Before You Hit Send: Avoid This Résumé Mistake with Mandi Stanley, CSP

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We’ve spent the past several weeks looking at résumé-writing best practices and advice for cover letters. But, what about the résumé non-starters? What are some résumé turnoffs that immediately result in discards? Recently, I interviewed several clients and colleagues in HR about today’s competitive job market and what stands out to them when they receive an applicant’s résumé. One of my contacts told the story of something that happened recently. She could tell an applicant was blasting out résumés to several agencies–because the applicant had left their top competitor’s name in the cover email. Ouch! What about you? What are some résumé bloopers you’ve encountered?

RÉSUMÉ TURNOFFS

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Recently I interviewed several clients and colleagues in HR about today’s competitive job market and what stands out to them when they receive an applicant’s résumé. What I ended up with was a list of RÉSUMÉ TURNOFFS. For what reasons might a potential employer reject your résumé? The first one in this video surprised me. Watch it and ask yourself: Should I include my GPA? I’d love for you to share your opinion below.

Grammar Icks

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This week I’m hopping on the latest social trend—“Icks.” I’m contributing “Grammar Icks” just for fun. For instance, the word “fridge” has always made me cringe. “Refrigerator” doesn’t have a “d” in it, so why are we adding it in “fridge”?

What about you? What would you add to this grammar and punctuation “ick” list?

Cover Letter Tips!

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If your cover letter simply repeats the information on your résumé, then you’re doing it wrong.
Rather, use your cover letter as an opportunity to tell the story behind your experience, highlight a specific accomplishment, and show how your skills can meet the organization’s needs.

A strong cover letter connects the dots and gives the reader a reason to want to learn more about you.

Want more tips for writing a cover letter that stands out? Follow along on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to see my latest cover letter tips.

Cover letters can be tricky.

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For those of you who struggle with what to include, think of your cover letter as an opportunity to tell one story.
Pick a bullet point from your résumé that deserves more in-depth discussion, and use your cover letter to tell the story of how you solved the problem, came in under budget, completed a project ahead of schedule, or increased market share.
Let your personality shine in your cover letter. It’s your chance to share your success story and tie it back to the hiring organization.
This is yet one more way you can ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ.

ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ: NUMBER THREE

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This July we are going to ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ.

Today is résumé refresher number three.

Describe how you left your last position better than you found it.
Answer these types of questions:
How did I increase revenue?
Increase sales?
Multiply market share?
Save time?
Come in ahead of schedule?
Come in under budget?
Save money?
Streamline tasks?

Until next week, ensure your bullet points are specific and measurable as we continue to ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ.

ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ

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Today is our second résumé refresher.
Describe what you achieved and accomplished rather than simply listing your job responsibilities. Your résumé shouldn’t be a regurgitation of your job description. Remember, specifics sell.

Instead of: Responsible for calling on accounts in a two-state territory
Say: Increased a $3.5 million territory to a $11 million territory, surpassing our five-year sales goal two years ahead of schedule
Until next week, check your bullet points and STRIVE FOR SPECIFICITY as we continue to ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ.

ROCK YOUR RÉSUMÉ

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This July we are going to ROCK YOUR RESUME!
Today is your first resume refresher.

These days we are relying on technology and AI to apply for jobs and even interview. To stand out in the marketplace, whether using a job-posting site, a professional recruiter, or even LinkedIn, a good old-school résumé can come to the rescue.

So consider this one easy edit.

Use VIVID VERBS to describe what you achieved and accomplished.

What did you CREATE? What did you SURPASS? What did you RESTRUCTURE?
Strong action verbs suitable for résumés include:
Oversaw
Increased
Supervised
Bolstered
Recruited
Refocused
Until next week, dust off your current resume and check your bullet points for VIVID VERBS in order to ROCK YOUR RESUME.

Rock Your Résumé with One Easy Edit

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These days we are relying on technology to apply for jobs and even interview. To stand out in the marketplace, whether using a job-posting site, a professional recruiter, or even LinkedIn, a good old-school résumé can come to the rescue.

You may not need to totally rewrite your résumé, but as you look to refresh and update yours, please consider this essential wording advice.

Use strong action verbs to describe what you achieved and accomplished rather than simply to list your job responsibilities. Remember, specifics sell.

Before: Responsible for calling on accounts and growing business in a three-state territory

After: Increased a $3.5 million territory to a $11 million territory, surpassing our five-year sales goal

Strong action verbs suitable for résumés include these examples:
Oversaw
Organized
Increased
Surpassed
Grew
Led
Supervised
Bolstered
Created
Developed
Recruited
Restructured
Refocused

To update your resume, contact Mandi@MandiStanley.com. We offer two résumé packages:
Rock Your Résumé REFRESH
Rock Your Résumé REWRITE

Prefer Performance to Chronology in Your Résumé

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Ditch the chronological résumé.

Scratch the traditional format of simply listing your educational background and previously held jobs.

Rather, use your résumé to highlight your specific accomplishments at the top. Word them in such a way as to be meaningful to the employer. Use strong action verbs to describe what you achieved rather than simply listing your job responsibilities. Remember, specifics sell. Your accomplishments must translate to their organization; they should be able to see you doing the same good work for them.

Consider this order as you draft your next résumé:
First, list your preferred name and all of your contact information at the top.
Next, use the heading Career Accomplishments for your performance highlights in a bulleted list.

Note these examples:
– Increased a $3.5 million territory to a $11 million territory, surpassing our five-year sales goal
– Grew market share 43 percent between July-December 2019
– Recruited 110 new all-school accounts during the last calendar year (2021)

Use the heading Career Track to list your previous positions and jobs and related experience.
Use the heading Skills to highlight the strengths you know will be relevant to the organization.
Use the key words in their job listing.
For the last heading, use Education, and list your schools and degrees and special certifications.

To update your resume, contact Mandi@MandiStanley.com. We offer two résumé packages:
– Rock Your Résumé REFRESH
– Rock Your Résumé REWRITE