While most people believe that the best time to put the best foot forward is during interviews, Recruitment starts with a good resume.
Screening is a rigorous process for hiring managers who receive not just one or two resumes a day but by the hundreds, especially for new positions or about-to-open companies. Hiring managers will not have the time to scrutinize each and every resume.
Most likely, if you have not heard from a company you are applying for, your resume did not impress.
One typographical error, one mistake, can lead your resume into the "did not qualify" pile. To avoid this, here are some tips that you should never put in your resume so it can stand out.
1. Review your fonts
Comic Sans and Brush Script are perfect for love letters, not your resumes. The first thing a Hiring Manager notices would be of course, your font style and font sizing. Recommended font styles sans-serif ones like Arial. The main goal is to make it sleek, nice and easy to read.
2. Do not list your hobbies
Unless it holds significance to the position applied for, placing hobbies on the resume are a total waste of space and time.
3. Do not include an unprofessional e-mail address
hotstud@yourfitness.com ; brylovescindyforlife@yahoo.com; i_love_pizza@gmail.com . If you look at these email addresses, would you take the owner as someone who is serious in applying for a professional job when one cannot even make a decent email address?
Your email address is one of the first few indicators of your professionalism. If it's anything less than professional, make a new one. It does not cost a cent.
4. Do not place your salary information
A resume is not the best document to showcase what you have been getting in previous companies. Also, it may send the wrong message.
Try to focus more on your professional experience and skills as discussion of salaries come later in the interview process.
5. Do not include irrelevant work experience or other experiences, for that matter
Make your resumes appealing and interesting. Think of your resume as a very important announcement. Review every detail before submission. All the rest is now up to your qualifications.
Ara is a 13-year HR veteran who has worked for several hotel chains and resorts in corporate administration.