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Employers’ Biggest Resume and Cover Letter Pet Peeves [By Mary Waldron] Whether they are right out of college or 20 years into their careers, many people cannot seem to overcome the alarmingly noticeable resume and cover letter flaws and missteps that many employers describe as their biggest pet peeves. Do yourself a favor and pay attention because in this business-as in any business-there are no second chances when it comes to committing these sins of style.
The most humiliating moments occur
looking at it, and then make someone else
at your resume for your phone number
when applicants emphasize that they
look at it at least once. Even after making
to call you in for an interview, but you
possess certain abilities or skills and then
adjustments, make sure that you set it aside
seem to have neglected to include that
get caught red-handed committing sins
for awhile and then look at it another couple
information. Okay, the employer is
that contradict their assertions. If you
of times before sending it out. It sounds
annoyed, but he likes you, so he proceeds
tell an employer that you have extreme
obsessive, but you have to be obsessive in
to locate your email address, which, thank
attention to detail and you accidentally say
order to ensure that all mistakes have been
God, is there. He writes you an email
that you held a job from 1999 to 2015, you
caught. One mistake can kill the brilliance
asking if you are interested in meeting
will look ridiculous and your credibility
of the entire document. Why do you think
next Monday at 10:00 a.m., even going
will be damaged from then on. It is really
many companies hire proofreaders? People
so far as to compliment your excellent
that simple, which is why it is so important
get paid to be those extra sets of eyes
writing ability. When he returns to his
to draft and review your resume and
catching spelling and grammar errors. Do
inbox, he sees the dreaded email subject
cover letter as though your life depends
not let a simple mistake hold you back from
heading that so many employers come
on them. It does…well, maybe just your
landing your dream job.
across when attempting to contact
professional life.
applicants: “Delivery Status Notification Along with meticulously proofreading,
(Failure).” If he has not already stepped
This leads me to the first pet peeve of many
always research and find the correct
into the hall to scream in frustration, he
employers. You know what? I am actually
spelling and punctuation for every company
will probably immediately toss out your
going to be bold and say all employers.
and personal name you mention. Simply
resume and cover letter. At this point, you
There is no tolerance for misspellings,
guessing is not good enough. Also, if the
have not only wasted his time, but now he
typos, and poor grammar in resumes and
employer’s name is unisex and you plan
has another useless piece of email filling
cover letters-unless you are lucky enough to
on addressing him or her as Mr. or Ms.,
his inbox, and he has no way of contacting
have your potential employer overlook such
do everything in your power (aside from
you-even if he still wants to, just to
mistakes, but I would not bet on that. This
harassing the employer’s office) to find out
scream at you. This sort of event might
is one of those things that does not give you
the person’s gender. He or she will surely
be called a “deal breaker.” Tsk, tsk. So,
an extra advantage but, rather, is expected.
be peeved if you get it wrong because,
in conclusion, make sure that you include
Make sure that you do not put all of your
unlike other cover letter and resume
contact information, and make sure that it
faith into your word processing program’s
mishaps, this one is personal.
is correct. Need I say more?
words and misuses of words. For example,
Surprisingly, many employers complain
Employers are also annoyed when they
if you type in “manger,” meaning to type
about applicants leaving misspelled or
look at resumes that are cluttered and
“manager,” the spell checker will leave it
missing contact information. Imagine
lacking in organization. Always choose
because “manger” is the correct spelling of
this beautiful scene: an employer looks
a standard, easy-to-read, 10- to 12-point
another word.
at your resume, a pleasantly impressed
font and ample-sized margins. If you have
smile crosses his face, he refers to your
many years of experience, then you may
It is invaluable for you to proofread your
cover letter, another smile crosses his
have to break down and make your resume
resume over and over, until you are sick of
face, he is sold…and then he looks back
two pages long. Do not try to squeeze
spell checker, as it may not catch unfamiliar
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RESUME MAVEN SPONSORED BY ATTORNEY RESUME.COM
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1. 800.973.1177
everything onto one page if doing so will
Also, remember that a resume is not a
the rest of the text can add some style and
sacrifice the quality of the document. If
cover letter, meaning that an employer
clarity, as well.
you are only a few years into your career,
does not want to see a continuous stream
you should be able to compose a decent
of words, line after line, as he or she
Above all, read over your cover letter and
one-page resume. Sometimes, you may
reads your resume. Break up sections
resume repeatedly, reflecting on what a
need to omit information that is not
with bullets, dashes, spaces, and lines,
potential employer would want to see. It is
necessary in order to avoid squeezing in
creating an eye-pleasing arrangement of
the attention to those small details that will
and compacting words.
words. Using a slightly different font for
get a stellar job candidate noticed in a sea
your headings to differentiate them from
of mediocrity.
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