Over the past few months, I have been involved in the recruitment process at dots academy, which has led me to review numerous resumes. This experience reminded me of similar tasks I had when I worked as an executive in a private company. No matter how much time passes, I continue to see applicants failing right from their resumes. Here are some critical points that job applicants should be aware of and be more careful about:
Applicant's Photo
Including a photo in a resume can help companies know the applicant better. However, many seem to overlook the fact that the photo should be professional, not just any random photo. Some use pictures that make them appear unprofessional or uninteresting. I've seen all sorts of surprising choices like overly casual or vacation photos. This can make the resume seem less serious, which is a big no, especially for customer-facing or professional roles.
What should be done: Use a professional photo, such as wearing formal attire and looking presentable. The photo should create a good first impression, showcasing professionalism.
Contact Email
Besides the photo, the contact email is also crucial. It doesn’t look good to use emails like iamhotgirls@gmail.com or fahloveyou@gmail.com. Such email addresses can be seen as lacking professionalism and decorum in communication.
What should be done: Create a specific email for job applications, ideally using a combination of your name and last name initials to maintain professionalism.
Not Tailoring to the Position
When applying for a job, the resume should be adjusted to align with the position's requirements. Using a generic resume for all positions and being too vague won't work, as the employer might not see the relevance of your experience to the job.
What should be done: Customize your resume for each application. Align your skills and experiences with the job requirements, especially if it's in a specific field like marketing.
Not Highlighting Strengths and Unique Points
Many applicants only list where they have worked, for how long, and their education but fail to emphasize what they achieved or learned from these experiences.
What should be done: Summarize your accomplishments, highlight key responsibilities, and discuss what you are proud of in your work or experience.
Avoid Using Skill Rating Scales
Though it might look creative, using skill rating scales or power bars to show proficiency can be seen as unprofessional. Employers often view these as arbitrary and unverifiable.
What should be done: Describe your skills in words or provide evidence like certifications or test results to back them up.
These are just a few common mistakes I frequently encounter, and I hope sharing them helps those who are applying for jobs or recent graduates. These small points can be significant and could be the reason your application gets rejected right at the start.
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