Unemployment Tips: Resume Do's and Don'ts

If you’re looking for a job, now is not the time to be slacking where your resume is concerned. But first off, if you have not done so already: file for unemployment. Also, if you’re currently job hunting, understand that you’re competing with literally hundreds to maybe thousands for one position. If you’re looking for work, take a second look at your resume and make sure your resume and cover letter at least falls within the following guidelines:

Do not:

… Ask how much the position pays within the cover letter until you’re on the interview and/or sure that you will be offered the position. HR managers and recruiters don’t have time for that, it’s rude and unprofessional. Don’t do it.

… Use an email user name that isn’t related to your government name. Avoid email such as: bigdaddy@yourdomain.com, foxyone@yourdomain.com etc. Most likely, the recruiter will move on to the next person if you don’t know these basic principles of resume writing because it will be questionable as to  whether or not you’ll conduct yourself professionally. Your email address should be some combination of your first and/or last name.

… Use different fonts throughout your resume. Using different fonts makes your resume hard to read and it shows that you’re not as detail oriented as you need to be. Set the view on your resume to 70% and make sure everything is uniform and in line, especially bullets and indentation.

… Extend your resume beyond one page. Unless you have 5-10+ years of relevant experience, you don’t need a 2-3-4-5 page resume, especially if some of your experience has nothing to do with the position. Try to keep the positions listed relevant to the job.

Do:

…List your achievements throughout your resume. Time and time again applicants literally copy and paste their job description without any consideration to how their actual work contributed to the organization’s goals. You need to ask yourself: how does this description convey my worth to the organization? Does “putting files away at the end of the day” really convey my value? How about: “Systematically reorganized files to increase organizational productivity and efficiency.” This is only truthful but also sounds much more professional.

…Apply for jobs that are best suited for your skills and experience. Skip the long shot positions where your experience can’t possibly match with the requirements. Look at your resume and scan the job post, how can you honestly and ethically marry up what they are looking for and what you have to offer.

…Maintain a consistent theme. If you’re a jack of all trades then it’s time to settle down on one career area. When you have too many degrees and you’re not working in your field of study then most likely you are a risk to hire. Why? Because employers are looking for people that are career driven and not job driven. Pick an area and stick with it or create different resumes for each area. Employers want to know that once hired, you’ll be committed to the job and organization, not planning for your the next jump 3 months in.

…Have a friend, preferably someone in a managerial position, review your resume for errors. Sometimes having another set of eyes review your resume helps because they might see things you won’t after looking at it day in day out. Everything starts to look the same after a while.

…Make your resume skimmable. Recruiters and HR Managers spend 3-5 seconds tops skimming resumes. If your resume is hard to read or the important information is lost in the layout then you put yourself at a disadvantage.

…Take a second look at your resume and make a few edits if needed or revamp it for a bold and fresh look. Focus on your strengths and make them apparent throughout your resume. Recruiters are bogged down with countless resumes, make sure yours makes the first cut.