Common Resume Building Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

A resume is one of the most crucial factors that you need to focus upon, while you are applying for a new job. Just like the book is judged by its cover, an employer generates an impression about you through your resume. So, avoiding the common resume building mistakes that could hamper your chance of getting a good job is vital.

Following are some of the common resume building mistakes that one should avoid and rectify in order to achieve success:

1) Focus on the structure:
Your resume is the foremost impression an employer makes about you. Make sure it is well structured i.e. in proper format and layout with all the important information like your experience, achievements etc. mentioned appropriately. Your name, phone number and other important credentials should be easily accessible and in proper format with a uniform font size.

2) Avoid grammatical mistakes:
Make sure that your resume is free from grammatical errors as this really makes a bad impression on the employer. Use text editing software like Microsoft Word etc. with spell check and grammar check features to rectify your errors.

3) Keep It Limited:
Make sure your resume is short and crisp i.e. avoid inappropriate details like you were among the top 5 students in your school days as the employer is not at all interested in these kind of details. Stick to talking about your experience, achievements, and extracurricular activities like you stood 1st in national table tennis tournament. Keep your resume to the point and no more than two pages long.

4) Focus on the email address:
Sending the work application with an email address that has words like cool, loll etc is inappropriate. This creates a false impression on the employer. Create a professional email id with your name and special characters like underscore (_) to give it a professional appearance.

5) Focus on the objective:
The aim/objective is the statement that signifies your goal or success mantra in life. Using big words to sound professional does not makes you stand out in the crowd. Be simple, straight forward and to the point with no more that 15 words.

6) Avoid Using Abbreviations:
Your resume is an official document that has to be presented before the employer. So, be sure to omit all the abbreviations and contractions from the words or sentence.

7) No repetitive Words:
Do not use the same verb frequently. Instead use action verbs in order to describe your skills and experience.

Resume Sample - Photographer Resume

Photography is about the depiction of your creative side via superior visual imagination backed up with appropriate technical knowledge. You may be a professional in snapping images at international events or a photography fancier interested in catching the glorious shades of nature through your camera. However, if you want to click the best opportunities of your career then you should come up with a well-defined, formally typed resume.

Photographer Resume Sample

Designing a photographer resume for the first time? Acquire state-of-the-art strategies through this hard-hitting resume sample and transform your resume into a high-quality one - capable of alluring the significant employers of your industry.

Vincent W. Harbor
2078 North Wing Highway, Oklahoma City, OK
(580) 567 4674
vincent.harbor@mail.com

A visually-oriented digital photographer with over 5 years of hands-on experience in editorial and portrait photography.

Objective

Looking forward to develop as a skillful professional in the advancing sector of digital photography with the utilization of innovative and technically sound photoimaging expertise.

Key Strengths

a. Ability to apply reality to photographic works scoping from conventional to phantasmagorical concepts

b. Fine expertise with the utilization of color management and retouching techniques

c. Profound knowledge about cinematography, advertising photography, and digital imaging techniques

d. Appreciating skills with the use of camera such as the arranging the subject in the right frame, analyzing and capturing perfect emotions, adjusting the lens, shooting, lightning, etc

e. Skilled with the employment of impressive image styling methodologies

f. Possesses an eye for detail, sophisticated artistry competencies, and ability to keep calm in distressful situations

Professional Experiences

Digital Photographer
Shirley's Photography, Oklahoma City, OK
Mar 2012 - Present

a. Accumulating prepared commodities for merchandising which incorporate framed images, photographic albums, printed pictures, etc.

b. Researching about suitable photographic prospects, determining apt subjects, and discovering assorted locations (scenes) for capturing the exact images or video shoots

c. Coordinating with the consumers for confirming the type, quality, and usability of images. Besides, conferring about the technical issues, if any

Portrait Photographer
Shade Lovers, New York, NY
Jan 2010 - Mar 2012

a. Operating a panoramic range of instruments like flash attachments, tripods, etc., apart from the high-tech digital and customary cameras

b. Implementing air brushing and other required methods for resizing, colorizing, and enhancing the pictures along with their negatives

c. Getting actively involved in the investigation and study of newfound photography components or techniques

Editorial Photographer
Kingsbury Studios, Beaver, OK
Dec 2006 - Jan 2010

a. Adding appropriate captions, titles, or text to the images

b. Creating/improving innovative photographs that best complement to the story in a definitive visual manner

c. Consulting the writers, editors, and other professionals of the publishing houses regarding the image specifications and their business demands. Moreover, learning about latest marketing and advertising skills, including blogging

Education

Diploma in Photoimaging
FVB Instituteof Arts, Moore, OK
Dec 2006

Master of Visual Arts, Digital Photography
Berkley University, Edmond, OK
June 2006

Bachelor of Arts, Photography
St. Peter's University, Tulsa, OK
June 2004

Technical Proficiencies

Mac OS
Adobe Photoshop CS6
Capture One Pro 7
ACDSee Pro 6
CorelDRAW Graphics Suite X6

Contributions

Saga Magazine
Modeling and Fashion Photography
Yale Historic Art
Portrait Photography
Colors of Nature Art Exhibition
Digital Photography
Commissions
Executive Magazine
Chicago, IL
SDV Awards
Las Vegas, NV

Fetching the top employers of your occupation is not a challenging task if you have arranged a professional and skillfully constructed resume. Employ these profound resume writing tips and gear up for creating an enhanced job application.

Happy resume writing!

Why Resumes Are The Key To Landing That Dream Job

Getting that dream job is difficult than ever before. Whether you are a fresher out of a college or have years of experience related to a particular field, chances of you getting your dream job are far less than ever before. Not only there has been a marked increase in the competition in the recent past, but poor global economic conditions and falling profits are also a major reason behind the same. The very first question that strikes the mind at this point is if there is a way to get that job you always wanted to? The answer is yes. A well written resume depicts a lot about your personality, nature as well as positives and can a long way in helping you in getting hired for a job of your dreams.

We must remember that first look has a lasting impression and the part is played by your resume when it comes to getting hired.

"Your resume is the first impression you make on your potential employer or recruiter."

Points To Keep In Mind While Preparing Your Resume

Here are a few important points that must be kept in mind while preparing your resume

• Resume Should Reflect Your Personality

The human resource experts are always on the lookout of particular personality traits for different job types and resume can be a great medium to put forward the same. It not only increases the chances of getting through the initial selection phase but also getting your dream job.

• Resume For Job Type

You can also alter the resume as per your field or job type. If you are into marketing and communication, mentioning the contact details at the top is always a good idea. If you are looking for a creative job, your resume should reflect the same.

• Important Inclusions

In addition, there are a few important points that must be included in the resume including

o Career Goal

o Education History

o Professional Qualifications

o Career History

o Responsibilities

o Achievements

• Keep It Professional and Up To Date

It is always important to keep your resume updated and up to the mark.

The important point to understand here is that despite the great education or career achievements, there is always a chance of somebody else getting an interview call for the same and resume can be the biggest reason behind the same. The best way out is to opt for resume advice or resume assistance services.

Why Hiring A Resume Coach is a Good Idea?

Probably the two most important reasons why you must hire a resume coach are

• They understand the industry better and can help in creating a perfect CV

• They offer a number of additional benefits including more interview calls, increase in your earning potential, a marked difference from others in the crowd as well as increase in chances of landing that dream job.

Why Great CVs Fail

Maybe you've spent hours crafting your CV, adding every little detail of your working life, terrified of leaving out anything at all that could prove important to your next employer. It is a true work of art, encompassing your whole working life. Every task, every duty is listed in a career filled with accomplishments in many different areas. With all that to recommend you, how could anyone refuse you? Yet, you've distributed it, you've waited, you've followed up to see that it has been received. Still nothing.

The truth is that these days a lengthy CV won't be worth the pages it is written on. In all but a handful of professions, brevity is crucial. But for many talented and successful professionals, with years of outstanding achievements, skills and experience, it can be baffling to try to choose which parts to emphasise and which parts to dare to leave out.

The CV's job is not to declare every aspect of your working history - the interview stage will provide plenty of time to go into more detail. Rather than a detailed portrait, showing every crease and pore, think of it instead as a carefully selective "sketch". It's a crisply worded sales tool, plain and simple, and to be most effective, should be redesigned and targeted specifically for each role you apply for, giving just enough of the right information to get you to interview. Two pages are an acceptable length - and this should include large amounts of white space.

With the number of candidates per advertised role reaching peak levels, recruiters have a tough enough job sifting through hundreds of applications and unless your CV is tailored, streamlined, and immaculate, the chances are you are heading for the trash. Many recruiters scan CVs on digital devices taking just a few seconds for each, so to get to the shortlist of candidates, you need to make their job easy, by providing a document that is easily readable, with clean layout and fonts, using clear and simple language and avoiding jargon wherever possible. Cut out any waffle and cliches and make sure every sentence is clear and relevant. It must be proofread carefully to eliminate repetition and silly errors.

The key message is to be clear about what the recruiter or future employer wants and then to give it to them. But of course, this is not nearly as easy as it sounds! So how can you become the optimum candidate? Whether you are a graduate just starting out and wondering how to present your minimal experience with optimum effect, or at the other end of your working life with so many decades of experience that summarising them onto two pages seems like an impossible task, a professional recruitment writer can be a godsend.

Helping you to define your image and present it accurately and in the most effective and current manner, using a professional recruitment writing service will give you peace of mind and the very best chance of success. And for no more than the price of a trip to the hair salon, or a new shirt and tie, it could be the best investment you've ever made!

Resume Professional Writers Reviews Roots of Unemployment

Many people are convinced that competition in recent market condition is fierce because of work shortage. But would you believe that there are still a number of vacant job positions long been waiting to be filled?

Well, you might not believe it but it's true. In fact, a recent Career Builder survey showed that despite the 8.2 percent unemployment rate in the country, 38 percent of employers continue to claim that they can't find the qualified candidate to fill certain jobs.

Yes, there could be stiff competition and meticulous employers, but as an applicant, have you exhausted all your efforts to get the job you want?

Reasons Why Aspirants Fail

Job hunting is never easy especially if there are hundreds of applicants vying for only one position. But why is it that some people make their break while others don't?

Here are some reasons why people don't get hired:

· Poor personal appearance

· Lack of interest and enthusiasm for the job

· Lack of sincere concern for the company

· Vague answers to questions

· Lack of self-confidence and poise

· Unwillingness to start at the bottom

Normally, unsuccessful applicants lack what employers need. But for those who have such traits, there is another reason why their applications turn out to be ineffective:a sloppy application document.

Ways to Get Noticed

This may sound redundant, but resumes can indeed make or break any applicant. A well-crafted application will help capture the attention of hiring managers; otherwise, recruiters will simply toss it in the trash. The following are bits of suggestions to make a resume noticeable.

· Meet the basic qualifications, skills, and experiences that the position requires. Also, review requirements entailed in the job description.

· Let your personal qualities shine.

· Tailor fit your resume to the company and job being applied for.

· Pay attention to details, including errors, font size, and style.

Creating a well-crafted eye-catching resume may be a daunting task for most people.In this case, applicants may opt to get the service of a professional writer.

To Write Your Own Resume Or Not?

Writing a resume is something that very few of us are thrilled about. For many job seekers, one of the most difficult parts of searching for a job is creating an effective resume that will not be ignored by recruiters or hiring managers.

With that said, it is not surprising that more and more people are willing to spend money on hiring professional resume writers. Is this really a good idea? Or is having someone else write your resume will eventually cost you the job? Here, we are going to examine the good and the bad sides of working with a resume writer.

PROS:

· Getting a writer to make your resume can spare you a lot of time. There are many other things to think of as you go on with your job search. By hiring a resume writer, you can focus on finding employment opportunities instead of spending a lot of time trying to figure out how you're going to make your resume a powerful one.

· An experienced resume writer knows exactly what skills of yours should and should not be included in your resume. Depending on the position you are applying for, your writer will find a way to effectively match your particular skills with the requirements of the position.

· Professional resume writers are up-to-date with all the trends and methods by which employers select job applicants. Thus, you can expect your writer to come up with a resume that is suitable for the industry you are entering and the company you are applying to.

CONS:

· Letting someone else write a resume FOR you can leave you submitting a resume that contains information you cannot explain or elaborate on in an interview. Even with a writer, you still need to spend time explaining to him all the vital information about you.

· Not all resume writing companies are true to their promises and guarantees. You may be convinced that your resume will be written exclusively for you. Be aware, though, that some writers produce several generic resumes, which they use for several clients. This means you cannot be certain that your resume is one of a kind, and what's worse is that it is even possible for you to be given a generically written one.

· Any person can claim to be an expert in offering resume and career services. You will find so many resume writers online, all of whom would brag about their years of experience and the number of people they have written for. The question is if all their claims are for real. It will be very hard for you to verify this, which means that you are at a risk of paying a lot of money to someone who doesn't have the qualifications to be a resume writer.

Why Aren't You Getting Interviews?

If you're applying for jobs either online or by other means available to you and you're getting little or no response (notwithstanding that applying for jobs is the least effective way to get hired), the lack of overall response by Employers is a valid red flag that your resume is not doing its job.

The primary purpose of the resume is to get your foot in the door. Given that you are pursuing positions that align with your knowledge/skills/experience, if doors are consistently not opening it means the message of your resume is flawed.

In my experience scrutinizing hundreds of corporate resumes with an eye towards restructuring them into job magnets, I've identified several recurring blunders made by unwitting job seekers:

Shoddy Page Formatting.

Remember, the resume is a visual presentation as much as a content document. I once had an executive hand me a resume that aesthetically looked like something a teenager might pass off as a school book report. My immediate feedback was that it didn't visually represent who he was as an elite professional. I hadn't yet read a word.

The resume is a Marketing Tool. As such, it needs to draw the reader in much like a brochure or advertising piece. It is, in fact, an extension of your visual brand.

The disorganized header; irregular margins; sloppy line spacing; distracting page borders; multiple font styles (in the name of "standing out") will bring your resume to a visual deadlock. Haphazard formatting of your resume creates an amateurish effect.

The hiring manager isn't looking for an Amateur.

Having an Objective Statement.

Seeking a full-time position using my experience, energy and enthusiasm in an environment that offers greater challenge, increased benefits, and the opportunity to grow the company.

The problem with the Objective statement is that it's all about what you want. Employers have no vested interest in what you want. Their focus is their need as a company. Consequently, the objective statement on the resume has been replaced by the Summary/Profile.

(Exception: An Objective statement may be considered for inclusion within the Summary/Profile of a Functional resume focusing on change of career.)

Lifeless (translation: Average) Summary/Profile.

Financial professional with proven expertise in financial reporting; consolidation of multiple entities; project implementation; mergers and acquisitions; financial analysis and accounting research. Strengths include preparation, consolidation, analysis of financial statements, analyzing and streamlining of processes. Detail-oriented team player.

Is it not reasonable to anticipate that each resume in that screened pile of documents on the hiring manager's desk will contain similar credentials as yours? The Summary above isn't a bad Summary; it's an average Summary. Nothing in it makes the Employer say, "I need to speak with this person!" It lacks features-and-benefits impact, which is the strength of the Summary.

Interchangeably referred to as the Summary or Profile, it is this 3-5 sentence power-house narrative that induces the Employer to read further. What is it that you do especially well? What are you known for? What differentiates you from others in your profession? The Summary/Profile is your Brand Message.

Task-focused vs. Accomplishments-driven Position Information.

• Communicated daily to all key customer personnel via phone, fax, email and webcast technologies.
• Responsible for site RCI's (Root Cause Investigations) in regards to any safety incidents or operational/construction concerns.
• Conducted multiple off site team building events.
• Responsible for providing technical, project and organizational leadership for the Engineering, Service and Sales departments.

When you consider that the hiring manager knows what the job entails, why are you sending him/her a Job Description? The information within each of your positions should convey selected accomplishments demonstrating the impact you've made within each role.

Job seekers tell me they struggle with the idea of "bragging" in the resume. You're not bragging when you define how you've impacted companies throughout your career. That is the overall purpose of the resume! Employers expect you to promote yourself. To not do so diminishes your value in the Employer's eyes.

THE BOTTOM LINE: "SO WHAT?"

Your resume is your sales brochure promoting a product - you! The value of a sales message is measured by the interest generated in the buyer. With the glut of professionals out there with your job title, the message of your resume needs to be above the level of simply average. The Employer doesn't have to settle for average in today's Buyer's Market.