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You have less than 10 seconds to make a good impression with your resume!
Think of your resume as your calling card. Since you have just a few seconds to make an impression, get to the facts and let them speak for you. We hear from hiring professionals all the time. What follows are some of their resume "pet peeves."
Company hiring professionals will tell you that "Employment Objective Statements" are more likely to talk your way out of an interview rather than landing the interview. Why? Writing your employment objectives can limit the types of companies that you may explore during the job search process. Instead write a "Career Summary" that overviews your career and the successes you have achieved. Recruiters prefer to read about what you have to offer, rather than what you want them to provide for you. Keep your Career Summary from 3 to 5 sentences.
If you have a career that reflects a full range of experience and accomplishments, then go ahead and write a two-page resume. If you are starting out in the work world, keep your resume to one-page. Two pages is the maximum. Stick with your major accomplishments and work experience. It is best not to reduce the type size to such a degree that your resume becomes difficult to read. Also when you send out your resume, don't include copies of transcripts, letters of recommendation or awards, unless specifically requested. Keep your submissions to a one-page cover letter and a one or two page resume.
While it is certainly acceptable to have a two-page resume, don't list every single job you've ever held. Company recruiters are most interested in your WORK experience from the last 10 – 12 years, so focus on your most recent and most relevant career experience.
It is important that you don't fudge dates or titles on your resume. Prospective employers will conduct a background check, and if they discover you mislead them on the resume, they will hire another very qualified candidate.
Keep in mind that your computer's spell check function often will not catch errors especially if you used an incorrect word rather than misspelling the word. An example might be, "manger" versus "manager." We hear from hiring professionals that if there is even one misuse of a word or a misspelling, they reject the candidate. To help ensure that your resume finds its way to the interview pile and not the circular file, use your spell check and then ask some of your most brilliant friends and associates to read your resume. Don't let a "misspelling" take you out of the running for the perfect job.
It is best not to list the reasons you are no longer working at the jobs listed on your resume. When you get the interview, you will have plenty of time to discuss your background and job transitions.
Salary requirements don't belong on a resume. Leave the salary discussions for the interview. The time to discuss your salary wishes is when they are ready to hire you.
The fact that you are married, love softball or volunteer at the local YMCA is not appropriate for a resume. Don't include information on your marital status, age, race, religion, family or hobbies. Keep your resume professional.
Your resume tells the prospective employer where you have been and predicts the future. If you are unsure about your what should appear on your resume we urge you to use the 1StopResume.com resume writing tutorial. The tutorial is free and will lead you through writing a job-winning resume.
1StopResume.com utilizes several sources to bring you revolutionary and fundamental job search wisdom. While we would like to acknowledge individually those websites, books and articles, authors, and masters, this list would be extensive. We thank these sources for their contributions.