You put your heart and soul into writing your resume. You apply online only to be rewarded with radio silence. A week goes by, and not a peep from your hottest prospective employer.
So, what went wrong?
Writing about yourself is hard. Really hard. That’s why it's wise to rely on resume writers who never use templates and follow all resume best practices, including keywords, accomplishment statements, fonts, formats, online submission requirements, and more. These talented individuals know how to get past the gatekeeper and into the promising candidate pile.
Life Working® resume writers have vast experience creating narratives that separate job seekers from the pack and showcase the relevant information and skills that will pique an employer's interest. In other words, writing resumes that lead to job interviews.
When asked about the magic formula, our resume writers had very similar views on many job seekers' common mistakes. Understanding and evading these missteps will help you stand out and, most importantly, improve your odds of landing that coveted interview.
Let’s look at a few pitfalls that our resume writers identified.
Neglecting to Quantify Your Accomplishments
Life Working® resume writers never stop honing their craft and stay on top of the latest resume writing trends. They know firsthand what works. Paula pointed out, “Including vague information doesn’t add any value.” Arnie says, “Employers want to see that you are a problem-solver who can add value beyond just showing up each day."
When queried, Life Working® resume expert Jeanne explains, “Recruiters and hiring managers want to read about contributions. For example, how you successfully streamlined processes, reduced costs, improved quality, and advanced customer service.”
Arnie, Jeanne, and Paula all agree; Your resume must highlight your natural abilities, your most impressive strengths, major accomplishments, results, and impact.
Lacking an Overall Strategy
Strategically it’s essential to demonstrate how your experience fits into the company’s plans. A generic, all-purpose resume will not get you noticed for specific jobs. “Think about your future job goal and tailor your resume to feature relevant skills and accomplishments,” offers Arnie.
"Focus on accomplishments well aligned with the job requirements and your career goals,” says Paula. It’s also essential to identify the keywords in the company’s posted job description and sprinkle them appropriately throughout your resume, so your experience mirrors the employer’s language.
Poor Formatting
First appearances count. A recruiter or hiring manager may review hundreds of resumes while searching for the ideal candidate. You can stand out by submitting a resume with an appealing aesthetic as an applicant. Contrasting colors and horizontal divider lines between sections (when used subtly) are also helpful in making your resume more reader-friendly.
"Even though many companies use computer software like Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) that scan cover letters and resumes looking for keywords, at some point, a human being will look at your resume," explains Arnie. "Strategic use of fonts, including bold and italic, can make a resume easier to read and emphasize key points."
So, besides visual appeal, your resume’s format needs to be compatible with the ATS that many companies are using. According to a March 2022 survey, 98% of Fortune 500 companies and at least 66% of large companies use an ATS to simplify the resume reviewing process. There are over 200 different systems, and many are customized to meet the needs of a specific company. Once an ATS scans a resume, it either moves it ahead for further review or rejects it.
Specific parameters of these systems will vary. A few general guidelines include:
Submit your resume according to any directions given. In the absence of instructions, submitting your resume to an online portal as a Microsoft Word (.docx) document is the safest option.
Avoid placing your contact information in the document header or footer (some systems only scan within the page margins)
Use a sans-serif font
Load the resume with keywords
Need Help? Reach Out.
In today’s competitive job market, the most effective resumes are finely tuned marketing brochures that open doors to new opportunities. They have the potential to be career-changing and life-altering documents.
Success involves avoiding generalizations, aligning past accomplishments with future career goals, and speaking the hiring company’s language.
If you find it difficult to quantify your accomplishments, devise an overall strategy, or design a visually impressive resume, Life Working® resume writers can help you look as impressive as you are.
Note: Special thanks to Arnie, Jeanne, and Paula for their insights and assistance on this post!
Learn more about our resume, LinkedIn, and cover letter writing services.