You have about 5 seconds and the first three-quarters of your resume to make it or break it. You should never, ever …
- Make spelling or grammatical errors. Don’t rely on spell check to do the job for you. It isn’t perfect.
- Change verb tense in one job description. Use current tense for current jobs and past tense for past jobs.
- Camouflage your real name in an email address. Cute names that describe your character are childish and unprofessional.
- Confuse the reader by using one email address and listing a completely different one on your resume.
- Use two different last names. If you have changed your last name, make sure it is consistent throughout your communications.
- Leave out dates of employment or schooling. This leads to suspicion about what you might be trying to hide.
- Add graphics or use fonts and colors. These will not distinguish you. They just get in the way.
- Leave out accomplishments. Make sure you identify how you have improved profit and production.
- Include too much information. Brief bullet points are much easier to read and stand out more than paragraphs. Excessive reporting will not be read thoroughly. Important details will be overlooked.
- Omit keywords. Electronic readers are programmed to search for particular words related to the job. Customize your resume every time you apply for a job and incorporate words from the job description.