Why Your Resume Was Thrown in the Trash

Why Your Resume Was Thrown in the TrashWeve all been there. Proactively firing resumes into the void, uploading and submitting them to job after job, hiring manager after hiring manager, and getting no response. googletag.cmd.push(function() googletag.display(div-gpt-ad-1467144145037-0) ) If youre welchesting a whole lot of time and bait and bedrngnis getting any nibbles, double check that youre not making any of the following rookie resume mistakes.1. Aiming too highAmbition and confidence are both great qualities, and necessary to succeed. But parte of the job search process is knowing which category of job youre qualified for. Youre allowed to stretch for the top branches, but you want to make sure youre not in the forest trying to stretch up all the way to Mars.Send resumes to jobs within your current qualification and experience bracket, then a few tiers above. Recruiters will take your resume more seriously.2. Inattention to formattingThis doesnt even mean your indents are inc onsistent. This means they specifically asked for .pdf or .rtf and you submitted a .docx. It seems like such a small detail, but sometimes different formats are incompatible with certain systems. Youll be asking the recruiter to do an annoying bit of extra work before they even open your resume and, probably, they wont.3. Its pretty, but it doesnt say muchYouve designed your resume to the hilt. Its a work of modernist art. Up on all the latest trends. Complete with snazzy infographics. But if your recruiter cant get the basic information needed to assess your skills and experience, youre sunk. Make it clear, concise, and accessible. Stylishness within those parameters is gravy.4. Language and grammarmistakesYou didnt spell check, you didnt proofread. You didnt even make sure you used the same font. You misspelled cadndidate. The recruiter is hitting delete so fast, you wont even know which particular error was the culprit. Pay attention to these details. It will be glaringly obvious if you dont.5. Too many multi-syllabicsTheyre assuming you passed your SAT. You dont need to throw every fancy word from your old standardized test study guides at them. Stick to clear language that correctly conveys what you need them to know.6. DishonestyDont lie. Period. You will get caught eventually. Even if you make it past the resume screening process to the interview. Even if you get hired. Be honest about where youve worked and what you know, and dont try to sweeten anything up beyond the realm of truth.7. Youre too persistentPlay a little hard to get. Calling every three hours to ask whether your resume has been received will only annoy the hiring manager. Rather than nudge them to get to your resume faster, this will likely backfire and send it straight to the trash.8. Youre too muchDid you send flowers or chocolate? A singing telegram? Include a headshot for a job that doesnt need one? Write an honest, but slightly desperate note about why you want an interview so badly ? Send one too many weirdo signals and youll end up in the weirdo pile. Stay professional.9. You oversharedThere are a ton of resume creation aides online. Bottom line you need to include your name, your contact information, and a chronological list of your work and education history, plus any relevant skills or certifications. You do not want to include your birthday, favorite color, personal information, race, sexual orientation, or your membership in political groups. Youll only look like you dont know what youre doing. And you might even offend someone. Stick to the basics.