In the quest to land your dream job, you’re tasked with creating a concise document that showcases your qualifications while providing a snapshot of your education, work history, and accomplishments. However, this endeavor can be overwhelming. Your resumé acts as your introduction to potential employers and plays a pivotal role in determining your candidacy. But be wary – there are certain tactics that might seem tempting but could ultimately work against you.
Using Functional Resumés
While a functional resumé might catch a recruiter’s eye, it often backfires. These resumés emphasize accomplishments and transferable skills, leaving employment and education histories in the background. However, overemphasizing skills can make you appear generic, raising questions about what you might be concealing. Instead, opt for a hybrid resumé, spotlighting top skills without overshadowing your work history.
Obscuring Employment Dates
Any gaps in your job history? You only worked nine months at your last job? It happens, and sometimes for good reason. To look better on paper and get that first interview, you may use non-standard date formats on your resume.
Consider this scenario. You left your job in January 2020 and didn’t find another until November 2020. A 10-month employment gap would typically appear on a resume. By missing months from dates, you can appear to have worked the entire year.
You may appear to be a better candidate. However, this strategy misrepresents your employment experience, and your potential employer will likely find out. Non-standard dates can potentially produce ATS issues that misrepresent you. Being honest about your past is preferable.
Stuffing in Keywords
The job description is your greatest indicator of the company’s ideal candidate. Thus, describing oneself in those words may look like your best chance of winning the job.
You can use word cloud tools to find the most common job listing words. You cannot ask them which words describe essential job abilities or work experience. You must read the description and choose which words matter most.
Using your expertise in these crucial areas is crucial. Some have tried overusing keywords, using part of the job description in your resume, or repeating words to rank high in the ATS, but all have failed. The ATS will identify essential abilities in your resume for recruiters to examine. You may also see the context of your words. Recruiters will notice if you misuse them or use them too often. Too many keywords hurt, not help.
Being too Creative
While a unique resumé stands out, excessive creativity with colors and graphics might not be the best approach. Maintain professionalism with standard formatting – black ink on white paper. Avoid adding a photo, which could lead to bias claims. Let your skills shine rather than relying on visuals.
Giving Too Much Information
As a first-time job applicant, you probably included everything relevant. After 20 years in the workforce, you’ll need to be more selective about what material defines your skills and is relevant to the job. A good resume is two pages. If yours is longer, remove outdated talents, employment experience, and experience that doesn’t support your goals.
Limiting your resume to relevant content can boost your application. Your future employer will also learn about your comprehension of the position and its duties.
Strategically constructing your resumé requires more than just flashy techniques. Prioritize honesty, clarity, and relevance to improve your chances of securing that coveted position. Seek feedback from peers and professionals, and remember that quality and authenticity stand out more than any gimmick.
source: https://perelson.com/5-Resume-Tricks-You-Should-Never-Use/
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