The best stories are often the true ones, so today I share a resume blunder with you (the job function was changed to protect the offender). Copy it if you want to make sure yours is quickly eliminated from contention.

This resume opens with a qualifications summary, for which there's a header: Technical Sales, Service and Training Professional. The first line of the summary itself begins like this: "Experienced technical sales, service and training professional...."

Ouch.

Is this candidate afraid the reader might miss "technical sales, service and training professional" the first time around? Or does she believe this compelling phrase (ahem) will convey some gravitas if it's repeated immediately?

And how about that word "experienced" - the very first word (and first adjective) she's chosen to describe herself in that summary. A+ for wasting space. Experienced? I hope so! What exactly does this word tell the hiring manager about her? Nothing.

So, let's tally up the problems with this resume so far: it's boring, the writer is wasting valuable space, she's not telling the reader anything about what makes her unique, and she's not giving the reader a reason to keep reading. All that and we haven't gotten beyond the header and first full line of text.

Already the hiring manager is thinking she's probably seen enough.

See how quickly your resume can end up in the reject pile?

Choose every word with care. Then have someone who's a skilled editor critique what you've written.

Most people don't do either. And then they wonder why they aren't invited to interview.

Rebecca Metschke helps professionals seeking a competitive advantage in today's global economy. Her book The Interview Edge is available online in downloadable format. You can find free info on career strategies and other helpful tips and advice at The Interview Edge blog http://blog.theinterviewedge.com/.