8 Ways Your Resume Can Hurt Your Job Search (or What Not to Do)

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

The day has come for Punxsutawney Phil to peek his head out of his burrow and let us know whether or not spring is right around the corner before retreating back into the ground. Regardless of what his shadow tells us about the season, there is something you, the professional in career transition can take from this groundhog's annual appearance: when it comes to your resume, there are some things that should stay out of sight.
Certain elements that you think make your resume unique or at least acceptable, or even those to which you don't really pay much attention could, in fact, be keeping your job search down-- underground, even. While creating or revising your resume, take a glance at these examples of what not to do.

1. Applying to a job for which you are not qualified. With the current state of the job market, it may be advisable to seek employment outside of your usual field, but no matter how you spin your qualifications, they're never going to get you a job that you're just not trained for.
2. Not explaining how skills translate to a new position. Keeping tip number one in mind, when applying to a position in a different, yet feasible field, you can't let your past job titles do all the talking. In fact, you should never let job titles do all the talking, but in this case, it is especially important to note on your resume just how your experience as a high school English teacher translates into applicable skills as a copyeditor, for instance.
3. Using a generic resume. It's been said time and again, so I'll spare you a lengthy explanation on this one. Every position requires a resume that is tailored especially for that job/field/company/etc.
4. Ignoring the details. The content is vital, of course, but being careless with format, font, spelling, etc. can really undermind all that great experience fairly easily. If it's a struggle to read, hiring managers, who are busy enough as it is, may be tempted to simply toss your resume aside.
5. Including irrelevant information. A generation or two back, it was common practice to include personal information such as physical characteristics, marital status, age and so forth on a resume. These days, it's a pretty major faux pas.
6. Using dull language. Boring verbs are resume killers, so try to stick to as many action verbs as you can. You didn't just "do" somthing; you "achieved" it. You didn't just "make" something; you "created" it.
7. Including low GPAs. If your GPA is below 3.00 (out of 4.00), you should reconsider listing it on your resume. If you've been out of school and working for several years, you should reconsider listing your education altogether.
8. Lying. Misrepresenting your skills, experience, education, etc. is a quick ticket on the fast track out of work. Remember, if you're not at all qualified, don't waste your time or that of the employer; instead, put your efforts to greater use by searching for other positions better suited to your skills.

Take this advice and use it to your job-searching advantage, otherwise you may be left reliving this Groundhog's Day over and over until you can resolve your resume mistakes.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Back to Basics: The Interview

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

The third and final installment of our "Back to Basics" series deals with the third step in the job application process: the interview. You've composed a great cover letter, paired it with a well-tailored resume, and together, those documents have earned you some face time with the hiring manager-- great! But, of course, the work isn't over, yet.
An interview is the way that employers learn a little more about who you are and how you will fit the job beyond your resume, so some preparation is in order if you want to make a good impression-- and of course you do.

To prepare:

• Conduct a self-assessment. Know your skills, your strengths and weaknesses and consider how they may help or hinder you in fulfilling the position. Then, formulate ways in which to turn those negatives into positives, and/or be able to articulate how you have improved upon them in the past or plan to do so in the future.
• Research the employer. Learn about the company's history, mission and culture, and read up on any current news. Presumably, you will have done some research already so as to tailor your resume appropriately, so take advantage of Internet resources to help supplement that knowledge.
• Practice answering out loud. It's best to practice you responses to anticipated questions out loud as opposed to on paper. While something may sound good in your head, the written word and the spoken word often differ in terms of formality, among other things, so practicing aloud will allow you to prepared without sounding scripted.
• Know your resume. Prepare specific examples of skills and experiences that will provide greater detail to those listed on your resume; be sure to provide new or more thorough information than what's already written. Prepare a few supplemental examples that may not appear on your resume, as well.

The stages of a typical 30-minute interview:

• Breaking the ice (5 minutes). During this time, introductions are made and more casual conversation gets the interview started.
• Evaluating qualifications and fit (20 minutes). This is the main portion of the interview, the time during which questions are asked to address your experience, skills and the ways in which you will succeed in the company.
• Summary and questions (5 minutes). Now is the time for you, the candidate, to voice any questions you may have, so come prepared. Bearing your research in mind, come with 3 to 4 questions to ask-- you don't need to ask them all, and don't ask anything that has already been answered during the interview or in your research. Also ask for a timeline of the hiring process if the interviewer has not mentioned it. After your questions have been answered, be sure to restate your interest in the position and thank the interview for his/her time.
• After the interview, take the time to compose a thank you note/e-mail to everyone with whom you spent a significant amount of time, and be sure to follow up, keeping in mind the hiring timeline you were given.

A few additonal tips:

• First impressions are important in job interviews, so make sure you enter the office looking impressive. Dress appropriately and conduct yourself with poise.
• Be aware of typical interviewing methods, such as the behavioral interview, and know how to answer those questions well.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Back to Basics: The Resume

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

Installation number two in our "Back to Basics" series focuses on what is likely the centerpiece of you job search tool kit: your resume. This is where a potential employer can find all the important information that indicates whether or not you've got what it takes to fill a position. So it's vital that you include all of that important information, otherwise, you may find yourself out of the running for a job you are qualified for only because your resume did not accurately reflect that.
In accordance with the title of this series, we'd like to keep things basic by providing for you a list of the essentials, all of the absolutely necessary elements of a resume.

• Identification Information: This includes your name (of course), current address, telephone number and e-mail address. For students or for those intending to move to a new city for work, it may be necessary to include two addresses: current and home, or current and local. Regarding telephone numbers, include the one you're most likely to answer. For most of us, this means our cell phone, so be sure to indicate that the number provided is a cell phone number.
• Profile: This component seems to have replaced the "objective" element of yesterday, and explains, in brief, who you are as a professional, your goals, your area(s) of expertise, etc.
• Education: Depending upon your age and/or how long it has been since graduation, you may feel free to leave this element off your resume. For relatively recent graduates, though, it is a necessary component, and for not so recent graduates in career transition, any additional, more recent training or certification may take its place.
• Experience: List all relevant work experience in reverse-chronological order, making sure to include your job title, the name of your employer, the dates employed (month and year started and finished are adequate), and a brief description of accomplishments not a job description. Your expected role in a position should be evident in the title; use this space to express what made you great at it.
• Skills: This is a fairly generic heading for any skills you have that are relevant to the position. These may include technical skills, computer skills, language skills, etc. If you feel it would display the information for clearly or effectively, you may want to create a separate section for a specific skill set (i.e.: Computer Skills).
• Activities/Involvement: This section may be especially useful for recent grads who may not have a lot of real-world experience, but who were involved in several activities around campus. That having been said, anyone can include this section if there are relevant items to include. If you are involved in a professional organization/club, for instance, this is where you'd put that information. This section may also be substituted with "Recognitions/Awards" if applicable.

• Additional Tips:

• The one page rule can be thrown out the window if you have several pages of pertinent experience-- just remember that your potential employer doesn't have time to read a whole book, so be concise and willing to edit out what you can (i.e.: old positions, irrelevant experience, etc).
• Fill in the white space. If you can see a lot of empty space on the page, rearrange items, play with the format and font or maybe even add a little more detail to previous positions until the margins are minimal. Too much white at the top, bottom or sides of the page can make the entire thing look bare.
• It's a relatively well-known tip, but in case you were unaware, do not include references with a resume and do not state "References Available" on a resume. If an employer would like for you to provide references or any other additional materials, he/she will request them and you can provide them separately.
• Remember to tailor your resume to the position. Do not submit a generic resume to every opening. Your skills, what details you include in your experience and so on will likely need to be adjusted to address the specific requirements of a position.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.

Back to Basics: The Cover Letter

Jennifer Fry
Careerminds Consultant

There's a lot of talk about why you should include a cover letter, when you should include a cover letter-- which is more or less always-- and so on, but rarely does anyone tell you exactly what to put in that all-important cover letter, and we're just as guilty as everyone else. But, no longer.
As the first installation of our "Back to Basics" series, we're here to clarify just what information you should include in a cover letter, the appropriate structure and formatting.
To begin, a cover letter is typically one page in length; unlike a resume which can justifiably take up several pages depending on a person's experience, a cover letter should act as a fairly brief introduction of yourself, your interest in a position/company, and your experience and goals. Upon writing your letter, organize this information into a opening, middle and closing; the "middle" section can be broken down into more than on paragraph if need be.

Beginning:

• Hard-hitting first line-- get the reader's attention with something unique and interesting. Avoid boring and/or generic statements.
• Explain why you are writing-- keep in mind that this will be different if you are applying for a position or simply inquiring about possible openings, for instance.
• If there is a position open, or if you have a specific position in mind, include that information.
• Let the reader know where or how you heard about the company and the position.

Middle:

• Describe relevant qualifications-- expand upon what you've included on your resume.
• Detail additional relevant information that you may not have included on your resume.
• Be sure to directly relate your skills and experience to the requirements of the position and the goals of the company.
• Provide brief specific examples of how you've effectively used your skills in the past.

Closing:

• Re-emphasize your objective-- why you're writing, what position.
• Clearly indicate a desire for further communication and/or for an interview-- be flexible with times and dates.
• Choose active ("I will call you") or passive ("I will wait to hear from you") language, but regardless of which you choose, always follow up.

A few added tips:

• If you send your resume via e-mail-- not uploaded to the company website or a job board-- the body of the e-mail is your cover letter. Do not leave the message blank and attach a cover letter as a file.
• If your cover letter is sent in hardcopy form-- through the mail, delivered in person, etc.-- be sure to use proper formatting for a formal letter. Include, in this order, your contact information, the date, the employer's address, a salutation, the body of the letter, and your signature. Refer to the example below for spacing.

So, now you can't say that you weren't sure what to write, and you'll have no reason not to include a unique cover letter for with every resume you submit.

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Careerminds provides scalable, strategic solutions to organizations seeking affordable, web-based outplacement services. Using a Web 2.0 e-learning platform that delivers affordable, online career transition services, Careerminds provides a high-tech and high-touch blend of on-demand career transition education supported by senior-level career consultants to help displaced workers reenter the workforce quickly.