10 resume misconceptions job seekers encounter throughout their careers
Over the years, I have had clients approach me with misconceptions about writing resumes, cover letters, and other written information that they have submitted for their next career move. Since the world of work is constantly changing with technology, there are still some areas of resume writing, posts, and etiquette that are still valid and likely will be indefinitely.
They told me my summary can only be one page
Remember that the summary is your “Advertisement” to the employer. Think … when you read a newspaper or online ads, are they long or short ads? “You want to catch them fast!” I’m not saying or agreeing that all abstracts should be one page, but your abstract should be compelling enough to entice the reviewer to contact you and invite you to a phone screen or interview.
If you’re networking at a job fair, a one-page summary is sufficient. Once you speak to reps at the job fair, you leave the impression in hopes of taking the next step. You can prepare an in-depth hiring manager resume or a next-level invitation 2-page resume with highlighted skills, titles, and keywords.
However, there are certain types of summaries that will be four to five pages long due to the content they contain at the request of the employer. One type that comes to mind is the federal government resume. They have an online format for completing an abstract, but they also allow you to upload an abstract. For more information on what is required, visit USAJOBS.
Bad credit will keep me from most good jobs
Watch out here … I’ve heard this is true for many jobs, but NOT always. However … you should still be aware that you are supporting your credit. Now, while looking for work, your credit score is probably the last thing on your mind while looking for a new job. Perhaps you are taking a second or third look at your summary and cover letter, or are working with professional advisors, friends, or family to review it. As of this writing, we are done with the financial crisis, but it has become a practice that companies consider to be standard operating procedure for many companies to do a credit check, along with checking their employment and educational references, or even do a drug test or a criminal record check. This is especially common with large Fortune 500 companies, financial companies (banks, security companies, federal government (US), etc.)
I repeat, I recommend that you monitor your credit to see what your position is. A general rule of thumb is to keep your score at 720 or higher for good credit to be considered. Credit Karma is a site that allows you to check your report and score at any time. Use this site not only while looking for work, but also to keep track of your status with creditors and potential identity theft issues. Check out this article on CreditCards.com for more information.
Recruiters or hiring managers will call me; I don’t need to follow up
Really … follow-up is part of the process to apply for a job. Employers often indicate an opening and closing date for jobs. It is appropriate to follow up one to two weeks after the job posting close date. If the job posting says “NO CALLS ACCEPTED” or “NO FAXES ACCEPTED” then follow the instructions, they will contact you if you meet the requirements they claim they are looking for.
I have to list my salary requirements in my summary
No, you do not need to list salary requirements in the summary, but if prompted, be honest. I train my clients to provide a rank when requested by the employer. However, if my clients have already researched the position of choice, I will guide them to approach it in a short narrative format that provides influence when negotiating salary at the interview table.
I will add ‘References available upon request’, hobbies, my age and marital status to my resume.
No. It is understood that you have references. When prompted to provide them, determine how many are needed and choose which references will best represent you for this particular position. Please reach out to your references to expect a call or email from this company and discuss the work with them so they can best represent you. Please do not add your age, hobbies, and marital status to your summary. This is not necessary and can be considered discrimination.
Cover letters are a waste of time and are not read by recruiters or hiring managers.
This is not entirely true. Cover letters are used as an introduction and should accompany your abstract, whether they are emailed, posted to a workplace, mailed, or personally delivered to an employer. Don’t think recruiters or hiring managers don’t read them, because THEY DO! When writing your cover letter, turn it into a powerful introduction that makes them want more. A solid fact and figure to back up your credentials in the cover letter can support your case for an interview, which is one step closer to landing that job. There are a couple of exceptions where cover letters may not or may not be necessary. They are at job fairs or when they introduce you to someone in person. But overall, make sure all your career documents stand out and stand out.
I can post my resume on a major job board and wait for interviews to come through.
BE CAREFUL with this! I have never heard of jobs that simply land on a candidate unless they have an uncommon skill or a trade so hard to find in the WORLD. Just because you post to a job board doesn’t mean you don’t have to do due diligence to follow up with the employer to see what your position is. Continue to comply with the instructions that are published in the job board and the published announcement, but FOLLOW UP.
I applied for the perfect position that was written just for me: the phone should be “ringing non-stop”
You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve heard this or experienced it myself. But like anyway, there are others who are saying the same thing. Not long ago, there was a Program Manager position that the client knew was perfectly suited for him. He tailored the summary for the position, submitted the appropriate documentation, waited for a call, and didn’t hear a word. Why? Many recruiters are probably getting a large number of summaries and don’t have time to call everyone. This is true for businesses large and small. In small companies, many recruiters are performing functions as HR professionals and administrative functions and do not have time to call. And for large companies, it could be a high volume of summaries that your phone is not “ringing”.
I always use an image with my summary.
No, break the habit please. I’ve seen and heard recruiters and hiring managers dismiss summaries because of this. In many countries it is illegal to discriminate in hiring based on an applicant’s race or gender, so many employers would prefer not to include their photo as it can lead to allegations of wrongdoing. The only example of this is if you are applying for a performing arts position (dancer, actor, model, etc.) then it will be appropriate to include an image.
I want employers to see my ‘formatted resume’ on the internet … so I’ll put it in their text blocks, anyway.
You must follow the rules that they have established for their online application program. No, it is not necessarily a gimmick or an employer plan. I have seen where applicants neglected their address and did not get a telephone interview or were not invited to the interview because the company could not read or understand the information that was sent to them. Applying for a job requires work, so take the time to fill in the boxes and fill in the information they require. Many times they will have a place for you to upload your ‘formatted summary’ to your system.
