I ran across an article on The Recruiters Lounge on the top reasons employers place resumes in the rejection pile. By taking this knowledge and applying it to your current resume, you’re already light years ahead of anyone else in our generation applying for jobs.
Be prepared Keep in mind that the first application is received 200 seconds after a job has been posted. By tailoring your resume in advance, so that it can fit various job profiles, you are able to save yourself time when it comes to submitting your application. Having your resume “ready” and a “fill in the blank” style cover letter that can quickly be changed to fit the job description, could really help you put your foot in the door of employment.
Keep it short and sweet The average time spent looking at a resume is five to seven seconds. If your resume is longer than one page it’s definitely going in the trash. Be sure to set your application out from the rest by tailoring what you put on it. Only list previous job experience that is relevant to the job you are currently trying to get.
Be interesting Remember that there is a 17% chance that your cover letter will be read. Make sure you hook in your reader by creating a memorable lead. Employers read hundreds of cover letters a day, make yours the cover letter that they want to finish reading.
Double check your application One spelling or grammar mistake will automatically land your resume in the trash pile. Double checking your work can be the difference between someone reading your application verses them throwing it away. Have a second pair of eyes look over your application before you turn it in. Better safe than sorry.
Clean up your act 68% of employers will find you on Facebook. Make sure you clean up your profile and keep things strictly professional. Statistics show that 1 in 3 employers rejected candidates based on something they found online. By regulating your privacy settings and staying mindful of what you post you’ll increase your chances for getting the job.
Grow up It’s time to get a normal email address. Of course it was cute to be daisyduke95 in high school, but in the real world 76% of resumes are ignored if your email address is unprofessional. Try to come up with something that is normal. It’s best if you use your name, but if that’s taken even using your school email address is more professional than monkeylover101.
No picture needed Do not put your photo anywhere on your resume. Resumes with photos of the candidates on them were rejected 88% percent of the time. This isn’t some project where you feel that the teacher needs to see your face. A picture may be worth 1,000 words, but your resume should be able to speak for itself.
Wait for it An average of 250 resumes are received for each position posted. So waiting is going to be key to your success, but at the same time don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Sure everyone wants to hold out for their dream job, but the reality of the matter is it’s better to have a job that you weren’t too sure about than to have no job at all. You should be putting in at least twenty applications at different establishments to maximize your potential to see results.