Stumble, Bobble, Snafu, Fumble, Clanger, Howler

By Rob Reeves, Executive Tech Recruiter

On an average day, I read about 100-200 resumes. Some are amazing, most are adequate, and some go down in flames. When you make mistakes on your resume, you are seriously inhibiting your career options. Here are some resume boo-boos I’ve seen recently – don’t make these!

 

1. Stumble – Infographic resume!

 

If you are such a rock star designer that you figure your gorgeous infographic resume is all you need and you would never stoop to creating a rote, insipid text resume, well oops. Many companies use an ATS or CRM of some sort, and even if they don’t, their recruiter likely does. Infographic or other non-standard formats can’t be read by most ATS/CRMs and so your resume could get missed entirely in many searches. While the infographic may seal the deal, there’s no deal to speak of if you aren’t identified from the start. So have the mundane word document ready along with the extraordinary visual resume.

 

2. Bobble – View my resume online

 

Professionals must have a Word resume along with their LinkedIn or optionally other online resume. Whether you start online or with a word processing document to create one and then the other, you just plain need both! If the text description doesn’t fly on LinkedIn (i.e. make a shining professional impression for the world to see), you probably should amend the word processing version too. Why do you need both? Again, ATS/CRM. As well, it is easier for many reviewers to save and refer to a word document. And it is more polite than telling someone to follow a link (unless it leads to your amazing complementary video presentation). People will not take the time to convert your online resume into something the database will read, and they may not take the time to request a Word version, so make it easy for them.

 

3. Snafu – Job description rehash

 

I see this every day. People drop in a veritable job description for each of the positions they’ve held. I even see snippets or key words overkill taken from the job description of the position candidates are applying for and loaded up in the resume. While this may be normal practice for many, it does nothing to distinguish the candidate or excite the hiring manager. The resume should not be duties-driven with a job description, but rather resume should be accomplishment-driven. What will excite and distinguish, is an elucidating rendition of your quantifiable achievements. This is the document that gets you in the door. A dumpy little knock in an ocean of knocks won’t get you heard – make your achievements stand out.

 

4. Fumble – Focus grasshopper

 

Even very qualified and accomplished professionals can fumble on the focus of their resume. Whether you choose to create an objectives section or not, your goals and intentions should be obvious to the reader. Bring your core strengths, competencies and core career objectives into focus. If your information is all over the place, you are not reflecting your capabilities and objectives. Focus on your career highlights, quantifiable achievements, and career direction in a concerted fashion.

 

5. Clanger – Does Bill Gates do all your editing?

 

Mistakes in grammar, punctuation and spelling can happen even if you run a spell check. It is up to you to make sure these errors don’t sneak in. When updating and revising a document such as a resume, these intrepid little mistakes can make it by even the most articulate professionals and eagle-eye editors. When you are done with your resume writing, take a break from it and then re-read and proof it; ask a colleague read it over before you call it final.

 

6. Howler – Don’t make me come looking for you!

 

It seems incredible but it actually happens on occasion. A resume comes through that is awesome: it is readable, exciting, well-organized; it screams for an interview this person looks so great. But where did they put their contact info. Yes, I see you live on Privet Drive but I don’t have an owl and you didn’t put your phone number or email.

 

 

If you are interested in more resume advice, check out the Redfish blog under the resume category.

 

 

About the Author –

Rob Reeves

 

Rob Reeves, President, CEO, has enjoyed recruiting since 1995. He founded Redfish Technology in 1996, and has taken it from a predominantly West Coast Technical recruiting firm to a nationwide, full service staffing firm specializing in High Tech and Clean Tech sectors.

 

About Redfish Technology –

Building Growth-Mode Tech Companies with Hand-Picked Talent.

 

Founded in Silicon Valley in 1996, Redfish Technology is an award-winning talent acquisition firm specializing in high tech sectors. Partnering with growth mode companies, small and large, Redfish staffs executive functions and builds out the teams below. Redfish knows talent and good companies – we’ve been named to the top ten Best Places to Work in Idaho three years in a row!