Archive for category Advice & Tips

Are You Letting “Too Much Information” Ruin Your Resume?

Sep 8

Posted by doostang in Advice & Tips, Job Search, Resumes | View Comments

By Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC – GetInterviews.com

Project Finance Analyst, New York, NY

Market Research Analyst, Philadelphia, PA

Junior Trader, Chicago, IL

Chief Operation Officer, Washington, DC

Investment Banking Analyst, Boston, MA

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True or false? Including everything on your resume an employer will need to know about you will help facilitate the hiring process.

While it may sound like a helpful hint, the correct answer is false. In fact, including certain details on your resume can seriously damage your job search. From decreasing your chances of landing an interview to influencing potential salary, “too much information” on a resume can be detrimental for any candidate.

If your resume contains any of the following, you are putting yourself at a major disadvantage right from the beginning:

References

Your professional references should be always be listed in a separate document and provided when requested – and that usually doesn’t happen before the interview. Since the primary function of a resume is to land the interview, sending your references as part of your resume is premature.

Some jobseekers think this is a good way to take advantage of networking opportunities by dropping the name of a reference or two to impress a prospective employer. Your resume is still not the right place to accomplish this. To emphasize your relationship with a professional contact, simply mention it in the cover letter. (Be sure to do so subtly, however. For example, “My former colleague from XYZ Company, Jack Smith, suggested I contact you directly because he felt my skills would be a perfect fit for your organization.”)

Salary History & Requirements

The dinner table isn’t the only place where talking about money is considered rude. A resume should not indicate compensation requirements or salary history. Aside from etiquette, doing so could literally cost you.

If you disclose your bottom line and it’s less than what an employer was willing — or even expecting — to pay you, you’ve just inadvertently volunteered for a pay cut.

Unless a salary requirement is mandatory to apply for a position, do not surrender this important information, or you will risk compromising any leverage you may have in future salary negotiations. When a concrete figure is required to be considered for an opening, this information should be incorporated in your cover letter, not your resume.

If salary history is requested, it typically comes later in the process and should be prepared in a separate document.

Hobbies

Whether you spend your weekends as a Cub Scout Leader or enjoy skydiving in your spare time, extracurricular activities are almost always irrelevant to one’s career, and therefore, do not belong on a resume. Since your resume is a professional piece of communication, reserve the limited space to present only information related to your professional qualifications, and keep leisure activities separate.

There are exceptions, particularly for professionals who engage in outside activities directly related to their jobs. An accountant who serves as treasurer for a local charity, an aspiring gym teacher who volunteers as a soccer coach, and a construction worker who donates his time and skills to building houses for the poor are good examples. When in doubt, if an activity or affiliation doesn’t support your career objective, leave it out. Most employers are only interested in their employees’ after-hours activities when they need staff to work overtime.

Educational Details

For mid- and senior-level professionals, detailed information related to your college years is not necessary. Unless you are a recent college graduate with little career history to offer, keep the emphasis on your professional achievements and the tone at a higher level. Your grade point average and past extracurricular affiliations are far less important than your recent work highlights.

Also be sure to omit your year of graduation unless you finished school in the past 5 years. Though age discrimination is certainly prohibited by law, volunteering your age can never help you.

Reasons for Leaving

Whether your former boss threw you a going away party or had security escort you from the premises, your reasons for leaving any job should be reserved for a job application. They simply don’t belong on your resume regardless of the circumstances. If you wish to have an opportunity to explain a sticky situation like being fired, wait until at least the first interview so you’ve had a chance to make an unbiased first impression.

Overall Content

The most important issue to consider regarding the quantity of information is overall content. Employers do indeed want to know about important work you’ve done throughout your career – but they do not need or even want to know every detail. Summarize your best assets rather than inundating the reader with minutiae. You have literally under a minute to make an impression on a prospective employer, so you must be very careful choosing what content to emphasize.

Nothing will help land your resume in a “no” pile faster than making it too long, too cluttered, and too cumbersome to read.


About the Author:

Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is the President of GetInterviews.com, the country’s leading resume writing firm. They provide professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. Her and her firm’s credentials include being cited by JIST Publications as one of the “best resume writers in North America,” quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and published in a whopping 25+ career books. Established in 1994, the firm has aided more than 100,000 job seekers to date. All resume writers are certified writers. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee — interviews in 30 days or they’ll rewrite for free!

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Doostang News September 6: Tips for New Employees

Sep 5

Posted by doostangkaitlin in Advice & Tips, Doostang News, Office | View Comments

Analyst, Boston, MA
Brand Strategist – Advertising, Marketing, Analytics, New York, NY
M&A Analyst, San Diego, CA
Business Development Associate, Cambridge, MA
Full-Time Analyst Intern – (Fall), New York, NY

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The first day jitters end pretty much with the first day on the job, and the nervousness you feel about being in a new place dissipates pretty quickly after that. It’s easy then to cut corners and fall into habits that you see around you – things that the seasoned veterans of the company do without blinking an eye. But even though you may have the same level of responsibility as your coworkers, there is still a certain etiquette that you must follow while you are new on the job. Consider these pointers:

Connect with Your Boss

While many of your coworkers may embark on projects or make decisions without running them by their superior, you should make sure to check in with your boss when you are doing these things. You may find out pretty quickly that your boss actually likes when the employees take initiative without being asked; but until you do, assume that you should keep your boss in the loop at all times. You might think that you’re making the correct decision on something, but you’re still new and you don’t know if your boss has certain policies on things or if there are exceptions to rules.

Don’t Get Distracted

You may find that you work in a very easygoing office environment when you show up on day one, but this does not mean that you should take as many liberties as you see your coworkers doing. These people have been with the company longer than you and they have proven their value over time. Without a track record to back you up, you may just look like you’re wasting time.

Stay Positive

Even though your coworkers will probably want to put on a good show for the “new guy”, you’ll oftentimes encounter complaining or gossiping. While you may be equally stressed out about showing up to work on a certain day, avoid broadcasting this to the rest of the office like some of your peers might be doing. Try to act graciously about being there, and make it a point to be friendly to everyone – even the people that get on your nerves from the very outset.

While all workers are created equal in an office environment, as the newbie, you don’t have equal right to get distracted, act negatively, or take off on your own. So focus on the work at hand and the office relationships you need to cultivate, and the rest will follow eventually.

Welcome to the club,

The Doostang Team

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Avoid a Job Hunt Rut

Sep 1

Posted by doostang in Advice & Tips, Job Search | View Comments

By Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC GetInterviews.com

Investment Banking Analyst, Boston, MA
Product Quality Associate, SF Bay Area, CA
Analyst / Associate, Philadelphia, PA
Fall Intern, New York, NY
Technology M&A Analyst, Foster City, CA

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Does this sound familiar? You see a post for that dream job and promptly submit your resume – only to hear nothing for days, then weeks. You wonder why you didn’t receive a response as you continue to scour postings for the next position that seems like an ideal match.

If your job search has hit this type of rut, take heart. It doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t just as qualified as your competition. It could just mean your job search strategy is all wrong.

In a job market this tough, you need to be more aggressive than ever to get noticed by hiring managers and recruiters. The key is to gain as much exposure as possible. The more you put your resume out there, the greater your chances for grabbing a hiring manager’s attention.

Here are a few ways to jump start your stalling job search:

Utilize job boards

Employers once relied solely on high-priced headhunters to gain access to highly-qualified candidate pools. Now, they can turn to the Internet – namely, job boards — where job seekers post their resumes. The boards match qualified applicants with open positions based on employers’ customized criteria.

While most job seekers are familiar with mainstream boards such as Monster, they may not realize there are literally hundreds of boards tailored by industry, profession, or diversity group. For those concerned with privacy issues, most boards even offer the option of keeping certain details of your contact information confidential until an employer wants to reach you. Most allow job seekers to post a resume free of charge, so there’s really no good reason to ignore these opportunities.

Send a follow-up letter

If you have already sent in your resume only to yield no result, don’t be afraid to take another shot. Rather than just submitting your resume a second time with a standard cover letter, use a follow-up letter. This approach is particularly useful if you’ve updated your resume recently and would like a chance to submit the new-and-improved version. A follow-up letter allows you to reintroduce yourself while demonstrating you are very serious about a company or position.

Unlike making a telephone call to follow up, a letter doesn’t catch the employer by surprise or put him or her in the awkward position of talking to you without the benefit of your resume for reference. Keep the letter short and to the point, but be sure to focus on why you would be ideal for the position. The goal is to lure the reader into revisiting your resume, giving your application a second chance.

Prepare a 30-second speech about yourself

Whether you attend an organized networking event or happen to run into a former colleague in the park, you should be prepared to capitalize on opportunities to establish professional contacts that can lead to your next job. Many job seekers lament that networking events, like those sponsored by college alumni organizations or professional associations, are a waste of time. After all, you meet so many new people and have such a brief window of time to make any impression at all. Before you’ve finished with small talk, the conversation is over without even getting to the reason you were there in the first place.

Going in prepared, however, can make all the difference. Creating and practicing an “elevator pitch” – a 30-second speech summarizing your professional qualifications and goals – can make the most of the limited time you have to establish new contacts. As an added bonus, you will also eliminate those terribly awkward moments when you struggle for what to say.

Take advantage of online networking sites

Setting up profiles on popular networking sites, such as LinkedIn, not only provides you with an online presence for your professional qualifications. It also helps you reconnect with former colleagues with whom you’ve lost touch. The wider your network of contacts, the more potential opportunities will come your way. Joining most of the popular online networking sites is free, so there’s really no excuse not to do it.

Of course, for any of these techniques to be effective, you need to be sure employers can not only find you, but will be impressed with what they see. That’s why it is crucial to make sure your resume is up to par and rich in keywords before these methods can jump start your job search.

About the Author:

Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is the President of GetInterviews.com, the country’s leading resume writing firm. They provide professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. Her and her firm’s credentials include being cited by JIST Publications as one of the “best resume writers in North America,” quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and published in a whopping 25+ career books. Established in 1994, the firm has aided more than 100,000 job seekers to date. All resume writers are certified writers. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee — interviews in 30 days or they’ll rewrite for free!

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Doostang News August 30: The Art of Confidential Networking

Aug 29

Posted by doostang in Advice & Tips, Doostang News, Job Search, Networking | View Comments

Investment Banking Analyst, San Mateo, CA
Pre-MBA Associate, Philadelphia, PA
Corporate Finance Analyst, New York, NY
Vice President, Northfield, IL
Asset Management Analyst, Greenwich, CO

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You know how important networking is to a job search. But what happens when you’re searching for a job while you already have one? It becomes considerably more difficult to go out and interact with other people when there’s the risk that it might get back to your boss. So that’s when you’ll have to employ some secret networking tips. Here are a few:

Network All the Time

This is a good rule to follow, even when you aren’t actively looking for another job. In your current work, you should be networking all the time with everyone you come across. Always conduct yourself in a professional manner, but try to build close relationships with others. This will help you in business as well as in job search. When the time comes that you are looking for a job, you’ll know where to go without having to do extra networking outside of your job – and risk exposure. Additionally, if you build close relationships with your work contacts, they’ll be more likely to keep your job search under wraps.

Don’t Use Company Equipment

When you’re both networking and looking for another job, don’t do so on company equipment. It’s easier to track what you’re doing when you use a company email account or a fax machine. You should also avoid using your current work contact information, as your boss may be able to track this as well. Set up a separate email account and give a different phone number for your job search instead. Some people also prefer to use an alias for their email address or display name, as a further means of camouflage when they show up in various inboxes.

Meet in Person

Meeting in person is often a more effective networking technique anyway, and it helps you in covering your tracks. When you network online, you leave a paper trail that anyone could potentially access. When you network in person, you can hand over all your documents – such as your resume and cover letter – to an individual, instead of sending them over electronically. A physical meeting also opens the door much more easily to future contact by phone instead of email.

These are just a few tricks of secret networking, and there are many more. The reality of the matter is, however, that your boss will find out eventually that you are searching for another job or that you have found one. Try to delay this moment until the latter situation, and the transition will hopefully be much smoother.

Until next time,

The Doostang Team

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The Best Resume for a Bad Economy

Aug 25

Posted by doostang in Advice & Tips, Resumes | View Comments

By Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC GetInterviews.com

M&A Analyst, New York, NY
Business Associate, Palo Alto, CA
Research & Trading Associate, Cambridge, MA
Business Development Director, Newark, NJ
Associate Analyst, Chicago, IL

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With unemployment at its highest level in more than 25 years, many professionals are out of work for the first time in their careers. Things may look bleak, but for those worrying they will have to go from earning six figures to minimum wage, take heart. Though no one wants to settle for a job that is far below one’s worth, there is good news.

There are some creative strategies a job seeker may consider that will not adversely impact his or her long-term career outlook. In fact, just a few small strategic changes to your resume can instantly increase your job-hunting prospects even in these rough economic times.

Broaden Your Scope

You may have spent your entire career in one industry, but it may be time to also look around for positions in related fields. If you not are willing to settle for anything less than your dream job, go for it — but be willing to wait. For most, especially those already out of work, finding a job as soon as possible is important. That doesn’t necessarily mean you must settle or take a step down. All that’s required is an open mind to consider a comprehensive range of lateral possibilities.

For example, a human resources professional who specializes in recruitment may now branch out into related functions such as employee relations, benefits administration or even generalist positions. A laid-off newspaper copy editor could move away from the struggling newspaper industry and apply his or her skills for technical writing or public relations roles. A real estate sales representative can look into sales positions for other industries by emphasizing his or her transferable skills.

To compete with others who may have had more direct experience, you can level the playing field by highlighting valuable transferable skills on your resume rather than focusing just on specialized experience.

Don’t Get Hung Up on Titles

Instead of seeking out positions based on job title, it may be time to adjust your strategy or you risk limiting your prospects. Concentrate on job descriptions rather than titles. This doesn’t only apply when looking through postings, but also when it comes to branding yourself correctly on a resume.

Rather than listing a very specific job title as your objective, indicate something more general. A more general objective will broaden your appeal to recruiters and hiring managers weeding through resumes.

Don’t Fall Into The Overqualified Pile

You may have far more experience for a position than required, but you still want to be considered for the role. Downplaying your achievements is never advisable, but if you are a job seeker with “too much” experience, simply avoid going back too far on your resume. After all, highlighting accomplishments from 1976 will usually not help you anyway since it is from so long ago. Employers are most interested in your recent experience.

As a bonus, you will avoid another pitfall in the process. Discrimination of any kind is, of course, illegal, but unfortunately, it does happen. As a general rule, there is usually no compelling reason to go beyond 20 years on your resume.

Don’t Agonize Over Employment Gaps

It wasn’t too long ago when a resume reflecting any gaps in employment was taboo. It was thought to raise glaring red flags, implying something amiss in your job history. In a robust economy, it’s understandable for an employer to question why a jobseeker didn’t work for a long stretch of time. But in times like these, an abundance of well-qualified people are out of work through no fault of their own. It is simply reflective of our times.

That’s why there’s really no reason to be overly concerned about gaps in a resume — within reason. If you haven’t worked for six months, it doesn’t really require an explanation these days. If you’ve been out of work three years, that’s a different story. In such cases, it’s usually best to tactfully indicate the reason right on the resume to prevent an employer from speculating.

Minimize “Job Hopping”

In tough economic times, many jobseekers accept temporary assignments or perform consulting work as they search for permanent positions. Such experience is valuable because it not only helps pay the bills, but also demonstrates a strong work ethic and shows you are keeping your skills sharp. However, listing a series of several jobs over a short period of time on your resume could project an inaccurate image of a job hopper to an employer who is just giving your resume a preliminary glance. The best way to present this on your resume is to group consulting work together so you showcase your contributions without giving it too much valuable space, adversely impacting your overall presentation.

There’s little we can do to change the economy, but with the right strategy, your resume can help show your true worth — even in today’s tough job market.

About the Author:

Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is the President of GetInterviews.com, the country’s leading resume writing firm. They provide professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. Her and her firm’s credentials include being cited by JIST Publications as one of the “best resume writers in North America,” quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and published in a whopping 25+ career books. Established in 1994, the firm has aided more than 100,000 job seekers to date. All resume writers are certified writers. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee — interviews in 30 days or they’ll rewrite for free!

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Doostang News August 23: Some Pointers for Requesting Time Off

Aug 22

Posted by doostangkaitlin in Advice & Tips, Doostang News, Office | View Comments

Investment Banking Associate , New York, NY
Consultant, Washington, DC
Venture Capital Associate, San Francisco, CA
Human Resources Associate, New York, NY
Analyst, Chicago, IL

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Requesting time off can feel a tad awkward.  Sure, you’re entitled to a life – but does your employer know that?  Many of us encounter frustration from managers or passive aggressiveness from coworkers when we make mention of our hiatus from the office.  So what’s the best way to slip out for a week or two unscathed?  Read on:

Give Plenty of Notice

While the standard notice for leaving a job is generally two weeks, it’s best to let your boss and coworkers know about an upcoming vacation as far ahead as you can.  Sooner really is better because it gives your peers enough time to digest the news and plan ahead for it.  Doing so will also make your own life easier, as more preparation beforehand will ensure a less messy aftermath when you return.  And really, what’s worse than returning from paradise to an office where all hell has broken loose?

Put Together a Plan

It will also make everyone’s life easier if you put together a plan, including a schedule that your coworkers can follow, important deadlines, and contact information – both for the people others will need to deal with on your behalf, and for you, should any emergencies arise.  The more thorough you are upfront, the fewer frantic calls and emails you’ll have to deal with when you’re miles away.

Don’t Jet During a Busy Time

While it may be tempting to flee the office during one of the busier periods, you’ll probably anger the people you work with if you do.  It’s more considerate to plan a vacation when you know things will be slow around the office, so that others can more easily take over for you.

Don’t Overlap

If possible, gauge when your coworkers might be taking time off, so that you can make sure not to jump ship at the same time.  Worse than missing one valuable employee is missing two – or more – so try to plan your time off strategically.  It may also be helpful to have these discussions with coworkers before you book your getaway, as some bosses may deny you time off if another employee will be gone at the same time.

It’s tempting to take off and leave as little information behind as possible when you’re trying to escape the office.  But some thoughtful planning beforehand will go much farther in ensuring a well-deserved, stress-free break!

Bon voyage!
The Doostang Team

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Be a Big Fish in an Overcrowded Pond

Aug 18

Posted by doostang in Advice & Tips, Job Search | View Comments

By Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC GetInterviews.com

Analyst, New York, NY
Marketing Director, Mid Atlantic States
Investment Banking / Private Equity Analyst, New York, NY
Manager – Strategy & Business Development, Washington, DC
Junior Analyst, West Conshohocken, PA

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How do you stand out as a great candidate in a sea of unemployed applicants competing against you? A hiring manager recently told us “I need to fill three key positions at the plant. These jobs are posted and right now with the unemployment rate being so high, I’ve been getting 200-300 resumes per position. It would be ideal if I can find candidates through word-of-mouth.” The large crowd of candidates is not just a problem for you the job seeker, but also for the hiring manager. Hiring managers often look first to word of mouth referrals to find good candidates, save time, and make a better hire.

Having a network contact pass on your resume automatically makes you a big fish in the pond. The hiring manager above would pay closer attention to the resume of a candidate referred to him than he would to the 200 resumes dropped into the database from the job advertisement. Hiring is still a people-centric action. People hire people. Computers don’t hire people.

Technology can make it easier but it can also make it more difficult. It is important to make sure your job search is multi-faceted and includes not only responding to online ads but networking, cold submissions, targeted marketing, and recruiter contacts. Big fish work harder than little fish to make themselves stand out in the crowd. Successful candidates have a great resume, a cover letter that grabs the reader, and a plan to use those tools aggressively to gain attention. Are you a big fish or are you a minnow? Minnows sit back and wait for something to happen. Big fish go after things aggressively and proactively!

About the Author:

Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is the President of GetInterviews.com, the country’s leading resume writing firm. They provide professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. Her and her firm’s credentials include being cited by JIST Publications as one of the “best resume writers in North America,” quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and published in a whopping 25+ career books. Established in 1994, the firm has aided more than 100,000 job seekers to date. All resume writers are certified writers. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee — interviews in 30 days or they’ll rewrite for free!

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Doostang News August 16: Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions – Part 3

Aug 15

Posted by doostangkaitlin in Advice & Tips, Doostang News, Interviewing, Job Search | View Comments

Investment Banking Analyst, New York, NY
Director of Search Marketing, San Francisco, CA
Analyst, Los Angeles, CA
Public Relations Associate, Raleigh, NC
M&A Research Analyst, Paris, France

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Every minute you spend in an interview is valuable, so make sure your every answer works to your benefit.  Thought you had it all down?  Well here are a few more tough interview questions if you’re still feeling a little unprepared:

Why are you leaving (did you leave) your current (last) position?

When answering this question, there’s no reason to give a long-winded answer.  Simply tell the interviewer that you are looking to advance your career, and that the company you are interviewing with can provide the opportunity you hope for while your current or previous company cannot.  There is no reason to give the interviewer any more information than they ask for.  Don’t give a list of excuses or say something petty.  If you were laid off, don’t be afraid to say so – it’s not all that uncommon.  And if you were fired, try to stay as positive as you can, again without being petty.  Perhaps you can mention that you and your former boss/company had differences that you could not overcome, but that your termination was the best thing for both you and that firm.  More than this, you can always expound upon the lesson that you learned from this experience.

Why haven’t you found a job yet?

This may seem like one of those in-your-face questions, but it’s perfectly legitimate.  If you’ve been out of work for a significant amount of time, again, don’t spend your time giving excuses.  Simply explain that you have been looking for the right opportunity, and that you want to work for a company where you can establish a mutually beneficial relationship.

Has your performance or work ever been criticized?

While you may consider yourself the perfect employee, chances are that you have received some criticism along the way – and that’s perfectly reasonable.  What an employer wants to learn from this question is how you dealt with the criticism.  So explain to him or her that you received constructive criticism from a colleague, and that you gained something valuable from it.  You can talk about how you were able to integrate another person’s suggestions into a project and make it better than it was before.  Employers want individuals who are tough-skinned and open to suggestions, so demonstrate that you are able to swallow your pride and bounce back from critique.

At times an interview can feel like a battle of wits, interviewer and interviewee each trying to outdo the other.  It’s a tricky dance, but if you learn how to use even the most difficult questions as a forum to discuss how valuable you are, you’ll soon be making history at your next position.

Happy job hunting,

The Doostang Team

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Is Your Resume a Dinosaur?

Aug 11

Posted by doostang in Advice & Tips, Job Search, Resumes | View Comments

By Alesia Benedict, CPRW, JCTC GetInterviews.com

Analyst, New York, NY
Marketing Director, Mid Atlantic States
Investment Banking / Private Equity Analyst, New York, NY
Manager – Strategy & Business Development, Washington, DC
Junior Analyst, West Conshohocken, PA

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Think your resume has what it takes to land that dream job? Even if it did 10 years, five years, or even two years ago, think again. As fast as the applicant pool has grown in this fierce job market, the rules of the job hunting game have been transformed.

With many more applicants out there than there are jobs, you not only need to be on par with the competition, you need to stand out in the pack. Setting yourself apart from other qualified applicants is only part of the answer. It’s important that you stand out in a good way.

One of the most valuable ways you can accomplish this is to make sure your resume is fresh and modern. After all, a job hunter’s worst fear is looking like a proverbial dinosaur to prospective employers and recruiters. Since your resume is a representation of you to a recruiter or prospective employer, you certainly don’t want to make a first impression that resonates old-fashioned and outdated.

There are dozens of strategies today’s job seeker must know in order to build a winning resume from scratch, but here are five of the biggest red flags that will instantly make your resume appear antiquated:

1. Obeying a One-Page “Rule”

Many job applicants spend countless hours trying to squeeze a decade or two of valuable experience onto a single sheet of paper. (Sure, you can squeeze more text onto the page by shrinking the font. Would you really want to strain the eyes of the person who holds your resume – and your fate – in his or her hands?)

The trade-off for avoiding the so-called second-page stigma is sacrificing content regarding valuable experience, compromising the overall quality of the resume.

The good news is that the one-page resume no longer rules, as today’s hiring manager is more likely to be scrolling down on a screen than flipping to the next page.

In fact, for experienced professionals a two-page resume is the most common format. There are obvious exceptions, such as recent graduates and entry-level applicants who can easily fit all of their experience on one page without sacrifice. For seasoned pros, however, even three- and four-page resumes are not uncommon and are acceptable today.

Enjoy the flexibility, but still proceed with caution. Keeping content concise is still extremely important and making the right choices about what facts to include and which to leave out still needs to be a key part of your overall strategy.

2. Overstating Your Objective

“Objective: To obtain a position utilizing my skills and background in [fill in your field here]…”

If your resume starts out like this, it’s definitely time for a change! Today’s resumes are much more savvy. Rather than preparing a few mundane lines to express your goal, your objective can be clearly stated in a word or two. All you need to state is the title you are seeking, and let it stand on its own. This not only enhances your presentation, but it makes it easier for recruiters and HR managers to quickly see what position you are targeting.

As a bonus, the space you save can now be applied towards a hard-hitting summary about you to generate a more powerful impact and to showcase what makes you unique. The summary has evolved into a crucial component of the modern resume, so be sure not to neglect this integral section.

3. Skipping the Keyword Section

Keywords are not just recommended; they can make or break your resume, which is why a keyword section (aka the core competency section) is an absolute must. Typically found on the top half of the first page, employers have come to expect to see a list of your areas of expertise.

This not only conveys your skills at a glance to an employer reading it, but it also serves another important function. In today’s technology age, it’s often impossible for prospective employers and human resources personnel to read through hundreds (if not thousands) of resumes in order to weed out the ones they don’t want. Many rely on technology to do it for them, and this is where datamining comes into play.

An increasing number of companies are using computer programs to scan through resumes for preset keywords in order to narrow down the applicant pool. Even if you are qualified for a position, if those all-important keywords are not contained in your resume, you are going to land in the “no” pile before a human being ever lays eyes on it.

Including a keyword section helps optimize your resume for such searches, but that’s only half the battle. Knowing what buzzwords relate to your profession and industry requires research, so be sure to do your homework.

4. Unnecessarily Stating Computer Skills

There are several instances where listing computer skills is absolutely vital. If you are an IT professional, by all means go ahead and include them. If you are applying for a position that involves heavy data entry or specialized computer skills, please list them.

If not, however, there is such a thing as too much information, particularly when it comes to computer skills. Many applicants are under the false notion that listing universal software programs such as Microsoft Office or Internet Explorer is a crucial part of their backgrounds. However, this simply isn’t the case. In fact, Microsoft applications are so universal, listing them is more often than not a waste of space.

For upper-level applicants, it is already inferred that you possess the entry-level technical skills that were needed to successfully rise through the ranks. Listing them would unnecessarily lend your overall presentation a lower-level feel, which you would obviously want to avoid.

5. Referencing References

Just as fairytales conclude with “the end,” resumes at one time had their own last words. You guessed it: “References available upon request.”

Common sense regarding references has prevailed. After all, shouldn’t it go without saying that you are going to provide references if a prospective employer you want to hire you requests them?

Just for the record, references themselves should always be prepared as a separate document. They do not – and never did – belong on the resume itself. Remember, the primary function of a resume is to land an interview, so references are typically not even needed until a later stage in the interviewing process.

Don’t Forget Some of the Classics

Modernizing your resume will show an employer you are a cutting-edge professional as long as you don’t forget two important basics. Top-notch writing and a polished, professional format will forever remain timeless.

About the Author:

Alesia Benedict, Certified Professional Resume Writer (CPRW) and Job and Career Transition Coach (JCTC) is the President of GetInterviews.com, the country’s leading resume writing firm. They provide professionals with customized, branded resumes and career marketing documents. Her and her firm’s credentials include being cited by JIST Publications as one of the “best resume writers in North America,” quoted as a career expert in The Wall Street Journal, and published in a whopping 25+ career books. Established in 1994, the firm has aided more than 100,000 job seekers to date. All resume writers are certified writers. GetInterviews.com offers a free resume critique and their services come with a wonderful guarantee — interviews in 30 days or they’ll rewrite for free!

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Doostang News August 9: Great Answers to Tough Interview Questions – Part 2

Aug 8

Posted by doostangkaitlin in Advice & Tips, Doostang News, Interviewing, Job Search | View Comments

Investment Banking Analyst, New York, NY
Director of Search Marketing, San Francisco, CA
Analyst, Los Angeles, CA
Public Relations Associate, Raleigh, NC
M&A Research Analyst, Paris, France

More jobs we think you’ll like…

It’s time for the second installment of thoughtful answers to those interview questions that leave you reeling.  We devote several blogs to this matter, not because we feel that there’s much room for error in the interview, but because there’s lots of space for you to shine if you approach the toughies the right way.  So read on for our suggestions to some of the more challenging talking points.

What Are Your Long-Term Goals?

This one is tricky because it basically implies, “How long do you see yourself working for us?”  Especially as far as an entry-level job is concerned, most hiring managers know that you’re not going to want to stick around for one job forever.  But how do you ensure that they’ll get a good return on their investment in you?  Explain to the interviewer that you would like to have a career with the company – that you want to be challenged, realize success within the organization, and eventually move up the ladder.  Tell the interviewer that as long as the company is good for you and you are good for them, your long-term plan is to stay on board and grow with the company.

Why Do You Want to Work for Us?

When describing why you want to work for a company, make sure to avoid broad answers.  It’s okay to give answers that are specific to the industry, but remember to go further than that and give specific examples as well.  Make sure you are current on the latest company news, and can talk about what makes this company different and why they are the best fit for you.

Are You Overqualified for this Position?

It’s easy to be overqualified for a position in this job market, but that shouldn’t be something that holds you back.  So when you get this question, don’t give up or get defensive.  Talk about how the company needs solid individuals, and that your hope is to establish a strong presence in the company that allows you to move up and make a difference in your area of expertise.  A growing company needs reliable, proven people, and therefore you would be an excellent fit for any position.

Stay tuned for further questions that tend to stump even the savviest job seeker.  And if you have any questions that you’d like us to cover, send them over and we’ll give them a whirl!

Until next time,

The Doostang Team

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