Are there things that you might be doing in your resume that are keeping you from getting the job? Take a look at the 4 Biggest Red Flags for employers to find out.
The job market is tough right now. Even though it is showing signs of improvement, there are still many people out there looking for a new job. In order to compete with them, you need to be sure that you have everything correct and are able to stand out from the crowd. The first step is your resume.
Your resume and cover letter are the first, and in many cases, the only impression an employer will ever have about you. During the application process, there are several things that can raise a red flag to an employer. These red flags could either rule you out completely or at the least make them think twice about hiring you. Don't let this happen to you.
Here are the 4 biggest red flags for employers:
- Resumes with spelling and grammar mistakes- We all makes mistakes, trust me, I make more than my fair share of them on a daily basis. No one expects their employees to be perfect. However, when it comes to your resume, you should be able to deliver an error free document. This is the very first assignment the company has ever given you, so you should be sure that you are giving them your very best effort. This means proofreading and editing over and over. Don't just trust spell-check, or you might be saying that you are a sales manger instead of manager. When someone has many, small, detail related errors on their resume, it shows that either they don't take the job very seriously or that they have trouble paying attention to details. Either way, the resume goes in the trash most of the time.
- Not following directions- Job advertisements generally give instructions for how an interested person should go about applying for the position. If the job you want has instructions, be sure to follow them completely. Often, this is a test and not following the instruction will rule you out for the position. Employers spend time writing out their advertisements, so if they give specific instructions, they expect applicants to follow them. In fact, many employers purposely put requests like “submit salary requirements with resume” to weed out the people who are sending copies of their resume to every job opening without actually reading them.
- Sending your resume from your work email- This is just plain out tacky. You know it, I know it and trust me that the employer knows it too. When you send out resumes from your work email it's obvious that you are conducting your job search on you current employer's time. Have some class and don't rip off your employer when you are looking for a new one. Even if you hate your current boss with a passion, it looks bad and it is bad manners. Besides, it doesn't do you any favors because hiring managers are smart enough to know that if you will take advantage of your employer, you will take advantage of them as well.
- Employment gaps- Employment gaps aren't really anything you can solve. Many people have them, and they are just a part of life. Especially with the tough job market, many people have been laid off or otherwise found themselves having to work any job they can find just to pay their bills. If you have left the work force for awhile, it doesn't automatically make you less attractive to an employer. However, you should be prepared to explain any gaps in employment in your cover letter. There are many legitimate reasons why people have employment gaps, and the main thing the employer wants to find out is if you are going to stay with their company and if hiring you worth their investment.
Keep a look out for any of these mistakes on your resume, so you can make sure that your resume stands out from the rest.
What other red flags have you noticed on resumes? What do you do to address any of these situations? I would love to hear your thoughts in the comments.
By Melissa Kennedy- Melissa is a 9 year blog veteran and a freelance writer for SalesHeadsBlog, along with helping others find the job of their dreams, she enjoys computer geekery, raising a teenager, supporting her local library, writing about herself in the third person and working on her next novel.
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