We have received several questions about resume “DOs and DON’Ts”, so I summarized them in a “Top 11 Resume Blunders List” (For no extra charge I thought I would “turn it up to 11”, since Top 10s are just too common)

Tip #1: Too many or too few pages

There are some simple rules when it comes to the length of your resume. If you are a new graduate, you should try to hold it down to one page. If you have been out of school for more than two years, you can go to two pages. Senior executives can go to three, but should still try to keep it to two. I have personally done senior executives’ resumes that are one page in length! Remember, as you move back in time, you do not need to have the same level of detail.

Tip #2: Too much information: Text overload

“I’ve done so much great stuff; I need to have EVERYTHING on there!” WRONG! You need to always think about your audience – what’s relevant to them? What do they care about? Put yourself in their shoes and try to infer what’s most important, and what can safely be left off. The real hard work in resume writing is knowing what to include and what to leave off. HINT: The job ad tells you what they’re primarily interested in!

Tip #3: Inconsistency

Be as consistent as you possibly can with your resume for every aspect. If, for example, you have chosen to Bold Job Positions in Title Case, do not CAPITALIZE your next position title. i.e.:

GOOD:
Position #1
Position #2

BAD:
Position #1
POSITION #2

Tip #4: Font size and typefaces

Don’t fall into the trap of leaving everything on there, but at very small font sizes, or a range of sizes and types (see consistency above). The safest bets here are Arial or Times New Roman, using 11 or 12 point sizes for most of your resume. Headings and your name can be larger sizes (i.e. 14 to 16).

Tip #5: Spelling mestaks

Even with spellcheck software out there, there are still mistakes that happen. Proofreading is one of the most critical steps in the process – and it shouldn’t just be done by yourself. Get others to take a look and provide feedback. Beware also of “Pseudo Mistakes” – words such as Manger (you likely mean Manager) – that will pass through spellcheck, as will “peruse” and “pursue”. Make sure you are using the word in its proper context before you use it.

Tip #6: Objective statements

Objective statements are losing favour – they are either too general to be much help (“A challenging position in a progressive organization”), or too specific (“A fundraising analyst role that allows me to capitalize on my strong statistics knowledge”). So you’re not interested in a supervisor role, or a similar role in another area? Try not to limit your options with this kind of thing off the top. Explore using profile statements that are more descriptive of what special skills and abilities you possess, and let the reader decide the rest.

Tip #7: No accomplishments

Employers are hiring you for what you can do for them, and they base their opinion of your future performance on your past experience. List the things that you had a hand in that helped move the organization forward. Some job seekers are concerned that they may be viewed as a “glory hog”, since many accomplishments are team efforts. Don’t be shy – your fellow team member can state that they “increased awareness by 22%” – most employers know that these things can rarely be done on a solitary level. Teamwork is crucial, but this is YOUR resume, not your team’s. Take credit where credit is due; you can explain in more detail in the interview.

Tip #8: Dates of employment

Again, be consistent. It is usually not necessary to put the month of employment (i.e years of employment are good enough, as in Position #1 2002 to 2007). There may be a need to put months of employment in some situations, particularly if you are newer in your career path, but try to use years only whenever possible. Never put days of employment, as in May 2, 2004 to January 13, 2008. Avoid having any significant gaps in your work history. Employers are much more tolerant of gaps these days – but if you don’t say anything, they will assume the worst.

Tip #9: The job description is not an HR function

Resist the urge to dig out your job description from HR and simply paste it in under each position title. Be more descriptive about what you actually do on a day-to-day basis, and keep it relevant. Is the fact that you print the XYZ report and file the ABC report relevant, or is a statement such as “ensure organizational efficiency by printing and filing all necessary reports” a better reflection of your contribution? Of course “other duties as assigned” is a complete waste of valuable resume real estate – never put it there.

Tip #10: Cover letter parsley

If your resume is the “sandwich” of the meal, the cover letter is the “parsley”. Very few people will actually eat the parsley on a sandwich plate, just as only a few employers will read a cover letter. However, just as a nice fresh piece of parsley implies that the sandwich is likely fresh, having a cover letter says a great deal about you as a job seeker. Even if it isn’t read, it says that you understand proper business protocol, you can write a suitable business document, and it gives you a chance to highlight your candidacy for the position over the competition. Why wouldn’t you want to do all those things?

Tip #11: Stupid stuff

The extra bonus tip here is an all-encompassing warning to avoid silliness, outright ridiculous statements, or things we often see on our clients’ “before” resumes. This can be anything from forgetting contact information details, to including personal (sometimes VERY personal) details, pictures, any statements outlining how great getting this job would be for you at this stage in your life, etc. to one resume that had all companies listed as “CONFIDENTIAL EMPLOYER”. Your best defense against Tip #11 is to have several trusted and knowledgeable advisors provide you with feedback. You will likely get as many opinions about it as people you ask, but there will likely be a consensus that develops.

The best test for any resume: Is the one you’re using consistently getting you interviews for jobs you want, and is it helping you in the interview to sell your skills and services?

Good luck!

Michael Mayne, M.B.A., CMA, is Managing Partner and a Certified Professional Career Counsellor at Catalyst Careers, a Career Transition, Counselling, and Outplacement firm. Michael has been involved in the not-for-profit sector for many years, and is Past President and Treasurer of ALS Canada. To contact Michael, visit: www.catalystcareers.com.

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Disclaimer: Advice and recommendations are based on limited information provided and should be used as a guideline only. Neither the author nor CharityVillage.com make any warranty, express or implied, or assume any legal liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information provided in whole or in part within this article.