Job seekers rely on a great resume to attract a recruiter’s attention. In today’s competitive world your resume must not only make it through the hiring company’s screening software but also the recruiter, who will ultimately determine if you’re a viable candidate and worth passing on to the hiring manager. Just as it’s important to include your employment history and career accomplishments in your resume, it’s equally important that you are mindful of the information your resume should not include. Every recruiter’s preference is a little different when it comes to what will make a candidate standout during the resume review process. While there is no secret trick to ensure your resume lands in the “A” pile with every recruiter, there are a few mistakes that can ensure your resume will land in the “do not call” pile. Maximize your chances of success by making sure a recruiter never sees the five following things on your resume.
An outlandish objective or personal summary
It’s good to use positive language in your resume, but it’s equally important to work within the boundaries of professionalism. An outlandish or ridiculous objective makes you look unprofessional, and you can almost guarantee that a recruiter will stop reading as soon as he or she reads anything too out there. A lot of employers want people with strong personalities, but they also are hesitant to hire an employee they might need to keep under control. Keep the objective related to what skills you will bring to the table, this is not the place to list that you are seeking a flexible environment with ability to work remotely. A good resume will sell the employer on what you can do for them, not what they can do for you. Let the professional side of your personality shine during your first interview, and reserve your resume for relaying the facts.
Physical descriptions
Your gym-fit body is probably something that you’re really pleased with, but a recruiter has no interest in your BMI or which new-age exercise program has transformed your life. Some candidates believe that their commitment to healthy living is something that will excite a potential employer, but this sort of information just isn’t suitable for a resume. Your resume is to relay skillsets that are relevant to the position you are applying for, not to share your fitness accomplishments. The only exception to this rule would be if you are applying to a position which lists physical requirements in the job description, in which case showing your ability to meet the physical requirements through previous work experience is still preferred.
Personal information
Your sexuality, religion or political affiliation is important to you, but this information is not relevant to a recruiter. You should also leave out any personal details from your resume, including your age and marital status. These details can’t help a recruiter make an informed decision, and in some cases, they may inadvertently have a negatively influence. Also be mindful to list actual work experience, not hobbies in the experience section of your resume. Relevant hobbies may be listed under a separate section at the end of your resume but the information should be relayed professionally and be careful not to include too much personal detail.
Unprofessional email addresses
It probably seemed like a good idea to set up an email account in the name of your favorite rock star, but if you use this email address to send a recruiter your resume they will (at best) think you are immature. If you are serious about your career and professional reputation, you need to make sure that you have a professional email address for people to write to. If your email address sounds too personal set up a new one solely for the purpose of job applications. You can have a killer resume but if your email address starts with “big-teddy-bear” and the recruiter doesn’t bother to open your attached resume then your efforts are in vain. Email accounts can be obtained easily and for free through many providers, take the time to show recruiters you are serious by setting up an email account that relays your professionalism.
Attempts to seek attention
Job applicants often come up with increasingly inventive ways to attract the attention of recruiters, but most of these attempts actually alienate the reader. Don’t use different fonts or colors to try to make words or phrases stand out. Never include images or pictures to enhance the text, and never make the mistake of thinking that perfumed paper will please anyone. You can only impress a recruiter with your skills and experience. Expensive perfume just won’t cut it.
There are many ways you can ensure your resume stands out, but they all relate to how you market your skills and experience. Make sure your resume is entirely professional, and avoid the silly mistakes that some job seekers mistakenly believe will improve their chances of success.
At SCR our goal is to find our clients the best talent in the energy sector. This, in turn, helps you find the right employer to make the best use of your skills. We encourage you to submit your resume and sign up to be notified of new opportunities that could be the right fit for you!
