1. Check for typos and other spelling errors and fix them all. Some resume reviewers won’t care if you make these types of mistakes, but for others, they are deal-breakers. Don’t take the chance that your otherwise fabulous education and experience get overlooked because of a spelling error.
2. Never lie. Sounds simple, but statistics show an unusually high number of resumes include items that are false. Although not every bit of data on a resume is fact-checked, don’t take the chance. Companies will not hire you if there are false statements on your resume, and many will fire you, even if the inaccurate item is caught years after you have been hired. This is particularly true for core characteristics such as educational degrees obtained.
3. Tailor your resume to the job you are applying for. If you are going to take the time to apply for a job that you hope to get, take some time to be sure your resume highlights the qualifications and requirements listed in the job posting.
4. Keep your resume to one page, unless you are a more seasoned applicant with extensive, applicable experience in which case two pages would be fine. Except for a very limited number of professions, a resume of more than two pages is probably too long. Some resume screeners may not be turned off by three or more pages, but others will just stop reading. Important information on the third, fourth, fifth (etc.)….page of your resume, may never be seen.
5. Use fonts that are easy to read. Getting too fancy with Algerian or Blackadder ITC may look cool, but can be distracting from the message you are trying to convey.
6. Use white space in your resume layout to keep your resume page from looking too busy or packed to the gills with information. White space helps the reader more easily peruse your words.
7. Always have someone you trust take a look at the final version of your resume. A fresh set of eyes can be invaluable in spotting errors or giving input on how the resume reads or looks. If you have worked hours on your resume and keep tweaking it every time you go through it, there is a good chance that you may be too close to the work product to notice some obvious issues.
8. Contact HRYouCanUse and we will give you a professional review of your resume to help you get that perfect job at a very reasonable cost.