There are five classic fundamental mistakes that are commonly made when writing a resume, that will put the resume on the bottom of the pile, or in the trash, and not produce an interview. And let's face it, if your resume fails to impress the prospective employer enough to produce an interview, your chances of getting hired are slim to none.
So what are the 5 mistakes to avoid? Well, let's look at each mistake separately, and you can see for yourself which mistake you may have made that is keeping your resume from being the best that it can be.
Mistake #1- Not Writing an Objective Statement- Every good resume should include an objective statement at the beginning of the resume. An objective statement is simply a statement that expresses why you are applying for the job. It can include reasons why you pursued a career in the field for which you are applying, and what you seek to accomplish in the position if hired. The objective statement should be brief, preferably two or three sentences. The objective statement gives the employer a sense of your drive and passion for the work that you do.
Mistake #2- Leaving Gaps in Your Employment History- Employers look for employees that are open, up front, and honest. If a resume is written that reflects gaps in employment history, it makes it appear that the person applying is trying to hide something. Now that is not to say that gaps in employment are inexcusable, but if there are any gaps of employment, they should be explained in the resume.
Mistake #3- Writing a Resume That is Too Long- Once upon a time, a resume that was up to six pages long was acceptable. Those days are over. Today's resume needs to be short and to the point. Two to three pages is the range that is acceptable. If an applicant goes beyond that, the resume better contain some outstanding work experience that is pertinent to the job being applied for. Employers and human resources departments today are very busy, and typically don't want to spend time reviewing lengthy resumes. We live in a fast paced, get it done quick society. That's just the way it is.
Mistake #4- Not Including an "About Me Personally" Section - Prospective employers are not only looking for employees with the right skill set, but are also looking for employees that are a good personality match for the place of employment. They are looking for qualities in the applicant, including values, interests, social activities, and family situations, that would make the applicant a good fit in the position. Not including an "About Me Personally" section produces a resume that fails to give the employer insight about the applicant. And this is often crucial.
Mistake # 5- Stating "References Available Upon Request" At the End- The old school advice was to always put "References Available Upon Request" at the conclusion of your resume. As mentioned earlier, times have changed. We live in a fast paced, "want it now", hurry up society. Employers and human resource departments don't have time to call the applicant to get contact information for the references, and still have to take time to call the references. Prospective employers want the references, complete with contact information immediately available. Employers will often call the references before they call the applicant. If a resume fails to give references, including the contact information for each, it is almost certain to be destined for the bottom of the pile. A resume should include at lest three references, with contact information.
So there you go. These are five mistakes that if avoided, will produce a resume that will compel potential employers to give the applicant a phone call to set up an interview, instead of tossing the resume aside. And after submitting a resume, an interview is what you need if you are going to land the job!
Cornerstone Medical Recruiting http://www.cmrmedcareers.com
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