Resume Killers Exposed

Your resume is a crucial career document that markets your credentials to a prospective employer. A necessary tool that introduces you to your prospective employer, it is vital to ensure that your resume records only facts about you and reveals information that will induce the reader to call you for an interview. Here are some fundamental rules that you can follow to make sure that your resume gets you the interview that you've always hoped for.

Leave-out the self-centered objective
Considered the practical heading for a resume not so long ago, the objective statement is now not really the best way to begin a resume, unless it clearly specifies the way in which you think you can add value to an organisation. Over the years objective statements have only included an individual's aims and career aspirations. However no employer in reality wants to know what a jobseeker aspires for, since they are more concerned about what you as a jobseeker have to offer and what difference you bring to the table, rather than your dreams. So cut the seemingly selfish objective to include a great profile summary that consists of information about your skills and how it can eventually benefit the company you work for, thereby positioning you as a must-hire candidate.

Skip the Pronouns
A common mistake that jobseekers make is referring to themselves and their accomplishments in first person. Words like "I' and "me" are considered improper in a resume. A resume should contain only short sentences that include action words. Always ensure your resume does not have sentences that begin with "I was instrumental..." etc. The better alternative would be to directly begin the sentence with "Instrumental in ..."

Nix the personal information
Don't waste precious space including personal interests and hobbies. Anything that is not related to your work and employment definitely do not belong on a resume.

Don't include family
Your marital status and size of your family are not really needed in a resume. You'll anyway be asked about it during your interview, so save that information for then.

Don't make your resume your biography
Always ensure that discriminatory information is not mentioned in your resume. most often people forget that resumes are skimmed-through initially not to select but to eliminate the inappropriate candidates. So make sure your resume does not include details that could induce a reader to eliminate you. A resume should contain only those details that would make it easier for recruiters to gauge your skills and experience. Do not reveal any personal information or even your age since sometimes even that can go against you, though as a rule candidates are supposed to be short-listed based on credentials.

Never state your reasons for leaving in writing
A resume is supposed to be a written account of your accomplishments not your platform for giving explanations. If you left an organisation in difficult conditions or had problems with any of your past employers, don't include that in your resume.

Add more substance not art
Fundamentally a resume should be a written account of what value you can add. Never make it a graphical representation with artwork and multiple variations in fonts and font sizes, since it will only make you seem like an amateur who cannot be taken seriously.

It is a fact that no resume can be absolutely perfect and flawless. However what you can achieve with a great resume is a chance to open more doors to opportunities. A professional and effective summary of your skills and accomplishments always creates a better impression instantly making it easier for you to land an interview. The first step to finding a great job is to be able to get yourself called to be interviewed for that position, which makes it vital for you to get a resume that works. Certainly a difficult task but not impossible, a great resume just has to include certain key elements that make it searchable in a database of equally talented jobseekers. Hence if you're hoping to increase the number of interviews you get called for, it is important that you make sure you get yourself a resume that has fewer flaws and only includes those details that can set you apart from the rest of the pack.