1. A really boring or generic objective: If your objective is as effective when used in a marketing resume as a resume for an accounting position, it is pretty much useless. What an objective is NOT is an obligatory 5 lines of jargon at the beginning of the resume. What is should be is a real description of your skills as they relate to the particular job. As such then, it should be modified according to each application.

2. Ho-hum job details: "Responsibilities included overseeing construction of 4 Hilton Hotels in Tri-City Metro Area, each 50 floors in height." What is that really saying? It is not giving interesting and relevant information such as whether you were able to bring the project in under budget and on time, or what your actual responsibilities were. What you must do is make yourself stand out from the crowd and tell the recruiter how you will be an asset to the company.

3. Give a name to the "Mystery" company: Never assume that everyone knows the name of your company. You may be applying for a position with a competitor. Include one or two sentences that briefly describe the focus of your company.

4. Paragraph after paragraph of jobs: It is unwise to just add on to your resume all the jobs you have completed. Experienced workers in their 40's should consider "editing" their list, getting rid of the earlier positions. It is also a good idea to include just your degree - no need for all the college information.

5. References: Don't list these on your resume. Instead, include the phrase "References available on request" on the resume. This is inviting the prospective employer to ask for references. This is a way to protect yourself, not merely protocol, as your references aren't requested until the employer is seriously considering you for interview.

6. This is not a narrative: Under no circumstances should the resume be written in the third person or as though it is the story of your life.

7. Leave out the personal information: Your hobbies and pastimes and what you do when you are not at work may give the impression that you are a well-adjusted person, but they are irrelevant in a resume. There will be time enough to discuss your personal interests at the job interview.

8 The date you obtained your degree: to neglect to include the date of your degree looks as though you are trying to hide something and therefore cannot be trusted. It doesn't matter what your age is or how long ago you obtained your degree. It may just be that you will miss out on an interview just because you did not disclose this information.

9. Spell Check times three: You must perform spell checks at least three times then ask someone else to check as well. Don't rely on word processor spell checks as they will often not pick up mistakes. Don't ignore problems with punctuation, either.

10. Circulating your resume - part one: It is not a good idea to use a "resume blaster" as the majority aren't valid and you are not guaranteed of the results. It is simply not good practice and not an effective way to get the perfect job. To do this requires focus, attention, specific and relevant detail and tailoring to both your individual requirements and the requirements of the job.

11. Circulating your resume - part two: Advertised positions will usually give instructions regarding applications. If it is an email reply that is requested, do a cut and paste on to the form and attach the resume. Make sure that the resume is created with a basic word processing program to avoid problems with reading it at the other end. If you have an alternative way of sending the application, then choose this and avoid the issues of cyberspace.

12. Circulating your resume - part three: If you have the company's contact details, call and ask whether they prefer email, fax, or snail mail. Some recruiters will not even open emails, especially larger companies who receive "cold" emails regularly.

13. The visual impact of your resume: Use ivory paper, black ink and individual pages. Don't place it in a plastic sleeve or report cover. Your name should be placed in the center at the top of the page - don't have a cover page with just your name on it. This is a professional document, not a school project! If you follow this guide, your resume will stand out from the crowd - at least until everyone learns to present their resumes properly.

Remember that this is a marketing document. As such, your resume has to be specific to you as an individual; it must be easy to skim read and invite a more thorough reading; it must highlight the positive ways in which you have made a difference in your previous employment. It is not about what the hiring company can do for you, but the reverse.

The resume is what will secure you the interview, provided you have the necessary qualifications. If it is poorly written and presented or if it is hard to decipher, it won't get you very far.

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