In our last Candidate Tips blog post we discussed what makes a resume good, and different tactics you can use to make yourself stand out while applying to a hiring manager. It’s important to follow certain guidelines in making yourself look the best you can on paper, but there are also some things you want to make sure you are not doing. These aren’t always hard and fast rules, but keeping them in mind depending on the job or company you are applying to is helpful.
1. Don’t limit yourself based on page length – A lot of people say your resume, especially starting out, should not be longer than a page. This is true if you are twenty-two and have only had one job and an internship, but if you have the experience, include it! It’s okay for your resume to run longer than one page if the experience is relevant and useful.
2. However, don’t have an excessively long resume either – On the flip side, your resume should not be 20 pages long either. You do not need to include every single job you’ve ever had, and unless you are older and have been in the workforce for 40 years, very long resumes are not advisable.
3. Don’t make your resume a job description – Do not bullet point your resume and just describe your job. Hiring managers know what the job entails for the most part; they want to see what you brought to the position. So, instead you want to list your accomplishments.
4. Don’t use strange fonts or weird colors – Sometimes people try to stand out by making their resumes look bright and whimsical. Unless you are going into an art field or a graphic design field (and maybe not even then), you should steer clear from this tactic. Use normal, easy-to-read formatting, and standard fonts.
5. Don’t lie – This might be obvious, but do not falsify information about yourself, your skills, or any past jobs or employers. It will do much more harm than good and can burn many bridges.
6. Don’t forget to spell-check – Make sure to double and triple-check your resume for any grammatical or spelling errors. Having a clean and professional resume means that misspellings and other mistakes should be absent.
If you follow these simple steps, you can really elevate your resume. The candidates that Advanced Hires finds have the most impressive resumes because we work closely with you to make sure you are producing the best showcase of yourself to future employers. In that same vein, clients know that they are getting the best possible matches for their job openings because we are able to identity top-quality people who are looking for longevity and stability, and who have the skills our clients desire.
To work with Advanced Hires and see what we can do for you as a candidate or a client, especially in the IT market, please contact us today. There is far more we can provide to those seeking new employment than other recruiting firms. Resume help is just a portion of what we assist with. Contact us and see how we stand out against the others!