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There is a much-touted statistic that it takes an employer 20-odd seconds to reject a job
application. Regardless of the absolute accuracy of the time period, there is no doubt that
when employers initially scan resumes for a vacancy, they are engaged in a fast selection
process which puts any mistake you make a reason for rejection.
This being the case, rule number one is to minimise the mistakes and avoid the pitfalls we'll
outline below.
Absolute factual accuracy remains of prime importance. There is no need or any advantage to be
gained by inflating your resume with false information, skills or experience. It will only be a
matter of time before such a ruse is discovered, and it will without question signal the end of
your career.
Some of the common mistakes to avoid on your resume are misspelled words. Always re-read your
final piece and ask someone with a fresh perspective to run through it as well. Do not let a
typographical error spoil your chance of gaining an interview.
Although your resume is all about you, try to avoid starting a sentence with the word "I."
If your employment history has large, unexplained time gaps, offer a brief explanation for what
you did and accomplished during those gaps.
Avoid being too verbose. Long and wordy descriptions of every minor detail are not required.
Your resume is an opportunity to show you can identify your most important skills and
experiences. As such, these descriptions should be brief, factual and to the point.
Ultimately, that first impression (like the first five minutes of an interview) counts. Your
resume and cover letter is an employer's first impression of you, so these should always be
typed and presented on good paper, with matching envelopes. Colours are acceptable provided
they are muted and tasteful. Conservative blues, grays and creams are quite acceptable.
If your resume is more than one page, mail it in a large envelope so it arrives flat, not
folded. Remember always that space is at a priority, so use it wisely. Do not feel obliged to
cram everything onto a single sheet. Present your information attractively, but do not run on
needlessly.
You may still find some people who wish to include a photograph of themselves. Unless
specifically requested - which would be quite unusual - sending photographs is a bad idea.
Like photographs, it has long been a tradition to include a list of hobbies and other
activities. Unless these relate to your objective or you are undertaking something remarkable
which speaks volumes about you, rather leave these out.
One of the difficult issues prospective job candidates face is when they are required to state
a salary requirement. There is much uncertainty about under- or over-pricing one's demands, so
the best course of action is to leave this out completely, or simple state "salary is
negotiable." After all, this is something far better tackled face-to-face at the interview.
The appropriate place to include references is also a subject of debate. Should they form an
integral part of your resume and be listed at the end? Alternately should they be included in
the cover letter? They should certainly not be in the cover letter, but can be incorporated at
the end of a resume, or preferably, on a separate "list of references" sheet.
Sources: JobSmart, What Color Is your Parachute? and Career Magazine.
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