Resume Mistakes that Can Cost You the Interview

Today's job market makes it challenging for anyone looking for a job. Employers are also challenged by having to sift through the hundreds of resumes received in response to the few positions that are open. The resume has become a standard document in the job search process, even for minimum wage jobs. Many jobseekers think that trying to stand out from the competition by using fancy fonts or printing the resume on brightly colored paper will get them noticed. Others try to break through by telling their whole work-life's story in what seems to be the start of The Great American Novel. It is important to remind yourself that an effective resume is designed to communicate what you can do for an employer by selling your skills. Being able to effectively demonstrate these skills through the examples you use on your resume, taking care to share your results and accomplishments, will be the key factor in getting your foot-in-the-door for an interview. There are some basics to remember and several mistakes you must avoid, if you want your resume to be considered.

The Basics

Use a good quality paper, 8 ½ by 11 inch, in white or ivory. When mailing a resume, make sure your cover letter is printed on the same paper used for the resume.

Use and 11 or 12 point Times New Roman or Arial font. These are standard, so you cannot go wrong using these as your default.

Create enough "white space" to make it easy for the employer to pick out the information which is pertinent to the job. A resume that is crowded with words is difficult to read.

Do not use abbreviations or acronyms unless they are common in the industry and for the job you are applying.

Make sure your resume looks neat and clean, taking care that your printer is working properly. If you need multiple copies to take to a job fair or for a mass mailing, consider taking it to a printer to have high quality copies made.

When applying for more than one job, tailor or target your resume to the specific needs of the employer and the open job. A "one-size-fits-all" resume is not recommended in today's unemployment market.

Proofread your documents before sending them out; ask others to review for errors you might have overlooked.

Mistakes that Could Cost You an Interview

Do not try to impress the employer by adding fillers to intentionally make your resume longer. By creating strong accomplishment statements that are highlighted on the first page, and limiting yourself to a one- or two-page resume, the employer is more likely to read your resume more thoroughly. Remember that yours may be one of a hundred resumes being reviewed and you do not want to be overlooked.

Do not list your salary requirements on the resume or cover letter. You want to be able to create your value before salary is discussed. Placing your needs on the resume may disqualify you before the employer can understand how hiring you will be of benefit to the company.

Do not include references on your resume. You want to be able to sell yourself and what you can do for the employer before someone else has the chance to talk about you.

Do not include personal information on your resume-age, height, weight, ethnicity, marital status, number of children, disabilities, political or religious affiliations, etc. Likewise, do not attach a picture of yourself to your resume.

Do not make handwritten changes to your resume or use white-out to correct errors to delete information. Rework and reprint your resume.

A Final Thought

Whether you are new to job-hunting or a seasoned employee, looking for an opportunity in today's job market is challenging for everyone. You must pay special attention to what you can do for the employer and effectively sell how your knowledge and your other qualities will benefit the company.

Remember that, in order for you to get the chance to sell those qualities face-to-face to the employer at an interview, you will need to pay attention to the details of your documents. By remembering these few basics, you will increase your chances of landing the interview.