Resume Common Mistakes Resume Mistakes Mistakes in Resume

1. 5 Resume Mistakes to avoid
There's one magical thing that can get you the job of your dreams.
Contrary to popular belief, it isn't nepotism, sycophancy or even a bribe; it's
a small document called the Curriculum Vitae, or Resume.
Even though most of us recognize the importance of a resume, we don't
carve out enough time to give our resume the attention it deserves. Often,
CVs are shoddy, incomplete, irrelevant and, sometimes, downright hilarious.
Here are five mistakes you need to avoid to make sure your CV is a winner.
Mistake 1: Writing too much
"Length is the biggest problem, with most CVs often being a minimum of
three pages. I once received a CV that was 11 pages long," says Purvi Seth,
vice president of Shilputsi Consultants, a human resources development
firm.
More often than not, literary aspirations come tend to the fore when one is
writing a CV; people end up filling pages and pages of details. Those who
can't find enough details to fill the pages write the same thing over and over
again, in different styles, words and jargon.
A prospective employer faces two choices when he or she takes the first look
at such a CV -- hit the delete button or hire a professional copyeditor to cut
the chaff and find relevant matter.
BTW, even though copyeditors come cheap these days, employers prefer the
former. So:
i. Keep it short; a CV should not go beyond two pages at most. However,
if your achievements are really great, one extra page is negotiable.
ii. Keep it sweet, i.e., relevant. Anything more than that and your CV will
make a beeline for the paper shredder.
Mistake 2: Writing too little
If it isn't one, it's the other. Consider this CV:

2. 'Worked as product manager for HLL between July 2000 and September
2003.'
Does it indicate anything besides the fact that the person worked for HLL?
Fancy designations do little to explain the kind of work you might have
done. So, in your enthusiasm to adhere to the guidelines in Mistake 1, don't
forego your job responsibilities and details about the company or the
department you worked for.
The above should read:
“Worked as product manager, between July 2000 and September 2003, for
the color cosmetics division of HLL, a premier FMCG company in India,
with a turnover of Rs 2614.07 crore.”
'Job responsibilities included overseeing the operations of the department
comprising 10 sales managers, setting targets for the team, keeping track of
market trends and coordinating between the production, logistics and sales
functions.
'Under my supervision, the department posted an annual growth of 40
percent.'
This gives an indication about the kind of work the applicant has done and
his/ her achievement. However, beware of going overboard with the details
of your job responsibilities.
"One of the applicants was looking for an administrative job, and
housekeeping was one of the functions. The CV mentioned 'making sure the
toilet bowls remain clean', as one of the job responsibilities," laughs Seth.
Mistake 3: Irrelevant details
Does it matter to your prospective employer if your eyes are blue and if you
belong to the Vaishnava gotra of the Brahmin caste?
Chances are it doesn't, unless you are applying for a job that depends on
your physical attributes or you are penning down a CV for matrimonial
purposes.

3. Similarly, your star sign, details of family members, list of affiliations to
hobby clubs (unless they complement your profession in some way), height,
weight, color of your hair and eyes, complexion and other details are of no
consequence to the prospective employer.
Ditch these and use the space to highlight your achievements, your strengths
and your qualifications. The latter needs to be to the point. For example,
your latest education and degrees are the ones that matter, not your
kindergarten marks. So, be stingy here -- include what matters, trash what
doesn't.
"I have seen CVs that included details of grandfathers and their professions
too. One person had also included his blood group in the CV. These facts
make no difference to the employer at all," says Seth.
"Some of them also add their body statistics. This can be entirely done away
with unless you are in the showbiz or airline industry.
"Another mistake I have noticed in many CVs is that people mention their
religion. This is unnecessary unless the job is for candidates of a specific
religion only," says Tushar Guha, managing director of Nrityanjali, an
institute for personality development and management services.
Mistake 4: The information flow
Most people start with their birth date and list everything in chronological
order. So, if they started with ABC company at the age of 18 and are now,
say, 38 years old and work for XYZ, chances are they will start their career
history with ABC and list XYZ last.
This is a strict no-no because, to the prospective employer, your last job
profile matters more than your first one. Few employers like to spend an
hour on a CV searching for the last position held by the applicant.
This applies to educational qualifications too. A CV favors reverse
chronological order. Stick to it.
"Most of the time, professionals writing their CV list their qualifications and
their work experience in chronological order. The order should be reversed
in order to bring the crux of the CV upfront," says Guha.

4. Seth gives the example of a CV which started by listing work history that
dated back to 1983 first and then went on to 2004. She had a tough time
looking for the current job.
Hobbies should come towards the end, but shouldn't be done away with.
"They provide an insight into the applicant's personality. These days, the
emphasis is not only on your skills but also on your personality," says Guha.
Mistake 5: A CV-full of jargon
Is your writing style being lucidly expressionistic, highlighting the hidden
angst of an existential life?
Wow! But what the heck does that mean? Even if you’re to-be-employer is
Salman Rushdie, he wouldn't want to spend time trying to understand what
all those big words and jargon add up to.
If you think your use of jargon indicates your knowledge of the industry,
think again. Most of the times, the CV goes first to the HR department. They
are the ones who choose if you are fit to be called for an interview.
Out of comprehension, out of mind. It's that basic.