Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

BNET TalkbackShare your ideas and expertise on this topic

Subscribe to this discussion via Email or RSS

•  
  1

  jcalire

  06/09/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  These days we are looking for short brief resumes but I still am old fashioned, liking some 'story' (lack of better word right now) to see the involvement the candidate had in positions that is listed.

•  
  2

  sfsherman

  06/09/09 | Reported as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I agree with jcalire: I like the idea of a story. Too often
  resumes try to be short and succinct, but these resumes
  lack the ability to build a connection with the reader. They
  don't tell enough of a story to be relevant. This link shows a
  good way to think about approaching the writing of a
  resume: http://brandcoalition.wordpress.com/2008/09/01/ten-steps-
  to-a-great-resume/
  
  One last thing... I love Silverthorne's ideas. A big "Bravo"
  for his comment about the accents in "resume".

•  
  3

  Richard-HK

  06/09/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Yes, I'm very glad that I won't be submitting a resume to Mr. Silverman. I dislike many of MS Word's forced formatting, grammar rules, and other standard coding that docs are subjected to and the fact that in some cases, you must almost be a programmer to overcome some of the autoformatting the MS sets up as default. Dash formatting seems to be one. By Mr. Silverman's own statement, the dash length is controlled by MS assumptions on word spacing. Only option I've found from researching Word help is to turn of the "en" and "em" autoformat options. However, that doesn't seem to be a solution when applying text justification formatting, because Word will still adjust sizes of some characters and spacing to fit justification. Of course, a person could not use justification, but then the uneven look of the right margin would probably be a big turnoff for many resume readers. So, it is nice to know that spending extended lengths of time trying to overcome MS Word's forced formatting for minor punctuation is a critical final acceptance test for a resume that will make the total of the person's experience, knowledge, and work success irrelevant.
  
  As for the primary 3 points, agree fully with the last 2 and most of the 1st. The point on right justifying dates could just as easily irritate people who don't care or who prefer to see the dates on a following line or some other formatting. Consistency in bullet points, headings, font sizes and style, etc. should be a point and having the dates and relevant info included. But if the dates being flush right, flush left, or on a separate line will negate my experience and work successes in having my resume considered, I suggest that the resume reader may wish to re-evaluate priorities.

•  
  4

  Rajan Bhandari

  06/09/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Your resume is the key to unlock the reader's interest in getting to know you better. A string of dated activities without clarity on what you actually achieved either for yourself or (preferably) for the organisation, carries little weight.
  
  Additionally, avoid use of adjectives and insert nouns and verbs instead as they are stronger.
  
  Hobbies and interests should bring out how you are a more 'complete' person, whose hobbies have added value to life or the environment.
  
  Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, the resume should have an out to in approach, bringing out what you can do for the organisation, rather than what the job can do for you. This last point is a common weakness among most young applicants.

•  
  5

  Desk Jockey

  06/09/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I find no value in people including a "Personal Goals" or "Personal Objectives" statement in their resume, and just skip over them. Though I might be interested in a genuinely honest or a funny one.

•  
  6

  Grazia Valentino-Boschi

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Sorry if I sound pretentious (moi?) but as a fluent French speaker living in Paris, r?sum? IS spelt with two accents.
  
  I double-checked in my Collins Robert dictionary after having read the post as I doubted myself.
  
  But it's definitely two accents. Not sure what dictionary the rest of you are using, but you might like to buy a different edition.
  
  I agree with the fact that formatting, spell-checking, etc. is important as it can make someone's mind wander - how many times have you found a spelling mistake, for example in a book you are reading, and you start to think about that instead of the plot?
  
  But, at the end of the day, it should be about the person.
  
  It also depends on the job. I work in corporate communications, so words, etc. are important. If I received a CV (as the French call it BTW!) with lots of basic mistakes, even if the person were the best candidate, I would think twice about seeing him or her.
  
  The biggest challenge, at least in Europe, is that recruiters now want r?sum?s on just ONE page, but also expect all the details such as achievements, etc. If anyone has had more than one job, that's an impossible task...
  

•  
  7

  Muzu

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Would someone post an example of a supposedly good CV?
  I'm struggling to get one done!

•  
  8

  Bob Wileman

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  The notes above are very revealing:
  a) of the egotistical nature of selectors who care more about hyphens than selecting capable managers, and
  b) the inability of many capable managers to produce a clean CV
  
  I have been a professional management recruiter for over 30 years and believe that even top executives often need advice on presentation.
  However, coaching cannot overcome the prejudices of some selectors.

•  
  9

  pete_hurst

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  An applicant submitted a CV to us, on which he claimed to have produced a website that, in fact, we had developed.
  
  On speaking to the relevant client we discovered that, actually, he had produced their old website which we had replaced, mainly due to the massive faults and timebombs he had apparently intentionally subotaged it with. I think their words were "not with a bargepole!"
  
  I wanted to interview him just for the look on his face when he realised the blunder. But we decided not to bother wasting our time

•  
  10

  Sublyg

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I put a resume in the discard pile because the candidate used an ampersand "&" throughout the entire resume. I couldn't stand it.

•  
  11

  ohanyido@...

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Equally important is the fact that a resume should tell a story...maybe not in the biographic sense or literary oeuvre, but in terms of linkages. Subsections and related subjects should be seen to ?link? closely with each other. For examples Education, Fellowships and other academic awards and such related contents should be in same locus of the resume.- Ohanyido

•  
  12

  economaki@...

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  One of my personal quirks is to discard resumes with mistakes, spelling, spacing, alignment etc. However, one crossed my desk and I decided to interview the candidate because on paper he was a great fit -- or should have been. I allowed him to re-submit his resume after telling him it had mistakes. End result? He ended up unemployed in less than a year. I'll never go back on my "quirk" again!

•  
  13

  Oweimar

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I am very particular about the cover letter which is submitted with the resume. Most applicants cannot be bothered with even submitting one and when they are submitted 85 percent have some form of spelling or grammatical error.
  
  The cover letter is your very first impression...you cannot take that back. Tip: Don't use a copy and paste format. You need a sincere approach to the cover letter as well as a personal touch. This will interest a lot more people than you think.
  
  It has always worked for me. I have applied at 4 places and have been hired at the same places. I have never had a cover letter which I submitted turned away.

•  
  14

  g.a.smith

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I've been a recruiter since 1986 and you wouldn't believe how many VP's and top managers send me resumes with the word "manger" instead of "manager" throughout it. I'd say at least 20% of the resumes I receive have at least one of those mistakes in it, regardless of the level at which they work.
  
  I'm appalled that a hiring official would discard a resume because of the use of "&" instead of "and". I often rework resumes to suit the position or the company and will, for space sake, utilize the "&" instead of "and". Sometimes it can mean the difference between a 2 page resume and a 3 pager.
  
  This thing with the hyphens - minutiae, minutiae. It's obvious you are paying far too much attention to detail rather than the qualifications of the candidate.
  
  There are 2 things on a resume that I normally discard: the goals and/or objectives simply because the ones listed may not be the same as the company's and can sometimes be misunderstood by the resume reviewer as inflexible. The other item is hobbies: who cares? There have only been 3 resumes on which I left the hobbies, because a sport, like soccer, was listed and oftentimes, that can interest the hiring official. I've also left additional information on the resume that is not germane to the resume or the position being sought. Most often it's been a previous career in professional sports (played on a Yankees farm team or 2nd string quarterback for the Browns, etc), which has interested every hiring official who has received one.
  
  I try to keep resumes to 2 pages and I don't worry about the story. A resume is not a complete history of a candidate's career. It's merely a statement of employment and should have sufficient information to interest the hiring official enough to pursue the candidate.
  
  Here in the US, we call it - and spell it - a "resume" without the accents because we are lazy with our English and have gotten used to it. In my recruiting circles, we also consider a "CV" as a listing of one's educational history or the resume of someone who's served in education.
  
  And that's my 2 cents.

•  
  15

  clarkm

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I see an interesting correlation to the personal preferences noted here and another post on customer social styles. It's pretty obvious that it would certainly be of some benefit if a prospective job candidate had some knowledge of the social style of the person filtering their resume.
  
  I've been pretty consistent with my resume throughout my career and have widely varying critiques. I am a firm believer in proper spelling and format, I'm somewhat anal about a lot of things though. But to those of you who toss resumes based on your own personal pet peeves, I don't know what to say that wouldn't be even mildly offensive. You're pathetic. Isn't it your job to try and look past those very things to find the best candidate for the position? I can understand grammatical errors being a problem for somebody showing an English degree and applying for a proof reader position. Unless the resume is a complete cluster I don't understand the issue with an electronic formatting error or the use of &. If you own the business, more power to you, that's your perogative. If you're a payroll employee maybe you should refresh yourself with your job responsibilities and let go of the personal issues.

•  
  16

  Josh10k@...

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Once when reviewing applications to graduate school someone said they wanted a Masters to get a better quality credit card... My pet peeve on resumes is insure vs. ensure. I want to see management resumes with accomplishments, not duties, and some language that shows their drive to make their companies excel in the long term. Team focus is Very desireabe - any time I see the word "we" I get excited...

•  
  17

  Brett11

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  Great Reasons to Work For Yourself!

  Thanks "job-providers" ... for letting us peek inside your oh-so-mysterious inner sanctum of decision-making, and the amazing criteria you use to weed out the masses and select the "Strong Candidate." Oh, wait, I didn't turn off my MS Word hypenation option ... and I used an "&" instead of the word "and" ... yessirree, I fully understand and respect your Solomonic deliberation to not bring me in to meet you and your team, you are indeed a wise soul who understands vast correlations of human behavior and work productivity and performance based on a sheet of paper and some random grammatical nuances that you prefer or dislike.
  
  Karl Marx is grinning from bearded ear to ear. We who are unable (unwilling? uncapitalized? undermotivated?) to use our skills and talents on our own projects and goals must sell our labor to others who have resources and capital. We must toil to produce outcomes and products and services for these other people, and we get compensated accordingly ... supposedly, in theory.
  
  In order to gain attention and stand out from the crowd, like brightly colored flowers we try to lure the bees to us, wafting our resumes about like sweetly-fragranced bouquets of nectar ... we are the accomplished employee, the loyal employee, the hard-working, diligent, care-only-about-the-company employee ... and you must, you simply must salivate at my expertly written, teasing come-thither resume which beckons you, seduces you, entices you to call -- call --- CALL ME! Call me now, you know you need me, you know you want me, my plume of many colors is reflected on that single sheet of paper and YOU, highly insightful HR person, brilliantly under-recognized recruiter, overworked but tough-as-nails Department Director who will get his hands dirty by actually getting in the trenches and selecting the cream of the crop, yes all of you will tremble and sweat with visions of delight as you consider bringing me in for an interview .... and if this is truly your day, and I'm truly your man, then maybe you can bring me on board for far less than the man who has been with your firm for 15 years, thus pocketing a nice profit from the changeover.
  
  But for those who are repelled by the arbitrary antics of these gate-keepers, for those who see beyond the day to day traumas of selling your soul and cherished values to an impersonal and uncaring organization who you must convince - with all the earnest passion you can muster - that indeed you are the "best man for the job" ... keep your dreams alive! Reach down, deep inside, and find the kernel of you that was 8 years old, 13 years old, maybe 22 years old ... rekindle the feeling of who you really were and still are, deep down below the corporate facade and economic fears ... and move in the direction of your own truth and expression. Do not sell your life on a resume, to convince a stranger that "you're the one" ... don't force yourself to drink from the well of corporate humility by creating a false bravado and emanating self-defeating hubris ... look at your own goals, and think of ways to manifest your dreams, your projects, your outcomes -- not those of any other person, group, firm, corporation, or organization. Find a way to monetize your own dreams, and you can take that sheet of fluffery -- with shortened or extended hyphens, with or without ampersands -- and make a paper airplane out of it and toss it into the bonfire that you're enjoying with friends and loved ones.

•  
  18

  LifeisBella

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Interesting subject. The article and comments certainly illustrate what a crap shoot getting a job really is.
  
  As I mentioned in a recent article, there a several other common reasons your resume may fail to net an interview. (Here's the link if you're curious. http://ezinearticles.com/?Top-7-Reasons-Resumes-Fail-to-Get-the-Interview&id=2189508 )
  
  Even if you get all these things right you still run the risk of being eliminated for some off-the-wall reason. Doesn't mean it's smart or right on the resume screener's part. It's just part of what a job seeker has to deal with.
  
  Bottom line? The more anal you are about perfecting your resume, the greater your odds of getting past the pet peeves.
  
  Shirley Ray
  JobSeekersEdge.com

•  
  19

  techno_pen

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Some very interesting comments so far...
  
  One point to mention is that the translation from computer to computer is why hyphens get out of joint- not always sloppy writing- not everyone uses the old Word (97-03) and even the Word 07 "compatible" loses fidelity at times. Also, not everyone uses Word- many other word processing programs exist. I prefer to print and send- not email; but sometimes no other option is given. Even faxing may come out blurry on the other end.
  
  In answer to the absolute worst ever resume to work on (I write resumes among other things) was for a man who had 20 jobs in a 7-year span. He lost most of them because he couldn't keep his mouth shut and was argumentative. Try finding something positive to write up in that one! I didn't lie, but I had to do some "creative writing"... it sure makes the case why background checks are equally important. I wouldn't take on a job like that again.

•  
  20

  paynesgrey

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  The appliant documented that, as a medical assistant, one of her duties was "Transposing medical orders."
  Next - please!

•  
  21

  paynesgrey

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Make that applicant

•  
  22

  Ken Ferry

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  The cardinal rule for any effort to communicate, be it a resume, a presentation, a business letter, or a party invitation is to know your audience and write directly to them. The second-order rule, by only a few degrees of importance, is to know and follow the rules of formality. The rest should follow quite naturally.
  
  If I am reviewing a resume (and those accent marks on the word "resume" are only important if time constraints are of little or no consequence for the position in question) for an engineering or otherwise technical position, I will look first for conciseness and organizational ability (e.g. meaningful bullet lists, well designed sections with clear headings). If I am looking to fill a more people-oriented position such as administrative assistant, I want to see more of the story and other signs of relational skills.
  
  Now, I understand that current circumstances are different and that there are a growing number of people simply looking for a way to put food on the table. Nonetheless, the first order of business in a job search, starting with the job posting on the employer's part and the resume and cover letter on the prospective hire's part, needs to remain to determine whether this particular match is a good fit. So, if you, like I, are averse to putting the accent marks on the word "resume" because you think it's a waste of time in today's world, don't do it! This helps your resume define who you are. If the reviewer views this as being lazy, they would probably also view some of your other habits of efficiency (emails filled with incomplete sentences and "texting" shortcuts?) as likewise being lazy. The likelihood of you and they being happy working together would be slim at best - never a good situation.
  
  So, in my worthless opinion, your resume should, above all else, clearly tell the reader who you are and who you hope to become if hired by them.

•  
  23

  Eric Ange

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Brett11
  
  Very funny..... I run a small recruiting firm and I am going to read your post to the group at our next meeting.

•  
  24

  rpotter@...

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I am also rather finicky when it comes to reading resumes. Handwritten types go out with the trash first. That is why I type mine up on WordPro. Straight forward, clean, and user friendly.

•  
  25

  kmw8

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Brett11 - bravo!!!
  
  I couldn't have said it better - but alas, I do have to say something.
  
  If those sifting through the 1,000s of applicants for Manager of Special Projects, Nuclear Energy Experience Required - are so finicky, and if those applying - who have only 1 year experience as a salad maker at McDonald's - are equally frustrated with there inability to "fine tune" their resume to meet the qualifications of the job, then what are we missing here?
  
  Perhaps STANDARDS? I suppose that would take away from the "art" of resume writing, and the critics who come along with that art form. "His use of nouns instead of adjectives is amazing - but the placement of the date is not in balance with the composition. I give it a C-."
  
  Those who dismiss a resume for not having completely flush right justified dates should be fired right now, on the spot. What value are you bringing to your company or agency? ODC-ism?
  
  Yes spelling, grammar, and getting to the point are all valid comments for a resume. But until we have standards, you can post all you want on a blog - no one can read minds.
  
  Had I known that for the past year I did something on my resume (yet to be disclosed to me) that lead to the 100's of jobs I qualified for not even offering me an interview, I certainly would not have continued doing it!
  
  If you are the type who despises ampersands - at least pay the applicant the service of TELLING HIM that is why he didn't get an interview.
  
  I think if you had to own up to these piposterous litmus tests, and had to face the person who lost his job, and is about to lose his home, and has three kids, and is perfect for the job but forgot to spell out "and" - you might come off your high horse and realize you are dealing with HUMANS.
  
  Hey wait a minute - HR - HUMAN RESOURCES - that's right! It's in your TITLE! Sigh...

•  
  26

  kmw8

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  That's OCD-ism by the way - does that mean you won't read my post now?

•  
  27

  Summerdog

  06/10/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I agree that at least proofreading your CV is required. The spacing and widths of dashes is not a killer to me but when it is obvious that there was less than thorough preparation for the document I will kick it to the curb. Word to the wise also....no matter how well someone appears to fit on "paper", if they are a job hopper run the other way.
  
  I thought I had the perfect opportunity for someone who went to my MBA alma mater. He was unemployed at the time but ended up leaving my company within a year after I hired him. It turned out he was still looking around even after I brought him onboard!

•  
  28

  qajeff

  06/11/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I took a job with a manager who was troubled by my resume's "format," but acquiesced. I was stuck with a boss who knew how to challenge reports and feign interest, but was unable to see past ink on paper. He plowed through paper with furrowed brow and critical eye, without ever recognizing that ink could actually be information, or, heaven forbid, a call to action! Not only was he no help to me (or the company), he was a saboteur. I'll never make that mistake again. Oh wait, I probaby will. I don't have the luxury of being choosy, or for that matter, delivering any feedback re: his performance
  
  It's a travesty that companies are full of people who prioritize power and self-importance instead of trying to get a job done. How many above fit this description? Don't worry, you're probaby safe as your self-reflection has likely atrophied. Brett11, I'll work with you any day.

•  
  29

  Brett11

  06/11/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  If anyone wants to get in touch with me:
  aton_ra_1999@yahoo.com
  
  Brett

•  
  30

  chelle2909

  06/12/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Kmw8
  
  You said it correctly. There are people behind those pieces of paper. A lot of them, I'm sure, would be happy and thankful to put in a hard days work and contribute to an organization but they will never get the chance because they don't know how to use their right margin. (Formatting your resume in a table also makes this easier) It's a shame that department managers may be missing out on a great worker and not even know it thanks to the pet-peeves of the resume screener on a power trip. I just took a class on organizational management and it says that the new trend for successful companies is to revamp their HR departments to make them more "people" friendly. With all the articles on this website discussing the importance of recruitment and retainment, you can see that the change is necessary. Who knows, maybe some of you old school, inflexible HR managers will be writing your own resumes soon.
  
  Look at job history, look at content, but chill out on the right margins and dashes, it's ridiculous.

•  
  31

  rmhotfoot@...

  06/12/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  To all you know-it-all recruiters who presume so much about alleged job-hoppers, remember that people must sometimes do temporary work, contract or consulting assignments, or part-time jobs just to keep the bills paid after facing unforeseen layoff or company bankruptcy. Instead of arrogantly jumping to conclusions, you might just email or phone back that person for any justifiable clarifications. Most annoying of all is when some secretary, who is half your age with half your education or experience, is making arbitrary selections of supposedly acceptable candidates.

•  
  32

  Annalon

  06/13/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Just a thought - some companies (i.e., many law firms) have an ampersand as part of their name!
  
  

•  
  33

  keshannon

  06/16/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  David Silverman's name is going on my "Do Not Send Resume" list. If the length of hyphens is one of his criteria for judging potential employees, he's way to much of a micro-managing, small picture guy for me.

•  
  34

  Recon427

  07/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  It seems like there is a debate raging on in this comments section about the use of proper punctuation, spelling, and grammar.
  
  For those of you who say that Human Resource managers are "wasting talent" or being "harsh" on prospective employees.... All I can say, would be that spelling, grammar, and other mistakes show the underlying character of the writer. Someone who takes the time to go to the Help section in Word and figure out how to right-align or center or spell check words, demonstrates that he/she pays attention to details and has the common sense to seek help when they are uncertain of something. Furthermore, they demonstrate they do not have a lazy nature and will do whatever their task is correctly.
  
  In short, I could write an essay analyzing the different meanings that are scattered across the resume and imprinted in the HR's mind. I doubt that the HR manager acknowledges a lot of those things conscientiously; instead this sort of analysis is done without thinking, for the most part. It is what generates the initial "first impression."

•  
  35

  pharr1209

  07/03/09 | Report as spam

  e-Recruiting Software

  I guessing no one on here has applied for a job recently....
  because companies DO NOT allow you to 'send' a formatted
  resume, anymore.
  It's all e-recruiting, and the stupid things pull the text from
  your resume - all out of formatting (no bold, or paragraph
  breaks) - and keep that as your resume so that HR reps.
  can just do keyword searches in which your resume might
  come up for...
  
  when I first started applying for jobs a few months ago and
  this first happened with a major company, I emailed the HR
  department to let them know that it was not my intention to
  turn in such an unprofessionally formatted resume. Their
  reply: "man, we know our software does that. And we'd
  obviously never judge candidates on the aesthetics of their
  resumes"....
  
  It's a whole new ball game.............

•  
  36

  Recon427

  07/03/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I hear that pharr1209! I always get irked by those online resume submissions. However, it is still protocol to bring a copy of your resume to the job interview. Therefore, format does matter.
  

•  
  37

  tricia49417

  07/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Very helpful article. Helpful posts, too. I agree with rmhotfoot: Our economy is too volatile and work security has become too tenuous to place stock in longevity. We interviewed a applicant with a patchwork resume (different degrees, different jobs, different industries). I recommended against hiring her. Happily, the team out-voted me and hired her. ?Jane Doe? turned out to be one of the best in her position company-wide and over the years she has become a cherished friend.
  
  I will say this, while I was concerned with her job- and industry-hopping, I was highly amused with the very last page of Beth's portfolio "Top Tens Reasons to Hire Jane Doe" typed in 16-point font. It was a funny and direct way of bulleting special gifts and talents she would bring into the company.
  

•  
  38

  tricia49417

  07/04/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Very helpful article. Helpful posts, too. I agree with rmhotfoot: Our economy is too volatile and work security has become too tenuous to place stock in longevity. We interviewed a applicant with a patchwork resume (different degrees, different jobs, different industries). I recommended against hiring her. Happily, the team out-voted me and hired her. ?Jane Doe? turned out to be one of the best in her position company-wide and over the years she has become a cherished friend.
  
  I will say this, while I was concerned with her job- and industry-hopping, I was highly amused with the very last page of Jane's portfolio "Top Tens Reasons to Hire Jane Doe" typed in 16-point font. It was a funny and direct way of bulleting special gifts and talents she would bring into the company.
  

•  
  39

  senk1198

  07/07/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  As a professional editor/proofreader/writer who is (again) job hunting after being laid off earlier this year, I take pride in presenting only resumes free of typos and other errors. Yes, I do tailor each resume for each specific job!
  
  I am getting a relatively high percentage of interviews for the resumes I send out (about one in every seven; I have long heard that one in ten is actually quite good). In late May and early June, I had several good interviews. Three times in a row, I was told by the employers involved that while they liked my skills and my presentation, they hired people who had previously worked for companies that were practically clones of their own.
  
  Ridiculous--and dumb. Where do employers get off with such "thinking"?
  
  This lobotomized, almost cultlike insistence upon "fit" over skills, experience, and simple logic is especially irrational, considering how I've proven myself in every job in my field I've ever held. Each time I've had to put my editing, writing, and research skills to work in a different field and setting, it was not by my own choice, but because my previous job had ended through no fault or act of my own. And in each such case, I ended up exceeding each employer's greatest expectations, redefining the job and setting new standards of excellence for it and what it dealt with.
  
  The pathological insistence some employers put on such things as insisting--even if it means a job goes unfilled for months--on finding that "perfect" employee who nowhere exists in the real world, on an exact match, not only as to industry but even with regard to such things as company size, belongs on the same page as the notion of being "overqualified." (I hear *that* more than I care to, and have a mind to file an age-discrimination complaint the next time I do.)
  
  Many (not all!) employers, it seems, simply assume that anyone with experience and skills who's used those skills in a wide variety of settings doesn't know what he or she wants to do. As alluded to above, the reality is that I, like many other professionals, have had to change jobs and seek places that will put my skills to work without much choice on my part as to type of firm and setting.
  
  More often, some employers, whether out of ignorance, arrogance, prejudice, or plain laziness, arbitrarily and blithely assume that my depth and breadth of skills and experience automatically mean that I will somehow be "bored" doing the jobs they have open and/or that my salary requirements/expectations will be above what they're offering--both incorrect assumptions. They would do well, as we were reminded to do in journalism school whenever tempted to assume, to spell that word aloud as a reminder of what doing so makes of you and me.
  
  I've had my fill of employers that assume that because of my skill and experience, I'll be "bored" with their jobs and run off to "the next best thing" once it comes along, my track record of loyalty and longevity notwithstanding. (What exactly do they think so many younger employees do? And do they ever consider that it costs less to pay an experienced employee what she or he is truly worth and keep her or him for many years rather than keep shelling out on recruiting and training costs for those "disposable," cheap employees?) I've seen enough jobs for which I'm perfectly qualified go to people who have errors (and yes, I've sometimes actually seen those errors) on their resumes and/or cover letters. And I've had enough of such nonsense.
  
  Meanwhile, so many employers wonder what has happened to loyalty and quality!
  
  My problem has never involved holding down any job in my field once I get one, but in getting employers to realize that far from taking a chance on me with my proven skills, they're getting a very sure bet. All my former employers in my field will gladly tell prospective employers exactly that. I've started to obtain letters of recommendation from them highlighting my track record of versatility to show to prospective employers--*along with my resume*.
  
  Maybe, as before, I'll soon find another employer that can actually think clearly and logically about this, that can actually understand that successful experience in a variety of settings, far from being a liability, is an incredible asset.
  
  What think you of all this? Let us all know.

•  
  40

  Mrs. E

  07/08/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Wow, so much information to incorporate into crafting the perfect resume for each and every application! Another bit of information is in addtion to formatting issues that can result from the submittal of resumes and cover letters through software that may or may not keep the original format; never having the exact "title" as the job posting with a previous employer. The original submittal is sent through a word recognition program and if the key word isn't there, no real person will ever even see your resume to consider your skills and experience apart from the key word search. It is not as easy to get the hard copy to the hiring manager as in the past and the majority of large companies now do not have onsite HR - it is outsourced sometimes to other countries having been reduced to nothing more than payroll and benefit administration. I know HR Managers exist, I have met them, but large companies do not seem to feel the need for humans in HR anymore.

•  
  41

  adeangulo

  07/10/09 | Report as spam

  Clueless Comes To Mind

  I have been an executive recruiter for the last 14 years. I have counseled hundreds of candidates on how to write an effective resume, and hiring managers on what to look for when reviewing resumes.
  
  I agree that a resume should be spotless when it comes to errors in punctuation, spelling and formatting, but that is basic blocking and tackling for just about any business communication.
  
  If you think that will separate you from the rest of the pack, you are clueless.
  
  Words and phrases like ?Assisted,? ?Worked on? and ?Contributed to? are weak and non-committal. It means that you did not accomplish anything, the people you worked with did.
  
  Rewriting your resume for each application is a sure sign that you are not the professional you think you are . . . and everyone else will figure that out sooner or later, as well.
  
  As I said, clueless comes to mind.
  

•  
  42

  bprutter

  08/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  I, too, have quite high standards when it comes to written communications in any form. I am often saddened and disappointed when I see people use the wrong word, one which passes spell check but is not apt for the thought. On one email list to which I subscribe, a poster spoke of an "inherit right", when the context made it clear that he meant an "inherent right". I am much more concerned, however, with the clarity of thought and depth of insight in the communication.
  
  The minutiae relied on by Mr. Silverman in this post seem to me to indicate his inability to understand the requirements of the positions he is trying to fill. Having hired a number of professionals over the course of my career, I have always focused in my initial sort of resumes on the candidate's qualifications for the position, and what their background would add to the organization. If I ended up with more qualified candidates than I could feasibly interview, I might look at factors such as the formatting of the resume to select between two qualified candidates. Apart from that, I would never reject someone with good qualifications because of minor errors in the resume. Perhaps is the so-called professionals like Mr. Silverman paid more attention to qualifications and character than to silly trivia, our economy would not be in such a sad state.
  
  As far as creating a separate resume for each position, this is an open invitation to fraud. Your resume is a summary of your employment, responsibilities, and accomplishments. These things do not change based on the position to which you are applying. The function of the cover letter is to allow you to draw connections between your experience and the requirements of the position. By changing your resume to fit the position, you are creating a potentially misleading impression of your qualifications. By omitting responsibilities and accomplishments that are not germane to the new position, you create the impression that your experience in the relevant areas is deeper than it in fact is. There is a very fine line between selectively emphasizing certain aspects of your achievements and outright exageration. Given what the events of the past several years have revealed about the state of business ethics in this country, I suspect that many would not hesitate to cross that line.
  
  Mr. Silverman's practices also highlight the arrogance, lack of consideration, and downright rudeness that has come to characterize the hiring process. We have all submitted resumes for job openings for which we were well qualified, only to have them disappear into a black hole. I don't object to an employer preferring another candidate. The employer is free to make his own mistakes. I do object, however, to being left in the dark as to the outcome. I have taken the trouble to apply for the position. Common courtesy demands that the employer acknowledge my submission, and let me know the results.
  
  I understand that employers receive huge numbers of resumes in response to job postings, but I also know that most employers use computer programs to initially sort these resumes. There is no reason why these programs cannot be used to generate an automated email to the rejected candidates.
  
  I think that HR professionals such as Mr. Silverman would be better served focusing on the positive attributes of the resumes that pass over their desks, instead of finding excuses to weed them out.

•  
  43

  martykz

  08/13/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  "Reasons Why" is redundant. It's either "Three Reasons" or "Here's Why."

•  
  44

  malleck

  08/14/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  So some people see the resume as a helpful "fact" sheet to decide who to short-list for an interview (hence the electronic submitting without formatting so key words can be picked up by the system) and others pore over the resumes trying to get a feel for the individual it's about.
  I find that most people's resume does a poor job of actually reflecting their talents, skills or personality. Everyone is trying to get past the recruiter to the hiring manager. If I see "able to work independently and also a great team player" on more time I'll scream. Buzz words based on just as buzzy job advertisements.
  Keep it brief and keep it relevant.
  Be totally honest, but not too humble.
  Have a friend proof-read it for you.
  Write a cover letter that is specific for each company and each job.
  

•  
  45

  mainbrace

  08/17/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Brett11
  
  Not clever, and even worse.....not funny.
  Brett's given me the perfect example of what I would flick over to the "no" pile, a rambling and meaningless document that says little about the writer other than "this person is egocentric could be a pain in the arse".
  Anyone that thinks grammar, spelling and presentation aren't critical, think again. Do you want to risk giving the reader a reason to cringe when they are reading a document that talks about YOU?
  
  If you want some advice on the standard for job applications how about you just use the English Standard?
  
  Eric Ange your response gives me a reason to avoid a small recruting firm like yours. No wonder HR Managers prefer to recruit without the assistance of consultants!
  
  

•  
  46

  sldaniels

  09/02/09 | Report as spam

  RE: Three Reasons Why Your Resume Ends Up in the Discard Pile

  Presentation, presentation! The better and more organzied the format is; the easier it is to review and gain insight into the candidate. To have to pick through odd formatting, inconsistent indents, and abbreviations, adds extra work to an already arduous process. I skip right to the visually clean format. How a person introduces and sells themself, is reflective of how they are going to introduce and sell your company.