Given the fact that some of us spend hours writing the perfect resume, you would think that we’d be familiar with the general feel, tone and sound of the resume. While this may be true to an extent, standard resumes tend to lose their flair or excitement when read for the second, third or fourth time.
The fact that your resume has been reviewed on multiple occasions might be a good sign, but a boring or monotonous resume can actually hurt your chances of landing your dream job. Unfortunately, many resumes do have a tendency to become stale over the course of time.
In order to avoid this, you’ll want to develop a resume that provides the exact kind of information that today’s hiring managers are looking for. Not only does this prevent boredom on behalf of the reader, but it can streamline the entire process by offering all of the pertinent facts upfront.
Address Any Gaps in Your Work History
Filling any gaps in your work history is one of the most helpful steps you can take when trying to create a resume that is as informative as possible. If you used this time to pursue higher education, additional training or even to raise a family, make sure to state this information on the resume itself or within the cover letter. Even extended periods of unemployment should be accounted for within one of the two documents.
Ensure Synchronicity Between Job Descriptions and Your Actual Jobs
You’ll also want to make sure that the job descriptions on your resume actually describe the jobs and tasks that you completed on a day-to-day basis. Few things are worse than including information on your resume that isn’t relevant or important. Conversely, you don’t want to sell yourself short by leaving off pertinent or important information.
Avoid Common Red Flags
Before finalizing your resume, make sure to review it a few times on your own. If necessary, take some time in between reviews. Not only will this ensure a fresh set of eyes each time, but it increases the chance that you’ll find something to improve upon.
Specifically, be aware of the common resume red flags of today. Providing too much information, including overly personal or sensitive details, is a definite no-no. Not only does it take up valuable resume real estate that could be used to show off more achievements and qualifications, but, depending on the type of information, it might come across as desperate or unprofessional.
Finally, try to avoid coming across as overqualified for any particular job. This includes established professionals who are seeking entry-level employment, those with advanced degrees who are seeking menial jobs and even executive-level employees who are targeting jobs of a subordinate nature. In cases like this, it might be better to downplay some of your previous experience in order to better match the necessary qualifications.
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