🚩 Resume Red Flags 🚩

Your resume represents your career in two ways: what you have done in the past and what you hope to do in the future. In today’s competitive job market, the candidates have all the power since unemployment is so low. Your resume is what makes the first impression to potential employers, so you want it to be compelling and stand out among the crowd.

Although the job search and application process has changed thanks to technology, the necessity of a resume has remained unchanged. There are certain things that you should definitely include in your resume to be considered for the job. On the other hand, if you have any careless mistakes on your resume, an employer will likely toss it right into the “no” pile.

Our friends over at TopResume interviewed 379 former and current professionals involved in the hiring process (recruiters, hiring managers and human resources executives). They revealed 10 resume red flags that will derail your hiring chances before you even have the chance to interview.

Spelling and Grammatical Errors

This seems like a no brainer, but having any spelling and grammatical errors on your resume usually signifies a one-way ticket to getting rejected. This is particularly true when it comes to opportunities that go so far as to include being “detail oriented” in the job description.

Although these mistakes might be just that – a mistake – employers might view this as carelessness and disqualify you for the job. To ensure this isn’t the case, check out these proofreading tips for the next time you edit your resume.

Annoying Buzzwords and/or Obvious Keyword Stuffing

Thanks to the use of applicant tracking systems (ATS), employers don’t have to go through countless resumes before deciding who to interview for a job. While both a blessing and a curse for employers, there are ways for candidates to get around an ATS. One of the most popular tactics is the utilization of keywords.

Candidates should use keywords from the job description and include them in his or her resume before submitting the application. In doing so, the ATS will pick up on these words and will pass it along to the hiring manager. Job seekers need to be careful in doing this, however, as including too many keywords just for the sake of doing so will not only make your resume sound awkward, but also raise a red flag to the hiring manager.

Using keywords and buzzwords needs to be done in a natural manner. You should also avoid some of these most overused phrases if you want to improve your chances at landing an interview.

Being Too Generalized

Applying to jobs is easier than ever thanks to technology. However, often times due to this we as job seekers fall into the trap of being too lazy. This includes using a “spray and pray” method of applying to countless jobs and hoping for an interview anywhere. If you’ve used this method, chances are you created one generalized resume and sent it to each application. Hiring managers can pick up on these cookie cutter resumes pretty easily and often disqualify candidates who use one.

As a job seeker, you want to put forth the necessary time and effort to make your application a “can’t miss” for potential employers. This means you need to customize your resume for each job that you apply to. While it seems time consuming, it will all be worth it when you have an offer (or a few) to choose from in the end. This doesn’t mean you need to revamp your resume entirely for each job, but customizing each to the job to which you’re applying should be a given.

Managing Partner and Recruiter at ClarusApex, Stefan Lilienkamp said, “Lazy job applications for anything on the market without any tailoring is a complete deal breaker. End result, the candidate gets, in the best case, ignored, and worst case, blacklisted…”

As mentioned before, you should already be including keywords for the ATS to pick up on, so you can take it a step further and truly tailor it to each job.

Format/Design Is Too Elaborate

In something as competitive as the job market, job seekers will do some pretty wild things to stand out. While you want to catch the hiring manager’s eye, make sure it is for the right reason. There are stories of candidates sending hiring manger unique resumes in the form of an ingredient label, or what have you, a general rule of thumb when it comes to your resume is “less is more.”

If you have a solid background, your experience will speak for itself. Stick to a simple design where hiring managers can find what they are looking for with relative ease. If your resume is too elaborate, the ATS might not be able to find information either, and even if you have all the right keywords, etc., you might get rejected.

Wrap Up

For the rest of TopResume’s red flags, check out the full article here. Having a resume red flag is sure to derail even the most qualified candidate’s chances at getting hired. Before you apply for a new job, make sure that your resume is free of any of these red flags.

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5 Articles You Should Have Read In 2018

It’s hard to believe that 2018 is already coming to a close. As with any year, there are highs and there are lows, but as the new year approaches, we wanted to take the time and thank our readers, the candidates and clients we work with on a daily basis.

As we get ready to continue the momentum into 2019, we reflect on this past year and the articles that resonated most with our readers. Here are the top five most popular articles from 2018!

Are You Getting Ghosted In The Hiring Process?

“Ghosting” is a term that has been popularized by the modern age of dating. It refers to “the practice of ending a personal relationship with someone by suddenly and without explanation withdrawing from all communication.” However, this is becoming more popular in the job search as well on both the employer and job seeker side.

While this is an unfortunate practice, it doesn’t make it any easier to take. In this article, we spoke to our recruiting team about their experience with getting ghosted by potential candidates and clients.

Outdated Job Search Tips To Ignore

Let’s face it. The job search has changed thanks to today’s technology. You can now find and apply to jobs around the nation and world with just a few clicks of the mouse. With the change in how we apply to jobs, so too should the advice we seek when looking for jobs.

Check out these outdated job search tips that you should ignore if you’re on the job search.

How To Use LinkedIn To Land A Job

LinkedIn is much more than a “Facebook for professionals.” Not only can you connect with other professionals in your industry, but you can find jobs just like any other job boards. Your profile can be considered a “living” version of your resume, and if used correctly, can help you find your next job.

Check out these top tips on using your LinkedIn presence to find and land a job.

How To Conquer Self-Doubt In Your Career

At some point or another, everybody doubts themselves and their abilities in certain situations both personally and professionally. There will always be people that have the skills or knowledge in other areas or are “smarter than you, because after all, “if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”

Although self-doubt lingers into our minds at times throughout our careers, there are some ways to conquer these feelings in both your personal and professional lives. Check out these three things to remember when self-doubt creeps into your mind.

Remote Working Side Effects

Working remotely has become one of the most popular workplace benefits. A Gallup survey found that 43 percent of Americans work remotely at least some of the time, which is a four percent increase from 2012. While there are benefits of working remotely, this perk might not be suitable for everyone’s personality or productivity. There can be side effects for your mental health and wellbeing. We go into detail of some of them in this article.

Wrap Up

Thanks so much for a great year in 2018! In the new year, we’d love for some feedback on what kind of articles you’d like to see from the content team. Feel free to leave a comment or let us know on Twitter what you would like to read!

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Avoid These Cover Letter Mistakes If You Want The Job

For so long the job application process seemed consistent from industry to industry and job to job. Regardless of the role to which you applied, three things were necessary: a resume, cover letter and list of references. As technology has advanced and time has progressed the application process has become easier than ever, yet some things remain the same: the need for a resume as part of the completed application.

However, it seems that the inclusion of a cover letter has almost become a thing of the past. According to a Jobvite survey of recruiters nationwide, 47 percent of recruiters find the cover letter to be an important factor when evaluating potential candidates. While the majority of recruiters may not think the cover letter will make or break your chances at landing a job, you never know what bucket the person evaluating your application will fall in.

In order to cover all your bases, you should write a cover letter. There are many benefits to a well-written one, including: a chance to tell your story, you can show your specific experience that applies to the role and it shows the employer that you took the time to write one so you take the job seriously. While writing a cover letter can be time-consuming, it is important to make it specific to each role you are applying to so that it helps your candidacy instead of hurting it.

To make sure your cover letter sets you apart from other candidates, our friends over at TopResume found some common and costly mistakes that job seekers must avoid when writing their next cover letter. Check out the complete list here.

Lack of Research

The easy way out when addressing your cover letter is to use “To Whom It May Concern.” Sure, this might have been acceptable back in the day, but in today’s digital age, information is available with just a few clicks of a mouse. As a result, if your cover letter doesn’t address the specific hiring manager or recruiter then you are likely hindering your chances at getting hired.

According to career expert Amanda Augustine, “If you skip this step, you’re sending the message to the reader that you don’t really care enough about the position to do your homework.”

That said, often times companies post jobs anonymously. If this is the case, you’re not expected to include the name of the hiring manager in your cover letter so a generic salutation is acceptable.

Repeating Your Entire Resume

A cover letter should supplement your resume, not be a duplicate. When applying to jobs, you submit both, so the hiring manager already has a copy of your resume; there is no need to repeat it. Many people don’t know what they should include in their cover letter, so they tend to go more in depth about their work history. This is likely why 63 percent of recruiters don’t think a cover letter is necessary.

You should use your cover letter to highlight specific experience that pertains to the role you’re applying to. Use key words found in the job description to detail what you’ve done and how you can apply it to this new role. Augustine says, “One cover letter tip is to surprise the hiring manager by using your opening to demonstrate your understanding of the company’s position in the marketplace and its needs and then highlight your experiences and accomplishments that speak to these requirements.”

Generic Messaging

One of the traps that job seekers fall victim to when it comes to cover letters is generic messaging. If you’re applying to jobs in bulk,it is common to create a cover letter template where you can insert new job titles and company names. However, after applying to countless jobs it becomes all too easy to slip up and send cover letter “x” to company “y” which seemingly ends your chances before they even started.

To make your cover letter more specific, Augustine recommends making a list of the top 3-5 requirements for the role and use them in the body of your letter. You can mention how you possess the qualifications and reference specific past experiences to show how you meet them. Not only does this make your cover letter more specific, but it also shows the hiring manager you took the time to research and how you can help the organization.

Typos

This seems like a no-brainer, but sometimes in the rush of applying to many jobs can cause us to be a bit careless. As a result, our cover letters might be riddled with typos which likely means our application will get tossed right into the “no” pile.

Instead of relying solely on spell check, read through your cover letter out loud a few times. Once you’ve done this, read it again. Then you can give it to someone you trust to read through it. Having a second set of eyes will help you pick up things you didn’t the first time.

Wrap Up

Although some hiring managers and recruiters don’t care for a cover letter, some industries and specific companies still require them as part of the application process. If you want to stand out to the hiring managers or recruiters, make sure you avoid these, as well as the rest of TopResume’s most common cover letter mistakes.

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Making The Most Out Of Professional References

There are many parts of the job application process that we’ve covered, ranging from interview tips to working with a recruiter and even the importance of a timely follow-up. One aspect that we haven’t touched upon in much detail is the power of professional references.

Many job applications require a few things: a resume, cover letter and list of references. This should be a list of people you have previously worked with who can vouch for your performance as an employee and how you are as a person. The biggest problem that people often encounter when creating their list of references is figuring out who to include. According to glassdoor, there are five people you can include on your list of references: a former employer, colleague, teacher, advisor or supervisor.

Your work does not end once you figure out who you’d like to include on your list of references, however. If you’re including these people as your references, you must go further than just listing their names and email addresses. You want these people to give positive referrals if called upon and that requires some work.

Figuring out the right people to serve as references can be an anxiety-inducing experience. However, thanks to some tips from our friends at TopResume it doesn’t have to be. To read the full article from Anthony Gaenzle click here.

Never Burn Bridges

The quickest way to ensure you won’t be getting a positive referral is if you burn bridges at a previous employer. If you made any of these resignation mistakes at your last employer, chances are you have burnt a bridge or two, and if that is the case, it’s very difficult to repair a relationship. The easiest way to not burn bridges is to maintain your sense of professionalism throughout your entire resignation process; smile and move on.

If you bash the company and former colleagues, yet still ask them for a reference, it is highly unlikely that they will recommend you with flying colors to future employers. As unfortunate as it sounds, if they provide you with a reference it might be negative and actually ruin your chances with a future job opportunity. You’ll never know when you’ll need someone to vouch for you, so you don’t want to burn bridges, regardless of how you feel about previous opportunities.

Make The Initial Ask

As the saying goes, “you’ll never know unless you ask.” While it might seem awkward to ask your boss to use him or her as a reference, you should make sure to do so in case future hiring managers decide to call your reference list. If you use your boss without him or her knowing so and they get a call, they might not be prepared to give their best recommendation to hire you.

Gaenzle recommends sitting down with your boss prior to your last day to let them know how much you appreciate everything during your time working with them and says that you can ask them to be a future reference during this meeting.

Follow Up

One of the most forgotten parts of the interview process, and often a determining factor, is the follow up. The same can be said of using your references. If you haven’t spoken to someone on your reference list for a few years, they probably shouldn’t be on your list. However, you may not necessarily need to reach out to your work references for a while, so it is important to follow up with them occasionally.

When following up, you don’t need to specifically mention the reference. Instead, you can set up a meeting to catch up over coffee or lunch and see how they are doing. Not only does this give you the opportunity to reconnect, but by taking an interest in his or her life you show that you aren’t solely interested in getting that work reference. Additionally, it puts you at the front of his or her mind which can in turn make them prioritize writing that reference.

Wrap Up

If you are actively applying to jobs, chances are you have formulated a list of professional references to include with your applications. Before clicking “submit,” make sure that you have gone through all of TopResume’s tips to securing professional references and ensure that they will leave you a positive review.

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Resume Tips For A Career Change

As we progress along our career path there comes a time when we question if our current job is what we really want to be doing for the rest of our lives. We’ve grown up hearing stories about how our family members have been with the same company for 20-30 years and expected our careers to be the same. Once we enter the job force ourselves, however, it becomes clear how rare this actually is.

These days, the average employee changes jobs 10-15 times throughout his or her entire career. Gone are the days where someone spends an entire career with the same company. This means that at some point or another, you’re going to be looking for a new job (for whatever reason), potentially in a completely different industry.

If you’ve decided that you are ready to make a career change, one of the most important things you need to do before applying to jobs is to update your resume. You have likely gained valuable experience since your initial job-seeking days, so your resume should reflect that! Our friends over at TopResume recommend including seven key elements to refresh your resume during a career change. In this article, we’ll highlight a few of these elements. To read the full article, click here.

Achievements are quantified where possible.

A common piece of advice heard in writing classes is “show, don’t tell.” When you’re listing your achievements on your resume, remember this phrase. For example, if you helped increase the number of followers of the company’s Twitter account, you should definitely include this on your resume – especially if it is applicable to the job to which you’re applying. There are a few ways you could list this on your resume:

  • “Increased the amount of followers for ‘Company X’s’ Twitter account.” Good
  • “Increased the number of followers for ‘Company X’s’ Twitter account by 15 percent since coming aboard.” Better
  • “Increased the number of followers for ‘Company X’s’ Twitter account by 15 percent (1000 to 1150) in two months.” Best

Whatever the case may be, quantifying your achievements allows the employer to see tangible results of your work.

The emphasis is placed on the job seeker’s most recent work experience.

As mentioned before, it is common to hold 10-15 jobs throughout one’s career, so because of this you likely have multiple jobs on your resume. You can probably list everything you’ve done under each role, but for the sake of brevity (and for the hiring manager’s sanity) you can limit the various descriptions to a few bullets. The exception is your most recent or current role, as this is the one that should have the longest description.

The “Education” section is at the end of the resume.

When looking for your first job, the common advice is to have your education at the top of your resume, to signify that you are a recent graduate. When searching for entry-level jobs, your educational experience can be a selling point and open the door to opportunities. However, after securing your first “real job” the common practice is to move your educational information to the bottom of your resume. This is due to the fact that your work experience and skills gained are usually a bigger selling point when searching for mid-level opportunities.

Wrap Up

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average worker will hold 10 different jobs before the age of 40, with that number increasing to about 12-15 in the next few years. This means that assuming you enter the workforce upon graduating from college (usually around 22 years old) you are switching jobs every 1.8 years. Because of this, it is important to keep your resume updated with relevant information. While it has been said that “it is easier to get a job when you have a job,” the job search is nonetheless still a time-consuming process. By utilizing these tips from TopResume, it will be easier for you to decide your next career move.

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