As a recruiting company, Epitec has the opportunity of working with some extraordinary and talented people. A good resume should be three things – Relevant, Concise, and Descriptive. And yes, it is possible to have a balance of being concise and descriptive. Let’s discuss some of the common characteristics of resumes that make hiring professionals cringe.
The Novel Resume
Most culprits are more experienced candidates or the career consultants. Throughout a successful career, it is understandable that your background will include a long list of projects and experience that is worth bragging about. There is a time and place for discussing this experience and it is during the interview. No one is saying that the experience listed is not an accomplishment, but is it relevant to the job you are applying for? If the answer is no, then think twice about including it on your resume. Not one person reviewing a resume is going to look through 10 pages of a resume or a position with an entire page of bullet points. Your resume is supposed to be a summary of your experience and it should be treated as so. Keep in mind you should be continuously updating your resume for every job you apply for, so remove and add bullets as needed to sell yourself for particular positions.
The Short (and not so sweet) Resume
The other end of the spectrum is the resume that leaves us confused by the amount of blank space on the page. A resume is your first opportunity to sell yourself as the right candidate for the job. Although the resume does not need to have 25 bullets per position, a description is necessary to assess your experience, skills learned, and role in your prior job.
The “In a Rush” Resume
Your resume should be given a face lift for every job you apply for. There is no “one size fits all” model for a resume. Writing a resume should not be rushed. This is going to represent you before you are able to represent yourself. Make a good first impression.
Review your resume and have another party review it as well before you send it out. Triple check for spelling and grammar mistakes. Spell check on Word does not catch everything! Also, confirm the company name, position and contact name are correct on the resume (or cover letter). This is an easy mistake to make especially if you are sending your resume out to multiple companies at once.
My last piece of advice is to consult with a recruiter on your resume. Recruiters are in the business of getting you hired. Use their expertise to sharpen up your resume.