How to Proofread Your Resume

Employers have very limited time to see if you are a better candidate than the hundreds of other applications they receive. Resumes that have a single spelling or grammatical error may be quickly thrown out, because the employer still has 299 other applicants (or more) that took the time to make sure their resume was completely error free.

That is why proofreading your resume is incredibly important. Here are several proofreading tips to make sure your resume is perfect.

Resume Proofreading Tips

• Read it out loud, slowly.

One of the best ways to make sure your resume has very few errors is to slowly read it to yourself out loud. Enunciate each word and make sure it sounds grammatically correct.

• Look for squiggly lines.

Modern Microsoft Word spell checkers do a good job checking for spelling, grammar, and even verb confusion. If you see any squiggly lines underneath any of the words in your resume, there is a good chance it is an error.

• Don’t use a thesaurus.

Using big words does not make you sound smart. Using big words make it look like you tried to hard to make your resume sound smart. Larger words are not always synonymous with the word that you searched for in the thesaurus. If you don’t use the word in real life, don’t use it on your resume.

• Check punctuation.

When you have bulleted lists, make sure that you are consistent with your punctuation. Every bullet point should either have a period or no period, but it is all or nothing. Don’t put a period at the end of some bullets and not at the end of others.

• Check tenses.

Many people change tense in their resumes, especially when editing an old resume. Make sure that your entire resume is in the past tense, unless currently employed.

• Look at the design.

Take a step back and look at the design of your resume. Does it look visually appealing? If it looks cluttered or awkward, chances are it will look cluttered or awkward to the employer.

• Have someone else read it.

The best way to make sure your resume is perfect is to have someone else check it for errors. Sometimes it is hard to see an error that you created, since your brain thinks it is accurate. Other people will be seeing your resume with fresh eyes.

Check Before You Send

Before you send in any resume, make sure you have checked it thoroughly for errors. A single mistake can be the difference between getting an interview and getting ignored.

Take Away Tips

• Always check your resume.

How to Keep Your Job References Informed

Your references do play a role in your ability to find employment. They may seem like a formality, especially nowadays that references are left off most resumes until requested, but as many as 20% of all applicants lose their employment chances because of bad references. Bad references can legitimately harm your ability to find a job.

In an earlier post we discussed what makes a good reference. Good references are people that:

• Are energetic – both about you and in general.
• Are important – they hold a high up position.
• Are informed – they know what you did at your job.

The last one is important. The greatest reference can become a bad reference if they are not informed about the employer that is calling them. You need to make sure your reference knows what to say.

3 Ways to Keep Your Reference Informed

• Give them a copy of your resume

First, the reference should have a copy of your resume on hand. This allows them to know what experiences you listed, so that they know to mention those experiences when the employer calls.

• Warn them of the incoming phone call

You never want the phone call to be a surprise. Warn the reference that a call might be coming as soon as you get called in for an interview – before the interview has taken place and before any references have been given to the employer.

• Arm the reference with information

Send the reference the job description, company information, and some of the key points you expect to bring up at the interview, including a list of what you would like emphasized. Make sure they know what you will be saying and what is important to the role, so that they can provide their own responses accordingly.

Keep Them Notified

You should also keep your references notified of your progress, and let them know how the interviews went after each one is completed. Also, whether or not you got the job, thank your references at the end of your interviews. You never know when you will need their help again in your job search, and you do not want them to be annoyed by the number of interviewers they need to be talking to.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Notify your references of the potential phone call.
• Send them a copy of your resume and cover letter.
• Make sure they know everything about the company.

How to Choose Your References

Last post we discussed why references are more important than people believe. Today we will look at how to choose who should be your reference.

Choosing References

Choosing the right references is important. When a hiring manager interviews a reference, they are not only looking for information about your candidacy. They are also looking for subtle clues about how great an employee you really were.

It is against the law for a reference to speak poorly of you to the interviewer, but references that don’t give you a glowing recommendation will seem apathetic to your employment, possibly because they do not think that highly of you.

When you choose a reference, they must meet all of the following criteria:

• They must be energetic about helping you find employment.
• They must be energetic naturally, both in their speech and mannerisms.
• They must be knowledgeable of your tasks at your previous job.
• They must be prepared, and know that the job will be calling.
• They must be in a position that gives them authority.

All of these must be true. That means that if your old boss loves you and wants you to find a job, but also talks like Ben Stein, you may want to find someone else. Employers are going to listen to that person speak about you in monotone and assume they don’t care about you or your hard work.

Also, make sure that they have something to say – especially the tasks relevant to the position. A boss that only knows one or two of the activities you did during your employment is not a good enough reference.

Finding References

Evidence suggests that hiring managers do call references, and that many applicants are turned away for either “lying” on their resume or for having a reference that doesn’t speak about them in a glowing fashion. Yet this can easily be because the reference simply wasn’t good enough at informing the hiring manager about your hard work or tasks. Make sure the reference you choose will not have these issues.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Choose energetic, informed references.

How to Follow Up After Sending Your Resume

Hiring managers get a lot of resumes. They receive so many resumes that sometimes the job is filled before they have had a chance to go through most of them. They are on a deadline to get the job filled, and by the time they have read over all one thousand resume they have received, their deadline will have passed long ago.

Getting Your Resume Noticed

There is no way to know if your resume has been read. What you can do is ensure that it is reviewed. One of the best ways to ensure that the hiring manager looks at your resume is to follow up with them after a week or two have passed.

Resume follow ups look a lot like cover letters. They re-assert your interest in the position, discuss why you are qualified, and request that they check your resume to see if you are a good fit. They are an effective way to make sure your resume is at least reviewed, and hopefully you will receive notice about if you are under consideration for the position.

Resume Follow Up Letter

Resume follow up letters should be formatted like cover letters. Here is an example of what a resume follow up should look like.

Dear [Name of Hiring Manager],

On [Date], I sent in my resume for consideration for the [position] at your company, listed on [Website Name]. I was wondering if you have had an opportunity to review my resume and cover letter and if there was anything else you would like to see in order to improve my candidacy.

As you can see, I have been working in [field] for over 10 years. During that time I have reached a number of achievements including:

• Achievement one
• Achievement two
• Achievement three

I am confident that I am a great fit, both for the position and with the organization, and I would love an opportunity to show you why I believe I can succeed in the role. I am available to schedule a meeting at any time. My resume is attached for reference.

Sincerely,

~Name

If the company hasn’t called you, chances are you are either not in the running for the position, or they are way behind going through resumes. This type of letter will help ensure you get greater consideration and may help speed up the process. It is a good way to ensure that the company takes the time to consider your candidacy.

Take Away Tips

• Follow up with resumes that have received no responses.
• Format your follow up as you would a cover letter.
• Be professional, positive, and state your case again.

How to Quickly Select Keywords for Your Resume

Resumes need to have industry keywords. Listing accomplishments are great – and important – but you need to also have keywords sprinkled throughout your resume. They serve three purposes:

• They demonstrate to the interviewer you have knowledge of the industry.
• They stand out to the hiring manager as qualities they look for.
• They help your chances if your resume is put into a searchable database.

Many companies are scanning resumes into databases and using keywords to search for qualified applicants. However, even if that is not the case for the employer, it is still a good idea to make sure your resume has the appropriate keywords for improving drawing the eye of the hiring manager.

How to Find Keywords

If you are short on time and want to quickly find keywords to draw the attention of the hiring manager, your best bet is to use the following system.

• First Search the Job Description – The job description will have keywords that are probably important for the job. Integrating as many of them as you can into your resume without affecting its quality is a good start. Also, don’t forget synonyms and synonymous programs. For example, if the job asks for HTML knowledge, it means the company is looking for coding, so it may be to your benefit to list other types of coding as keywords (PHP, Java, etc.). Consider those synonymous, even if they are not in the job description.
• Review Other Job Descriptions – Many of these jobs have similarities to other jobs. Check other job descriptions for similar jobs at other companies and see what they offer. Chances are you will find other interesting keywords not listed in the original job description.
• Search the Internet for Job Duties – Several websites list the standard duties of different positions, and within those job descriptions you can find additional keywords that will help you with your job search.

Those are the three fastest ways to find keywords. Also, don’t forget to use your own knowledge and work history. If you worked in a similar role, and know there may be a keyword that is important, integrate it into your resume. There is no harm, and you may find that that keyword makes the difference between getting a first interview and getting ignored.

Take Away Tips

• Use keywords in your resume.
• Look at job descriptions and Internet job duty listings.

How to Write a Resume and Cover Letter

On Everyday Interview Tips, we spend countless hours trying to become the number one resource for job interview information on the Internet. Yet we recognize that we are not the only website that provides interview tips, advice and strategies. That is why we like to occasionally reference some of the other places that provide interview tips and supplement our own ideas and opinions.

Today we will look at an article from Finding Dulcinea. Overall, it is pretty sparse with information, but here are the main points and our own thoughts.

Article’s Main Points

• Do the Resume Yourself

Absolutely. There are only a few times where it is worth paying others to complete your resume for you: if English is not your first language, if you struggle with word choice and grammar, or try as you might, you cannot seem to create a resume that receives any phone calls for interviews. Otherwise, you should try to create the resume yourself for two simple reasons: First, you want to be able to tailor your resume to fit the job description, and if you are constantly paying for these edits, you are going to lose a lot of money. Second, you need to know your resume by heart, and if someone writes it for you, chances are you will not remember everything they put down.

• Avoid Acronyms

Again, correct. However, the reason to avoid acronyms is not only because some employers do not understand them. You also want to use as many keywords as possible to catch the eye of the person reading your resume and cover letter. Within acronyms there are always keywords of interest.

• Don’t Put Personal Information

Well, yes. I suppose this goes without saying. In addition, don’t put references or use an email address that is unprofessional.

• Keep Cover Letters Short and Sweet

In general, we recommend following the specific 3 paragraph cover letter style, because many employers expect cover letters to conform to a specific criteria. So shortening it to 1 or 2 paragraphs, while easier to read, is not always ideal. However, keeping it short and sweet is important. Don’t ramble or let your cover letter take away from the time the employer has to read your resume.

• Check Your Format

The article is correct. You should never send a Word document if the employer wants a pdf. You should also try to keep the document in .doc form rather than .docx. Even though most employers have the capability to open .docx format, everyone has the capability to open .doc so it is safer to keep it in that style.

Overall, the article does not have very much information, but what it does provide is sound. There is question about shortening cover letters to only 2 paragraphs or fewer, but overall the information is valid.

Take Away Tips

• Write your own resume and update it as needed.
• Make sure your cover letter is to the point.
• Use relevant keywords to impress employers.

Resume Honesty Rules

Applying for jobs is a delicate dance. You want to the employer to be wowed by your accomplishments, but in many cases your accomplishments are slim. No two jobs require you to do the same type of work, yet you need to convince the employer that you are going to fit like a glove.

To accomplish this, most people simply bend the truth. “I spent one day creating a PowerPoint project for my boss” becomes “Proficient in Microsoft PowerPoint.” “I once had to bold text on a webpage” becomes “Experience with HTML coding and website management.” It’s risky, because if you are asked to perform these tasks it is expected that you will address them easily, but as long as you are at least somewhat knowledgeable in the topics you can get away with bending the truth.

The Alternative Approach

Some candidates decide to use a different approach – they lie. They lie a lot. They put achievements and experiences in their resume that simply never occurred, or they alter facts dramatically in order to impress employers.

Sometimes these lies can lead to incredible success. This was addressed in a recent Wall Street Journal article:

According to the 2009 Screening Index released by ADP, a human-resources and payroll provider, 46% of employment, education or credential reference checks conducted in 2008 revealed discrepancies. That’s up from 41% in 2006.

The problem is that lying on your resume is a bad, bad idea. The world is too small. The likelihood that your lie is caught is high, and the effects of finding out you lied on your resume are such that you will likely be laid off immediately, with possible long term repercussions.

• If you don’t know something you claimed you knew on your resume, you will be caught.
• You never know who your coworkers know. If they know someone at your previous company, you will be caught.
• If you don’t show proficiency in something you claimed you knew well, your previous employer may be called, and you will be caught.

WSJ Advice

If you already lied on your resume, the article suggests that you clarify your lie up front, shrugging it off like an error. “I noticed that my resume said that I lead a team of 5 on that project, but that was in error, as I actually worked with a team of 5 and simply took on a leadership role within the group.”

This is not bad advice, but it may still affect your job chances. You are going to need to maintain an amazing interview if you hope to salvage your job chances. Your best bet is not to lie from the beginning. Lying on your resume may get you a job, but it will also get you fired from one and may make it harder to find another job to replace it.

Take Away Interview Tips

• Don’t lie on your resume.
• If you lied on your resume, bring it up as an “accident” during your job interview.

Resume Tips for Overqualified Applicants

It’s hard to find a job. Companies across the nation have cut down on who they are willing to employ, Layoffs are the word of the day. To find a job in today’s economy, you have to apply to whatever looks good, and this means applying to jobs that you may be overqualified for.

Problems for the Overqualified

When you are overqualified for a job, employers are become worried about your ability to hold down the job long term. They recognize that you probably have the intelligence and the work experience to succeed, but they are concerned that you will:

• Become bored and produce less than your abilities.
• Demand higher salary over time for your hard work.
• Ignore instructions from your supervisors.
• Leave the position as soon as a higher paying position opens.

As a result, as much as some companies may want to hire you for the position, they will not because they do not expect you to stay long or work well with the team.

How to Apply as an Overqualified Applicant

That is why if you are overqualified you must dumb down your resume in order to get the job. The more the company realizes that you are overqualified, the less likely you will get selected for an interview. Below are several tips for helping your resume look more attractive to the employer.

• Change Your Titles

The first step is to edit your titles. “Chief Financial Officer” shows too much responsibility. You can change it in two ways. You can simply change your title to something that is basically the same, such as “Manager of Finances” or “Financial Manager,” or you can use a title that you used to have before you were promoted from within the company. For example, “Assistant Finance Officer.” Changing your title will not put up as many red flags.

• Focus on the Job

Many business professionals create their resume beforehand, showing off all of their accomplishments in bulleted list form. If you are overqualified, it is a good idea to scrap your professional resume and create one from scratch that only highlights the achievements that are relevant for the position. For example, if the position are applying for does not require management experience, then there is no reason to put “Managed a Team of 200 Staff Members.” It isn’t relevant for the position and makes you appear overqualified, so it becomes superfluous and unnecessary information.

• Remove Education/Jobs

As long as it doesn’t cause you to be underqualified for the jobs, it is acceptable to remove some of the unnecessary information from your resume. For example, feel free and remove any advanced degrees (like Ph.D. or Masters) if they will not help you get the position. Remember not to make yourself underqualified for the role, however, and if you are asked what degree you received during an interview it is important that you tell the truth.

Use the Same Tips at Your Job Interview

These same resume tips are also effective during your job interview. Focus only on the qualifications you have that are relevant to the job, don’t volunteer any over-qualifications (though always be honest when asked) and keep the interview focused on why you are right for that job, not why you are taking a role you are underqualified for. With the right changes, you will have both a successful resume and a successful interview.

Take Away Tips

• Overqualified applicants should change their titles.
• Overqualified applicants should focus their achievements on the job.
• Overqualified applicants should remove any unnecessary information.

Additional Links:

• Herald Newspaper Article
• Monster.com Career Search Advice
• HowCast Ways to Dumb Down Your Resume

Don’t Spam Your Resume

It is hard to find a job in today’s economy. Each position gets thousands of applicants, and to compete you need to make sure employers are seeing your resume and considering you for the role. In general, this means that you need to send your resume to dozens if not hundreds of different jobs, especially if you are fresh out of college and not necessarily as competitive with your work history.

The problem is that this tactic is getting overused. Job seekers are sending their resumes to every job they find at a lightning fast rate, sometimes sending as many as ten or more resumes per hour. We already know it is a bad idea to send applications that quickly, simply because that implies that you are not customizing each document to the job you are applying for. Yet there is another problem that can occur as well, and this issue will prevent you from finding a job.

Whoopsadoodle

According to a number of hiring managers, when they post a job in multiple locations online, they have started to receive multiple resumes from the same applicants. These applicants did not bother to look at the listed employer (or did not notice an identical job description) and send in their resume two or three times.

What this shows the hiring manager is that you did not bother to see if it was a company you wanted to work for, and that you likely did not read the project description and notice the similarities. Spamming your resume is a surefire way to not get a job.

How to Keep Track of Your Applications

When you start applying for jobs, create a database of all of the jobs you have already applied for. Include companies, titles, email addresses of hiring managers, and maybe a link to the job description. Also take note of when you sent the resume. This will ensure that you do not spam your resume to employers.

What if You Want to Reapply to a Company?

There may be times that you see another job open within the same company. Rather than send in your resume again, you should instead look for contact info of the hiring manager you sent the initial resume to and request that they consider you for that position as well. Tell them that you will be happy to resend your resume and cover letter upon request. If asked, write a new cover letter addressing the new position. This will show interest in the company itself without appearing to be job spamming.

Take Away Tips

• Don’t spam your resume to companies.
• Keep a log of all of the companies you send your resume to.
• If reapplying for a job, email the hiring manager first about going back over your resume.

What is the Difference Between a Resume and a CV?

If you have ever visited the university website of college professor, you have no doubt come across their “CV,” or “Curriculum Vitae.” You may also have come across a few job postings that ask for a cover letter and “CV or Resume.” CVs differ from resumes dramatically. Most likely you will only need to create a resume.

What is a CV?

A Curriculum Vitae is a style of resume that is much longer and more comprehensive. The standard resume tends to have the following sections:

• Objective
• Work History
• Education
• Skills/Volunteer/Awards

Pretty simple. The entire document is expected to fit on one page, no longer than two pages, and you are expected to only provide the information that is relevant to the position.

CVs are far longer, and contain considerably more information. Examples of CV sections include:

• Education
• Research Experience
• Publications
• Awards
• Presentations
• Organizations
• Additional Academia Information

CVs are filled with academic information, containing published research papers, current research projects, past research projects and more.

What is the Purpose of the CV?

CVs are used almost exclusively for jobs that require research, such as jobs working with universities, pharmaceutical labs, etc. In addition, they are far more commonly used by those with at minimum a Master’s Degree, though this is not necessarily a rule. Though some employers request a CV, corporate jobs rarely require a document with that much information.

In some countries, CVs are required for all types of jobs. Even management and sales have their own CV. You should check out CV Examples to see how these documents should be formed. In the United States, CVs are much less common.

CVs should only be used when you are applying for positions that involve research, teaching or other academics. They should also only be used when you have information to place in the CV. Without a published paper or research experience, a CV is pointless and will only appear empty. If you would like to list a single paper you helped publish, you can always add it into your standard resume.

Take Away Tips

• Use a CV when you apply to academic jobs.
• For all other jobs, use a resume.