I'm not a great resume writer or reviewer myself. However, if I'm looking for a new job or new opportunities, I at least pay attention to my resume, ask around for review, try to catch my typos, and try to look professional.
The other day, I happened to read a post
"Hiring Managers Reveal 12 Worst Resume Mistakes" by Debra Auerbach, which was originally published in Sept, 2013. I have to say I was very shocked....
Of course an unusual resume can easily catch eyes of recruiters and can be memorable, while silly mistakes listed below will help recruiters remember your name - in a bad way.
When looking at the list, the examples are closer to "unprofessionalism" or "I-don't-need-a-job" pitch:
- Resume was written in Klingon language from Start Trek
I have a great respect for you for your patience in learning Klingon language, and I can do a 30-second resume skim without understanding you.
- Resume was submitted from a person the company just fired
Oh yeah, I remember you. How have you been?
- Resume's "Skills" section was spelled "Skelze"
You should be going to kindergarten and elementary school, not to an office for work.
- Resume listed the candidate's objective as "To work for someone who is not an alcoholic with three DUI's like my current employer"
Where's your passion, buddy? I am looking for someone who can help me look good to my bosses, not someone who's looking to work for someone who is not an alcoholic.
- Resume included language typically seen in text messages (e.g., no capitalization and use of shortcuts like "u")
Just as above, you should be going to kindergarten and elementary school, not to an office for work. I wonder what you were receiving for essay grades in high school.
- Resume consisted of one sentence: "Hire me. I'm awesome."
I'm awesome too! Beat that!
- Resume listed the candidate's online video gaming experience leading warrior "clans," suggesting this passed for leadership experience
Eh... Oh-Kay?
- Resume included pictures of the candidate from baby photos to adulthood
I hope you didn't include a picture from a bar with a bottle of beer in one hand and a middle finger sticking out on the other hand for your adulthood pictures.
- Resume was a music video
Hard stop after 30 seconds!
- Resume didn't include the candidate's name
Wonder if it included anything else... like phone number, email, etc.
- On the job application, where it asks for your job title with a previous employer, the applicant wrote "Mr."
What an id10t. It asks for the job title, not for your salutation.
- Resume included time spent in jail for assaulting a former boss
I don't want to get assaulted by my employee, so no thanks.
Further down, the most common resume mistakes that may lead recruiters to automatically dismiss a candidate are:
- Résumés that have typos - 58 percent
- Résumés that are generic and don't seem personalized for the position - 36 percent
- Résumés that don't include a list of skills - 35 percent
- Résumés that copied a large amount of wording from the job posting - 32 percent
- Résumés that have an inappropriate email address - 31 percent
- Résumés that don't include exact dates of employment - 27 percent
- Résumés printed on decorative paper - 22 percent
- Résumés that include a photo - 13 percent
I seriously wonder why people include a photo or use resume on an unprofessional piece of paper junk. It seems that the economy is getting better, creating many jobs out there, so I wish even people with above "skills" to screw up the resume can get jobs...
