for a more conservative one like insurance or banking, to name a few.
Spelling and Writing Errors: A résumé with poor spelling and writing errors creates a negative impression. Be sure to proofread and correct all errors. If necessary, seek help from someone else to review and write your professional résumé. At ConsuGer, we offer this service.
Your résumé is your first impression with employers. Ensure it reflects your experience and skills in a professional and effective manner.
Good luck in your job search!
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