Many people have no idea their resumes and online profiles are sending up resume red flags or how to fix those problems. Some resume red flags can cause hiring managers and recruiters to pass you over without a second look. Whether you’ve been job hunting for a while now or you’ve just gotten into the game, you know your resume is a powerful tool that can help you, or if you have a lot of resume red flags it can harm you during the process.
Here are some of the resume red flags and warning signs hiring managers look for, and tips on how to fix them:
Resume Red Flag 1: Your resume doesn’t meet the job compatibility requirements
In today’s world, we know keywords are, well, key and you don’t want to be sending out resume red flags. Every time you send out your resume, you should be changing the verbiage to match the job. Look at the job posting and make sure your resume has the exact words the company is looking for. Skip the ‘Objective’ section and simply list 3 to 5 bullet points at the top that speak to the job in question. You don’t want the recruiter or hiring manager to have to hunt through your resume—because they won’t. Typically, they spend 6 seconds or less looking at a resume before they move on!
Resume Red Flag 2: You have the dates wrong
To avoid resume red flags with the dates of past jobs, make sure your dates are correct and consistent. If you simply list years for one position (2014-2017) but month and date for another (March 2010 through April 2014) it doesn’t look good, for one thing, and for another, it seems as if you’re trying to hide something. Make sure to explain overlapping dates (maybe you were freelancing or working two jobs) as well as any gaps.
Resume Red Flag 3: Inconsistency online
Make sure you are representing yourself consistently across all online platforms. Inconsistency can lead to major resume red flags and you want your resume, your LinkedIn profile, and any other websites your prospective employer can access (like a blog, an online portfolio, or another online hiring site) to show you in the same light.
Correct these resume red flags today and you’ll see results soon!
If you would like more information about resumes, please read our blog post titled How Employers Can Prevent Falling Victim to Resume Fraud. It discusses how resume fraud can occur at any level of a company and the best way to check for a criminal past is via employment background checks.
Disclaimer: The information on InstantCriminalChecks.com is governed by our Terms of Use and is never intended as legal advice.
Sources: fastcompany.com, monster.com, and recruiter.com
