Top 4 Resume Writing Mistakes Smart People Make

Top 4 Resume Writing Mistakes Smart People Make (and how to avoid them) 1. Underselling Accomplishments. You would be amazed how many people either forget or minimize their achievements. Some managers are too quick to give, rather than take credit, and often couch their successes in qualifying terms such as “possible,” “assisted,” “worked with,” “generally.” Solution: Work with someone who can help you harvest those accomplishments. Keep files throughout the year listing contributions and results. It is easy to forget and or assume everyone knows. 2. Failing to dollarize and numerate results. Once people are comfortable listing results they often do not quantify them. I was speaking with a job seeker about an area he managed. Listening to him you would have thought he was in charge of a few million dollars and worked with an assistant. Only after a few questions did I learn he managed $50 million dollars and a staff of ten. Big difference and a real justification of the salary he required and the level he was qualified for. Solution: for every statement on your resume make sure you have a $, % or some #. 3. Speaking in low value terms. What you did last week or year is interesting but what you can do for a potential employer NOW is more important. Resumes need to be written with the reader in mind. Ask yourself “can I make them money, save them money, get them time, save them time, or bring prestige to the department, company, or brand?” If your resume statements don’t answer one of those questions, the employer will probably not be interested. Solution: Apply the four-question test to every major area of your work. Delete information that does not qualify. 4. Not using keywords. Every industry and job category has its lingo. If you don’t speak (or in the case of a resume, write) with professional fluency, you won’t make it past the first screening. Keep in mind the first glance of your resume is probably either by a low level HR person or department assistant, or a computer scanning software application. All look for keywords and phrases that say, “I know this work and can do it.” So whether it’s C++, SEC compliance, Java, Arabic speaking, or some other skill or knowledge, if it is not in your résumé’s competencies area as well as integrated into you work experience information, you won’t make the first cut. Solution: There are numerous ways to find your keywords from Google, to resume surfing and job posting reading. Make sure you try all them. Realize you are or have made the similar mistakes on your resume. Use this article as a guide and checklist when creating and editing your work. Wishing you a successful job search and a happy career! Copyright 2009 Jane Cranston and ExecutiveCoachNY.com. NOTE: You're welcome to reprint this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the author's bio) as well as send a copy of your reprint to info@GreatJobi ToughTimes.com