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Ten Tacky Resume Tricks to Avoid
An Article by Sharon Graham, CRS, CIS, CPRW, CEIP
Graham Management Group
As a Certified Professional Résumé Writer, over the
years I have come across many tacky résumé tricks
that candidates use in a misguided effort to stand out. Most recruiters
are on to these gimmicks. When you use these tricks, you may appear
desperate, or worse yet, dishonest. Avoid them because they do not
work and are bound to fail.
1- The Extensive Vocabulary Gimmick
Using big words and lengthy sentences will not help you sound important,
especially if they are used incorrectly. Don't hide behind your
vocabulary. Your résumé should be an easy read. When
your résumé is not concise and direct, the reader
gets uncomfortable. Use common words and clear sentences to put
the focus on your background and abilities. Make sure to include
effective keywords and phrases that you know the reader will be
looking for, but stay away from industry-specific buzzwords that
may get lost on your recruiter.
2- The Case of the Missing Employment Dates
Eliminating your dates of employment to disguise career gaps will
not work. Recruiters know that missing dates can only mean one of
two things, either you are trying to hide a poor career history
or you are just plain careless. Always include employment dates
to pass the detailed résumé review. To extend the
longevity of your résumé and minimize gaps, consider
listing the year only, instead of month and year.
3- Hiding Behind a Functional Résumé
The functional, or ‘skills based’ résumé
is designed so that your skills and relevant accomplishments are
separated from your employment list and placed upfront. Many job
seekers trying to minimize career issues such as gaps in employment
use the functional format. If you use this technique, you can be
sure a perceptive recruiter will go directly to your career history
to try to find what you are hiding. In addition, these résumés
tend to be disliked by many recruiters because it is difficult to
connect where you did what you did. Avoid the functional format
if you can. Whenever possible, use a reverse chronological format
to keep your responsibilities and accomplishments under their respective
job titles. If you must, use a combination of functional and reverse
chronological that will strategically minimize your obstacles and
meet your prospective employer’s needs.
4- Cutting and Pasting Job Requirements from the Posting
On the surface, copying directly from a posting may sound like a
great idea. You’ll have some of the keywords that your prospective
employer is looking for. The problem with copying the content word
for word is that you may be telegraphing a lack of ideas and initiative.
You may be saying “I am not able to write a creative sentence
on my own, so I’ll just cut and paste your wording.”
Try crafting original wording using keywords and phrases that your
employer will be looking for so that your résumé can
stand out from the stack.
5- Copying From Your Job Description
This sounds like a quick and easy way to get all your duties on
the résumé. Great idea, if you are trying to create
a job description. Your résumé should be a marketing
document that focuses on your achievements, rather than your job
duties. If an employer is posting a job, they already know the basic
duties. Your résumé should highlight the best of the
best. Make it accomplishment rich to show what distinguishes you
from the rest of the candidates.
6- Copying Someone Else’s Résumé
Now that’s a simple plan. It is also plagiarism. Your résumé
is a strategic marketing document. In a job search scenario, every
person has something different to offer. Create your own professional
brand. You are an individual with personal accomplishments that
the recruiter should know. You may also have some career issues
to minimize. Put on your prospective employer’s hat and strategically
design your résumé to show that what you have to offer
is what they need to buy.
7- The Fancy Paper Trick
A résumé printed on fluorescent pink or bright blue
paper is guaranteed to stand out long enough to be dumped in the
trash. This strategy was outdated years ago and for good reason.
Intense colors are not suitable for a professional business document.
Select a high-quality paper in brilliant white, watermarked, or
off-white résumé stock.
8- The Mass E-Mail Ploy
Job search is a numbers game. This can be true, but broadcasting
your résumé by e-mail to multiple recipients at the
same time will not work. Often messages received this way are treated
as spam and deleted before they are ever read. It is best to send
your résumé individually with a personalized cover
letter to the appropriate person involved in the hiring process.
Study the company and in your letter, show that you are well informed,
and a good bet for the job.
9- Indiscriminately Applying to Job Postings
Haphazardly applying to various positions may appear to open up
more options, but this strategy could hurt you in the long run.
If you do not have the appropriate qualifications, don’t even
bother applying for the job. You will only look desperate. On top
of this, if the right position comes up, you may not be considered.
Make sure to focus your search on suitable positions where you are
a good fit. One well-written, targeted cover letter and résumé
is worth hundreds of résumés indiscriminately shipped
out.
10- The Big Lie
It is alarming how many people “creatively embellish”
their résumés. Dishonest candidates may falsify their
job title, responsibilities, dates, academic credentials, and even
their grade point average. Most reputable organizations do background
checks and yes, they do request your transcript. The higher the
position, the more rigorous the screening process is. One white
lie can destroy your chances. Even if you are not caught, when you
live a lie, you are forever looking over your shoulder. It’s
a small world and you will eventually get found out. Always be completely
ethical and honest in all your dealings, written and verbal. With
integrity, you will earn genuine credibility, trust, and respect.
A well-thought out approach, based on sound résumé
writing principles will generate interviews. If you can avoid some
of these tacky tricks, you will be well on your way to producing
results. If you are unable to design an outstanding strategic résumé,
hire a good résumé writer. It is money well spent.
A professional résumé writer is an objective third
party with the expertise to overcome your obstacles and make you
shine!
Sharon Graham is a certified professional resume writer, employment
interview strategist, and author of Best Canadian Resumes. She assists
job seekers though her consulting firm Graham Management Group,
www.GrahamManagement.com and is executive director of Career Professionals
of Canada. You can reach Sharon by e-mailing info@GrahamManagement.com
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