Common Resume Mistakes

U sing a general resume.           Even if your choice looks easy to                                 read on your screen, it may not    DON'T DO IT! You cannot         be on someone else's screen.       successfully use the same resume                                         to apply to several different         For example, if I use Arial,       jobs.                                 Verdana, or Times New Roman,                                             anyone with MS Word can view       Your resume should be custom          these fonts. If I were to use my   written for each job you are          cool Futurama Alien Font, most     targeting. When you send out          likely it would look all jumbled   something generic, it shows           up on someone else's system.       apathy and lack of motivation.                                           This is NOT the impression you        "References Available Upon         want to send to your potential        Request"                           employers.                                                                                                     This statement is unnecessary. An  Irrelevant content.                   employer assumes that if you are                                         job searching that you have        For example, if you are applying      professional references readily    for an accounting position, don't     available.                         list your lifeguard position you                                         held back in 1989.                    Objective statement.                                                                                        Spouses, children, hobbies, and       Your resume needs a clear goal,    your favorite movie genre are         but the traditional objective      also irrelevant tidbits that          statement is outdated. Hiring      should remain private.                managers don't care that you want                                        a "challenging position utilizing  Creative fonts.                       my experience and creativity..."                                                                            Everyone knows the objective is                                          to get the interview. Instead,        A resume is not a job              try using a headline followed by      application. The reason for        a compelling summary of your          leaving your last job, previous    relevant skills. This is a better     supervisors' names, and rate of    way to present what you have to       pay don't belong on your resume.   offer your potential employer.        This is information can hurt you                                         more than help you, so leave it    Using a resume to replace a job       off of your resume.                application.                           About the Author: Jennifer Anthony is the owner of http://www.ResumeASAP.com, offering professional and affordable resume writing services. She also moderates the forums over at http://free-resume-advice.com/resume-advice/index.php Come visit us if you need resume advice or have specific questions about your resume. E-mail: jenn@resumeasap.com Source: www.isnare.com