Blogs

You might be a suitable candidate for a specific job you’ve applied for but the smallest of mistakes can impact the decision to progress your application! It’s silly, we know!  If you want your job application to make it past the gatekeepers and into the hands of the powers to be – then avoid these mistakes at all costs!

1). Design & Format – Don’t overdo it.

Many people think when it comes to resumes, the more you include the better your chances are to be seen. Sorry to burst your bubble, but believe it or not, less is more when it comes to resumes. We all want to stand out but making it difficult for the decision-makers to see your information means they will have to hunt for it. You guessed it! If it’s too difficult, your resume will be put aside. Remember, in many cases, these people are reviewing many resumes and generally spend very little time reviewing it to make a decision as to whether they will put it aside to view it in more detail.

2). Headshots are just not needed.

Well, let’s clear something up quickly. If you’re an actor or in a specific industry that requires such a thing, then, by all means, include one but in most cases, one is not necessary and generally frowned upon. Think about it, with social media available at the click of a few buttons, anyone can just search you up there!

3). Made up information

Were you really the employer of the month? Do you really work great in a team? (We know you do, we’re just sayin!) Always make sure that everything you say on your resume is 100% accurate and true. These days, anything can be verified by a few clicks and calls, and… depending on your industry, word travels fast!

4). Stick to 2 pages, nothing more, nothing less.

It’s not about how much information you put on your resume, it’s about highlighting your best stuff to grab the attention of the decision-maker to say “HEY! I can add value to your business, so consider me!” We speak with many businesses who hire often and agree that a resume that is too long is not appealing – keep that in mind in case your resume is long. P.S We know candidates with resumes that had up to 10 pages… eeekk!

5). Not Tailored for the job

Are you using the same generic resume for every job you apply for? If so, it’s time to change it up! Finding a new job is never easy, unfortunately. With the hurdles you have to overcome, it is extremely mentally draining but using the same resume isn’t helping. Employers can easily throw your resume away if they feel there is a lack of effort that doesn’t exactly scream “I WANT TO WORK HERE, PICK ME!”. Employers want to feel special as well.

7). Afraid to show your personality

People are afraid to show their personality through resumes because they don’t want to hinder their chances of being successful for a job. A company’s culture comes from hiring people that share similar interests. Showing your personality will help them determine if you’re a good fit for their business. Make their job easier by promoting your unique self!

8). Not using keywords

Did you know many businesses use what’s called an ‘Application Tracking System’ (ATS). It’s where your resume will go through a system so it can identify if you are likely a suitable fit for the position based on keywords. Yep, it really puts the Human into Human Resources, right? Using keywords for the specific job you’re applying for is important in this day in age, regardless of how much we agree or disagree with the method.

9). Don’t forget about your social media profiles!

Whether you agree or not, many businesses these days will not only check your LinkedIn profile (if you’ve got one) but also your personal social media such as Facebook or Instagram. So if your profile is set to public and you have specific views on certain subjects, it may impact whether a business progresses your application or not. Just be careful is all we’re saying.

And finally…..

10). Spelling errors

You didn’t think we would leave this one out, did you? Now, personally, we don’t really mind when people have spelling errors in their resume. We don’t know every circumstance about that individual so we don’t judge when we receive applications but that doesn’t mean other businesses don’t. If you’ve got spelling mistakes and claim your ‘thorough and detailed’ then you may be in trouble. Read your resume, re-read your resume and then get someone else to read it before you apply for a job!

~

At the end of the day, do your best to stand out. And remember, if you’re applying for a job through a recruitment agency or a very large organization, you may have only 6 seconds to impress them with your resume. Most importantly, be yourself and regardless of the outcome, don’t let it get the better of you. Getting a job is not necessarily in your control, but don’t forget with every unsuccessful application, another door opens to what could be the ideal role for you.