5 Reasons Why Your Resume Isn’t Gettng Any Attention

Jeffrey Metzger, Your Resume Consultant

It’s boring – Let’s face it…No one wants to read anything that’s boring, especially a resume.  You need to capture the reader’s attention immediately and make them want to read more.  Do you open your resume with a tired and outdated objective?  No one cares what you want (i.e. Seeking a challenging job in a fast-paced environment). Get rid of it.  Your resume should begin with a strong, and captivating professional summary or profile.  You should immediately answer the question “Why should I hire you?”

Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS) – Nearly all major corporations and a growing number of smaller companies are using some type of applicant tracking software to pre-screen candidates and manage their candidate data.  All the big job boards like Monster and CareerBuilder are likely to work in partnership with ATS providers to move candidate data between the sites and their client corporations.  Resumes are that keyword-rich, contain familiar industry phrases and are traditionally formatted are more likely to make the cut.  Graphics and unusual formatting create a higher likelihood of your resume being rejected by the system, even if you’re the perfect candidate.  When possible, save your resume in ASCII (.txt) format then cut and paste it into the online application.

Your resume is not focused or targeted – Your resume must tell the reader exactly what job you’re looking for.  If you’re looking for a job in accounting your resume should not feature your retail sales experience.  A well-written resume will emphasize relevant experience and transferable skills while de-emphasizing or eliminating unrelated experience.  Your resume should not be an exhaustive summary of everything you’ve done in your career.  Focus on the experiences, both paid and unpaid, that relate directly to the job to which you’re applying.

Duties and responsibilities – If your resume is nothing more than a list of your past duties and responsibilities, it’s not likely to get a second look.  Employers want to know what you’ve done, not what was on your job description.  Consider the difference between these two resume bullets:

• Processed invoices and expenses
• Reduced costs by 20% and reduced errors by 35% through careful tracking of invoices and expenses.

Which one sounds better to you?  Quantify your accomplishments and show your results!

No Cover Letter – There are a lot of different opinions about cover letters.  Here is mine:  Never submit a resume without a cover letter.  Don’t miss an additional opportunity to make a connection with a recruiter or hiring manager.  Your cover letter should complement your resume in both content and style.  Use your cover letter to add a personal touch to your application package.  Do your homework and find the name of the person to whom your cover letter should be addressed.  Do not address it to Sir/Madam or Hiring Manager.  If it’s not possible to find a name, a salutation of Good Morning or Good Afternoon will give you a 50% change of being right!

By Jeffrey Metzger

Article courtesy of the Recruiting Blogswap, a content exchange service sponsored by CollegeRecruiter.com, a leading site for college students looking for internships and recent graduates searching for entry level jobs and other career opportunities.