Unfortunately professionals coming from all levels will often be uncertain why their resumes and LinkedIn profiles are ignored by hiring managers, recruiters and HR professionals. Yes, sometimes we have a shortage of vacancies or hiring. It could be that your field is mired inside a downtrend or maybe you are located in a very depressed area. However, I can assure you why these are the reasons why your resume isn’t helping you earn interviews:
Resumes with Personal Photographs – You might be sufficiently lucky to get be beautiful/handsome therefore you want to let people know it. Yet as being a hiring manager, I do not care that which you look like or your actual age if you are a top performer. This is just bad method to be honest because doing so increases an employer’s liability to discrimination lawsuits. Photos are acceptable for your LinkedIn profile though because a personal networking website first.
Vague and Ambiguous Resumes – This weak writing that will not add value to you and also it actually repels employers.
Resumes with Non-Standard/Hard to Read Fonts – Inappropriate fonts include handwriting style, Old English (really?), Western style, Calligraphy and extremely artsy fonts. First, your resume should be able to be easily scanned. Second, it should be located and readable by technology (search engines like yahoo, ATS software, database searches, etc.).
Objective Statements – Especially those which will make demands or tell employers what we want. These resumes are instantly dismissed unless it really is on an entry-level resume.
Novel Length Autobiographies – I frequently get 5-10 page resumes that individuals actually use for months without results. Sure the extremely gifted and talented can offer longer resumes and find away by it. However, editing is usually a universal requirement because hiring managers have become busy people. You must respect that.
Functional Resumes – Hiring managers know already that functional resumes are typically designed to conceal significant issues/problems. Avoid this style if at all possible, though sometimes a functional resume is advisable or is actually preferred in the field.
All Purpose Resumes – Show absence of desire and intelligence especially in the recession for you is little hiring happening and the employers hold the many cards. Let’s face it people, were in the information age now. Using one generic all-purpose resume today is the identical too taking on sky diving like a profession and expecting affordable medical care insurance.
Resumes Focused on Responsibilities – Not only are these boring however they ignore the proven fact that employers normally want the most effective talent they can find versus a warm body.
Resumes with Frequent Changes in Employment – Job hopping is evidence employers don’t especially like you, your performance otherwise you do not like employers.
Resumes with Long Employment Gaps – Because of the Great Recession, long employment gaps are becoming more common, specifically in down industries. Yet, they are still ignored is that hiring managers, recruiters and HR professionals feel that if everybody else already offered you for 18-24 months already, how come I waste time investigating and interviewing you. Other valid reasons they’re ignored include it shows laziness, low initiative, no flexibility, you are in prison/home confinement, have a very drug, alcohol or gambling habit and also a general deficiency of intelligence.